ESPN Body Issue 2012: NBA's Tyson Chandler Earns Coveted Cover Spot

Every July, ESPN The Magazine releases their annual Body Issue, which features a number of athletes posing for tasteful, artistic nude shots.

This has been a tradition since 2009 and seems to be gaining more steam each and every year. Another unique and popular trait about the Body Issue is the number of different covers that fans can choose from when buying from newsstands.

There were six cover athletes in 2009, five in 2010 and five in 2011. It’s unknown how many different covers there will be this year, but we do know that Tyson Chandler will be on one of them.

According to TerezOwens, the NBA’s reigning Defensive Player of the Year will be appearing on the front of some of the publications, which come out on July 13.

Chandler will become the fourth NBA player and second New York Knick to appear on the cover, following Dwight Howard, Blake Grifin and teammate Amar’e Stoudemire.

There are going to be 27 athletes in all appearing within the pages of the ‘zine. The models will range from big-name players in popular sports like the NFL to some more unknown names from less heralded sports such as fencing and sailing.

Here is a list of all the participants in the 2012 ESPN Body Issue, courtesy of the official website.

• Carlos Bocanegra (soccer)
• Daniela Hantuchova (WTA)
• Rob Gronkowski (NFL)
• Abby Wambach (soccer)
• Tyson Chandler (NBA)
• Candace Parker (WNBA)
• Maurice Jones-Drew (NFL)
• Jose Bautista (MLB)
• Brad Richards (NHL)
• Maya Gabiera (surfing)
• Ronda Rousey (MMA)
• Mike Smith (jockey)
• Tim Morehouse (fencing)
• Walter Dix (track)
• Danell Leyva (gymnastics)
• Suzann Pettersen (LPGA)
• Ashton Eaton (decathlon)
• Carmelita Jeter (track)
• Anna Tunnicliffe (sailing)
• Oksana Masters (paralympic rowing)

USA Volleyball Team:

• Destinee Hooker
• Stacy Sykora
• Alisha Glass
• Cynthia Barboza
• Megan Hodge
• Nellie Spicer
• Heather Bown