Welcome back to the 3rd Annual Brian “The Custodian” Cardinal Award. For the first time we had a chance for a repeat winner being that the Miami Heat returned to the Finals this year. Salute to the Heat for winning back to back championships. The Custodian Award is aka the hustle or grunt work player award if you having been following the award the last few years with us I’m going to drop the previous winners at the bottom of the page.
Last year’s winner was Udonis Haslem, at the beginning of the playoffs I thought he would have a great shot at repeating but it wasn’t in the cards. As the Heat rose the banner Thursday night the player who won this prestigious award is none other than Chris “Birdman” Andersen. As I shout “Birdman Birdman” in Shaq’s voice and hits the dance.
Birdman had a hell of a playoffs which culminated in the Finals. He blocked shots, got dunked on, scored around the basket, inserted toughness and energy to the Heat all playoffs. The series went 7 games but Andersen only played in 5 averaging 14 mpg, 4.4 ppg, 3 rpg and 3.2 fpg (fouls). Birdman was a very under the radar mid-season signing which turned out huge for the Heat. Probably one of the best bargains of the year, just imagine he took all of those Joel Anthony minutes away, think about that for a minute.
Congrats to Chris “Birdman” Andersen, he and Haslem can talk about being Cardinal Award winners it’s a prestigious club. We don’t know what next year will bring so enjoy this award and being a champion.
