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Chris Birdman Andersen was an NBA player known for his coloured tattoos, aerial acrobatics, and arm span. Andersen's career spanned nearly two decades, during which he played for various teams, including the Denver Nuggets, Miami Heat, Memphis Grizzlies, and Cleveland Cavaliers. In 2006, he was suspended from the NBA for violating the league's drug policy, but he was reinstated in 2008. Andersen faced a scandal in 2012, where he was accused of being a paedophile due to a catfish incident involving a 17-year-old girl, which led to his release from the Nuggets. He later joined the Miami Heat in 2013 and won his first championship with them. After his 15-year NBA career, Birdman played in the Big3 league, winning a championship before retiring after the 2016-17 season.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Chris Andersen |
| Nickname | Birdman |
| Position | Center and Power Forward |
| Height | 6-10 (208 cm) |
| Weight | 245 lb (111 kg) |
| Born | July 7, 1978, Long Beach, California |
| College | Blinn College |
| High School | Iola in Iola, Texas |
| NBA Debut | November 23, 2001 |
| Career Length | 15 years |
| Teams | Cleveland Cavaliers, Phoenix Suns, Fayetteville Patriots, Denver Nuggets, Miami Heat, Memphis Grizzlies |
| Known For | Colored tattoos, energy and hustle, defensive skills, shot-blocking |
| Suspension | Suspended for using a banned substance, later reinstated |
| Retirement | 2016-17 season |
| Post-Retirement | Played in the Big3 league, winning a championship |
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What You'll Learn
- Chris Andersen's career was almost ruined by a catfish scandal
- Andersen was suspended from the NBA for using banned substances
- Andersen was nicknamed Birdman by teammates for his arm span and aerial acrobatics
- Andersen was a valuable player for the Miami Heat
- Andersen's career spanned nearly two decades
Chris Andersen's career was almost ruined by a catfish scandal
Chris "Birdman" Andersen's career was almost ruined by a catfish scandal in 2012. Andersen, who had gained the nickname "Birdman" for his arm span and aerial acrobatics during games, was accused of being a paedophile after it emerged that he had been exchanging messages and selfies with someone he believed to be a 17-year-old girl. However, it turned out that a third party was pretending to be the girl and Andersen, unbeknownst to him, was being catfished.
The scandal led to Andersen being cut from the Nuggets and he struggled to find a new team as a result of the accusations. It was a full year before another team would pick him up, with Miami Heat signing him mid-season in 2013. Andersen's career was impacted not only by the scandal but also by his suspension from the NBA in 2006 for violating the league's rules on "drugs of abuse". He was dismissed, but after a stint in rehab, he was reinstated in 2008 and signed again by his former team, the New Orleans Hornets.
Andersen's career spanned almost two decades and saw him play for several teams, including the Cleveland Cavaliers, Memphis Grizzlies, and the New Orleans Hornets. He was known for his colourful tattoos and his high-energy, high-effort playing style. He was also a fan favourite, able to get the crowd hyped with his playing style. After leaving the NBA, Andersen signed a contract with the Big3 league, where he played until a season-ending knee injury forced him to retire from basketball altogether.
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Andersen was suspended from the NBA for using banned substances
Chris "Birdman" Andersen, formerly of the Miami Heat, was suspended from the NBA for using banned substances. Andersen, a Texas native, began his NBA career in 2001 with the Denver Nuggets, and quickly became one of the top per-minute rebounders and shot-blockers in the league.
In 2006, Andersen was suspended by the league for violating its "drugs of abuse" policy. The violation fell under the league's collective bargaining agreement, which allows for expulsion for this type of violation. Andersen attempted to appeal the ruling through arbitration, but the arbitrator upheld his dismissal.
During his suspension, Andersen spent time in rehab and coached a boys' basketball team in Denver. In 2008, the NBA Players Association granted his request for reinstatement, and he rejoined the New Orleans Hornets for the remainder of the 2007-2008 season.
Andersen's suspension was not the only time his career was in jeopardy. In 2012, he was cut from the Nuggets amid a scandal in which he was falsely accused of being a pedophile. After a year out of the league, he was picked up by the Miami Heat in 2013, where he played some of his best basketball as a high-energy backup center and helped the team win a championship.
Andersen played in the NBA until the 2016-2017 season, his last year in the league being split between the Memphis Grizzlies and the Cleveland Cavaliers. He then played in the Big3 league, winning a championship there as well, before a knee injury ended his playing career.
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Andersen was nicknamed Birdman by teammates for his arm span and aerial acrobatics
Chris "Birdman" Andersen was nicknamed "Birdman" by teammates Junior Harrington and Kenny Satterfield during the 2002 Rocky Mountain Revue. Andersen earned this nickname because of his impressive arm span and his penchant for aerial acrobatics.
