Justin Anderson, his pink suitcase part of serious Mavericks’ roll

As part of his rookie duties, Dallas Mavericks forward Justin Anderson can be seen rolling around with a bright pink suitcase.

So what’s in that suitcase?

“Some lotion, some body wash, shampoo, conditioning, playing cards, hot sauce, ketchup,” Anderson said. “All the essentials.

“If somebody is eating some french fries and they want ketchup, ‘Rook, where the ketchup at? I appreciate you.’ ”

The Mavs lately have been appreciating Anderson for more than just his pink suitcase. Especially because they’re 6-0 since the rookie from Virginia moved into the starting lineup last week.

“He’s been a positive factor, there’s no question about it,” coach Rick Carlisle said before Wednesday’s game against Houston. “He’s a good defender, he’s physical, but he’s also a good rebounder, and he makes sensible plays on offense.

“He’s kept himself out of high-risk situations and outside of live ball turnovers.”

Anderson, who had his firsts double-double Friday night (19 points, 10 rebounds) also has kept himself mentally prepared, particularly since playing time was scarce earlier this season while he was trying to learn the nuances of the NBA. Although he finally cracked the starting lineup, Anderson received a little tidbit from assistant coach Darrell Armstrong on exactly what that means.

“DA always tells me I’m not a starter yet — I’m just starting,” Anderson said, while laughing. “It gets challenging sometimes, but I’m just very thankful for the opportunity right now, and I’m just trying to continue to make the most of it, because at the end of the day it’s still my rookie year.”

Anderson has averaged 7.8 points and 7.5 rebounds in 27.5 minutes, and shot 56.5 percent from the field during the four-game stretch. He has also been a huge factor on defense with five blocks and four steals while infusing plenty of intensity.

“Obviously he’s a tough kid, he can guard multiple positions,” forward Dirk Nowitzki said. “Even sometimes when we switch, he’s a big body, with his frame, he can guard bigger guards, he can get smaller guys with his quickness, and he’s a great rebounder for a wing guy.

“He just flies in there offensively and defensively. He’s got a good knack for the ball.”

Carlisle tends to lean more toward his veterans when his team is in a pickle. But with veterans Chandler Parsons (knee surgery) and Deron Williams (sports hernia) on the mend, the next man up for Carlisle to trust was Anderson.

“He’s had a lot of good stretches this year,” Carlisle said. “The growth has been steady and obvious over time.

“With Parsons going out and D-Will going out, we’re up against it to have perimeter guys. Now it becomes more of a necessity, and he’s taken the things that he’s learned throughout the year and he’s putting them to good practice now in the games to where he’s getting more minutes, and he’s helping us.”

Overall, Anderson has played 50 games and averaged 3.4 points and 2.1 rebounds in only 10.4 minutes per contest. But the growth he’s made lately was key to the Mavs’ winning streak.

“I think, shooting-wise, he’s improved a lot,” Nowitzki said. “I think the game has slowed for him some offensively where he sees stuff better and just doesn’t always go 100 miles an hour.

“I think he improved tremendously these first three months, and he’s been a big role on both ends of the floor.”

A 6-foot-6, 228-pounder who was the No. 21 overall pick of last June’s NBA Draft, Anderson is one of the few Mavericks who has superior athleticism and plays with an abundance of energy.

“The reason I started him was because we were having an energy problem last week and he’s a guy that gives you boundless energy,” Carlisle said. “One of the things that’s interesting during this period, we’ve become more of a tempo team these last four games and at Virginia, they were a tempo-type team, a mid-tempo type team.

“So I’m not saying we’re a slow-down team, but we are a team that’s very conscious of the fact that we have some key guys out and we have to play the game at a certain pace and a certain way, and he’s stepped into that sort of adjusted situation and done well.”

As the Mavs try to lock up a playoff berth, Anderson hopes to continue being a difference-maker while also remaining in the starting lineup.

“I’m very fortune to be in the position to be playing,” Anderson said. “I remember talking to our player development guy and just saying, ‘Man, if I can just get a minute, if I can just get two minutes out there.’

“I just want to try to go out there and play as hard as I can to have an impact. Fortunately, I’ve been gifted with that, and I’ve just got to continue to stay hungry.”

And continue to roll around with that bright pink suitcase.

This story was originally published April 6, 2016 at 9:55 PM with the headline "Justin Anderson, his pink suitcase part of serious Mavericks’ roll."