Tyson Chandler

Tyson Cleotis Chandler is an American professional basketball player who plays for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Chandler played his high school basketball at Dominguez (Compton, California). As a junior, he averaged 20 points, 12 rebounds, 6 assists and 3 blocks per game. Chandler led Dominguez to a 31–4 record and a state championship in his senior year, averaging 26 points, 15 rebounds, and 8 blocks a game.

Chandler was drafted as the 2nd overall pick in the 2001 NBA Draft by the Los Angeles Clippers. He was immediately traded to the Chicago Bulls. In the 2004-05 season, Chandler played a major role in the playoffs. He became a fourth-quarter defensive specialist and had notable game-saving blocks. In 2006, Chandler was traded to the New Orleans Hornets.

In the 2008-09 season, Chandler led the league in offensive rebounding and helped the Hornets claim the 2007–08 Southwest division for the first time ever with 56 wins. In the Playoffs, he played valiant defense on Tim Duncan, but in the end, the Hornets lost a heartbreaking Game 7. In 2009, he was traded to the Charlotte Bobcats. Chandler again played great defense in the 2010 Playoffs, this time on Dwight Howard, limiting him to below his season and career averages. They were swept by the Orlando Magic in the first round.

In the 2010 off-season, Chandler was traded to the Dallas Mavericks. He fit perfectly with the Mavericks, anchoring their defense with his hustle and intensity. The Mavericks made it through to the 2011 NBA Finals and were massive underdogs against the Big 3 of LeBron, Wade, and Bosh of the Miami Heat. Chandler played major minutes and was instrumental in the series with his defense. He helped the Mavericks win their first and his first championship as they defeated the Heat in 6 games.

In 2011, Chandler agreed to a deal with the New York Knicks. He finished the 2011-12 season with a 67.9% field goal percentage which is the third highest in NBA history. He was also named Defensive Player of the Year becoming the first ever Knick to win the award. In 2013, he was named as an All-Star for the first time and only time in his career. In the same season, he also scored a career-high 28 points in a 109–105 victory over the Golden State Warriors. In 2014, Chandler returned to the Mavericks for a second stint. In 2015, he signed a deal with the Phoenix Suns. Chandler also won two Olympic Gold Medal as a member of the USA National Basketball Team in the 2010 FIBA World Championship and 2012 London Summer Olympics.