“Not in my house!”
That’s likely what was going through Dallas Mavericks center Tyson Chandler’s head during today’s game against the Golden State Warriors whenever he delivered a crucial shoe-block halfway through the third quarter, swatting Warriors forward Marreese Speights’ shoe away directly into the fans sitting courtside in the American Airlines Center in Dallas.
Speights’ left shoe came off in the possession prior, just as he was as attempting to drive. Seemingly unfazed, he played the entire following possession wearing just his sock. Warriors guard Stephen Curry was able to grab the shoe and fling it out of the way initially while dribbling the ball with his other hand. On the following possession, as the ball was being brought across half court by the Warriors, Curry tried to help out Speights, picking up the shoe and tossing it to him near the sideline.
Enter Tyson Chandler.
While the shoe was in the air heading towards Speights, Chandler actually changed his direction and literally blocked it into the stands, and then jogged away as though it was a completely normal play.
The crowd took immediate notice and began to stand and applaud in approval of the clutch play. A foul was called soon after and stopped the action, allowing for confused and annoyed reactions from Curry, Speights, and Warriors coach Steve Kerr.
As for Chandler, he got low-five and some approving words from teammate Richard Jefferson.
The shoe block did nothing to help the Mavericks in the end however, as the Warriors won their 20th straight game by a score of 105-98.
Chandler’s final stat line? 11 points, 12 rebounds, and one rejected Nike.
Check it out for yourself:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_GhEAOTWBM
Perhaps Chandler was inspired by Dikembe Mutombo.
