Tyson Chandler
Sport: Basketball
Nation: United States of America
DOB: October 2, 1982
Hometown: Calabasas, CA
Career Highlights: Though he has never been an All-Star, Chandler could end up starting in London because he's the only true center left on the
roster. He was originally expected to come off the bench, but could now see major minutes with Dwight Howard out of the mix
due to back surgery. One of the few U.S. players who won't be looking to score, Chandler took home his first NBA Defensive
Player of the Year award this season in helping transform the New York Knicks into a solid defensive unit. He's the only Team
USA member without a career double-figure scoring average, but has grabbed 10.1 rebounds per game over the past six seasons.
He helped the U.S. qualify for both the Beijing and London Games, but this will be his first time competing in the Olympics.
Chandler was one of the final cuts in 2008 after appearing in all 10 games for the Olympic berth-clinching, gold-medal run
at the 2007 FIBA Americas Championship. He averaged 2.1 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.6 blocks for that team, similar to his
numbers at the 2010 world championships as Team USA went 9-0 to qualify for London. The 11-year NBA veteran has played for
five teams but really proved his worth in 2010-11 by helping the Dallas Mavericks win their first championship, providing
a key inside presence defensively and on the boards which that team long lacked. Chandler is widely considered the Knicks'
emotional leader despite playing just one season in the Big Apple, though it was a good one as he topped his career averages
with 11.1 points and 10.0 rebounds per game.
Olympic History: None