Rockets forward Chandler Parsons shaves head for 10-year-old cancer patient
Marc Weinreich
Rockets forward Chandler Parsons is averaging 17.3 points in his third season in the NBA. (Rocky Widner/Getty Image)
Houston Rockets forward Chandler Parsons shaved his head for a 10-year-old cancer patient on Monday night following the team's loss to the Dallas Mavericks, according to Jenny Dial Creech of the Houston Chronicle.
Patrick Hobbs-DeClaire, who is undergoing treatments at Texas-Children's hospital for Stage 4 cancer, met Parsons last week, and the 25-year-old swingman was so inspired by the visit that he decided to shave his head in support:
"His dad was telling me how he isn't even scared of death. He is more worried about not looking like his twin brother anymore, so me being his favorite player, I decided to shave my head to look more like him and hopefully give him some support and encouragement from me...I was going through back spasms and had a hangnail on my toe and I went to see this 10-year-old fighting for his life so it really puts things in perspective."
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Parsons said he didn't tell him that he was going to shave his head, but told the parents to make sure their son watches the Rockets take on the San Antonio Spurs on national television on Christmas:
"It will be a nice Christmas surprise for him. He has a lot of support out there, from me and from the Rockets."