Peter Edwards and Leean Anderson have officially made history, becoming the first Caymanians to play professional basketball in Lithuania after signing with the Lithuanian Basketball Academy.
Edwards, 30, brings a story of tenacity and faith to the court, sharing that his initial focus and passion was football until a serious injury at age 15 left him “unable to walk for three months”.
“That period gave me time to reflect, and I eventually decided to transition into basketball,” he said.
“One of my biggest inspirations was Derrick Rose from the Chicago Bulls. His speed, athleticism, and ability to dominate the game motivated me to push myself to that same level – to be impactful both on and off the court.”
Edwards admitted that reaching the professional level required “a great deal of dedication, discipline, and perseverance”.
“There were early morning beach runs, countless plyometric sessions, and 3-on-3 and 4-on-4 pick-up runs at Cox Court across from Kirk Supermarket,” he said.
Edwards says he had to overcome significant doubt from others, who told him he was too old to play, but his determination to make his daughter proud kept him focused.
“People told me I was too old, that my time had passed, and that I should focus on my daughter or get a regular job, but I refused to give up.
“I knew God had a purpose for me, and I kept my eyes on that goal. More than anything, I wanted to make my daughter proud and show her that with faith and hard work, dreams do come true.”
Life in Lithuania
Edwards officially signed with the Lithuanian Basketball Academy on 30 July, with the exciting news requiring him to prepare for the move within just one month.
Since arriving in Lithuania on 16 Sept., Edwards has been adjusting to the cold weather and the language barrier, relying on technology to navigate public transport and daily life.
He began training the day after arriving and played his first official game on 14 Oct.
On 4 Nov. in the academy’s first-ever Kaunas Basketball League first division victory, Edwards filled the stat sheet with 10 points, nine rebounds and eight assists.
Before Lithuania, he spent several years competing in the local basketball scene, playing for local teams and participating in various leagues and tournaments, both domestically and internationally.
Now that he is playing overseas, he hopes to refine his skills, absorb the European style of play, and keep progressing toward a higher professional level while inspiring younger athletes back home.
“I want them to know that no dream is too big and that faith, persistence and hard work always pay off,” he said.
Anderson’s ‘lengthy’ process
For Leean Anderson, 20, who officially signed with the academy on 9 Sept., the journey to professional play was fuelled purely by a passion for the game he discovered in his teenage years.
“Originally, I was only playing recreationally with my friends, but over time, I began to fall in love with the sport on a deeper level. I knew that, in time, if I were to work hard and be persistent, that eventually I would have an opportunity to play at a higher level, so I am here purely because of my love for the game of basketball,” he said.
Anderson says the process to being signed was “a lengthy one”, adding, “I’ve been in contact with the coach [Levan Japaridze] for a few years and I tried numerous times to play for his teams, but obstacles kept showing up. But, this year, I decided to make the push and finally get signed.”
Anderson credits “hard work, persistence and dedication” as reasons for getting to this point in his sports career, and says he also hopes “to gain a better understanding of overseas basketball” while in Lithuania.
