Tyson Chandler Quotations

I think the world is crumbling when I have a bad game.

I used to help my grandfather on the farm, driving tractors, raising crops and animals. I used to feed some of the baby cows and pigs, and I had to be no older than 7 or 8. Then at about 9 or 10 I started driving tractors. It showed me at an early age what hard work was all about and how dedicated you have to be, no matter what you do.

As a youngster in the projects, I definitely didn't have anything. So if you get something, you want to be able to give back and help others.

I thought it was normal to recycle pants and shoes from your older cousins. That was just my way of life. At the end of the month, there was not much food in the refrigerator and you're hoping the first comes so food can come again. You never forget those things.

When I'm at my grandparents', I know I literally have to do nothing but relax, enjoy myself, and enjoy my family members' company.

I wouldn't consider myself Goth, but I love Gothic pieces.

When I'm on the court, I picture myself as like a gladiator.

Yeah, I paint in my spare time, just to relax myself and wind down a bit.

After Sandy hit, my wife and I saw pictures of the devastation following the hurricane in the news. We immediately wanted to find a way to assist those in need.

Even to this day, I rarely read any articles on myself. I won't watch anything on television on myself.

I appreciate every team that wants me, and I take on every challenge.

I love Greek mythology, I love gladiators, I love war stuff.

I think the people of New York have done a pretty great job with coming together for Sandy relief.

People who understand basketball definitely appreciate what I bring to the table.

Probably the most dramatic pieces in my wardrobe would be capes.

Scouts have always been surprised by the way I'm able to move at my size. How fast and agile I am.

When I make a bad play, it frustrates the heck out of me, even in practice.

I really enjoy the iPad because you can multi-task: I can watch a movie, read, look at pictures that I shot - because I'm into photography. It serves a lot of purposes for me.

I'm tall with broad shoulders. And my waist is small. I'm into fashion, so I like the way clothes lay on me. I'm pretty much a normal person's size, just stretched out.

My grandfather built my first hoop. It was a peach basket up against a tree, and we played in the dirt. I couldn't have been more than 6 when he put it up, and I just started playing.

I play knowing that there is somebody watching me out there in the crowd that has never had the opportunity to watch a game before and it might be the only chance they ever to see one, live in person. Michael Jordan once said that in an interview, and I really took it to heart; whenever I step on the floor, I play for that person.

Obviously, it works for them. They're great at it. They've won championships playing like that and they have the best record in the league.

Because on the West Coast, you face a lot of firepower. We're going to need all the guys on their defensive game every night.

I felt like we got some good things accomplished tonight. We just have to be able to finish the game and come away with the victory.

We talked at halftime that we have had letdowns in the third quarter. So our emphasis in the third quarter was just to come out and push the lead.

We stunk it up in the first half. I'm thinking we've got a chance. I'm thinking, get it within 10. That's the only thing I'm saying on the bench: 'Get it within 10.

He's a great -- I hate to say 'great, young point guard,' because he's playing beyond his years. We made our runs, and we went up a couple times. And we had our chances to control the game. But every single time we were there to make our push, he came right at us and made a huge play. He either scored or made something happen for somebody else.

I was thinking about it too much. It's never that you don't want to go out there and play well and play hard but when you start thinking, everything creeps in. You think about the last shot you missed, you think about the rebound you missed, and you don't get anything accomplished. Now it's like if you missed, forget about it and make it up the next time.

It definitely will be weird, considering it's in this arena where we came together, and this will be his first time playing here in a different uniform. It'll be weird, but once the game goes on, it'll be over.

That was huge for us. We needed to come out here and play desperate. We did that in stretches. When we needed stops, we stepped up and got stops. It felt good.

We got there. Fourth quarter, six-minute mark, we had it within eight. I was like, 'It's time to make our push.

We definitely talked about it. We know that we've been letting down games and leads in the third quarter. That was one of the emphases for us: We've got to come out and press the lead.

We were feisty out there, but they just hit some tough shots to win.

You can never say what you would do until it happens to you. I wouldn't say I would have done the same thing or that I would have done it differently. The only thing I can say is that your family means the most to you. And when you see something like that happen, it's just instinct to go up there and protect your family.

We've had a lot of ups and downs ? guys injured and guys trying to feel their way around. I think right now, every guy on the court is finding their way.

We just need to play our game and beat teams that beat up refs.

The thing is to continue to work -- working after practice and getting exercise and preparing myself mentally before the game. Just continue to get better and continue to make strides. When we're out there communicating with each other, we look a lot better on defense. If I help get my team the win, I feel good after the game.

Coach pretty much addressed us and told us we needed to step it up. We kind of took that to heart. A lot of it we've been getting in extra on our own. It's really been great.

As long as we compete like we're on the outside looking in, we'll be fine; no team in this league can be taken lightly. I'm going to continue to guarantee it. My mind's not going to change.

They get the respect, but they do cry a lot.

At first it was kind of tough because we've been together about it all.

It was definitely a big stop and we needed it. Those were the kind of plays I made all last year, and it feels good to make them now.

It's awful. Every time we lose it's awful. When you lose one you felt like you should have won it makes it that much worse. These are opportunities we keep letting slip. These are the type of games that come back to haunt you.

That's one thing we've been concentrating on. Mine's awful. A lot of guys are working on it.

It's tough. I'm sad to see him go.

I'm ecstatic that this contract is done. To know that I will be in Chicago for the next six years is definitely a dream.

I'm definitely feeling a lot better, a lot more comfortable out there. I feel like every time I step out there I'm going to be aggressive. I just have to be a little more aggressive and help my team out so we can get some victories. But it definitely feels good to be playing with confidence again.

I'm pretty glad nothing happened. We've started to turn a corner, and it will be interesting to see how far we can take it. It should be a fun rest of the season.

I'm just coming out aggressive. Once you have confidence, you're able to do everything out there. I think everybody right now has confidence, and we're kind of rolling together.

I know I am a big part of the team. When I've stepped up, it seems like everyone else has stepped up in these last few games.

He told me he was going to make me swallow my mouthpiece.

I definitely knew he was who they were going to. The game dictates when you have to step up and make a big play. It was great team effort. That's what we need to win games.

You could see him smiling and having fun. He was definitely more hyper today, more active ... His game is to push the ball up the court and set up guys for easy baskets. He was able to do that tonight.

These are definitely the kind of games I thought about myself having. It feels good now and I'm only going to continue to do it.

The hole we dug for ourselves, to fight back, it took everything just to get back into the game.

The game dictates when you have to step up and make a big play. When you have the opportunity, it feels great to rise to the occasion.

The only thing I wanted in free agency was an opportunity to continue to chase that dream and continue to win championships.?

I'm still rough around the edges and need a lot of polishing.

You don't want anybody walking into your house and taking a Gatorade out of your refrigerator, you've got to get in there and protect it.

The coaches are working with me every day. And if you feel like the coach is behind you, you'll take some chances.?

I'm happy to be where I am and how everything has turned out.

I have great players around me. I have a great coach talking to me all the time, constantly teaching me. I feel reborn, like I'm learning every day. When I show up, I'm happy.

Defense. That' the thing I'm known for.

When we move the ball, we're one of the best teams in the league.

If we play hard and we compete, we match up with any team. I feel like we have the personnel to go all the way.

I just want to go as far as I can take myself. No limits.