Who is Tyson Cleotis Chandler? The sports world knows hims as Tyson Chandler, he is an American professional basketball center who currently plays for the New York Knicks of the National Basketball Association. Chandler was the second overall pick of the 2001 NBA Draft by the Los Angeles Clippers, then was immediately traded to the Chicago Bulls. He has also played for the New Orleans Hornets, Charlotte Bobcats, and Dallas Mavericks. As starting center for Dallas, he helped win the franchise's first NBA championship in 2011. He was also a member of the United States men's national basketball team's gold medal run in the 2010 FIBA Basketball World Cup.Early life and high school career
Chandler was born October 2, 1982 to a single mother. He and his two brothers, Terrell and Tervon, grew up in their family's farm in Hanford, California, just south of Fresno, California.
Chandler began playing basketball at three years old on a basket
Chandler's grandfather, Cleotis, fixed on a tree. Chandler grew up doing
farm work such as milking cows, slopping pigs, and cultivating crops.
At nine years old Chandler and his mother moved to San Bernadino, California;
he was already nearly six feet tall. As a child Chandler was teased
because of his height; children on his school basketball team joked that
he was older than he really was, and that he had been left back several
times in school.[1]Chandler and his family then moved to Compton, California, where he enrolled at Dominguez High School, a school known for its athletics, producing basketball players such as Dennis Johnson and Cedric Ceballos. In his freshman year, Chandler made the varsity team and played with future NBA player Tayshaun Prince, who was then a senior. With the Dominguez Dons, Chandler became a teenage sensation; current players such as DeMar DeRozan watched him play and claimed "he was like Shaq". Milwaukee Bucks guard Brandon Jennings, who was a ball boy for Dominguez at the time, said, "You'd see the girls around Tyson, the Escalade he drove, and you wanted to be like him,"[2] Chandler earned accolades from Parade Magazine and USA Today, and was selected to the McDonald's High School All-America Team. As a freshman, he was profiled on current affairs TV program 60 Minutes.
In his junior year, Chandler averaged 20 points, 12 rebounds, 6 assists and 3 blocks. In his senior year, Chandler led Dominguez to a state championship and a 31-4 record, averaging 26 points, 15 boards, and 8 blocks a game.[1] Chandler was recruited by several universities and considered UCLA, Arizona, Syracuse, Memphis, Kentucky and Michigan. Chandler then declared for the 2001 NBA draft as a prep-to-pro.
Professional career
Chicago Bulls (2001-2006)
Tyson Chandler was selected 2nd overall by the Los Angeles Clippers, who immediately traded his rights to the Chicago Bulls for former NBA Rookie of the Year Award recipient Elton Brand. The Bulls intended to pair Chandler with fellow high school phenomenon Eddy Curry
in the front court. However, while both players had stretches of
success during their time with the Bulls, they rarely coincided. In
Chandler's case, back problems were a recurring issue throughout his
career, particularly during the 2003–04 season. During the early part of his career, Chandler feuded with Brendan Haywood of the Washington Wizards and Amar'e Stoudemire of the Phoenix Suns. Later, although the feuds became less frequent, Chandler struggled with foul trouble, which limited his playing time.Chandler also played a major role in the resurgent Bulls' playoff run in the 2004–05 season. Finding a role as a fourth-quarter defensive specialist, with notable game-saving blocks against stars like Paul Pierce and Carmelo Anthony, he was rewarded with a long-term deal to remain with the Chicago Bulls for the next six years, reportedly worth close to $63 million. With Curry's departure after the 2004–05 season, Chandler became the last member of the Bulls left from the Jerry Krause era.
During the 2005–2006 season, Chandler's biggest impact was on defense, but he struggled again with foul problems and averaged only 5.3 points per game. Due in part to his sub-par playoff performance and the Bulls' signing of four-time Defensive Player of the Year Ben Wallace in the off-season after the 2005–2006 season, Bulls GM John Paxson began to consider moving Chandler. On July 5, 2006, the Bulls and the Hornets verbally agreed to a trade that would send Chandler to the New Orleans Hornets in exchange for J.R. Smith and P.J. Brown.[3] The deal was finalized the following week.[4]
New Orleans Hornets (2006-2009)
Chandler followed that up with an even better season where he put up
11.7 points and 11.8 rebounds a game and led the league in offensive
rebounding. His defense, rebounding and the ability to connect with
Chris Paul on the Crescent City Connection (Name for their alleyoop
pass) allowed the Hornets to claim the 2007–08 Southwest division for
the first time ever with 56 wins. Chandler played well in the playoffs
and defended Tim Duncan valiantly but in the end the Hornets lost a
heartbreaking Game 7 where Chandler limited Duncan to 5–17 shooting.
