Tyson Cleotis Chandler (born October 2, 1982)[1] is an American former professionalbasketball player and coach.
Chandler was drafteddirectly out of high school as the second overall pick of the2001 NBA draft by theLos Angeles Clippers, then was immediately traded to theChicago Bulls. He has also played for theNew Orleans Hornets,Charlotte Bobcats,Dallas Mavericks,New York Knicks,Phoenix Suns andLos Angeles Lakers. As startingcenter for Dallas, he played an integral role in the franchise's firstNBA championship in2011.
Chandler was named to theNBA All-Defensive Team three times. While with New York, he was voted theNBA Defensive Player of the Year in 2012, when he was also named to theAll-NBA Third Team. He won gold medals with theUS national team in the 2010FIBA World Championship and the2012 Summer Olympics.
Tyson Cleotis Chandler was born on October 2, 1982, inHanford, California, to Frank Chandler and Vernie Threadgill, though he did not meet his father Frank until later in life.[2] He grew up on a family farm inHanford, California, just south ofFresno, California.[3] Chandler began playing basketball at the age of three years 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 the age of nine years, Chandler and his mother moved toSan 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.[4]
As a freshman, Chandler enrolled atDominguez High School inCompton, California, a school known for its athletics,[5] producing basketball players such asDennis Johnson andCedric Ceballos. In his freshman year, Chandler made thevarsity team and played with future NBA playerTayshaun Prince, who was then a senior. With the Dominguez Dons, Chandler became a teenage sensation; younger future pros such asDeMar DeRozan watched him play and claimed "he was likeShaq". Point guardBrandon Jennings, who was a ball boy for Dominguez at the time, said, "You'd see the girls around Tyson, theEscalade he drove, and you wanted to be like him".[6] Chandler earned accolades fromParade Magazine andUSA Today and was selected to theMcDonald's High School All-America Team. As a freshman, he was profiled on current affairs TV program60 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 rebounds, and 8 blocks a game.[4] Chandler was recruited by several universities and consideredUCLA,Arizona,Syracuse,Memphis,Kentucky andMichigan. Chandler then declared for the2001 NBA draft as aprep-to-pro.
Chandler was selected by theLos Angeles Clippers with the second overall pick in the2001 NBA draft, before being immediately traded to theChicago Bulls for former No. 1 overall pickElton Brand. The Bulls placed their rebuilding efforts on the backs of two teenagers in Chandler andEddy Curry.[7] Chandler's 2003–04 season saw him appear in a career-low 35 games. He missed two months early in the season with a bad back,[8] before missing the final weeks of the season after landing hard on his back on March 27 against theAtlanta Hawks.[9] In September 2005, Chandler signed a six-year, $64 million deal with the Bulls.[10] In July 2006, the Bulls looked to deal away Chandler, who had five years and $54 million left on his contract, to pursueBen Wallace.[11]
On July 14, 2006, Chandler was traded to theNew Orleans Hornets in exchange forP. J. Brown andJ. R. Smith.[12]
Chandler led the NBA in offensive rebounds in both 2006–07 and 2007–08, ranking second in the league in rebounds per game in 2006–07 and third in rebounds per game in 2007–08. He also ranked second in the NBA in field goal percentage in 2007–08 (.623) and would have led the league at .624 in 2006–07 but fell four field goals short of the statistical minimum to qualify.[13]
On February 17, 2009, Chandler was traded to theOklahoma City Thunder in exchange forChris Wilcox,Joe Smith and the draft rights toDeVon Hardin.[14] After examining Chandler's left big toe however, the Thunder determined that the risk of re-injury was too great and did not give Chandler a clean bill of health.[15] As a result, on February 18, the trade was rescinded and Chandler was sent back to the Hornets.[16] Chandler appeared in just 45 games during the 2008–09 season, missing 29 of the team's final 44 games due to left ankle injuries.[13][17][18][19] Chandler finished the 2008–09 season as the franchise's all-time leader in field goal percentage (.611) and rebounds per game (11.3), while ranking fifth in total rebounds despite playing just 197 career games with the team (2,225).[13]
