What Is Chris "Birdman" Andersen's Net Worth and Salary?
Chris "Birdman" Andersen is an American professional basketball player with a net worth of $14 million. Known as a formidable rebounder and enforcer in the NBA, Andersen has played alongside LeBron James on both the Miami Heat and Cleveland Cavaliers. He earned $38 million in salary during his career, with a peak salary of $5.4 million per year from the Miami Heat.
Early Life
Chris Andersen was born on July 7, 1978, in Long Beach, California. He is the second child of Claus Andersen, a corrections officer, and Linda Holubec, a waitress. Andersen's high school varsity coach convinced him to start playing basketball. Although his grades did not qualify him for the University of Houston, he attended Blinn College in Brenham, Texas. Andersen is the only Blinn student to have ever played in the NBA. His college coach, who was also his high school coach's father, trained him, and Andersen led the National Junior College Athletic Association in blocked shots during his season.
Pre-NBA Career
Andersen has a history of playing for several NBA teams, including the Denver Nuggets, New Orleans Hornets, Miami Heat, Memphis Grizzlies, and Cleveland Cavaliers. Known for his enforcer roles and intangibles, Andersen first played in the Chinese Basketball Association and American minor leagues, including the IBA's Fargo-Moorhead Beez and the Southwest Basketball League's Sugarland Sharks.
In 2001, Andersen participated in the Cleveland Cavaliers' NBA Summer League and signed with the Phoenix Suns on September 28, 2001. Though waived later, Andersen was the first overall pick in the NBA Development League's inaugural draft by the Fayetteville Patriots.
NBA Career
As the first player from the D-League to be called up to the NBA, Andersen signed with the Denver Nuggets on November 21, 2001, after just two games with the Patriots. Notably effective as a rebounder and shot blocker, Andersen earned the nickname "Birdman" during the 2002 Rocky Mountain Revue, thanks to his wingspan and aerial acrobatics.
(Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
Andersen re-signed with the Denver Nuggets in 2003, played for the New Orleans Hornets, and participated in the NBA Slam Dunk Contest in consecutive years. However, in 2006, he received a two-year ban for violating the NBA’s drug policy, later reinstated in March 2008. Returning to Denver, Andersen remained until 2012 before joining the Miami Heat in January 2013. He subsequently played for the Memphis Grizzlies and Cleveland Cavaliers.
Andersen is also known for his vibrant tattoos covering 75% of his body, which he showcased in PETA’s "Ink Not Mink" campaign. His mother gifted him his first tattoo on his eighteenth birthday, and he has continued to get inked, mostly by Denver-based artist John Slaughter.
In May 2012, Andersen's home was investigated for an Internet criminal case, and in September 2013, it was revealed that he was the victim of an elaborate hoax. No charges were filed against him.
BIG3 Career
On March 23, 2018, Andersen joined the BIG3 basketball league's draft pool and was drafted into the Power team. He played a crucial role in securing the 2018 BIG3 championship for Power.
