Could the “Birdman” be flying back into the NBA? Chris Andersen, who spent 16 years in the league, spoke with reporters at the Nuggets game last night and emphasized that he hasn’t officially retired from basketball, tweets Duvalier Johnson of Mile High Sports.
Andersen, who played in the BIG3 League over the summer, said he could bring veteran leadership to a team and provide help on defense and in the locker room.
The 40-year-old hasn’t played in the NBA since the 2016-17 season, when he got into 12 games with the Cavaliers. In February of 2017, he was traded to the Hornets, who immediately waived him.
Andersen, who served as a backup center with the Heat during the LeBron James era, had his best years with Denver, spending seven seasons there. He was never a big scorer, but was a fan favorite as an intense competitor with an outlandish appearance and personality. He saluted the Nuggets’ faithful during Tuesday’s brief session with reporters.
“All the years, and all the games that there was a snow storm or it was -20 degrees outside or really cold, the fans always showed up,” Andersen told Jeff Bailey of The Denver Post. “They always showed up, and those were always the greatest memories because they were the ones that influenced me to play harder and faster all the way to the end.”
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