Chris Andersen: Comeback Player of the Year
Unfortunately for Birdman Andersen, there is no comeback player of the year award doled out in the NBA anymore. But if there was, he’d probably be the front-runner right now. This sequence from Denver’s win over the Mavericks on Friday night is the embodiment of his season – three rejections despite being elbowed in the stomach/ribs after the first one.
The fact Andersen has made a dramatic comeback this season from suspension for substance abuse, though, is a reminder of why the league changed the name of an award initially intended to recognize a player who had overcome adversity, one season to the next. The league never intended to recognize recovery from self-imposed adversity.
Bernard King and Micheal Ray Richardson won the award in 1981 and 1985, respectively, after having been suspended for substance abuse the previous season. Embarrassed, the league changed the award to Most Improved Player.
Right now, Birdman is riding a crescendo of popularity. He’s second in the League in blocks per game behind Dwight Howard (2.3 bpg), and his post-block celebrations are second to none. The two-handed Tiger-esque fist pump after these rejections is solid. His “Rico Suave” celebration after spiking a block off Rudy Fernandez‘s face was the best in the League thus far this year.
Someone needs to capitalize on Birdman’s popularity right now, and here’s how: Birdman tattoo tee’s. Instead of cracking the piggy bank to buy an authentic Denver Nuggets No. 11 jersey with “Andersen” on the back, what about buying a long-sleeve t-shirt that has a replica of Birdman’s jersey and his arms, complete with tats, all the way down to the wrists? It probably won’t make it into the NBA Store, but it’d be a hot commodity inside the Pepsi Center.
Source: My San Antonio
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March 30th, 2009 at 4:00 pm
LakeShow84 says:
What was the substance anyways??
anyone know??
March 30th, 2009 at 4:03 pm
Shrink This says:
He’s blocking shots like he’s still on speed. I’ll never get sick of seeing shots getting spiked off guys like fernandez and ginobili…
March 30th, 2009 at 4:08 pm
Kobeef says:
The spike off Rudy’s face was the block of the year but the NBA could never say that because it would be inappropriate to celebrate injuring others…we’ll leave that to the NFL.
Birdman’s story is worthy of a movie deal and you have to love a guy who can make it in the NBA with zero offensive skills.
March 30th, 2009 at 4:13 pm
Kermit the Washington says:
I’m unfamiliar with this dude’s “comeback story”…but he’s become one of my favorite players to watch.
Are you talking about his “comeback” from the horrible Dunk Contest outing? Ba-dum-tsss!!
March 30th, 2009 at 4:14 pm
SJ says:
Nobody blocks like Da Bird!!
March 30th, 2009 at 4:16 pm
Balla says:
Dude was just beatin Nowitzki’s stuff all over the place…
March 30th, 2009 at 4:19 pm
pishenis says:
Birdman comeback player of the year? How about Nenê? Cancer is worse than drugs.
March 30th, 2009 at 4:24 pm
AY says:
You know AK, you’re winning me over with your effort. You’re the Brian Cardinal/Mark Madsen/Shane Battier hybrid version at dime.
And the comeback player of the year is Shaq. All star wockeez + Bosh RuPaul + Ron Jeremy diss + in-game twitter without suspension + pregame bowling + pretend to like kobe + being the focal point in suns offense + getting another coach fired. Who’s going to top that?
March 30th, 2009 at 4:25 pm
Spliff 2 My Lou says:
I’ve been surprised at his shot blocking this season. I believe the Hornets could’ve signed him but chose not to. Big mistake. They could’ve used another defensive big man.
However, the first two blocks in this clip were terrible shots especially the second block. It looked like an airball that he could’ve just caught but spiked it for show. But this clip aside he has been a swat machine.
March 30th, 2009 at 4:45 pm
POPPI GEE says:
Bird-Mania lol.
Considering that game was close to, it’s little sequences like that, which go such a long way.
Dang it feels good to see people up on it!
His celebrations are just pure. Loving this dude!
