Chandler Parsons has been virtually a non-factor this NBA season, and it appears his grind to re-establish his niche took a major tumble. The 31-year-old is reeling from the effects of a car accident, leaving him with multiple severe and permanent injuries.
In a report from TMZ Sports, Parsons was on his way home from practice at around 2:00 p.m. last Jan. 15 when a man hit the 38th overall pick of the 2011 NBA Draft. The incident caused a three-car wreck. The driver admitted drinking and had alcohol stored in a 7Up bottle in his car at the time.
In the same report, the lawyer of Parsons says that the NBA cager may never fully recover from the accident. The 6-foot-9 player reportedly suffered a brain injury, disc herniation, and a torn labrum.
Chandler Parsons hires Morgan & Morgan after being struck by individual who’s charged with DUI, according to attorney. Parsons suffered “multiple severe and permanent injuries including a traumatic brain injury, disc herniation and torn labrum.” His return to play is unclear. pic.twitter.com/GxvuNByzh5 — Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) January 20, 2020
"The at-fault driver created utter chaos on the roadway, needlessly endangering the lives of countless motorists; he now stands charged with DUI, admitted drinking, had alcohol in the car with him, passed out after causing a three-car crash at 2:00 PM on a Wednesday in a busy intersection, seriously injuring and potentially ending Mr. Parsons' career as a professional athlete," said Parsons’ attorneys.
Parsons was allegedly in peak form prior to the accident. Now, he faces a grim future. The lawyers added that the NBA journeyman is having a hard time accepting the consequences of the defendant’s reckless conduct. Right now, the main concern is to help Parsons make a full recovery.
As far as his NBA career is concerned, Parsons was a name frequently mentioned in NBA trade rumors. This season, he has played in only 5 games averaging 2.8 points and 1.4 rebounds in roughly 10 minutes of action per Basketball-Reference.com. He was acquired by the Atlanta Hawks last July in a trade that involved Miles Plumlee and Solomon Hill. Parsons holds career averages of 12.7 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 2.7 assists.
Parsons is in the final year of a four-year deal he signed back in 2017 with the Memphis Grizzlies. He is due to make $25 million this season, an amount the Hawks are believed to want to be rid of. With the recent developments, it appears trading away Parsons could be farfetched – meaning Atlanta will have to carry that burden until the end of the 2019-20 NBA season.
