The “Birdman” Chris Andersen is an American former professional basketball player. Moreover, he is recalled for his endless hustle and his boundless resilience. Andersen played 16 NBA seasons with several NBA teams and won an NBA championship title with Miami Heat in 2013.
Indeed, he was an idol of the modern basketball game but more for his bright complexion, iconic style, and memorable impression than on-court aptitudes.
Quick Facts about Chris Andersen:
| Full Name | Christopher Claus Andersen |
| Birth Date | July 7, 1978 |
| Birth Place | Long Beach, California |
| Nick Name | Birdman |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | Danish and Norwegian |
| Education |
|
| Horoscope | Cancer |
| Father’s Name | Claus Andersen |
| Mother’s Name | Linda Holubec |
| Siblings | Two brothers (Tamie and April) |
| Age | 44 years old |
| Height | 6 feet 10 inches |
| Weight | 111 Kilogram (245 lb) |
| Jersey no. | 15, 11, 1, 12, 7, 00 |
| Hair Color | Blonde |
| Eye Color | Blue |
| Body Type | Athletic |
| Profession | Former NBA Player |
| The draft Year | 1999 / undrafted |
| Wingspan | 7’2.5″ |
| Active Years | 1999 – 2017 |
| Sexual Orientation | Straight |
| Marital Status | Unmarried |
| Girlfriend | Tina Wiseman |
| Kids | Not available |
| Net Worth | $16 million |
| Position | Center / Power forward |
| Social Media | Twitter, Instagram |
| Merch | Trading Card |
| Last Update | August, 2022 |
Chris Andersen’s Childhood and Family
The powerful guard Andersen was born in Long Beach, California, on July 7, 1978. In addition, he was raised and raised in Iola, Texas. He also has American citizenship and is of Danish and Norwegian heritage.
Similarly, Claus Andersen and Linda Holubec had three children, with Andersen being the middle child.
Family
His Tennessee-native wife Linda Holubec worked as a waitress at the Port Hueneme while her father Claus Andersen, a Danish immigrant, was a prison officer. She had also participated in basketball in high school.
The family moved to Texas in 1982 after which they used loans to buy a 10-acre tract in Iola. Following that, things got difficult for Andersen and his family.
As a result, they were forced to live off the land, where Linda worked menial jobs and depended on the help of her neighbors. The Andersen family also anticipated living with Linda’s brother, a navy supply boat commander.
During middle school, Andersen and his siblings spent three years in the group home in Dallas.
Additionally, the high school coach persuaded him to give basketball a shot, which launched Andersen’s incredible basketball career.
You may also like to know about Carmen Jorda
Basketball Career College Career of Chris Andersen
Basketball was played by Andersen at Blinn College in Brenham under the direction of the father of his high school coach.
In doing so, he helped the University advance to the National Junior College Athletic Association during his one season of play with the Blinn Buccaneers.
Professional Experience Kentier Jiangsu Dragons
Without being aware that the NBA required a formal application for the NBA draft in order to be selected to play as a professional player, Chris Andersen left Blinn College in 1999.
Then he became a member of the Jiangsu Dragons Kenter, a Chinese professional basketball team playing in the Chinese Basketball Association’s Southern Division.
Slam New Mexico
In March 2000, Andersen signed on with the New Mexico Slam of the International Basketball League.
Therefore, in six regular-season games and four playoff games for New Mexico Slam, he averaged 1.1 points and 1.6 rebounds.
Moosehead Beez, Fargo
Following his exit from the IBA, Anderson joined the Fargo-Moorhead Beez, a professional basketball team in Fargo, North Dakota. Anderson had previously played for the IBA.
He thus participated in seven games before being kicked from the team in January 2001.
Sharks of Sugarland
Andersen later joined the Southwest Basketball League’s Sugarland Sharks in 2001.
Falmouth Patriots
Andersen joined the Cleveland Cavaliers for the 2001 Summer League in July 2001 after his time with the Sugarland Sharks.
Once more, he joined the Phoenix Suns in September 2001, and they later released him in October.
On October 31, 2001, he was chosen as the first overall choice by the Fayetteville Patriots of the NBA Development League.
Colorado Nuggets
Andersen became the first D-League player to be invited by an NBA franchise when he signed with the Denver Nuggets.
Thus, he played in two games for the Fayetteville Patriots before joining the Nuggets on November 21, 2001.
Later, he rose to become among the league’s top rebounders and shot blockers in terms of minutes per rebound. He later re-signed with the Denver Nuggets in September 2003.
Hornets of New Orleans
Chris Andersen signed a multi-year contract with the New Orleans Hornets in July 2004.
Then, he came up in the NBA Slam Dunk Contest during the 2005 All-Star Weekend for the second year in a row but remained unsuccessful in winning.
Banishment
Chris Andersen was disqualified from the NBA on January 25, 2006, for breaking the League’s anti-drug policy.
Thus, he was examined positive for a forbidden substance, and his suspension fell under the “drugs of abuse” tract. As a result, he has to wait at least two years to seek for readmission into the league.
