| abstract | - Chris Claus Andersen, nicknamed Birdman, is an American professional basketball player who last played for the Cleveland Cavaliers. He was undrafted in 1999, but was the first ever pick in the NBA Development League Draft. Nicknamed Birdman, Andersen was born in Long Beach, California, grew up in Iola, Texas, and played one year at Blinn College. Andersen began his professional career in the Chinese Basketball Association and the American minor leagues. He then played in the NBA for the Denver Nuggets and the New Orleans Hornets. The 7'1", over 300 lbs. center/power forward received a two-year ban from the NBA in 2006 for violating the league's drug policy, but was reinstated on March 4, 2008, and re-signed with the Hornets the next day. He returned to Denver later in 2008, and remained with them until 2012. He signed with the Heat in January 2013 and won a championship with them that same year. He is the only Blinn student to ever play in the NBA.
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