Tolliver flying high with new contract

One day after being introduced in Phoenix as the newest member of the Suns, it was back to the Ozarks for Anthony Tolliver on Tuesday. The Springfield native looked right at home laughing, encouraging and teaching basketball to about 100 youngsters.

And with every smile or bit of hustle he saw, Tolliver felt validated as a hometown hero giving back.

"It's very much humbling," Tolliver said after a session of his fifth annual youth basketball camp at The Courts in northeast Springfield. "Seeing these little kids following my career, comparing me to LeBron James or Kevin Durant … of course I'm not as good as those guys, but to them, I'm here. And I'm from here … like they are."

Tolliver, who held his 17-month-old son Isaiah as he held court with the campers, said he feels blessed to have a good story to tell. The Kickapoo High and Creighton University graduate, 29, signed a two-year deal for $6 million with the Suns after living on one-year deals with Atlanta and Charlotte the last two seasons.

"It's great for me, great for my family to be able to get a contract like that," Tolliver said, adding that the multi-year deal — while only $400,000 of the second year is guaranteed — means "a lot."

"I've signed one-year contracts the last couple of years, just trying to find the right fit," he said. "I was confident going into this situation in Phoenix that this is a great situation for me."

Tolliver is coming off his best NBA season, in terms of shooting the ball from 3-point range. The 6-foot-9 Tolliver averaged just 6.1 points, but made 102 of 247 3-pointers for the Bobcats last season, appearing in 64 games as a small forward. his 41.3 percent accuracy from long range was a career best.

With the Suns, he replaces Channing Frye as a "stretch four" — or power forward who can step out, draw his defender away from the basket and make a 3-point shot.

"I kind of recreated myself a little bit this year," Tolliver said of his season in Charlotte, his seventh NBA team in six seasons.

"Having to play the small forward position, I knew I was going to have to be a knock-down shooter.

"I've been able to shoot for a long time, but this year it all kind of clicked and came together. Next year I'm going to be back to playing power forward more, doing picking-and-popping and stuff that I'm used to doing. I'm excited about getting up and down the floor at a fast pace."

Along with reliable offensive production, Tolliver said he also hopes to continue as a positive role model who's unafraid to speak about his strong religious beliefs. He's part-owner of the apparel company Active Faith Sports.

"It's a business of mine, but it's something that means a lot more to me since it's about faith," Tolliver said. "I'm a faith-filled guy. I'm a believer and it's something that I want to share with everybody that I can.

"Of course, I don't try and force anything on anybody. I just want to let them know that I believe and if you want to believe, that's great, too. At the end of the day, it's all about me being open about it and active in my faith."

That faith helped Tolliver navigate through some tough early years in professional basketball. Included were stops in the NBA Developmental League, a brief time playing in Europe and some short-term NBA homes.

Now he's optimistic about landing in Phoenix for perhaps his best chance at success, both personal and team, so far.

"At the end of the day I just want to be an encouragement to all these kids, to be someone who's from here and made it to the highest level," he said.

Tolliver's camp concludes this morning. Tonight, he will play in the 5 p.m. game of the Mercy Sports Medicine College/Pro-Am League at The Courts.

By the numbers

A look at Anthony Tolliver's NBA career:

2008-09 (San Antonio Spurs): 19 games, 2.7 points per game, 2.2 rebounds per game

2009-10 (Portland 2 games, Golden State 44 games): 46 games, 12.3 ppg, 7.3 rpg

2010-11 (Minnesota): 65 games, 6.7 ppg., 4.4 rpg

2011-12 (Minnesota): 51 games, 5.1 ppg, 3 rpg

2012-13 (Atlanta): 62 games, 4.1 ppg, 2.5 rpg

2013-14 (Charlotte): 64 games, 6.1 ppg., 2.6 rpg

Big Dream Weekend

The annual Big Dream Weekend, featuring Tolliver and fellow Kickapoo grad Steve Warren, is set for Friday and Saturday. Warren, a former member of the Green Bay Packers, will oversee a football camp from 9-11 a.m. Friday at Harrison Stadium while Tolliver will lead a basketball game 9-11 a.m. Saturday at Drury University. Both camps are free and for more info log onto www.bigdreamsweekend.org.

Online

Video: Watch Anthony Tolliver talk about coming back home.