March 30th, 2009 at 4:54 pm
the cynic says:
birdman is solid, way more entertaining then camby too. Birdman makes me want to fly to denver just to watch the nuggets play.
i think he was busted for cocaine.
did someone just compare mark madsen and shane battier?
March 30th, 2009 at 4:56 pm
dagwaller says:
Hahaha by far one of my favorite players. So colorful and expressive. I believe that for at least year back after his suspension, he was playing for next to nothing (at least as far as pro sports is concerned). His current contract is pretty low, too, I think.
The best part about this is that I have a friend that looks JUST like him, only about 8 inches shorter haha. I literally made a facebook group on the subject yesterday. Katz, we’re on some weird wavelength right now.
March 30th, 2009 at 5:23 pm
Ian says:
love the way most of u guys like a dude swatting the ball all over the place to look good instead of a soft or tip block to give your team the ball back big fucking deal (howard does the same shit its stupid imo)
btw bird man is awesome hehehe
ay
why is battier in that scrub club u mentioned???
March 30th, 2009 at 5:25 pm
Ian says:
shrink u mean non american player that actually can ball???
March 30th, 2009 at 5:26 pm
Ian says:
isnt it weird that the 2 league leaders in block 95% of the time give the ball back to the other team just for show
March 30th, 2009 at 6:17 pm
calvin brodus says:
birdman is so fucking bad ass. im pretty sure his suspension was for blow. I was at a club in late august sitting on the balcony. it was hot as fuck and almost everyone was wearing shorts. bird stepped out on the balcony and he was wearing jeans, a wife b, and a full length mink coat. I was out there a full hour and he never took off that coat. he became my favorite nugget right then and there. so fucking bad ass.
while im name dropping, I was at the grocery store this afternoon and banged my door into the car next to me in the parkibg lot. I got out and had left a mark on the volvo wagon I hit. josh blue was sitting on the side I hit, rolled down the window and said it was no big deal. and he was wrong, because I left a serious paint mark. I took off quick before he realized.
March 30th, 2009 at 6:18 pm
Pje says:
I was checkin out the boxscore and Birdman only gets 1 block for the whole game, common we all see he blocks at least 3. Gotta love the Birdman, he´s doing his thing this year.
March 30th, 2009 at 6:41 pm
Bart King says:
Rudy’s take:
http://blogderudyfernandez.blogspot.com/2009/03/when-weak-sauce-meets-ink-and-lank.html
March 31st, 2009 at 12:27 am
Pringle says:
Love watching Birdman play. He’s always been a fan favorite at the Pepsi Center. Even during his first stint with the Nuggs. Hell he put on a show just walking around the Pepsi Center during his suspension.
March 31st, 2009 at 12:32 am
Pringle says:
They have had some Birdman gear at the Pepsi Center before. I know they used to have this Football style jersey that said Birdman with the number 12 on it during his first stint.
Last game I went to I saw a guy with a shirt that said Birdman on the Front and had a pic of what was supposed to be Chris with wings coming out of his back on the back.
March 31st, 2009 at 2:03 am
weng santos says:
I was lucky enough to watch the Nuggs live in G-State a few years back. Melo was my main man, but the other player I loved watching was Birdman.
Dude plays with no fear. It’s like he’s not afraid to get hurt out there.
I never doubted he would make it all the way back. He was always the underdog who made it happen. He’s got coming in and making an impression- even from adversity- down pat.
Good to see he’s still at it =)
March 31st, 2009 at 3:22 am
SCRUB! says:
What is wrong with you people. He is such a hugely massive scrub and a total thug. To his credit, he somehow gets away with fouling on every single possession. Two words, pump fake. Guys like that give every child hope they can one day be in the association.
March 31st, 2009 at 1:12 pm
jace says:
gotta love this guy’s tenacity. ive always liked him. he’s that instant energy role player. his blocks rile up the team.
oh.. nevermind.. i hated him during the dunk contest. and then that hack nate robinson did the same the next year but worst.. takin a million turns to do one dunk and then stealing the dunk championship.