HoopsHype.com Rumors

LeBron James wants to see Chris Andersen get some time after not having played the past two games. "I hope,'' James said about wanting Andersen to play. "His energy and his effort have been big for us all year, so we hope he gets an opportunity tonight.'' Sulia

Miami Heat, LeBron James, Chris Andersen 

Chris Tomasson: Chris “Andersen’’ Birdman on George Karl being fired; “It’s never a good feeling to get released or get fired So I can imagine how he feels" Twitter @christomasson

Denver Nuggets, Miami Heat, George Karl, Coaching, Chris Andersen 

Chris “Birdman” Andersen’s entire body is a submission to the NBA fashion wars, but he took it to another level before Game 5 of the NBA Finals. The Miami Heat big man took the “Birdman” gimmick to another level, literally wearing a tree as a shirt. It’s difficult to tell where the shirt ends and the tattoos begin. For The Win

Miami Heat, Chris Andersen 

Birdmom share many similarities -- height, a laid back attitude and an affinity for tattoos. Holubec's legs are lined with colorful ink-filled flowers. She took her son to get his first tattoo. "I think I paid for the first four! It was supposed to have been just one," said Holubec. Local 10 Miami

Miami Heat, Chris Andersen 

Despite Andersen's recent success in Miami, the mother and son have not spoken in years, for a reason they'll keep private. Andersen has a past riddled with dark spots, including a two year ban from the NBA. She said if he showed up on her doorstep, she already knows what she'd say: "Where you been? Where you been? Definitely get in his face and ask him where you been? I've been right here, I haven't been nowhere." Local 10 Miami

Miami Heat, Chris Andersen 

Iola is a small town 4 hours away from San Antonio. Population: 401. It's the type of town where everyone knows each other, and if you're born there, you usually stay the rest of your life. Chris "Birdman" Andersen was raised in the middle of Iola with his mother, Linda Holubec, and his two sisters, Tammy and April. "Typical kid, lot of energy, loved to go to school, play and go fishing," said Holubec. Local 10 Miami

Miami Heat, Chris Andersen 

The Baby Birdman saga continues. In an interview with a local NBC TV affiliate in Miami, the parents of Chris “Birdman” Andersen’s youngest lookalike explain that they came up with the idea together. Birdman himself is flattered by the attention, calling it motivation. Miami Heat teammate Shane Battier even suggests marketing tattoo sleeves. For The Win

Miami Heat, Chris Andersen, Shane Battier 

It all started in 2000 at Route 66 Tattoo in Albuquerque, N.M. Chris Andersen had grown up in tiny Iola, Texas, the son of Linda Holubec. She rode a Harley-Davidson and had a number of tattoos. When Andersen was in high school in the late 1980s, Holubec had gotten flowers, vines and butterflies inked on her ankles, legs and back. Her son liked what he saw. “He thought they were cool and he wanted to get a tattoo, so I said I would pay for it,’’ Holubec said. “But he wanted to take his time before he got one.’’ FOXSports Florida

Miami Heat, Chris Andersen 

The time arrived when Andersen, after having played in China, was 21 and with the minor-league New Mexico Slam in 1999-2000. Holubec had rode her Harley 800 miles from Iola, population 430, to Albuquerque to see her son play. The two then went to Route 66 Tattoo on Central Avenue, which really is part of the historic highway. Andersen had Chinese symbols inked on the insides of his forearms. The one on the left stands for “Good’’ and the one on the right for “Evil.’’ Since then, Andersen’s tattoos have increased at a brisk pace. It’s gotten to point that Denver-based John Slaughter, his regular tattoo artist, estimates he has them on 75 percent of his body. FOXSports Florida

