YORKTON - The Saskatchewan Rattlers recently announced the club has signed 6-foot-9 Australian native Grant Anticevich for the 2025 season.
The import holds the all-time games played record for University of California, Berkley (139), and appeared in three NBA preseason games with the New Zealand Breakers (NBL) against the Utah Jazz.
“I wanted to play summer ball and the CEBL is one of the premier summer leagues in the world,” Anticevich told Yorkton This Week via WhatsApp from Italy in a recent interview.
When the Rattlers made an offer Anticevich said he saw it “as a really good opportunity.”
The chance to play in the CEBL is just another opportunity “to become better as a player,” he said, adding that is always the goal “everyday you go out, whatever season ... to get better and improve as an individual.”
Along the way Anticevich said he will just look to help the Rattlers be a better team.
In that Anticevich said he sees himself a solid shooter and rebounder and “also being versatile at the offensive and defensive end doing whatever the team needs.”
“Grant is a major acquisition for our line-up this year. He has produced at a very high level regardless of where he has played previously, including last season in the very competitive Australian NBL,” said General Manager and Vice-President of Basketball Operations, Barry Rawlyk in a team release. “We expect he will be a major contributor every night and we will utilize his ability to shoot the ball at a high percentage to help spread the floor on offence. He is a very personable, high character young man and he will instantly be very popular with our fan base and in the community.”
For Anticevich the upcoming stop in Saskatoon is just another stamp on a well-used passport.
In his professional debut, Anticevich signed with the 麻豆视频 East Melbourne Phoenix. After 18 games with the club, he signed with the 麻豆视频land Sharks (NBL) during the 2022-23 season where he appeared in the starting line-up in all 18 games while setting his professional career high in all stat categories – 28 points (May 21), 22 rebounds (June 25), 6 assists (June 5), 3 steals (July 6), and 2 blocks (June 25). During this season, he averaged 14.6 points, 9.7 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 0.9 steals, 0.4 blocks, and 33.4 minutes, detailed a Rattler release.
Anticevich went on to sign with BG Goettingen (BBL) the following season averaging 8.1 points, 5.4 rebounds, 1.1 assists, and 24.9 minutes in 48 games with 27 starts. During this season, BG Goettingen made appearances in the FIBA Europe Cup, and the Basketball Champions League. During the 2024-25 season, Anticevich signed with the New Zealand Breakers (NBL) playing in 26 games. He is currently playing with Varese (Lega A) in Italy where he made his debut on April 12th.
Of course Anticevich’s basketball roots are in Australia, where the game is gaining popularity.
“I think it’s one of the hottest sports (in Australia),” he said.
While soccer, rugby, cricket and Australian rules football are still likely the big four, interest in basketball “is going up and up,” offered Anticevich.
Still, after high school Anticevich headed to an American college to play.
“It was kind of an obvious path for me. When I started high school I knew it was something I wanted to pursue,” he said.
Anticevich said the U.S. is clearly the hotbed of basketball “where all the best players are at all levels I would say.”
So to get better himself it made sense to play against the best at an American college.
And now it’s a summer with the Rattlers.
“I’m really excited,” he said, adding the CEBL packs a lot of games (24) into a short season, which means a lot of opportunity to become better and win some games for local fans.
The Saskatchewan Rattlers home opener is on May 15, 2025 at SaskTel Centre, where Anticevich will make his CEBL debut.
