Speaking today to reporters, including Dave McMenamin of ESPN.com (Twitter link), Lakers center Tyson Chandler said he’d like to play one more season in the NBA before likely calling it a career. According to Tania Ganguli of The Los Angeles Times (Twitter link), Chandler said he wants to be around more for his daughter, who is entering high school this year.
“I know I definitely want to play one more year,” Chandler said. “… I know next year will be it.”
Chandler, who agreed to a buyout with the Suns early in the 2018/19 season, helped shore up the Lakers’ frontcourt, averaging 3.1 PPG and 5.6 RPG in 48 games (16.4 MPG) for Los Angeles. After being waived by Phoenix, the 36-year-old signed a one-year, minimum-salary deal with the Lakers, so he’s headed back to unrestricted free agency this summer.
If the former No. 2 overall pick plays one more season, he’ll retire next summer following a 19-year career in which he suited up for Chicago, New Orleans, Dallas, New York, Phoenix, and the Lakers — and perhaps a new team in 2019/20.
Chandler has logged 1,134 career regular season games, averaging 8.4 PPG and 9.2 RPG in his 18 seasons. He earned an All-NBA nod in 2012, and All-Star berth in 2013, and was named the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year in ’12. He also played a key role on the Mavericks’ championship team in 2011.
Might as well play next year – he took 34 games off this year and played only one third of the minutes in the games he played. Should be well rested.