Miami Heat, Chris Andersen 

When Andersen asked for the “Free Bird’’ tattoo, Slaughter said that’s the only time he’s really double checked to make sure he really knew what he was doing. “I was like, 'Tattoo your neck. Yeah, right, you’re crazy,’ ’’ said Slaughter, 41, who is heavily tattooed himself. “With the ‘Free Bird’ one, as far as I was concerned, I was thinking of his career. But he said, ‘Let’s do it.’ ’’ So Slaughter did it. He said it took three or four sessions and about 10 to 12 total hours to complete the work. FOXSports Florida

Miami Heat, Chris Andersen 

Slaughter said a typical tattoo at his shop costs $300 to $400. He said if a regular customer were paying, the “Free Bird’’ tattoo would cost a “couple of thousand’’ dollars and the wings on Andersen’s arms “five to eight thousand.’’ But Slaughter never charges the Birdman. “He takes care of me,’’ Slaughter said. “He’s very generous. He gave me a $600 tip once. He’s gotten me rims for my car. I had a Hummer like he did. He got me a car stereo once.’’ Slaughter said Andersen has been great for his business. During his years with the Nuggets, teammates Andersen sent to Tribe Tattoo included J.R. Smith, Ty Lawson, Wilson Chandler, Al Harrington and Gary Forbes. FOXSports Florida

Miami Heat, Chris Andersen 

Remember the toddler who dressed up as Chris “Birdman” Andersen, complete with tattoo sleeves and mohawk? Well, his devotion (or, more realistically, his parents’) has finally paid off. As the Heat prepare for Game 2 of the NBA Finals, @hoopmixtape has posted an Instagram photo of Baby Birdman meeting Grown-Up Birdman. For The Win

Miami Heat, Chris Andersen 

Chris Tomasson: While Chris Andersen agent has told me he wants to re-sign with Heat Birdman said today "not really thinking about this summer or next year" Twitter @christomasson

Miami Heat, Free Agency, Chris Andersen 

Chris Tomasson: Birdman on tattoos: “I like all of them, man. It ain’t something I regretted. It wasn’t like I got drunk and I went and got a tattoo.’’ Twitter @christomasson

Miami Heat, Chris Andersen 

Chris Tomasson: Chris “Birdman’’ Andersen on joining Heat in midseason: “I kind of liked not having that training camp.’’ Twitter @christomasson

Miami Heat, Chris Andersen 

Chris Tomasson: Udonis Haslem on Chris “Birdman’’ Andersen: “The media loves him, the fans love him, the ladies love him.’’ Twitter @christomasson

Miami Heat, Udonis Haslem, Chris Andersen 

So what does Chris "Birdman" Andersen look like when he lets his hair down? The national media was able to get a glance during Friday's media day at AmericanAirlines Arena amid this two- day break during the NBA Finals. Andersen, better known for his game-night spiked Mohawk, had seven points and three rebounds in 13 minutes in the Heat's series-opening 92-88 loss Thursday night to the San Antonio Spurs. South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Miami Heat, Chris Andersen 

Alex Kennedy: I asked Chris Andersen what he saw from Miami prior to signing with them in January, and he proceeded to give me the best quote of the day. "I wasn't watching basketball, bro. I was out in the country. I was hunting hogs, messing around, hanging out with the homeboys." Twitter @AlexKennedyNBA

Miami Heat, Chris Andersen 

The Nuggets beat the Jazz by 14 that night. Andersen went 5-for-7 shooting, snagging seven rebounds and blocking three shots. Sometime during the game, Jazz players had begun mocking Andersen’s body art, which didn’t yet include his famous “Freebird” collar. Upset with his team’s intensity, Jerry Sloan raged along the bench, where he overheard his players’ wisecracks. “I wish ONE of you guys played as hard as him!” Sloan shouted. Deseret News

Denver Nuggets, Miami Heat, Utah Jazz, Jerry Sloan, Chris Andersen 

Ethan J. Skolnick: Jeff Van Gundy on conference call, asked about the Birdman: "Do I have to call him the Birdman? I'll call him Chris." (Not to his face.) Twitter @EthanJSkolnick

Miami Heat, Chris Andersen, Jeff Van Gundy