Juan Toscano-Anderson has an eye to the future — for himself and Oakland’s young hoopers

OAKLAND – Juan Toscano-Anderson faced 70 or so wide-eyed children decked out in Golden State jerseys of both the Valkyries and Warriors variety at the Open Gym Premier facility south of Lake Merritt.

Some 25 years after the Oakland native sat in that same spot as a camp-goer in the East Bay, Toscano-Anderson regaled this year’s group with stories of winning the 2022 title with the hometown team, and having a front row seat to watching LeBron James shatter the all-time scoring record a year later as a member of the Lakers.

He exhorted them to work hard, to treat one another with respect, to put down electronics and instead attend to their studies in both the classroom and the court.

Though not every child came from the same environment as Toscano-Anderson, he was confident he could have a positive impact on every listener.

“I’m from East Oakland, and so I’m just trying to bring back positivity, share my experiences, because I can truly relate to these kids,” Toscano-Anderson told the Bay Area News Group last week at the Golden State Sports Academy Basketball Camp. He says his time at camps like the one at OGP helped inspire his rise to the NBA.

Toscano-Anderson, now 33, is the most recent Bay Area product to suit up for the Warriors. He grew up in The Town and attended Castro Valley High, where he led the public school to the 2011 North Coast Section Division I title.

After playing collegiately at Marquette and going undrafted, Toscano-Anderson played in Mexico and Venezuela before carving out a four-year stint with the hometown Warriors from 2018-22.

Though he has since played for the Lakers, Jazz and Kings before splitting the last two years between Mexico and Italy, Toscano-Anderson still says “we” when referring to the Warriors.

“I’m a camper who has gone on to play for the Warriors, and the only camper who has won a championship,” he said. “It doesn’t matter if I’m not a player anymore. I’m still gonna root for that team. That’s my team. I’m born and raised in East Oakland. I’m a Warrior through and through.”

He still works out at the team’s facilities and is welcomed back to games and events years after he last donned a Warriors uniform. He looks forward to the chance to mentor the East Bay’s youngsters at these camps, and his work is appreciated by more than just the campers.

This includes Jeff Addiego, the president of Golden State Sports Academy, the arm of the Warriors organization that runs camps and the Shoot 360 programs around the Bay Area.

“We’re super proud of everything he’s accomplished,” Addiego told the Bay Area News Group at a basketball camp in San Francisco on Saturday. “And we’re just super appreciative anytime he’s back in the building with us, sharing his story, inspiring that next generation.”

Toscano-Anderson is still weighing where he’ll turn next after finishing last season in Italy’s Basket Serie A. Representing Pallacanestro Trieste in the nation’s far northeast, he averaged 9.7 points, 4.7 rebounds and 3.4 assists for a playoff team.

He ruled out playing in the NBA G League, and with his son Jadyce almost ready to begin preschool in the Bay Area, the Oaklander has begun to look at other careers that will allow him to spend more time with his family.

“I don’t really know at the moment,” Toscano-Anderson said. “Business, broadcasting, commentating, things like that. Maybe some more modeling, you know, now that I have more time. But I’m still young. I’ve still got a lot in these legs.”

If Toscano-Anderson puts away his sneakers and jersey for good, he will join the millions who count Steph Curry as his favorite player. Though he is one of a handful who can call Curry a former teammate, even he is still amazed by what the Golden State star does at age 38 on a nightly basis.

“It’s dope, man. You don’t see that every day, so I hope people are appreciating it, and I hope Bay Area fans are really just cherishing what we have,” Toscano-Anderson said.

Could one of the kids he addressed in Oakland grow up to be the next Warriors superstar?

Toscano-Anderson didn’t rule it out.

“When I was at camp, the person that was sitting next to me didn’t know I was going to the NBA,” he said. “So who knows? Maybe it’s you. Maybe it’s the person next to you.”