Tyson Chandler covers ESPN magazine’s annual Body Issue for 2012. The NY Knick is featured showing of his assets holding a ball. Tyson talks about his body and why he decided to take it all off for the magazine.
View the full cover after the jump.
On why he posed: I think it gives the average person a good look at athletes’ bodies and why we are able to do the things we do. I think a lot of people are curious about it. I wanted to allow people to look at my body and see why I’m able to do the things I do on the court. Also, it’s a very artistic shoot, and seeing that in past issues made me want to do it.
What do you like about your body? My stature. 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.
[Related Story: Blake Griffin Covers ESPN Body Issue 2011]
Have you ever felt self-conscious about your body? I did at an early age. I was always proud of my height, but I was self-conscious because I was really skinny. I always wanted to be bigger. I didn’t like to wear shorts or show my legs at all because I thought they were way too skinny when I was younger. I was self-conscious about my arms, too. I got teased all the time. They’d call me Green Giant. I was 6’4″ in sixth grade, and I grew three inches every summer until eighth grade. I would try to lift weights, but I was growing so fast I could never keep up, I couldn’t keep weight on. I had no biceps or chest muscles. I was never able to keep weight on until I got to the NBA. But back then, I took my anger out on the court. Once we got on the court, I went hard.
There are 27 athletes featured in the buff. The full lineup includes:
• Carlos Bocanegra (soccer)
• Daniela Hantuchova (WTA)
• Rob Gronkowski (NFL)
• Abby Wambach (soccer)
• Tyson Chandler (NBA)
• Candace Parker (WNBA)
• Maurice Jones-Drew (NFL)
• Jose Bautista (MLB)
• Brad Richards (NHL)
• Maya Gabiera (surfing)
• Ronda Rousey (MMA)
• Mike Smith (jockey)
• Tim Morehouse (fencing)
• Walter Dix (track)
• Danell Leyva (gymnastics)
• Suzann Pettersen (LPGA)
• Ashton Eaton (decathlon)
• Carmelita Jeter (track)
• Anna Tunnicliffe (sailing)
• Oksana Masters (paralympic rowing)
USA Volleyball Team:
• Destinee Hooker
• Stacy Sykora
• Alisha Glass
• Cynthia Barboza
• Megan Hodge
• Nellie Spicer
• Heather Bown
The issue hits stands on July 13th.
