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Tyson Chandler on suggested Knicks' chemistry issues: 'It makes no sense'

Brad Penner / USA Today Sports

It's been nearly three months since the New York Knicks traded Tyson Chandler to the Dallas Mavericks in a six-player deal, but time hasn't healed the wounds caused by some unkind insinuations from Knicks president Phil Jackson.

At the time of the trade, Jackson said the deal was made to "change some of the chemistry" and "start with some character guys," words that haven't sat well with Chandler during the offseason.

In an interview with ESPN Dallas that was published on Friday, Chandler was adamant that any suggestion he's not a high-character player is without basis in fact:

I did nothing but try to help the culture there the three years I was there. You can say I didn't live up to whatever or you didn't like the way I played or anything. But to ever question who I am and the type of leader I am in the locker room, I don't even know where that came from.

I honestly don't know where that came from. I don't know if Phil put that out there or who put that out there, but to me, that was the ultimate shock. And you don't have to say that to get rid of me or to trade me. The trade is over.

So to judge my character and what I've done, you can go look at all my teammates and ask all of my teammates in the past, and the coaches I've played for, and I've never been a problem and never had a problem. So that was a shock to me that I didn't appreciate.

Chandler actually continued beyond that, saying "It makes no sense," and elaborating further that he feels his holding others accountable for their play is what has been confused for him being "a bad influence."

In Dallas, owner Mark Cuban has trumpeted the Chandler acquisition as adding "high basketball IQ" to the fold. Meanwhile, a salty Chandler with a chip on his shoulder could be just what the Mavericks need on the defensive end.

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