Back On My Grizzy

After signing a max contract in Memphis this summer, CHANDLER PARSONS is determined to prove he’s fully healthy and worth the big investment for a Grizzlies team that’s ready to transition from sleeping giant to legitimate contender.

- Franklyn Calle

The clock strikes a quarter to 7 p.m. local time when he emerges from his very first team meal as a member of the Memphis Grizzlies. With training camp kicking off tomorrow morning, Chandler Parsons has a lot on his mind—basketball and beyond.

“You know, trying to paint walls, change the floors, furnish it all,” says Parsons, who is heading into camp while staying at a downtown hotel for another two weeks as he puts the final touches on his soon-to-be suburban home. “It’s a whole process. On top of dealing with that, there’s finishing rehab, team meetings and film. It’s a lot and it gets stressful. But I got good people on it.”

Despite having only arrived in Memphis a little over a week before we speak, the vibes Parsons says he’s felt in his short time in town have been enough to give him a much-needed positive outlook after spending his summer in Los Angeles recovering from season-ending surgery for a second consecutive year.

“It’s an exciting time,” he says. “I think change is always good. It’s a fresh start. I’ve been here 10 days total and you can just tell these fans are so passionate. They’re so welcoming. They’re legitimately the nicest people I’ve ever met. They’re so excited about this season—there’s excitement everywhere you go downtown.”

Parsons experienced his share of highs and lows through his first five seasons in the NBA. Selected by the Houston Rockets with the 38th overall pick in the second round of the 2011 NBA Draft, the 6-10 small forward came into the League with a high level of uncertainty surrounding his future. Not only because the odds of a second-rounder sticking around and making a career in the NBA weren’t on his side, but also because the NBA lockout meant no actual basketball was being played.