Chandler was named to Team USA as the number 1 alternate to compete in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.In 197 regular season games with the Hornets franchise, Chandler averaged 10.2 ppg, 11.3 rpg and 1.4 bpg, while shooting 61.1% from the field. On February 17, 2009, Chandler was traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder for Chris Wilcox, Joe Smith and the rights to DeVon Hardin.[5] However, he failed the physical because of a toe injury, and one day later, the Thunder announced that they rescinded the trade.[6] Coincidentally, the doctor in Oklahoma City who failed Chandler on the physical was the same doctor who had performed corrective surgery on the toe two years earlier.[7]
Charlotte Bobcats (2009-2010)
On July 28, 2009, he was traded to the Charlotte Bobcats in exchange for Emeka Okafor.[8] Chandler joined a Bobcats team that had never made the playoffs in their young history. Chandler struggled with injuries in 2009–10, missing more than a month with a stress fracture in his left foot. Chandler still helped the Bobcats win 44 games and earn their first-ever postseason berth. The Bobcats, led by Gerald Wallace and Stephen Jackson, made it to the playoffs as the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference, and went up against the Orlando Magic. Chandler had the task of defending Dwight Howard. Chandler limited Howard to 9 points and 9 rebounds per game, both below his season and career averages.[9] The Bobcats were, however, swept in their first trip to the playoffs.Dallas Mavericks (2010-2011)
On July 13, 2010, Chandler was traded to the Dallas Mavericks, along with Alexis Ajinça, in exchange for Matt Carroll, Erick Dampier and Eduardo Nájera.[10] Chandler was expected to shine next to all-stars Dirk Nowitzki and point guard Jason Kidd.
Chandler quickly became a fan-favorite in Dallas because of his
defensive efforts and athleticism on both ends of the floor. He was
credited with making the Mavericks "tough" and anchoring the defense
with his hustle and intensity.[11] The Mavericks went 57–25, earning the third seed in the western conference. They defeated a deep Portland Trail Blazers team in six games, swept Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers, and defeated Kevin Durant and the Oklahoma City Thunder in 5 games. The Mavericks went in to the NBA Finals as an underdog,[12][13] facing the Miami Heat and their "Big Three" of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. Chandler was instrumental in the series,[14] defensively stopping LeBron James' and Dwyane Wade's penetration to the rim. Chandler was forced to play major minutes because of an injury to backup center Brendan Haywood and the inexperience of Ian Mahinmi[citation needed].
In game 5, Chandler recorded 13 points and 16 rebounds. In the decisive
game 6, Chandler recorded 13 points, 7 rebounds and 2 blocks, helping
the Mavericks win their first championship.[15] For his defensive efforts throughout regular season, Chandler was selected to the All-Defensive Second Team.New York Knicks (2011-present)
On December 9, 2011, Chandler announced that he agreed to terms on a four-year contract with the New York Knicks worth $58 million.[16] He was officially acquired by the Knicks in a three-team sign-and-trade.[17] On Opening Day, Christmas 2011, Chandler finished with 7 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists and 6 blocks in a 106–104 win over the Boston Celtics.Chandler finished the regular season with a 67.9% field goal percentage, the third highest in NBA history, exceeded only by Wilt Chamberlain in 1967 (68.26%) and 1973 (72.7%).[18] He won the 2012 NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award with 45 first place votes and 311 points overall, ahead of Serge Ibaka of the Oklahoma City Thunder with 41 first place votes and 294 votes,[19] and became the first ever Knick to win the award.[20]
In May 2012, Chandler was named second team All-Defensive behind Ibaka and Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic, who made first-team All-Defensive.[21] Although Chandler was voted Defensive Player of the Year by the press, the All-Defensive Team is chosen by the league's 30 head coaches (who cannot vote for their own players). And while his 13 first-team votes and 36 overall points were more than the totals for first-team selections Tony Allen of the Memphis Grizzlies and Chris Paul of the Los Angeles Clippers, Howard received 41 points with 16 first-team votes, and only one center can be named to the team.[22]
United States national team
Chandler was chosen to play for the United States men's basketball team in the 2012 London Summer Olympics.Career transactions
- June 27, 2001: Drafted 2nd overall by Los Angeles Clippers in 2001 NBA Draft.
- June 27, 2001: Traded by L.A. Clippers along with Brian Skinner to the Chicago Bulls for Elton Brand.[23]
- July 14, 2006: Traded by Chicago to the New Orleans Hornets for P.J. Brown and J.R. Smith.[24]
- February 17, 2009: Traded by New Orleans to the Oklahoma City Thunder for Chris Wilcox, Joe Smith and the rights to DeVon Hardin.
