Chris Andersen facts for kids
Andersen with the Nuggets in 2009
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| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | July 7, 1978 Long Beach, California, U.S. |
| High school | Iola (Iola, Texas) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) |
| Listed weight | 245 lb (111 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Blinn (1997–1999) |
| NBA Draft | 1999 / Undrafted |
| Pro career | 1999–2017 |
| Career history | |
| 1999–2000 | Jiangsu Nangang |
| 2000 | New Mexico Slam |
| 2000–2001 | Fargo-Moorhead Beez |
| 2001 | Sugarland Sharks |
| 2001 | Fayetteville Patriots |
| 2001–2004 | Denver Nuggets |
| 2004–2006, 2008 | New Orleans Hornets |
| 2008–2012 | Denver Nuggets |
| 2013–2016 | Miami Heat |
| 2016 | Memphis Grizzlies |
| 2016–2017 | Cleveland Cavaliers |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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Christopher Claus Andersen, born on July 7, 1978, is a former professional basketball player from the United States. He is famously known by his nickname "Birdman". Chris was born in Long Beach, California, and grew up in Iola, Texas. He played one year of college basketball at Blinn College.
Andersen started his professional basketball journey in China and in American minor leagues. He then joined the National Basketball Association (NBA), playing for teams like the Denver Nuggets and the New Orleans Hornets. He later played for the Miami Heat and won an NBA championship with them in 2013. Chris Andersen and Oliver Lafayette are the only students from Blinn College to ever play in the NBA. He last played for the team called Power in the Big3 league.
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Early Life and Family
Chris Andersen is the second of three children. His father, Claus Andersen, was an immigrant from Denmark. His mother, Linda Holubec, was from Tennessee and played basketball in high school.
In 1982, when Chris was four years old, his family moved to Texas. They bought a 10-acre piece of land in Iola, which is about 100 miles northwest of Houston. His family lived a simple life, and his mother worked various jobs. They also received help from neighbors and his mother's brother.
College Basketball Journey
When Chris was a teenager, his high school basketball coach, Robert Stewart, encouraged him to play basketball. The coach believed basketball could help Chris get a college scholarship.
Chris went to Blinn College in Brenham. He played one season for the Blinn Buccaneers. During that season, he was the top player in the National Junior College Athletic Association for blocks.
Professional Basketball Career
Starting in China and Minor Leagues (1999–2001)
Chris Andersen decided to leave Blinn College in 1999 to play basketball professionally. He didn't know he needed to officially sign up for the NBA draft to be chosen by a team.
His high school coach helped him play in some exhibition games with a semi-professional team called the Texas Ambassadors. One game in China led Chris to get an offer to play for the Jiangsu Nangang Dragons in the Chinese Basketball Association.
In March 2000, Andersen joined the New Mexico Slam in the International Basketball League. He played a few games there. Later that year, he joined the Fargo-Moorhead Beez in another league, the International Basketball Association (IBA). He played seven games before leaving the team in January 2001. After that, he played for the Sugarland Sharks in the Southwest Basketball League.
In July 2001, Chris Andersen played for the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Summer League. He later signed with the Phoenix Suns but was released. On October 31, 2001, he was the first player chosen in the NBA Development League's first draft by the Fayetteville Patriots.
Denver Nuggets (2001–2004)
Chris Andersen made history as the first player from the D-League to be called up by an NBA team. He signed with the Denver Nuggets on November 21, 2001, after playing only two games for Fayetteville. He quickly became known as one of the best players in the league for getting rebounds and blocking shots in the time he played.
During a summer league in 2002, his teammates Junior Harrington and Kenny Satterfield gave him the nickname "Birdman." They called him this because of his long arm span and his amazing jumps and moves in the air. On September 29, 2003, he signed a new contract with the Nuggets.
New Orleans Hornets (2004–2006)
On July 19, 2004, Andersen signed a multi-year contract with the New Orleans Hornets. He participated in the NBA Slam Dunk Contest during the 2005 All-Star weekend. This was his second time in the contest.
