JULY 2012 THE HEMI Q&A Tyson Chandler Over his 11-year career, this former farm boy has proven to be one of the toughest players in the NBA, earning himself a spot on Team USA’s roster. As he gears up for London, we talk with him about how he’ll fi t into this year’s squad, how he keeps the fi re burning and perhaps the only thing he doesn’t seem humble about: his fashion sense. BY SAM POLCER ILLUSTRATION BY SHOTOPOP 84 84 JUNE 2012 • HEMISPHERESMAGAZINE.COM p084-087_148HEM0712_Q&A.indd 84 06/06/2012 09:20 HEMISPHERESMAGAZINE.COM • JUNE 2012 85 p084-087_148HEM0712_Q&A.indd 85 06/06/2012 09:20 THE HEMI Q&A: TYSON CHANDLER WHEN YOU CONSIDER the guys who’ve gone HIGH STYLE whom colossal blunders (Amar’e Tyson Chandler straight from high school to the NBA, big with! from left! wife Stoudemire lacerating his hand expectations are o! en accompanied by big Kimberly" Coach K punching a fire extinguisher egos, both on and off the court (see Kobe, in 2010" New York case, for instance) overshadowed Knicks teammates LeBron). Not so for Tyson Chandler, a team Carmelo Anthony and occasional fl ashes of hope (Linsan- player who treats every game like a last stand, Amar#e Stoudemire ity)—made the playoff s. Through and whose star has risen steadily ever since his it all, Chandler was there, the last childhood on the family farm just south of Fresno, Calif., where, thing any opposing team wanted to when he wasn’t milking cows, feeding pigs or working in the fi elds, see anywhere near the basket. For the nearly 6-foot-tall 9-year-old was practicing on a rim that his his eff orts he was named the NBA’s grandfather had fi xed to a tree. Defensive Player of the Year. A! er moving to Compton and leading his high school team to Lately, in addition to posting a state championship, the now 7-foot-1 center was the No. 2 NBA the fourth highest fi eld-goal per- dra! pick in 2001, and played for fi ve years with the Chicago Bulls, centage in NBA history, he’s been spending much of his time injured or in foul trouble. But during getting noticed for his off-court his stints with the New Orleans Hornets and the Charlo" e Bobcats, pursuits, namely art and fashion, Chandler’s game matured, and a! er being traded to the Dallas attending events like the famed Mavericks in 2010, the tenacious big man stunned everybody by Costume Institute Gala Benefit helping the aging team win its fi rst championship. in New York. We called him just as The New York Knicks took notice and signed Chandler to a he was preparing to step into the reported $58 million four-year contract. By all accounts, it was international spotlight as a center money well spent. Thanks to Chandler’s relentless defensive skills on USA Basketball’s all-star roster and knack for adapting to the players around him, the Knicks—for at the London 2012 Olympic Games. 86 JULY 2012 • HEMISPHERESMAGAZINE.COM R1_p084-087_148HEM0712_Q&A.indd 86 11/06/2012 09:10 TYSON CHANDLER! BY THE NUMBERS !" Age ## Seasons in the NBA $#%,#&',(%' 2012 salary (." Rebounds per game (career average) ).( Points per game (career average) !% Most rebounds in a game (vs. Memphis in 2007) !' HEMISPHERES: The Knicks probably CHANDLER: To play with guys like that Most points in a game wouldn!t have made it into the playo" s is a great honor. The best part of the (vs. Portland in 2002) without you—so# as a New Yorker# I!ll Olympics is not only playing inn it, butbut start with a belated welcome to our also being able to practice withh some fair city. I already like what you!ve done of the best players in the world.d. with the place. ! HEMISPHERES: That said# there!s beenbeen CHANDLER: [Laughs.] Thank you, quite a lot of upheaval in the roster.ster. I appreciate that. Which must be something you!rree used to# after playing for four HEMISPHERES: One of the reasons teams and now the Knicks# an you signed with the Knicks was to play organization addicted to sta$ ngg alongside folks like Carmelo Anthony and lineup changes. Do you thinkk and Amar!e Stoudemire. In London# all these changes will a" ect you!ll be playing not only with Carmelo# how Team USA# whatever it but also with superstars like Dwyane ends up being# plays together? Wade# Kobe Bryant and LeBron James. CONTINUED ON PAGE 146 » IBRAHIM USTA/AP PHOTO (CHANDLER + COACH) (CHANDLER PHOTO IBRAHIM USTA/AP ! Who will be the best-dressed player on Team USA? “Besides myself?” the notably stylish Chandler laughs.. LARRY BUSACCA (CHANDLERS) BUSACCA LARRY (PLAYERS) VIA GETTY IMAGES S. BUTLER/NBAE NATHANIEL “Maybe Dwyane Wade?” HEMISPHERESMAGAZINE.COM • JULY 2012 87 R1_p084-087_148HEM0712_Q&A.indd 87 11/06/2012 15:50 THE HEMI Q&A: TYSON CHANDLER CHANDLER: Any time that you’re able to see basketball on a world stage, it sparks interest. Now we have a lot of players from across the world that make up our league, and I think that with USA Basketball and every- thing the NBA is doing globally, the game is ge" ing bigger and bigger. There are kids all around the world now, picking up a ball, that will one day be in our league. HEMISPHERES: But on the fl ip side! it » CONTINUED FROM PAGE 87 makes the competition stronger. CHANDLER: Oh, yeah, so it’s good and bad. [Laughs.] Good for the NBA, bad “ It’s something that every kid dreams of, every four years in the Olympics. but it’s one of those things that seem HEMISPHERES: Who"s the team to beat so out of reach. To be able to represent this year! besides you guys? myself, my family and my country in the CHANDLER: There are a lot of good teams. You have Spain, France, Argen- Olympics and bring back a gold medal tina, Brazil ... but the main competition would mean so much.” is probably Spain. HEMISPHERES: Your defensive skills are CHANDLER: No. The incredible coaching and spirit to whatever team you"re on. well known at this point! but in terms staff that we have, led by Coach [Mike] of o# ense! how do you fi t in with the rest Krzyzewski, always gets the guys to CHANDLER: Oh, defi nitely. Every night of the crew? come together, to play hard and play you have to go out and play with a as one. And we understand that we’re certain passion. You’re not only playing CHANDLER: I think I fi t in really well. representing something that’s much for yourself, your teammates and the The coaching staff is all about fast-paced bigger than us as individuals. I think organization, but also for the fans who pick and roll. There are a lot of talented we’re all up to the challenge. come out and watch. You should give it players who can create shots, create your all and give a great performance. plays, and the big guy has to get to the HEMISPHERES: There are some outsize rim and get up and down the court. personalities heading to London! but for HEMISPHERES: What would an Olympic all your aggressiveness on the court you"re gold mean to you? HEMISPHERES: Are there any di# erences known for being somewhat even-keeled. in the style of play between the NBA and Do you think that factored into your being CHANDLER: It’s something that every international basketball? selected for the team? kid dreams of, but it’s one of those things that seem so out of reach. To be CHANDLER: Huge diff erences. There’s CHANDLER: Yeah, I think that while a able to represent myself, my family less time—the quarters are shorter. The big part was what I could bring to the and my country in the Olympics and fl oor is much more spread out, so a lot table as far as my performance on the bring back a gold medal would mean of the big guys can step out and knock fl oor, I’m good in the locker room as so much. down jump shots on the perimeter. And well. Every discussion with Coach K has there’s no three-second rule, which helps been “I want you to come here and just HEMISPHERES: The NBA now has far more because if I don’t have to worry about be yourself.” international stars than it used to. Do you that when I’m in the paint, it makes me think the Olympic Games have played a more eff ective defensively. HEMISPHERES: You bring a lot of energy role in that? CONTINUED ON PAGE 148 » 146 JULY 2012 • HEMISPHERESMAGAZINE.COM R1_p084-087_148HEM0712_Q&A.indd 146 11/06/2012 09:18 THE HEMI Q&A: TYSON CHANDLER » CONTINUED FROM PAGE 146 HEMISPHERES: Any standouts? CHANDLER: Anna Wintour is at the “ A! er playing under Coach K, and top of my list. I’ve seen her a couple of ge" ing to understand who he actually times, and she’s always sharp as a tack. She’s the queen of fashion, so it was a is, I have all the respect in the world for big honor to meet her. She dressed my the man. I would send my son to Duke wife, who looked great that night— she was wearing a Valentino jumpsuit.