Virginia’s Justin Anderson believes transition to NBA will not be difficult

Telling signs from the NBA Finals have Justin Anderson thinking good thoughts about his NBA value. The champion Golden State Warriors used a smaller lineup to counter the Cleveland Cavaliers, populating the floor with wing players like Anderson. Also clear was the importance of shifting defensive help — “helping the helper” in basketball parlance — whenever a defense needed to rotate. The same team defensive concepts were the center of Virginia’s basketball structure. For three years in Charlottesville, coach Tony Bennett hammered those defensive details into Anderson.

On Thursday afternoon, Anderson worked through another pre-draft workout. He and five others toiled on the Washington Wizards’ practice court at Verizon Center. Anderson, who left school after his junior season when he was named to the all-ACC second team despite missing most of the conference schedule, isn’t sure where he will be selected on June 25. He does think his hefty shoulders, strong shooting and above-average leaping ability give him a chance for versatility in the NBA.

“Just got to make sure I can show what I’ve been good at,” Anderson said. “Not trying to reinvent who I am or trying to do things I’m really not comfortable with.”

Anderson fractured the pinky finger of his left hand — his shooting hand — on Feb. 7 in the first half of a home game against Louisville. He had surgery a day later, causing him to miss eight consecutive games before returning for the ACC tournament.

In the four games after his return, Anderson shot 31.6 percent from the field. He was just 1-for-9 from behind the 3-point line. Prior to the injury, Anderson shot 48 percent from the field and 48.4 percent from behind the 3-point line. Last season, Anderson’s scoring average and shooting percentages were the best of his three years at Virginia.

Once the season was over, Anderson discarded the protective brace he had to wear after the surgery. He said his hand felt normal once he made the change, and that he considered removing it when playing Michigan State in the third round of the NCAA tournament. Anderson said he kept the brace on for that game, the last of Virginia’s season, to be safe.

Anderson entering a league which has created a rhyming label for players of his kind: Three-and-D. Anderson’s range should transfer to the NBA line. The defense he played at Virginia should come, too, which means a serviceable role as a shooter and quality defender is mapped out for him.

But, Anderson may be able to do more. At 6-foot-6 and 231 pounds, his husky frame and athleticism — he has a 43-inch vertical leap — give him a physical baseline that can compete with other wing players in the draft. Anderson thinks he can play the power forward position when teams go to small lineups, as Golden State did in the Finals and the Wizards did with 6-foot-7, 235-pound Paul Pierce in the playoffs.

“I can play the four,” Anderson said. “I’m a natural two or three, but, like we were talking earlier about, the way the NBA’s going playing small ball, with my body I think I can guard multiple positions.

“You got to be versatile. Just try to hone your skills. The best thing about it is there’s so much room for improvement for me.”

Anderson said he has been through eight workouts, most against lengthy defender Rondae Hollis-Jefferson out of Arizona, who was also in town on Thursday. The two have gone out to eat together and may finally be done guarding each other — at least until Summer League, since their remaining workouts are in separate cities. Anderson has two more workouts scheduled, one with Cleveland and another with the Oklahoma City Thunder, whom he said set it up at the “last minute.”

A week before the draft, Anderson is not sure where he will watch it. Most projections anticipate him being selected late in the first round. Interest from the Thunder, which picks 14th overall, is a bit of a surprise.

“It’s about finding a fit,” Anderson said. “Coaches know what players fit their style.”