Vanderbilt's Chandler Bing: Named After Bishop, Not 'Friends' Character Chandler Bing, the Vanderbilt basketball freshman guard, has sparked curiosity about his name’s origin, particularly due to its similarity to the character from the hit TV show "Friends." Despite the confusion, Bing clarified that his name does not come from the sitcom’s character played by Matthew Perry. Instead, he revealed the name was chosen in honor of a bishop, not the TV personality. Bing, who has never watched an episode of "Friends," shared his thoughts with The Tennessean in May 2025. He explained that his parents, Tara and Calvin Bing, were not thinking about the show when they named him. “My mom has seen the show, but when they were naming me, I guess she didn’t watch it that much,” he said. “She wasn’t even thinking about that.” While he initially found the jokes about his name amusing, he admitted the attention has increased since the name became a topic of discussion. The 6-foot-6, 215-pound guard, hailing from Atlanta, has been a key player for the No. 5 seed Commodores during their SEC Tournament run. He averages 3.6 points and 1.5 rebounds per game for a team with a 26-8 record. Bing, a three-star recruit ranked No. 21 in Georgia for the 2025 class by 247Sports, has become a focal point of attention both on and off the court. Bing’s family connection to the basketball world extends beyond his name. He is distantly related to Dave Bing, a Hall of Famer and former NBA star. Dave Bing, who was a seven-time All-Star and 1967 NBA Rookie of the Year, is Chandler’s grandfather’s first cousin. The two share a familial bond, with Dave Bing also serving as the godfather to former NBA player Jalen Rose. Bing’s high school career was spent at Pace Academy in Atlanta, where he developed his skills before joining Vanderbilt.#sec_tournament #vanderbilt #chandler_bing #matthew_perry #dave_bing
