Christopher Claus "Chris" Andersen is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for the Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association. 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 6 ft 10 in, 245 lb 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. ... more on Wikipedia