In Tyson Chandler, Knicks Gain Wisdom of a Champion DALLAS - The moment would belong to Tyson Chandler. The symbolism would resonate throughout the Knicks" lineup, touching every teammate, coach and staff member. If the Knicks needed a sharp, shiny, reminder of what they are seeking, it was there Tuesday night, at midcourt at American Airlines Center, cupped in Chandler's broad hands. In a brief ceremony before tip-off, the Dallas Mavericks presented Chandler, their former starting center, with his 2011 championship ring. "A moment I've been waiting for, really, since we won," Chandler, the defensive anchor of the Mavericks" title team, said a day earlier. Chandler left Dallas for New York in December, after the Mavericks declined to offer him a multiyear deal. The decision was more financial and tactical than anything else; the Mavericks are conserving salary-cap space to make a run at Deron Williams and Dwight Howard this summer. In Chandler, the Knicks got the defensive-minded center they have been seeking for years. His impact has been swift and profound. The Knicks began Tuesday sixth in defensive efficiency (points allowed per 100 possessions) after ranking 23rd in 2010-11. Chandler's activity around the basket and his contagious dedication have changed the Knicks" entire self-image. "One, he's really good at it," said Coach Mike D'Antoni, who has been a fan of Chandler's for many years. "Two, he concentrates on all the little things - walk-throughs, film session - and he's not afraid to speak up, and he's not afraid to say, "That's not good enough" to players. "Coaches can only go so far," D'Antoni continued, "and then there's peer pressure. And that's probably the best. And he doesn't say it in a spiteful or "I know everything" way. He just says it in the right way. And guys buy into it, they rally around him and he's the focal point of our defense this year. Chandler, 29, is averaging 11.6 points, 9.8 rebounds, 1.43 blocks and shooting a league-best 68.9 percent from the field. "I think he's as good as any center in the league," D'Antoni said. What he brings to the table - whether somebody gives you more here or somebody gives you more there - his overall play and his intangibles in the locker room, there's nobody better in the game. Chandler's contributions extend beyond the box score. On a roster loaded with All-Stars, former All-Stars and budding stars, only Chandler has won a championship, which carries its own cachet and credibility. He has been the Knicks" most vocal leader this season. "I know what it takes to win a championship now at this point," Chandler said. I'm not going back to the early days in my career, where I just sit around and watch and don't voice my opinion. I'm going to push my teammates and myself. And hopefully, at the end of the day, that makes us a contender. D'Antoni said Chandler's voice "carries a lot of weight, more with some people than others." "But he would never throw it in your face," D'Antoni said. He's not that type. WHERE IT ALL BEGAN This trip was also a homecoming of sorts for Jeremy Lin, whose N.B.A. odyssey began as a member of the Mavericks" summer-league team in 2010. He spent a week practicing with the team at American Airlines Center before heading to Las Vegas, where he impressed scouts and ultimately earned a contract from the Golden State Warriors. Lin had gone undrafted that June. His only summer-league offer came from the Mavericks" general manager, Donnie Nelson. "It was good to be back and it was good to just be here," Lin said. Donnie Nelson was the one who first gave me an opportunity, and I'll forever be thankful to him for that. Lin recalled a conversation with Nelson after the Portsmouth Invitational, an event for fringe draft prospects: "He said, "I like your game." He said, "I think you're one year away from being able to play in the N.B.A., and I'd like you to play for the Texas Legends," " the Mavericks" affiliate in the Development League. In summer-league practices, Lin competed against Roddy Beaubois and Dominique Jones, and had the chance to reacquaint himself with the point-guard position after primarily playing shooting guard at Harvard. Those practices "really helped me just get my feel back for being a point guard," Lin said. "So that was helpful," he added. And then at the same time, I saw what I really need to work on by playing against Roddy and Dominique Jones. So that was an eye-opening experience for me. And I saw what could work for me and what wouldn't work for me, and then I had to make another adjustment once it went from summer league to the N.B.A. Asked if he would be starting for the Knicks if not for his brief time with the Mavericks, Lin said, "Probably not." "All I know is, he gave me a chance," Lin said of Nelson, "and that definitely has something to do with me being able to even be in the N.B.A. this year."