Former New York Knicks star advises NBA fans to play it safe in interesting thought experiment - “Take the $1 million”

Wilson Chandler played for five teams across 12 seasons in the NBA. He retired after the 2019-20 campaign, averaging 12.5 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.8 assists in his career.

After more than a decade in pro basketball, Chandler had a piece of sound advice for wannabe millionaires on Twitter:

“Take the million”

The former NBA journeyman’s post was an answer to a question by Legion of Hoops. The tweet wanted to know if fans were willing to take $1 million upfront or take a chance at $20 million. To get the second option, one had to score at least 15 points in an official NBA game.

Wilson Chandler’s words make a ton of sense. $1 million is perhaps just change when compared to $20 million, but the condition to get the substantial amount is next to impossible for an average Joe.

While there are fans who claim that they can do better than some pro-league talent, the reality is vastly different than that. Basketball diehards who have not had the chance to play college-level hoops will hardly even have the opportunity to attempt a shot, let alone score.

Even the smallest guards are extremely difficult to score on in the NBA. They may be small in stature but their knowledge and experience playing defense would undoubtedly overwhelm casual fans.

Hence Wilson Chandler suggests the surest way to earn $1 million is to take the first option, without even having to try and score a single basket against the world’s best basketball players.

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A look back at Wilson Chandler's NBA career

Wilson Chandler was the No. 23 pick in the 2007 NBA Draft by the New York Knicks. However, New York didn’t have much success in Chandler’s three-and-a-half seasons with the team. But, he was a decent starter or off-the-bench option.

Chandler played 233 games for the Knicks and averaged 14.0 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.8 assists. He was a versatile player who could make an impact on both ends of the floor.

The Knicks traded Wilson Chandler to the Denver Nuggets in 2011 as part of the Carmelo Anthony deal. He had an arguably better career after his move to Mile High City. Chandler played 357 games for the Nuggets and averaged 13.1 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.8 assists.

After his tenure with the Nuggets, Chandler played for three teams in his last three years in pro basketball. He had stops in Philadelphia, in Los Angeles with the Clippers and in Brooklyn before hanging up his jersey.

Wilson Chandler played 35 games for the Brooklyn Nets in his final year in the NBA. He averaged 5.9 PPG, 4.1 RPG and 1.1 APG that season.