Tyson Cleotis Chandler is an American professional basketball center with the Dallas Mavericks
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 New York Knicks. As
starting center for Dallas, he played an integral role in 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 runs in the 2010 FIBA World Championship and the 2012 Summer Olympics.
Early life and high school career Chandler was born to Frank Chandler and Vernie
Threadgill, though he did not meet his father Frank until later in his life. He grew up
in a family 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 Bernardino, 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.
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". Detroit Pistons 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," 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. 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 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. The deal was finalized the following
week. New Orleans Hornets
In his first year in New Orleans, Chandler had a breakout season in 2006–2007, averaging
9.5 ppg and 12.4 rpg to go with 1.8 bpg. 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 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. 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.
However, he failed the physical because of a toe injury, and one day later, the Thunder
announced that they rescinded the trade. 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. Charlotte Bobcats
On July 28, 2009, he was traded to the Charlotte Bobcats in exchange for Emeka Okafor. 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. The Bobcats were, however, swept
in their first trip to the playoffs. Dallas Mavericks
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. 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. 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 into the NBA Finals as an underdog, facing the Miami Heat and their
"Big Three" of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. Chandler was instrumental in the
series, 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. In game 4, Chandler recorded 13 points and
16 rebounds. In the pivotal game 5 Chandler recorded 13 points and 7 rebounds. In the
decisive game 6, Chandler recorded 5 points, 8 rebounds and 2 blocks, helping the Mavericks
win their first championship. For his defensive efforts throughout regular season, Chandler
was selected to the All-Defensive Second Team. New York Knicks
On December 9, 2011, Chandler announced that he agreed to terms on a four-year contract
with the New York Knicks worth $58 million. He was officially acquired by the Knicks in
a three-team sign-and-trade. 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 and 1973. 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, and became
the first ever Knick to win the award. 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. 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. 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.
During the 2012-13 season, Chandler was named a reserve for the 2013 NBA All-Star Game.
It was the first All-Star selection of his career. In February, Chandler recorded 20
rebounds in three straight games, becoming the first Knick to do so since Willis Reed
in December 1969. Chandler had 7 points and 8 rebounds at the 2013 NBA All-Star Game.
On February 27, 2013, Chandler recorded a career-high 28 rebounds, including 13 in the
first quarter, in a 109-105 victory over the Golden State Warriors. On November 5, 2013,
he suffered a right fibula fracture during a 97-102 loss to the Charlotte Bobcats.
Return to Dallas Mavericks On June 25, 2014, Chandler, along with Raymond
Felton, was traded to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for Shane Larkin, Wayne Ellington,
José Calderón, Samuel Dalembert, and two second round picks in the 2014 NBA draft.
The move reunited Chandler with teammate Dirk Nowitzki as well as coach Rick Carlisle who
were part of the Mavericks title team in the 2010–11 NBA season.
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.
July 14, 2006: Traded by Chicago to the New Orleans Hornets for P.J. Brown and J.R. Smith.
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. 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
June 25, 2014: Traded by New York, along with Raymond Felton, to the Dallas Mavericks for
José Calderón, Shane Larkin, Samuel Dalembert, Wayne Ellington, and two 2014 second-round
picks. International career
United States national team Chandler was named first alternate on the
United States men's national basketball team which competed in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Chandler was a member of the United States team at the 2010 FIBA World Championship,
a team that finished 9-0 in the tournament and won the gold medal, the USA's first world
championship since 1994. He played in all nine World Championship games as a backup
center, and averaged 2.6 ppg., 2.7 rpg., shot 64.3 percent from the field, and blocked five
shots. Chandler was chosen to play for the United
States team in the 2012 London Summer Olympics, and was named the team's starting center.
The United States team finished undefeated in the tournament and won the gold medal over
Spain with a 107-100 victory. Chandler played 9 minutes, and shot 1-2 from the field. He
ended the game with two points. These two points were the first points scored during
the game. Personal life
Until the age of 10, Chandler grew up on a farm in central California.
Chandler and his wife Kimberly were married in 2005. They have three children. Chandler
and his wife organized a charity to help New Orleans families who suffered from Hurricane
Katrina. The charity helped purchase "small things" for the families' homes: TVs, stoves,
microwaves, refrigerators, pots, pans etc. The wives of Chandler's teammates helped in
the efforts. His paternal grandmother is of German descent.
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.
His sister, Erica, plays basketball at Pepperdine University. He has three brothers: Terrell,
Tervon, and Ryan. NBA career statistics
Regular season Playoffs
See also National Basketball Association portal
References
External links Career statistics and player information from
NBA.com, or Basketball-Reference.com Official website
Tyson Chandler on Twitter