NEW YORK -- When Tyson Chandler was asked to present Toronto Raptors coach Dwane Casey with his NBA championship ring, the New York Knicks' center was more than happy to do it.
It was Feb. 14, and the Knicks were in Toronto to play the Raptors. Chandler, the Dallas Mavericks' star center last season who led the franchise to its first NBA title in 2011, walked to midcourt and gave Casey his star-studded ring.
"They had the ring and we just happen to be playing them at that time,'' Chandler said. "So they figured they’d wait for me to be able to present it to him.''
Casey was the Mavs' lead assistant coach and defensive coordinator last year before he became the Raptors' coach over the offseason. And since Toronto played its lone game in Dallas on Dec. 30 -- before the Mavs' championship rings were completed -- someone had to present Casey his ring in a classy and respective way.
That someone turned out to be Chandler.
"It was a great honor for me because he and I worked a lot together defensively, and kind of put together our strategies and getting out there and executing it,'' Chandler said. "So to be able to present him with the ring after having that special bond last year was a huge honor.''
The Mavs will award Chandler with his ring during a pre-game ceremony when the Knicks play at American Airlines Center on Mar. 6. So did Chandler get a good look at Casey's ring so he could have an idea what his own ring would look like?
"I didn’t look at it,'' Chandler said. "I’ll wait until I get mine.
"I’m very excited about getting mine.''
-- Dwain Price
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