Andersen's career in basketball began when he was convinced by his high school coach, Robert Stewart, to take up the sport. Stewart believed that Andersen could get a college scholarship through basketball. This proved to be true, and Andersen went on to play for Blinn College. In 1999, convinced that he could play professionally, Andersen dropped out of college. His high school coach then arranged for him to play a series of exhibition games with the semi-professional Texas Ambassadors. After a game in China, Andersen received an offer to join the Jiangsu Nangang Dragons of the Chinese Basketball Association.
In March 2000, Andersen joined the New Mexico Slam of the International Basketball League. However, he averaged just 1.1 points and 1.6 rebounds in six regular-season games and four playoff games. He then moved to the Dakota Wizards of the International Basketball Association (IBA) but left before the season started. He then joined the Fargo-Moorhead Beez, also of the IBA, but was released in January 2001 after playing seven games.
Andersen then signed with the Phoenix Suns in September 2001 but was waived shortly after. He then became the first D-League player called up by an NBA team, signing with the Denver Nuggets on November 21, 2001. He quickly became one of the top per-minute rebounders and shot-blockers in the league.
Andersen was suspended from the NBA in 2006 for violating the league's "drugs of abuse" policy. He was reinstated in 2008 and signed with the New Orleans Hornets. After his stint with the Hornets, he played for the Miami Heat, Memphis Grizzlies, and Cleveland Cavaliers before retiring in 2017.
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![Birdman [Blu-ray]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/817qFwPUiRL._AC_UY218_.jpg)
Andersen was a valuable player for the Miami Heat
Chris "Birdman" Andersen was a valuable player for the Miami Heat. Andersen joined the Miami Heat in 2012 and won his first championship with them. He was a decent bench player throughout his entire career, appearing in five games of the 2013 NBA Finals, averaging 4.4 points and 3.0 rebounds per game.
Andersen provided the Heat with an inside presence and a lot of energy off the bench. He was a good defensive player and a good finisher at the rim. Andersen was also a solid rim runner and hustle big man, with LeBron making him look amazing at times. He would occasionally shoot jumpers, but he wasn't a player who could be on the court for many minutes. Andersen was a fan favourite, getting the crowd hyped with nearly every play.
Andersen was known for his arm span and penchant for aerial acrobatics, which earned him the nickname "Birdman" from teammates Junior Harrington and Kenny Satterfield during the 2002 Rocky Mountain Revue. He was also known for his coloured tattoos all over his body.
Andersen's career with the Miami Heat was not without controversy. In 2012, he was the subject of a catfish scandal, where he was led to believe he was communicating with a 17-year-old girl. This incident, along with allegations of pedophilia, led to his release from the Nuggets and a period where he couldn't find a team. However, the Miami Heat picked him up mid-season in 2013.
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Andersen's career spanned nearly two decades
Chris "Birdman" Andersen's career spanned nearly two decades, beginning in 1999 when he dropped out of Blinn College to pursue a professional basketball career. Convinced by his high school coach, he played a series of exhibition games with the semi-professional Texas Ambassadors and later joined the Jiangsu Nangang Dragons of the Chinese Basketball Association.
In 2000, Andersen joined the New Mexico Slam of the International Basketball League, but his performance was underwhelming. He then moved to the Dakota Wizards of the International Basketball Association (IBA) but left before the season began. He played for the Fargo-Moorhead Beez, also of the IBA, for seven games before being released in January 2001.
Andersen's career began to take off later in 2001. He joined the Sugarland Sharks of the Southwest Basketball League and then the Cleveland Cavaliers for the 2001 NBA Summer League. On September 28, 2001, he signed with the Phoenix Suns but was waived just over a week later. On October 31, 2001, he was selected by the Fayetteville Patriots in the NBA Development League's inaugural draft. After just two games, Andersen became the first D-League player called up by an NBA team, signing with the Denver Nuggets on November 21, 2001. It was during the 2002 Rocky Mountain Revue that he earned his nickname "Birdman" from teammates Junior Harrington and Kenny Satterfield, who were impressed by his arm span and aerial acrobatics.
Andersen's stint with the Nuggets was successful, and he became known for his rebounding and shot-blocking skills. However, he also partied frequently during this time and was accused of being a pedophile in 2012, which led to his release from the team. After a brief period without a team, he was picked up by the Miami Heat mid-season in 2013. He meshed well with the team, providing energy and hustle, and won his first championship with them.
After leaving the Heat, Andersen played for the Memphis Grizzlies and returned to the Cleveland Cavaliers for the 2016-17 season before retiring. He then played in the Big3 league, winning a championship before a season-ending knee injury brought his playing career to a close.
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Frequently asked questions
Chris Andersen.
Andersen was suspended for violating the league's "drugs of abuse" policy.
Andersen was helped by his lawyer friend in Denver, Mark Bryant, who became his advisor. He spent a month in rehab and coached a boys' basketball team in Denver. In March 2008, the NBA Players Association reinstated him as an NBA player, and he was resigned by his former team, the New Orleans Hornets.
After leaving the NBA, Birdman signed a contract with the Big3 league and was drafted by Power, the team he helped win the Big3 championship in 2018. He has been spotted at several basketball games since retiring, and at 44 years old, he likely still follows the NBA as a fan.