Back to Denver Nuggets
After reinstatement, Andersen signed a one-year contract with the Denver Nuggets in July 2008.
Thus, he re-signed on a five-year contract with Nuggets in July 2009. Then, in July 2012, he was waived by the Nuggets due to the amnesty clause.
Miami Heat
Chris Andersen signed a 10-day deal two times with the Miami Heat on January 20, 2013, and January 30. Later, he signed the rest of the season deal on February 8, 2013.
Then, he recorded three points, four rebounds, and a block in his first NBA championship finals against the San Antonio Spurs.
Moreover, he ended the 2013 NBA playoffs with the highest field goal percentage of 80.7 %.
In July 2013, Andersen resigned from the Miami Heat and played 72 games during the 2013-14 season. Thus, he averaged 6.6 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game.
Memphis Grizzlies
Andersen was dealt to the Memphis Grizzlies in February 2016.
Then, he made his debut for the Memphis Grizzlies in a 109-104 victory against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
He supported the squad with a record of four points, three rebounds, and one block in 11 minutes of action.
Cavaliers in Cleveland
Andersen signed with the Cleveland Cavaliers on July 22, 2016.
Consequently, he was ruled out for the rest of the season due to a serious ACL tear injury.
Similarly, in February 2017, he was dealt to Charlotte Hornets, although the Hornets quickly released him for being acquired.
BIG3 career
Chris Andersen inked a deal with BIG3 in March 2018.
Therefore, he was taken in the 2018 BIG3 draft and assisted them in capturing the 2018 BIG3 championship.
Career Highlight
-
NBA Champion (2013)
Height, weight, and age
The muscular power forward was born on July 7, 1978. So, according to his birth date, Chris Andersen is 44 years old.
Likewise, he stands at the outstanding height of 6 feet 10 inches, and his body weighs roughly 245 lb (111 kg) (111 kg).
Furthermore, he is noted for his artwork on his chest, arms, back, hands, legs, and neck. He received his first tattoo on his eighteenth birthday.
Moreover, he has covered his entire upper body, including an outstanding free bird tattoo in front of his neck. He inscribed the back of his head sentences “Give me war” and “Forever nightmare” that may be considered inspiring notations.
On the other side, he is also remembered for many hairdos, notably the Mohawk.
Is Chris Andersen Married or Single?
According to several reputable sources, the intriguing man with a colorful body print, Andersen, has been engaged to his long-term lover, stunning Tina Wiseman.
Likewise, Tina Wiseman’s a professional model, and she looked terrific for her forceful tattooed man.
Moreover, he has been spotted with Tina Wiseman multiple occasions. However, several reports indicate they aren’t married yet; their present relationship status is unavailable.
Before that, his fiancée was Bandy Newman, who ended their engagement owing to Chris’s drug usage.
Chris Andersen: Net Worth & Salary
The former hustler and decisive basketball player has a net worth of $15 million.
Moreover, in 2016-17, his compensation with Charlotte Hornets was $1,551,659. And, in 2015-16, his compensation with Memphis Grizzlies was $5,000,000.
Likewise, in 2013-14 with Denver Nuggets, his anticipated compensation was $4,818,000. In 2012-13 his salary with Denver Nuggets was $4,526,000.
Therefore, his start-up pay with Denver Nuggets in 2001-02 was $43,250,101.
Instagram presence
The 6’10 ” former attacking center and power forward Andersen social media accounts with a username are shown below.
Instagram: @chrisbirdmanandersen
Twitter: @Birdmanandersen
The Purpose Behind his Nickname “Birdman.”
Andersen received his nickname from Denver Nuggets teammates Junior Harrington and Kenny Satterfield.
Moreover, they highlighted out his outstanding wingspan and tremendous activity on the court and presented the decent nickname “Birdman” for the Andersen.
Hence, the given name is appreciated by all his admirers and himself.
Activist
Talking about other aspects which many NBA fanatics might not be aware of that Chris Andersen is an animal lover. In addition, he is a famous activist for the animal rights organization PETA.
Also, he was starred in the 2011 campaign for the charity named, Be comfortable in your skit and let animals maintain theirs.
Moreover, he showed off his tattoos in PETA’s “Ink, Not Mink” advertising campaign to protest against the fur business.
Catfishing
Before something nice happened, Andersen shortly endured much worse in his life. Additionally, it was alleged that he had been inspected for the clever catfishing method built up by a rural Canadian woman, Shelly Chartier.
She tricked the NBA player by pretending to be a teen model and stated she did it because she was a bored loner. She crafted a phony discussion between Andersen and then-model Paris Dunn and coordinated the complex catfishing technique
To sum up, Anderson had not been required to perform any crime, and so, his name was cleared before being indicted. ABC News’s 20/20 and MTV’s Catfish: The TV Show covered the complete catfishing saga.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What substances did Birdman use?
Birdman was using heavy narcotics such as cocaine, heroin, or PCP, and he got kicked off from NBA and followed a two-year ban from the League.
What happened to Andersen in between banishment?
Chris Andersen was sent to Rehab first and had adequate opportunity to clean up his act. Then, he made his reinstatement and came in for Denver Nuggets.