Kobe Bryant is one of the greatest players to ever step foot on an NBA basketball court. But his impact on the game stretches far beyond anything he ever did on the court.
It’s the stories, the “Kobe stories,” that will live forever, as everybody who ever crossed paths with The Mamba seems to have one. And every time a new story comes out, it’s even better than the last.
Well, just the other day, a new Kobe story was told, and it was a doozy. Funnily enough, it came from one of the most unexpected storytellers one could possibly think of – Chandler Parsons.
Chandler Parsons shares priceless Kobe Bryant story
Parsons spent nine years in the NBA with four different teams. He’s most well-known for his time with the Houston Rockets and Dallas Mavericks, though.
He entered the league in the 2011-12 season as a rookie on the Rockets, and that’s where his story (which he told on Matt Barnes’ and Stephen Jackson’s podcast, All The Smoke) begins – in a game against Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers.
Head coach Kevin McHale let Parsons know that he would have to guard Bryant that night, but also told him not to let Bryant get into his head throughout the game.
Bryant did just that. Parsons was matched up with Bryant when he began to talk to him. He asked Parsons what he was doing that night, and proceeded to tell him that he’d get his number from Jordan Hill (Parsons former teammate who was traded to the Lakers) and hook him up.
Well, sure enough, Parsons got a text later that night from Bryant saying that he set him up at a club. After waving off the initial shock, Parsons took his teammates, coaching staff, and some other members of the team to the club.
After having a good time, a waitress approached him with the bill, and Parsons’ (then a rookie) heart sank. But she didn’t ask him to pay, she asked him to “sign for Mr. Bryant.”
It was an epic story told beautifully, and the perfect representation of how awesome Bryant was. Make sure to give it a listen – you won’t regret it.