Vanderbilt Athletics
At 6-foot-5 and 211 pounds, freshman Chandler Bing is expected to add an exciting injection of athleticism into the Vanderbilt Commodores basketball program this season.
But while Bing is expected to make an impact on the court for the ‘Dores and head coach Mark Byington, right now he’s most famous for his iconic name, which he shares with the iconic Matthew Perry character from the 90s and 2000s sitcom “Friends.”
Ironically, however, Bing has never actually seen the show!
There’s a player on Vanderbilt’s basketball team named Chandler Bing.
And his bio page absolutely delivers. https://t.co/0TPqLmeGhF pic.twitter.com/cywDixiJ5V
— Conor O’Neill (@ConorONeill_DI) October 17, 2025
Vandy Freshman Chandler Bing Has Never Actually Seen ‘Friends’
In fact, in an interview with The Tennessean in May, Bing told the paper that his name has nothing at all to do with the legendary character.
“My parents weren’t even thinking about the show,” Bing told the paper. “My mom has seen the show, but when they were naming me, I guess she didn’t watch it that much, wasn’t even thinking about that.”
Perhaps that makes sense. After all, this Chandler Bing was born well after the show stopped airing on TV. So he would have had to make an active point to go back and watch it.
But it is interesting that he wasn’t actually named for Perry’s character. Although ‘Friends’ wasn’t exactly known for its diverse cast.
However, Bing does have some connection to fame!
Dave Bing, a Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer, a former Mayor of Detroit, and a member of both the NBA’s 50th and 75th anniversary teams is Chandler Bing’s grandfather’s first cousin, making him a distant cousin.
Although the two have never met.
Last year, Vandy coach Mark Byington led the Commodores to the NCAA Tournament in his first season in charge in Nashville. He’s now hoping that Bing and others can lead him to continued success in the future.
And who knows, maybe if they do, Chandler Bing and NBA legend Dave Bing might finally meet for the first time.