After Hurricane Katrina hit in August 2005, the Hornets temporarily moved to Oklahoma City for the 2005–06 season. They were called the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets. In the 2005–06 season, Andersen played in 32 games.
Returning to the NBA
On March 4, 2008, the NBA Players Association allowed Chris Andersen to return as an NBA player. His former team, the New Orleans Hornets, signed him again on March 5, 2008, for the rest of the 2007–08 season.
Return to Denver (2008–2012)
On July 24, 2008, Andersen signed a one-year deal to return to the Denver Nuggets. In the 2008–09 season, Andersen finished second in the league for blocks per game, even though he played fewer minutes than many other players.
On July 8, 2009, Andersen signed a new five-year contract with the Nuggets. On July 17, 2012, the Nuggets released Andersen. This was done to help the team manage its salary costs.
Miami Heat (2013–2016)
Before he was released by the Nuggets, Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra wanted Chris Andersen to join his team.
On January 20, 2013, Andersen signed a 10-day contract with the Miami Heat. He signed a second 10-day contract and then a contract for the rest of the season on February 8, 2013.
Andersen played in 42 games during the 2012–13 season. He helped the Heat by scoring points and getting rebounds. After he joined the Heat, the team went on an amazing 27-game winning streak. Overall, they won 37 out of 40 regular-season games when Andersen played. Fans loved Andersen for his many tattoos, his unique Mohawk haircut, and his energetic playing style.
In the Eastern Conference Finals against the Indiana Pacers, Andersen made all 15 of his shots in Games 1–5. This included making all 7 of his shots in Game 1, which set a new team playoff record. Andersen was suspended for Game 6 of the 2013 Eastern Conference Finals for a foul he committed in Game 5.
At 34 years old, he reached the NBA Finals for the first time in his career. In Game 7 of the 2013 NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs, Andersen helped his team win his first NBA championship. He finished the 2013 NBA Playoffs with the highest field goal percentage in NBA Playoffs history, making 80.7% of his shots.
On July 10, 2013, Andersen signed another contract with the Miami Heat. He played 72 games in the 2013–14 regular season. On May 26, 2014, it was announced that Andersen would miss some playoff games due to various aches and pains. Andersen returned for Game 6, helping the Heat reach their fourth straight NBA Finals. The Heat faced the Spurs again in the 2014 NBA Finals but lost in five games.
On July 19, 2014, Andersen signed with the Heat again. In the 2014–15 season, Andersen started 20 games, which was the most in any single season of his career.
Memphis Grizzlies (2016)
On February 16, 2016, the Heat traded Andersen to the Memphis Grizzlies as part of a three-team trade. Three days later, he played his first game for the Grizzlies. He helped them win against the Minnesota Timberwolves. In what would be his last postseason, Andersen started his first career playoff game.
Cleveland Cavaliers (2016–2017)
On July 22, 2016, Andersen signed with the Cleveland Cavaliers. On December 16, 2016, he was unable to play for the rest of the season due to a knee injury that required surgery.
On February 13, 2017, the Cavaliers traded Andersen to the Charlotte Hornets. He was immediately released by the Hornets.
Big3 Career
On March 23, 2018, it was announced that Chris Andersen signed a contract to join the Big3 basketball league. He was chosen in the 2018 Big3 draft by the team Power. He helped Power win the 2018 Big3 championship.
Personal Life
Chris Andersen is well-known for his many colorful tattoos on his arms, chest, neck, hands, and legs. His first tattoo was a gift from his mother for his eighteenth birthday. His regular tattoo artist, John Slaughter, estimates that about 65 percent of Chris's body is covered in tattoos. He also appeared in PETA's "Ink Not Mink" ad campaign to speak out against the fur industry.
