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To hear LeBron James tell it, Chris Andersen converting his first 3-pointer in more than four years hardly was a shock Tuesday at AmericanAirlines Arena against the Milwaukee Bucks. James said he's seen it in practice from Birdman, when Ray Allen, James Jones, Shane Battier and Mario Chalmers are testing their 3-point range on game days. "They start shootaround out with knockout," James said of the drill when you attempt to make a shot before the person in line in front of you converts. "Ray, J.J., Shane, Rio and Bird. Bird has been in the finals before, I don't know if he has ever won one before, but he has been in the final with all those great shooters." Andersen's conversion at the shot-clock buzzer lifted him to 3 of 25 from beyond the arc over his career. South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Miami Heat, Ray Allen, LeBron James, James Jones, Mario Chalmers, Chris Andersen, Shane Battier 

Ethan J. Skolnick: Ray Allen on Chris Andersen's 3: "I wasn't surprised. We work on it." Twitter @EthanJSkolnick

Miami Heat, Ray Allen, Chris Andersen 

Chris Tomasson: Chris "Birdman'' Andersen to Sun Sports: "We don't step outside our boundaries unless I take dumb shots.'' Twitter @christomasson

Miami Heat, Chris Andersen 

“Going back and forth on [if] I was going to play, I really didn’t expect to play this season,” Andersen told RealGM. “I was going to let my knee heal up all the way before I could step foot back on the court and do some basketball stuff. … There ain’t no shape like getting in basketball shape, unless you’re playing basketball. I could be in the greatest shape that I could be in, but if you’re not in basketball shape, then you’re just two steps behind.” RealGM

Miami Heat, Chris Andersen 

Andersen played a critical reserve role in playoff runs with the Nuggets, most notably in the trip to the Western Conference Finals in 2009. In his 11th season, he doesn’t know how much longer he wants to play. He’ll know whenever his activity runs empty, Andersen guesses. “I ain’t no anchor, man,” Andersen said with a laugh. “These are all veteran guys and they know what they’re doing. I’m just thrilled to be here and being part of the defending champions and having an opportunity to win this again with this group of guys. It’s amazing to be in that situation, not taking anything for granted and staying on what I’m doing. “It’s real special to me, real unbelievable getting the opportunity to win a championship.” RealGM

Miami Heat, Chris Andersen 

Three things that people don't know about some other Heat teammates? Ray Allen: "Dwyane doesn't eat any vegetables, no greens, no salad, no nothing. Chris Andersen , it is all one tattoo, believe it or not. Mario Chalmers and I grew up together. I've known him since he was a little kid. Our fathers served in the military together." Miami Herald

Miami Heat, Ray Allen, Mario Chalmers, Chris Andersen 

Ethan J. Skolnick: Asked Chris Andersen -- or "Bird," as he prefers -- if he studies players for his shot-blocking. "Just instinct, man." Twitter @EthanJSkolnick

Miami Heat, Chris Andersen 

Joseph Goodman: A reporter from Spain just tried to give Birdman a bag of birdseed. Twitter @JoeGoodmanJr

Miami Heat, Media, Chris Andersen 

Ethan J. Skolnick: Chris Andersen reiterated that the foot injury wasn't anything significant. Team was just taking precaution w walking boot. Twitter @EthanJSkolnick

Miami Heat, Injuries, Chris Andersen 

Rashard Lewis, who made All-Star debut in 2005, was funny on Chris Andersen's disastrous dunk contest that year: The "Birdman,'' then with New Orleans, missed nine dunks on his first attempt at the dunk contest in 2005 in Denver and took about three minutes before he finally made a dunk. Andersen had been trying to throw the ball from halfcourt and catch it after a bounce for a dunk. “I remember like it was yesterday,’’ said Lewis, then with Seattle and now Andersen's teammate in Houston. “He missed like 30 dunks and kept going over and over,’’ Lewis said. “That’s why they put the time limit on it. It was the Birdman Rule… you knew he was going to try to do something spectacular but after a while it was like, ‘Man, just make a dunk already. We’re getting tired. Let’s move on.’’’ Sulia