On July 28, 2009, Chandler was traded to theCharlotte Bobcats in exchange forEmeka Okafor.[13] In his lone season with the Bobcats, Chandler played in 51 games (starting 27) and averaged 6.5 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.1 blocks despite being hampered by a stress reaction in his left foot that caused him to miss 29 games.[20]
On July 13, 2010, Chandler was traded, along withAlexis Ajinça, to theDallas Mavericks in exchange forErick Dampier,Eduardo Nájera,Matt Carroll and cash considerations.[20] Chandler was the perfect fit during his first season with the Mavericks, anchoring their defense on a team withDirk Nowitzki,Jason Terry andJason Kidd.[21] He was credited with giving the Mavericks the 'toughness' and defensive intensity that they sorely lacked, earning selection to theNBA All-Defensive Second Team for his efforts.[22] He helped them reach the2011 NBA Finals, where they faced theMiami Heat. In Game 4 against the Heat, with Nowitzki under the weather and ailing backup centerBrendan Haywood unable to stay in the game, Chandler had 13 points and 16 rebounds in an 86–83 win that tied the series at 2–2. He grabbed nine offensive boards, with eight coming after the first quarter.[23] The Mavericks went on to defeat the Heat in six games, with Chandler winning his first and only championship.[24]
Following the 2010–11 season, Chandler was tipped to be a highly sought-after free agent.[24] He was heavily courted by theGolden State Warriors andHouston Rockets among other teams.[25] While they were keen to retain him, the Mavericks were cautious not to overextend on Chandler and risk missing out onDwight Howard orDeron Williams in 2012.[24][26] As a result, they offered only a two-year deal to Chandler, which he declined.[25][27] Mavericks ownerMark Cuban infamously broke up the championship-winning team, choosing to addLamar Odom,Vince Carter andDelonte West instead of bringing back Chandler,J. J. Barea andDeShawn Stevenson.[28] At the time, Cuban chose to proceed cautiously in the era of a new collective bargaining agreement, believing that financial flexibility (and not locking in veterans to long-term deals that would eat up future cap space) was more valuable than trying to repeat as champions.[29] In August 2016, Chandler opined that if the Mavericks had not broken up the 2011 championship-winning team, they would have gone on to win back-to-back titles in 2012.[30]
On December 10, 2011, Chandler was acquired by theNew York Knicks viasign-and-trade as part of a three-team trade,[31] joining the Knicks on a reported four-year, $58 million contract.[25] With Chandler anchoring the middle, New York's defense improved markedly in 2011–12.[32] After finishing 22nd in defensive efficiency in 2010–11, the Knicks finished fifth in defensive efficiency in 2011–12.[33][34] Chandler finished the season with a league-leading 67.9 field-goal percentage, the third highest in league history at the time behind onlyWilt Chamberlain with 72.7 in 1972–73 and 68.3 in 1966–67.[35] In May 2012, he was named theNBA Defensive Player of the Year and earnedNBA All-Defensive Second Team honors.[36] He became the first player in franchise history to win Defensive Player of the Year,[32] and joinedAlvin Robertson (1986) andDikembe Mutombo (1995) as defensive players of the year on the Second All-Defensive Team.[36] Due to a different voting system for All-Defensive, Oklahoma City'sSerge Ibaka was the forward on the first team, while Orlando'sDwight Howard was the center.[36] Additionally, Chandler was named to theAll-NBA Third Team.[37]
In January 2013, Chandler was named an NBA All-Star for the first time in his 12-year career, earning selection as an Eastern Conference reserve for the2013 NBA All-Star Game.[38] In early February, he tied a franchise record with three straight 20-rebound games, becoming the first Knicks player to have 20 in three straight games sinceWillis Reed in December 1969.[39] On February 27, he had 16 points and a career-best 28 rebounds in a 109–105 win over theGolden State Warriors.[40] In May 2013, he was named in theNBA All-Defensive First Team, becoming the first Knicks player to earn first-team honors sinceCharles Oakley in 1994.[41]
After the 2012–13 season, his third averaging a double-double while shooting at least 60 percent from the field, Chandler matchedWilt Chamberlain and joinedArtis Gilmore as the only players in league history to accomplish this at least three times in their careers (DeAndre Jordan has since accomplished this feat).
