New Orleans Pelicans Codexery

Chris Andersen

Signed by the Hornets in 2004, Andersen spent four seasons in New Orleans before a suspension cost him the 2006–07 season.

Chris Andersen signed with the New Orleans Hornets on July 19, 2004. He would be with the Hornets for four seasons, though he missed the 2006–07 season due to a suspension for substance abuse. His time in New Orleans began during a difficult period for the franchise, which finished the 2004–05 season with an 18–64 record under new head coach Byron Scott.

nickname
Birdman
primary_position
Power Forward / Center
jersey_number
11
defensive_reputation
Shot-blocking specialist and energy player
status
Retired (Pelicans Legend)

Lore & Background

Andersen joined the Hornets on July 19, 2004, as a free agent signing. The team was in the midst of a turbulent season, losing their first eight games and starting 2–29. Andersen was part of a roster that saw major turnover, including trades of David Wesley, Baron Davis, and Jamal Mashburn. Despite the team's struggles, Andersen remained with the Hornets for four seasons, though his 2006–07 campaign was wiped out entirely by a suspension for substance abuse.

In Their Own Story

On July 19, 2004, Chris Andersen put pen to paper with the New Orleans Hornets. The team was rebuilding, having just drafted J.R. Smith and Tim Pickett. Andersen joined a roster that included veterans like Rodney Rogers, who had signed just weeks earlier. The season that followed was the worst in franchise history—an 18–64 record. Andersen played through it all, becoming a fixture in New Orleans until a suspension for substance abuse sidelined him for the entire 2006–07 season.

Reader's Guide

Chris Andersen signed with the New Orleans Hornets on July 19, 2004. He was one of several free agent additions that offseason, joining Rodney Rogers (signed August 3), Tremaine Fowlkes and Britton Johnsen (signed September 29), and Lorinza 'Junior' Harrington and Lee Nailon (signed September 30). Andersen would go on to play four seasons with the Hornets, though he missed the 2006–07 season due to a suspension for substance abuse. His tenure spanned one of the most difficult periods in franchise history, including the 2004–05 season when the team finished 18–64.

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