Miami Heat, Rashard Lewis, Chris Andersen, All-Star 

Ethan J. Skolnick: Chris Andersen will use the break to pick up some clothes at his TX house. "So I don't need to keep wearing the same clothes over and over." Twitter @EthanJSkolnick

Miami Heat, Chris Andersen 

The Miami Heat have signed Chris Andersen for the remainder of the season. Andersen was previously on 10-day contracts with the Heat. RealGM

Miami Heat, Chris Andersen 

Benjamin Hochman: Chris Andersen signing w Miami for remainder of season, his agent said. Very cool for the Birdman. Twitter @nuggetsnews

Miami Heat, Chris Andersen 

Brian Windhorst: The Heat announced they've signed Chris Andersen for rest of season. They now have full roster of 15 guaranteed contracts. Twitter @WindhorstESPN

Miami Heat, Chris Andersen 

But the thing that has intrigued Spoelstra the most is what he calls the "vertical spacing" that Andersen brings. The idea: Throw the ball up in the air and let Andersen catch it for an easy bucket. Bosh is usually out on the perimeter. Haslem doesn't have the legs or the height to pull that off consistently. Anthony doesn't have the hands to make it worthwhile. But Andersen has that promise. At Wednesday's shootaround, Spoelstra as well as James, Dwyane Wade, Mario Chalmers and even Ray Allen drilled the lob pass to Andersen over and over. It's what Spoelstra fears the most when playing against athletic big men like Tyson Chandler and Dwight Howard. Now, he's trying it out with Andersen. “We haven’t had that element before other than Dwyane and LeBron in the fast break," Spoelstra said. "Guys are starting to see it now, but the play is there." ESPN.com

Miami Heat, Chris Andersen 

Chris Andersen is not your usual NBA player. Neither is his offseason conditioning regimen. What was his secret to staying in shape after nine months away from the game? Fried rice. Seriously. "It was mainly my future mother-in-law’s fried rice," Andersen said after Wednesday morning's shootaround. "Listen, I’m telling you. She’s from Taiwan. She makes some legit fried rice. It’s not like the fried rice you can pick up from P.F. Chang’s or something like that. This is legitimate, healthy ..." And then a long pause. "Man, it’s awesome." ESPN.com

Miami Heat, Chris Andersen 

Tom Haberstroh: Spoelstra just called Chris Andersen 'Bird.' He swore he wouldn't call anyone by their nickname. "For some reason, he's different." Twitter @tomhaberstroh

Miami Heat, Chris Andersen 

Spoelstra has left little doubt about the Heat wanting to sign center Chris Andersen for the remainder of the season after his second 10-day contract expires Friday. "We made this transaction early enough that we'll have plenty of time to get him in shape," Spoelstra said of bringing Andersen in Jan. 20 for his first 10-day deal. "But it will take some time. We'll be patient." FOXSports Florida

Miami Heat, Chris Andersen 

And the pick-up games are not for the faint of heart. “Every day, it’s going to be bloodshed,” Jones likes to say. Most recently, Chris Andersen gave Dexter Pittman a bloody nose. It happened during pregame court time before Wednesday’s 105-85 victory against the Nets. “I was coming across the baseline and he didn’t see me, and he popped me with the back of his hand,” Pittman said. “Me and him are physical guys, so I kind of got him back a little, too, later on in the series; but he didn’t bleed.” Miami Herald

Miami Heat, Chris Andersen, Dexter Pittman 

Early in his career, Anthony idolized Andersen and remembers fondly the battles the two players had when Andersen played for Denver. “He’s a great addition to our team, someone that is proven to be a good defender, a good rebounder, a shot blocker, and I see him as someone who did a lot of things that I looked up to when I was coming in,” Anthony said. “So, in terms of us doing a lot of the same things, I think we can find a way to have that work. We’ve done it in the past. Last year, you know, we had Ronny on the team, and it was something that was still able to work.” Miami Herald

Miami Heat, Joel Anthony, Chris Andersen