Marred by injury early in the 2013–14 season, it took Chandler some time to get his rhythm back.[42] A right knee injury suffered on November 5 against theCharlotte Bobcats[43] and an upper respiratory illness endured in early January[44] resulted in Chandler appearing in just 55 games.[42][45]
On June 25, 2014, Chandler was traded back to theDallas Mavericks along withRaymond Felton in exchange forShane Larkin,Wayne Ellington,José Calderón,Samuel Dalembert, and two second round picks in the2014 NBA draft.[46] The move reunited Chandler with championship comradesDirk Nowitzki andJ. J. Barea, as well as coachRick Carlisle.[47] In 75 games during the 2014–15 season, Chandler averaged a double-double with 10.3 points on 66.6 percent shooting and 11.5 rebounds, in addition to 1.2 blocks. With a career field goal percentage of 59.1 percent at the end of the 2014–15 season, Chandler had the second-highest field goal percentage in NBA history among those with at least 2,000 makes, trailing only Gilmore.[48]
On July 9, 2015, Chandler signed a four-year, $52 million contract with thePhoenix Suns.[48][49] On November 27, he suffered a strained right hamstring against theGolden State Warriors.[50] He subsequently missed eight games.[51][52] On January 21, Chandler grabbed a season-high 20 rebounds in a 117–89 loss to theSan Antonio Spurs.[53] Two days later, in a 98–95 win over theAtlanta Hawks, Chandler tied a Suns record with 27 rebounds, including 17 in the first half, and also had 13 points and a season-high five assists. His 27 rebounds equaled the record total set byPaul Silas in 1971, and his 13 offensive boards set a franchise record. Chandler also became the first Suns player in franchise history to record consecutive 20-rebound games.[54]
On December 11, 2016, Chandler had 14 points and 21 rebounds in a 120–119 overtime loss to theNew Orleans Pelicans.[55] Two days later, he grabbed a season-best 23 rebounds in a 113–111 overtime win over theNew York Knicks.[56] With his third 20-rebound game of the season on January 3 in a 99–90 win over theMiami Heat,[57] Chandler became the first Suns player with three-plus in a season sinceCharles Barkley (5) in 1993–94.[58] On January 21, in a 107–105 win over theNew York Knicks, Chandler set a team record by grabbing 15-plus rebounds in seven consecutive games.[59] One night after setting the mark, Chandler ended his franchise record and career high of consecutive 15-plus rebound games at seven with nine rebounds against theToronto Raptors.[60] His best stretch of the season came between January 19–24, where he had three games of over 16 points (averaging 17.25) and over 16 rebounds (averaging 14.5),[61] including scoring a season-high 22 points twice.[62] Chandler appeared in 47 of the Suns' first 57 games before being deactivated following the All-Star break.[62] Chandler reportedly told Suns management at the trade deadline he did not want to be dealt, and they acquiesced to his wishes.[63]
During the 2017–18 season, Chandler battled through a neck injury that sidelined him periodically for 36 total games.[64] On January 14, 2018, Chandler grabbed 14 rebounds against theIndiana Pacers to become the 40th player in league history to reach 10,000 for his career.[65] He played in just 46 games in 2017–18, including missing the final month of the season.[66]
After starting the 2018–19 season with a reduced role due to the arrival of rookieDeandre Ayton,[67] Chandler and the Suns reached a buyout agreement on November 4, 2018.[68]
On November 6, 2018, Chandler signed with theLos Angeles Lakers.[69]
On July 19, 2019, Chandler signed with theHouston Rockets.[70] Chandler's final NBA game was played in Game 5 of the 2020 Western Conference First Round on August 29, 2020, against the Oklahoma City Thunder. In that game Tyson was in for less than 1 minute and only shot 2 free throws (missing both). The Rockets would win the game 114 - 80 and go on to win the series in 7 games.
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Chandler was named first alternate on theUnited States national team which competed in the2008 Beijing Olympics.
Chandler was a member of the United States team at the2010 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, averaged 2.6 ppg and 2.7 rpg, shot 64.3 percent from the field, and blocked five shots.[71]
Chandler was chosen to play for the United States team in the2012 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 overSpain with a 107–100 victory. Chandler played 9 minutes, and made 1 of 2 shots from the field. He ended the game with two points, which were the first points scored during the game.[72]
In the summer of 2021, Chandler became a player development coach for theDallas Mavericks;[73] joining head coach and former teammateJason Kidd. The strategic hire, along with former Maverick champion, JJ Barea, was a part of the "Mavs Legends" coaching program created by owner Mark Cuban.[74] Chandler, works specifically with the team's centers, includingDereck Lively II. His role is specifically geared towards helping players improve their skills and understanding of the game.[75]
Until the age of 10, Chandler grew up with his grandfather on a farm in central California.[76][77]
His sister, Erica, played basketball atPepperdine University.[78] He has three brothers: Terrell, Tervon, and Ryan.[79] His paternal grandmother is ofGerman descent.[80] Chandler is the son of Frank Chandler and the late Vernie Re Threadgill.[81]
Chandler and his wife Kimberly were married in 2005 and separated in August 2021. In September 2021, she filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences. They have three children.[82][83]
Beyond basketball, Chandler has shown interest in business, fashion, and philanthropy.