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 | Denver | 24 | 1 | 10.9 | .338 | .000 | .786 | 3.2 | .3 | .3 | 1.2 | 3.0 |
| 2002–03 | Denver | 59 | 3 | 15.4 | .400 | .000 | .550 | 4.6 | .5 | .5 | 1.0 | 5.2 |
| 2003–04 | Denver | 71 | 0 | 14.5 | .443 | .000 | .589 | 4.2 | .5 | .5 | 1.6 | 3.4 |
| 2004–05 | New Orleans | 67 | 2 | 21.3 | .534 | .000 | .689 | 6.1 | 1.1 | .2 | 1.5 | 7.7 |
| 2005–06 | New Orleans/Oklahoma City | 32 | 2 | 17.8 | .571 | – | .476 | 4.8 | .2 | .3 | 1.3 | 5.0 |
| 2007–08 | New Orleans | 5 | 0 | 6.8 | .286 | – | .500 | 1.8 | .0 | .0 | .8 | 1.2 |
| 2008–09 | Denver | 71 | 1 | 20.6 | .548 | .200 | .718 | 6.2 | .4 | .6 | 2.5 | 6.4 |
| 2009–10 | Denver | 76 | 0 | 22.3 | .566 | .000 | .695 | 6.4 | .4 | .6 | 1.9 | 5.9 |
| 2010–11 | Denver | 45 | 0 | 16.3 | .599 | .000 | .637 | 4.9 | .4 | .5 | 1.3 | 5.6 |
| 2011–12 | Denver | 32 | 1 | 15.2 | .546 | – | .610 | 4.6 | .2 | .6 | 1.4 | 5.3 |
| 2012–13† | Miami | 42 | 0 | 14.9 | .577 | .667 | .677 | 4.1 | .4 | .4 | 1.0 | 4.9 |
| 2013–14 | Miami | 72 | 0 | 19.4 | .664 | .250 | .710 | 5.3 | .3 | .4 | 1.3 | 6.6 |
| 2014–15 | Miami | 60 | 20 | 18.9 | .580 | .308 | .667 | 5.0 | .7 | .4 | 1.0 | 5.3 |
| 2015–16 | Miami | 7 | 1 | 5.1 | .400 | .400 | .750 | 1.3 | .4 | .1 | .4 | 1.9 |
| 2015–16 | Memphis | 20 | 14 | 18.3 | .548 | .222 | .688 | 4.5 | .5 | .7 | .5 | 4.6 |
| 2016–17 | Cleveland | 12 | 0 | 9.5 | .409 | .000 | .714 | 2.6 | .4 | .4 | .6 | 2.3 |
| Career | 695 | 45 | 17.7 | .532 | .221 | .654 | 5.0 | .5 | .4 | 1.4 | 5.4 | |
Playoffs
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Denver | 5 | 0 | 6.8 | .333 | – | .000 | 2.8 | .4 | .2 | .4 | 1.2 |
| 2009 | Denver | 15 | 0 | 21.9 | .630 | .000 | .659 | 6.3 | .6 | .3 | 2.1 | 6.5 |
| 2010 | Denver | 6 | 0 | 19.3 | .529 | – | .643 | 4.5 | .2 | .2 | 1.0 | 4.5 |
| 2011 | Denver | 5 | 0 | 14.6 | .636 | – | .714 | 2.8 | .6 | .6 | 1.4 | 4.8 |
| 2013† | Miami | 20 | 0 | 15.2 | .807 | – | .735 | 3.8 | .2 | .5 | 1.1 | 6.4 |
| 2014 | Miami | 18 | 0 | 17.6 | .579 | .000 | .684 | 5.9 | .3 | .3 | 1.0 | 5.1 |
| 2016 | Memphis | 4 | 2 | 19.8 | .417 | – | .625 | 7.8 | .8 | .5 | .8 | 3.8 |
| Career | 73 | 2 | 17.1 | .631 | .000 | .689 | 5.0 | .4 | .4 | 1.2 | 5.3 | |
See also
In Spanish: Chris Andersen para niños
