USA – Chandler plays like a gold-medal winner with Mavericks

LOS ANGELES (NBA) – Tyson Chandler experienced the high of a gold-medal triumph at the 2010 FIBA World Championship in Turkey as a tough-as-nails center coming off the bench for Team USA.
 
Now the 28-year-old has a prominent role in his first season with Dallas and one very important Mavericks player can’t say enough positive things about him.
 
Germany’s Dirk Nowitzki, who has been in the league for 13 years and is one of the greatest players ever to come out of Europe, believes he and his Mavs teammates have a chance to do something special this season because of the winning, upbeat attitude that Chandler has helped instill in the team.
 
"Tyson, he's added a lot of toughness to this team in the paint," Nowitzki said.
 
"He's the most athletic center I've ever played with.
 
“He covers a lot of ground out there and he's a tough guy.
 
“He gets in a lot of people's faces, which is great.
 
“He's a vocal leader in the locker room and the huddles.”
 
Chandler had 11 points, nine rebounds and three blocks in the Mavs’ 96-94 Game 1 triumph over the Lakers and on Wednesday had six points and seven rebounds in a 93-81 Dallas victory.
 
“He's brought a lot to this team,” Nowitzki said.
 
“His positive energy has been great.”
 
FIBA