Landon Buford
NBA champion and former All-Star Tyson Chandler played 18 seasons in the league after being drafted by his home town Los Angeles Clippers in the 2001 draft. Chandler was the second selection in that draft behind Elton Brand. The Bulls and Clippers would then elect to trade Brand and Chandler for one another. In that same draft with the forth pick the Bulls picked Eddy Curry out Thornwood High of South Holland, Ill.
“I think it will be great with two high schoolers,” Chandler said. “We can learn from each other and we will get through this together. I think it will be a little easier for us because we’re not so much on our own. We can get out there and work out together and make this really good.”
Chandler is one of the few players in league that were able to get the opportunity to face the Seattle Supersonics before the franchise was moved to Oklahoma City and changed their name to the Thunder. The former Defensive Player of the Year played 15 games against the franchise and averaged 9.1 points, 9.3 rebounds, 1.3 block per game, according to statmuse.com.
Speaking of the franchise that used to reside in the Pacific Northwest, Chandler recently shared his favorite memory watching the Sonics growing up.
“From a far would be when Shawn Kemp dunk on a dude [Alton Lister] and pointed at him with two hands, Chandler shared with LandonBuford.com.
“I just remember the area [Key Arena] felt like it was on top of you, and all the fans were going straight up. I played for one or two years there. I love going to Seattle, a great city, and honestly, for whatever reason, I thought I was going to be drafted to the Seattle Supersonics growing up. I had so many dreams in a Sonics’ jersey that I literally thought it was a dynasty, but clearly that didn’t happen.”
During his 18 year career Chandler average 8.2 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 0.8 assists per game in 1160 career games.
