The heavily tattooed 24-year-old has been in Dunedin for the past week, working on his fitness with Otago Nuggets captain Mark Dickel and taking the "baby steps" he needs to get back on court.
Anthony signed a one-year deal with the Nuggets this season but injury intervened and he never took the court.
The good news is he is keen to don the Nuggets' singlet next year and is expected sign on again.
"My reason for being here is to get myself right for the Nuggets' season," Anthony said.
"The guys down here have been looking after me. Everybody just wants me to do well, really."
"The first day I was here Sparky [Dickel] wouldn't even let me run around. He was making me take free throws and gradually I've been doing more each day."
Initially, Anthony was planning on staying for three weeks but is considering extending his stay.
Seven weeks ago he had surgery to remove bone spurs from his left ankle. The operation provided the perfect opportunity to rest a stress fracture in his leg.
Ironically, he picked up the stress fracture in February when he was frantically training, after being suspended for 10 days by the Breakers. He had had a big night out and was not able to take a full part in training the following day.
It was the second time Anthony had let himself and the club down. He had been caught drink-driving the night the All Blacks won the World Cup.
Keen to redeem himself, he trained too hard and was injured. The opportunity to make good on the hardwood was lost, and in May the Breakers released him to pursue the playing opportunities he was unlikely to get with the Auckland-based franchise.
It has not been a stellar period in Anthony's career. He knows he has a lot to prove and there is a lot of hard work ahead to regain some people's faith. But he has missed playing basketball terribly.
"Oh, man, like you'd miss an old girlfriend," he said.
"I just want to show people that I can play basketball and that I didn't get here because of my name."
Anthony's father Benny forged an impressive career in the national league during the 1980s and '90s and Anthony has many of his father's qualities.
With his physicality - a 115kg, 1.98m frame - and surprisingly quick feet, he is a tricky opponent and he certainly knows his way to the hoop. He has also shown he can compete at international level and started for the Tall Blacks during the Boris Stankovic Cup in China last year.
While he has had his disciplinary problems, he has owned up to them and presents as a polite and friendly young man.
And those tattoos are not nearly so intimidating up close.
A large one at the base of his neck reads "family first" and on his hands he has the rather whimsical impressions of the devil on one and a saint on the other.
