08/13/2010 - 21:58
With Slam, Tyson Announces Return
by Paul Kingston

If you're a Dallas Mavericks fan, you should have your anticipation meter turned up to 11.

Tyson Chandler announced to the basketball world Thursday night that he was back in a very, very demonstrative way, winning a Team USA exhibition game in sudden death overtime.

Tyson literally did everything on the final and only possession. With the game tied at 47, Tyson won the jump ball, giving the Blue Team possession. Then after a missed shot by Andre Iguodala, Tyson outleaped a duo of White Team rebounders, slapping the ball back to his teammates. His effort was rewarded immediately, with Rajon Rondo hitting TC at the basket for a  thunderous two-handed jam.

 

As Trey Kerby of Yahoo Sports wrote from the site of the World Basketball Classic:

Those of us lucky enough to be in attendance witnessed one of the most amazing displays of basketball success in the nearly 119-year history of the game — a sudden-death overtime dunk by Tyson Chandler. Please believe me when I tell you that I am not overstating the importance or majesty of this slam. I mean, how often do sudden-death games happen in basketball? Almost never. And of those games, how often do they end in a dunk? Even less.

Kerby was kind enough to post video he shot inside the arena that showed just how amazed fans were.

ATHLETICISM REGAINED
As Earl K. Sneed of Pegasus News wrote, the game was filled with plays that showcased the explosiveness that Tyson has shown in recent days. The game-ending throwdown was simply the highlight.

It was just an exclamation mark as Chandler, one of 15 finalists for the 12-man roster to be named by August 26, continued to prove that he belongs with the best that Team USA has to offer.

"I've been training since two weeks after the season and getting better and better. I'm healthy now, feeling great," Chandler said last month before training with the team in Las Vegas. "It's an incredible opportunity. Whenever you can explain to your kids that you played for the USA team, it's a wonderful achievement."

RELATED STORIES
Video: Tyson Chandler's Amazing OT Dunk (Yahoo Sports, Aug. 13, 2010)
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/blog/ball_dont_lie/post/Video-Tyson-Chandler...
Chandler Captivates Coaches (Pegasus News, Aug. 13, 2010)
http://www.pegasusnews.com/news/2010/aug/13/mavericks-tyson-chandler-cap...