Chandler Parsons
A sharp-shooting NBA forward whose career was tragically cut short by a car accident, he reinvented himself as a candid media personality.
Born 1988 (age 38)·American basketball player·Birthday: October 25·Millennials
Biography
Chandler Parsons carved his path from a second-round draft pick to a coveted NBA starter through a blend of size, shooting, and savvy. At the University of Florida, he evolved into the SEC Player of the Year, a hint of the versatile forward he would become. His professional breakthrough came with the Houston Rockets, but it was a lucrative contract with the Dallas Mavericks that cemented his status as a modern stretch-four. Injuries began to mount, however, and a catastrophic car accident in 2020, caused by a drunk driver, left him with severe and permanent injuries, forcing his retirement. Unwilling to leave the game, Parsons pivoted to broadcasting, bringing his insider's perspective and unfiltered opinions to shows like 'Run It Back,' where he dissects the league with the same confidence he once played with.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Chandler was born in 1988, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Chandler Was Born
The biggest hits of 1988
#1 Movie
Rain Man
Best Picture
Rain Man
#1 TV Show
The Cosby Show
Chandler's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1988Born
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1993Started school
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
2001Became a teenager
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2004Could drive
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2006Could vote
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2009Turned 21
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2018Turned 30
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2026Age 38 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Named the SEC Player of the Year in 2011 while playing for the University of Florida.
- Earned NBA All-Rookie Second Team honors in 2012 with the Houston Rockets.
- Signed a four-year, $94 million maximum contract with the Memphis Grizzlies in 2016.
- Transitioned to a successful media career as a co-host of the popular sports talk show 'Run It Back.'
Did You Know?
He was drafted 38th overall in 2011, the same draft that produced stars like Kyrie Irving and Kawhi Leonard.
Parsons majored in telecommunications at the University of Florida.
The car accident that ended his career resulted in a traumatic brain injury, disc herniation, and a torn labrum.
He won a $1 billion lawsuit against the driver responsible for his career-ending crash.
“I was a second-round pick who became a starter by outworking everyone.”
