CAN – Goal-oriented Anthony proof that hard work pays off

MIAMI (2010 FIBA World Championship) - It's never easy to make it to the top in basketball.

Canada’s Joel Anthony knows that very well.

Possessing a chiseled and powerful 6ft 9in, 245lb frame, Anthony is a main cog in the Canada line-up and will be on the floor later this year when they compete at the FIBA World Championship.

He is also an important member of the Miami Heat squad in the NBA.

The 27-year-old Montreal native says there's only one approach that works for any youngster if the aim is to compete at the highest level in the game.

"It's about staying focused on your goals," Anthony says.

"One of the hardest things that I had to do that a lot of people didn't want to do was to make the sacrifice, give up things."

At Pensacola Junior College in Florida, and especially later at the University of Nevada at Las Vegas, there were plenty of potential distractions.

Las Vegas is, after all, nicknamed Sin City.

"You want to go out all the time," he added, looking back on his time with the Runnin' Rebels.

"And college is fun - some of the best years in your life.

"You want to enjoy that as much as you can, but if there is an end goal, you might have to sacrifice a few things.

"If players can understand that, and focus on what they have to do, that will definitely go a long way in terms of helping them succeed."

Defense first

Anthony is a coach's dream because his main priority on the basketball court has always been to defend.

After leaving Pensacola in 2004 for UNLV, Anthony finished second in Runnin’ Rebels history with 157 career blocks.

A testament to excellence when the other team had the ball was the Mountain West Conference Defensive Player of the Year honor he received as a senior.

Anthony’s famous work ethic and defensive prowess made him so popular that he was also named the 2007 UNLV Sportsman of the Year.

While he might not play many minutes in a game for Miami, he is always a leader because of the example he sets in practice.

"Joel is just a hard worker," said his Heat teammate, Michael Beasley.

"You never have to tell him anything twice.

"He gets it, and works on it.

"Take shot-blocking for instance.

"Once he gets in that zone, he blocks four or five shots in the space of 10 minutes."

Anthony is concentrated on the NBA right now as Miami attempt to reach the Eastern Conference Play-offs, but Canada is never far from his thoughts.

In Turkey later this year, he will lead Canada when they go up against France, Spain, Lithuania, New Zealand and Lebanon in Group D of the FIBA World Championship.

Anthony also thinks about his homeland when people ask him what he plans to do with his life once his playing career ends.

"I'd really like to have a chance to go back home to Montreal," he said to Panhandle Sports Broadcasting.

"Working with kids is something that I always wanted to do because, there are people back home that gave me opportunities that I wouldn't have ever been able to have if they had not pushed me and shown me that certain things were possible.

"To be able to give back to my community, and to see some other people succeed would mean a lot to me."

FIBA