- February 18, 2009: The Oklahoma City Thunder void their trade for Tyson Chandler, because he failed to pass a physical.
- July 28, 2009: The New Orleans Hornets traded Tyson Chandler to the Charlotte Bobcats in exchange for Emeka Okafor.[25]
- July 13, 2010: Traded by Charlotte along with Alexis Ajinça to the Dallas Mavericks for Matt Carroll, Erick Dampier and Eduardo Nájera.
- December 9, 2011: Acquired by the New York Knicks in a three team trade
Personal life
Until the age of 10, Chandler grew up on a farm in central California.[26]
Chandler and his wife Kimberly organized a charity to help New Orleans families who suffered from Hurricane Katrina.
The charity helped purchase "small things" (as Chandler said) for the
families' homes: TVs, stoves, microwaves, refrigerators, pots, pans etc.
The wives of Chandler's teammates helped in the efforts.[27]His paternal grandmother is of German descent.[28]
He was the subject of a limited edition 100 copy zine titled "Tyson Chandler". The zine was created in fall 2011 by Camilla Venturini and the photographer Ari Marcopoulos, and was the subject of a lengthy article in the Wall Street Journal.[29]
NBA career statistics
| Legend | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
| FG% | Field-goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field-goal percentage | FT% | Free-throw percentage |
| RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
| BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game | Bold | Career high |
Regular season
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001–02 | Chicago | 71 | 31 | 19.6 | .497 | .000 | .604 | 4.8 | .8 | .4 | 1.3 | 6.1 |
| 2002–03 | Chicago | 75 | 68 | 24.4 | .531 | .000 | .608 | 6.9 | 1.0 | .5 | 1.4 | 9.2 |
| 2003–04 | Chicago | 35 | 8 | 22.3 | .424 | .000 | .669 | 7.7 | .7 | .5 | 1.2 | 6.1 |
| 2004–05 | Chicago | 80 | 10 | 27.4 | .494 | .000 | .673 | 9.7 | .8 | .9 | 1.8 | 8.0 |
| 2005–06 | Chicago | 79 | 50 | 26.8 | .565 | .000 | .503 | 9.0 | 1.0 | .5 | 1.3 | 5.3 |
| 2006–07 | NO/Oklahoma City | 73 | 73 | 34.6 | .624 | .000 | .527 | 12.4 | .9 | .5 | 1.8 | 9.5 |
| 2007–08 | New Orleans | 79 | 79 | 35.2 | .623 | .000 | .593 | 11.7 | 1.0 | .6 | 1.1 | 11.8 |
| 2008–09 | New Orleans | 45 | 45 | 32.1 | .565 | .000 | .579 | 8.7 | .5 | .3 | 1.2 | 8.8 |
| 2009–10 | Charlotte | 51 | 27 | 22.8 | .574 | .000 | .732 | 6.3 | 1.1 | .3 | 1.1 | 6.5 |
| 2010–11 | Dallas | 74 | 74 | 27.8 | .654 | .000 | .732 | 9.4 | .4 | .5 | 1.1 | 10.1 |
| 2011–12 | New York | 62 | 62 | 33.2 | .679 | .000 | .689 | 9.9 | .9 | .9 | 1.4 | 11.3 |
| Career | 724 | 527 | 28.1 | .578 | .000 | .633 | 8.9 | .8 | .6 | 1.4 | 8.6 |
Playoffs
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Chicago | 6 | 0 | 28.7 | .475 | .000 | .696 | 9.7 | 1.3 | .2 | 2.2 | 11.7 |
| 2006 | Chicago | 6 | 0 | 17.3 | .667 | .000 | .300 | 4.5 | .5 | .3 | .3 | 1.8 |
| 2008 | New Orleans | 12 | 12 | 34.3 | .632 | .000 | .625 | 10.3 | .4 | .4 | 1.7 | 8.0 |
| 2009 | New Orleans | 4 | 4 | 23.5 | .500 | .000 | .500 | 5.3 | .5 | .5 | .2 | 3.8 |
| 2010 | Charlotte | 4 | 0 | 15.0 | .545 | .000 | .667 | 2.5 | .5 | .5 | .8 | 3.5 |
| 2011 | Dallas | 21 | 21 | 32.4 | .582 | .000 | .679 | 9.2 | .4 | .6 | .9 | 8.0 |
| 2012 | New York | 5 | 5 | 33.4 | .440 | .000 | .600 | 9.0 | .8 | 1.4 | 1.4 | 6.2 |
| Career | 58 | 42 | 29.1 | .562 | .000 | .644 | 8.2 | .6 | .6 | 1.1 | 7.0 |
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