SUMMARY
- Chris Andersen had a great career that spanned for 17 years in the NBA.
- Before joining the NBA, he played in the D League where his former teammates gave him the Birdman nickname.
Chris Andersen was one individual the NBA loved seeing on the floor. He was a part of multiple organizations in the past and competed alongside some of the greatest players ever. Andersen came into the league in 2001 after going undrafted in 1999. The Denver Nuggets had a lot of interest in him based on his work overseas. Nobody expected a person like him to take over the show and become as popular as he did. Andersen gave some fans memorable moments before leaving in 2017.
He spent 17 years in the NBA playing for franchises such as the Nuggets, New Orleans Hornets (Pelicans), Miami Heat, Memphis Grizzlies, and then the Cleveland Cavaliers. Andersen was in the company of LeBron James and Dwyane Wade. In 2013, he managed to win his first championship alongside the Heat’s big 3. Those were some of his best years in the league as well.
Chris Andersen was nicknamed Birdman because of his style of play
Chris Andersen attended Iola High School in Texas despite being a California native. The former NBA Champion was the second of three children born to Claus Andersen and Linda Holubec. The family moved to Texas when Andersen was four years old but things were extremely hard-earned for them. Unfortunately, things were so bad Chris and his siblings were sent to a group home for three years. They were taken into a group home located in Dallas.
At school, Chris did not have the best grades. So when it came to pursuing a future in studies, Andersen could not get himself into the University of Houston, an institution he dreamed of attending. His only option was to go to Blinn College in Brenham. But Andersen was lucky enough to be surrounded by familiar faces as his college coach was his high school coach’s father.
It was extremely hard for Chris Andersen to get recognized by basketball scouts. He dreamt of playing in the NBA during his time at Blinn College. His college was largely unheard of but Andersen did the best he could to get his name out there. In high school, he was known for being a freakish athlete who had incredible hops. After going undrafted in 1999, he traveled to China to play for the Jiangsu Dragons until 2000. In 2001 he returned to the United States. Some of his former teammates nicknamed him the “Birdman” because of his athleticism, wingspan, and ability to jump.
Chris Andersen could have never made it in the NBA
Chris Andersen returned to the US and competed in the International Basketball League and National Basketball Development League. Before playing the Fayetteville Patriots in the D League, Andersen played in the 2001 Summer League and signed a contract with the Phoenix Suns. They eventually waived after not taking the final roster cut.
But later that year, the Nuggets approached Andersen after playing two games with the Patriots. He was the first D League player to get called by an NBA team. After a successful first season of becoming one of the top rebounders and shot blockers (per minute), the Nuggets retained him for a couple more years. In 2004, he signed a bigger contract and moved to New Orleans.
Unfortunately, Chris Andersen ended up getting expelled from the NBA after violating the league’s anti-drug policy in 2006. Suddenly, everything seemed grim for the otherwise beloved Birdman that fans wanted around. After proving himself and going through rehabilitation, Andersen requested to get reinstated and it was approved in 2008. His appearance on the floor was vibrant due to his explosiveness and physical appearance. Andersen averaged 5.4 points and 5 rebounds throughout his NBA career.