In 2005 Chandler and his wife organized a charity to helpNew Orleans families who suffered fromHurricane 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.[84]
In 2016, Chandler joinedUNICEF Kid Power as a UNICEF Kid Power Champion for a mission in Uganda,[85] in an effort to fight global malnutrition and as well as raise awareness among kids, via the world's first "wearable for good".
He is involved in several notable real estate investments,[86][87] and in 2012 had a successful collaboration withEsquivel shoes, creating a shoe he described as “hybrid boot and dress shoe.” He also worked on a collection withJoseph Abboud.[88]
In 2011, he was the subject of a limited edition 100-copyzine titled "Tyson Chandler".[89] The zine was created in fall 2011 by Camilla Venturini and the photographerAri Marcopoulos, and was the subject of a lengthy article in theWall Street Journal.[90]
| 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 |
| † | Won anNBA championship | * | Led the league |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001–02 | Chicago | 71 | 31 | 19.6 | .497 | — | .604 | 4.8 | .8 | .4 | 1.3 | 6.1 |
| 2002–03 | Chicago | 75 | 68 | 24.4 | .531 | — | .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 | New Orleans | 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 | — | .579 | 8.7 | .5 | .3 | 1.2 | 8.8 |
| 2009–10 | Charlotte | 51 | 27 | 22.8 | .574 | — | .732 | 6.3 | .3 | .3 | 1.1 | 6.5 |
| 2010–11† | Dallas | 74 | 74 | 27.8 | .654 | — | .732 | 9.4 | .4 | .5 | 1.1 | 10.1 |
| 2011–12 | New York | 62 | 62 | 33.2 | .679* | .000 | .689 | 11.0 | .9 | .9 | 1.4 | 11.3 |
| 2012–13 | New York | 66 | 66 | 32.8 | .638 | — | .694 | 10.7 | .9 | .6 | 1.1 | 10.4 |
| 2013–14 | New York | 55 | 55 | 30.2 | .593 | .000 | .632 | 9.6 | 1.1 | .7 | 1.1 | 8.7 |
| 2014–15 | Dallas | 75 | 75 | 30.5 | .666 | — | .720 | 11.5 | 1.1 | .6 | 1.2 | 10.3 |
| 2015–16 | Phoenix | 66 | 60 | 24.5 | .583 | .000 | .620 | 8.7 | 1.0 | .5 | .7 | 7.2 |
| 2016–17 | Phoenix | 47 | 46 | 27.6 | .671 | — | .734 | 11.5 | .6 | .7 | .5 | 8.4 |
| 2017–18 | Phoenix | 46 | 46 | 25.0 | .647 | — | .617 | 9.1 | 1.2 | .3 | .6 | 6.5 |
| 2018–19 | Phoenix | 7 | 0 | 12.7 | .667 | — | .556 | 5.6 | .9 | .3 | .1 | 3.7 |
| L.A. Lakers | 48 | 6 | 16.4 | .609 | .000 | .594 | 5.6 | .6 | .4 | .5 | 3.1 | |
| 2019–20 | Houston | 26 | 5 | 8.4 | .778 | — | .462 | 2.5 | .2 | .2 | .3 | 1.3 |
| Career | 1,160 | 886 | 27.3 | .597 | .000 | .644 | 9.0 | .8 | .5 | 1.2 | 8.2 | |
| All-Star | 1 | 0 | 17.0 | .400 | .000 | 1.000 | 8.0 | .0 | .0 | .0 | 7.0 | |
| 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 | .3 | 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 |
| 2013 | New York | 12 | 12 | 29.2 | .538 | .000 | .750 | 7.3 | .3 | .7 | 1.2 | 5.7 |
| 2015 | Dallas | 5 | 5 | 32.0 | .655 | .000 | .500 | 10.8 | .2 | .6 | 1.2 | 10.2 |
| 2020 | Houston | 1 | 0 | 0.0 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Career | 76 | 59 | 28.9 | .566 | .000 | .628 | 8.1 | .5 | .6 | 1.1 | 6.9 | |
Tyson Chandler and his wife Kimberly are super great people — they recently organized a charity to help New Orleans families who suffered from Hurricane Katrina.
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