Former NBA forward Chandler Parsons has shared a memorable story about Kobe Bryant, revealing that the Los Angeles Lakers legend once covered a $22,000 nightclub bill for him and several Houston Rockets teammates during Parsons’ rookie season.
Parsons recalled the incident from a road trip to Los Angeles, where the Rockets were preparing to face Bryant and the Lakers at Staples Center.
Before the game, Houston head coach Kevin McHale warned the young forward about the distractions of playing in Los Angeles and the challenge of guarding Bryant.
“So I got a good Kobe story. My rookie year, we’re playing here in Staples Center, and McHale tells us before, he pulls me aside, ‘Look, you’re going to see crazy people. You’re going to see celebrities there. Lock in. And Kobe, he’s going to try and bust your ass. He’s going to be offended you’re guarding him.’”
Parsons admitted that the atmosphere immediately caught his attention. Having never experienced such a celebrity-filled environment, he found himself looking around the arena instead of concentrating entirely on the game.
“And I’m like, ‘Cool. I love it. I’m flattered to guard him.’ So I go there, and first of all, I’m just looking courtside. My head’s on a swivel. I’ve never seen this before. I’m like, ‘Goddamn, this is crazy.’ Denzel’s there, and this chick’s there. I’m like, ‘Wow.’ So I’m already distracted. And of course, I’m starting on Kobe. Jordan Hill that year had gotten traded from Houston to L.A., so I had known him, just as a little side note.”
During the fourth quarter, Bryant unexpectedly approached Parsons and asked whether the Rockets would be staying in Los Angeles overnight.
The Lakers superstar offered to arrange a night out for the visiting players, although Parsons initially suspected that Bryant was simply trying to distract him during the game.
“Fourth quarter comes around, and Kobe looks at me and he’s like, ‘Are you guys staying the night tonight?’ And I’m looking at McHale, making sure he’s not looking at me. I’m like, ‘Yeah, what’s up?’ I’m like, ‘Oh, he’s doing it. He’s Mr. Miyagi-ing me right now.’ I’m like, ‘Yeah, what’s up? We’re staying.’ He goes, ‘I’ll set you up. I’ll get your number from J. Hill, and if you want to go out tonight…’ I’m like, ‘Stop. I know what you’re doing. Come on.’ McHale’s over there grilling me, like, ‘Stop talking this shit.’”
Bryant went on to deliver an impressive scoring performance as the Lakers defeated Houston. After the game, Parsons and his teammates went out for dinner, where he received a message confirming that Bryant had arranged their evening at a nightclub.
“So the game ends. He ends up just going off. He had like 40 that game. We lose. After the game, right there in L.A. Live, we go to Katsuya. We’re with all the OGs. We’re with Marcus Camby, and they’re all taking me out. I get a text, and it goes, ‘You’re all set at Supperclub., Mamba.’ And I’m looking around like, ‘All right, who’s fucking with me? No way.’ Courtney Lee was my guy, right? I’m showing him, like, ‘Is this real? You got his number?’ And I write him back. I said something like, ‘Are you coming?’ He’s like, ‘Nah, I can’t make it, but my guy will hit you up.’ Next text: ‘Hey, you’re set up. Let me know what you need at Supperclub,’ whatever.”
Convinced that everything had been arranged, Parsons invited teammates, coaches and trainers to join him at Supperclub.
The group enjoyed the evening, but the situation took an unexpected turn when a waitress approached Parsons with the bill at approximately 2 a.m.
“So at this point, I’m telling the table, ‘Guys, I got it. My guy set it up. Let’s go.’ J.B. Bickerstaff is there. I’m bringing coaches, I’m bringing trainers. I got it. And we have a blast. We have the craziest night ever. Supperclub was the club where the tables were beds. It was awesome. It was nuts. And 2 a.m. rolls around. Granted, I’m with these guys that made hundreds of millions of dollars, and this waitress beelines right to me with the check.”
Parsons explained that he became extremely nervous when he discovered the bill totaled approximately $22,000, an amount he feared he would be unable to cover.
“And I’m like, ‘Oh, shit.’ My dad’s my financial advisor at the time. He would be on my ass if I value-sized my combo meal at Chick-fil-A. And she’s bringing me this bill for God knows how much. I’m like, ‘Oh, man.’ I open it, and it’s like $22,000. And now, at this point, I’m sick. I’m physically like, ‘No, no, I can’t do this. My card’s going to bounce.’”
However, the waitress then informed Parsons that Bryant had already taken responsibility for the entire bill, leaving the rookie stunned.
“And I’ll never forget this. This chick looks at me, hands me a pen, and says, ‘Sign for Mr. Bryant.’ And I’m like, ‘What?’ I’m like, ‘Video the whole thing!’ I’m signing Kobe Bryant. I signed Kobe Bryant on a $22,000 club bill. And everyone, by the way, they say he’s tough, he’s going to go at you. I’m like, ‘This dude was cool as fuck.’”
