Tyson Chandler will play through wrist pain
Tyson Chandler of the New York Knicks celebrates a basket against the Sacramento Kings. (Feb. 15, 2012) Credit: Jim McIsaac
DALLAS -- Tyson Chandler said his injured left wrist needs about six weeks of rest to heal, but he doesn't plan to take time off.
If anything, returning to the place where he won a title last year conjured up memories and emotions that have the Knicks center fired up for the final 29 games.
"Coming back in this gym was an amazing feeling," Chandler said Monday after the Knicks worked out on the Mavericks' practice court. "Just remembering the practices we went through to get to the championship brought back a lot of memories. It's motivation again.
"It couldn't have happened at a more perfect time because it's definitely giving me motivation for the second half of the season to try to get my team over the hump."
Chandler's defense, energy and team-first mentality were huge factors in the Mavericks winning the championship. Those same characteristics have made him "pretty irreplaceable" to the Knicks, coach Mike D'Antoni said.
Chandler, who will get his championship ring before Tuesday night's game, had an MRI on his left wrist four days ago. He didn't reveal what's wrong other than to say "there's a lot going on" and "it's a lot of different things." Chandler said he doesn't think he will need offseason surgery. He just has to deal with the pain.
"It's a situation where I don't think I'm going to hurt it any more playing," Chandler said. "It's just more so the pain. I'm more concerned about the way I catch the ball and all that stuff. We're trying to find ways to pad it without restricting everything.
"If it wasn't so many games, maybe it would heal in six weeks or so. But there's all these games, so it may linger on."
The injury occurred when the Knicks beat the Mavericks at the Garden on Feb. 19. It originally was called a sprain. Last week, Chandler said it was a deep bone bruise with some swelling around the nerves. Because it wasn't improving, he went for more tests before the Knicks left for this four-game trip.
"He's so important," D'Antoni said. "He went to get an MRI and I said, 'Why are you going to do it? Because even if it's broken, you're playing.' It really didn't matter."
Chandler, who is averaging 11.6 points and 9.8 rebounds and shooting an NBA-best 68.9 percent from the field, wore a long sleeve and pad over his hand and wrist in Sunday's loss in Boston, and will continue to do so for protection. The Knicks will monitor Chandler, and if the pain is too much, he might have to sit down for a little while.
That would be a big loss for the Knicks. Chandler has been their defensive anchor and a leader in the locker room. He challenged the Knicks at halftime of a game last week when they were losing to Cleveland. The Knicks blew out the Cavaliers in the second half.
"He's always been the voice of reason," D'Antoni said. "Tyson is our spiritual leader. He sets the championship standard every day from the cafeteria all the way to practice."
Chandler said he's not going to stop doing that.
"I understand and I know what it takes to win a championship now," he said. "I'm not going back to the early days of my career where I just sit around and watch and don't voice my opinion. I'm going to push my teammates and myself, and hopefully, at the end of the day, it makes us a contender."
