“No matter what anybody else has to say. Chandler and I are close friends.” That’s Dwight Howard talking about his former Houston Rockets teammate Chandler Parsons. Those two really had a solid bond on and off the court. They made some noise in Houston, no doubt. In fact, Chandler believed in Dwight so much that he even tried recruiting him to the Dallas Mavericks later on. And now, with Dwight getting inducted into the Hall of Fame again this year, Chandler came up and spilled some fresh tea about Superman. What kind, you ask? Oh, let’s get into it.

As an Orlando native and former University of Florida baller, Parsons first met Dwight when he was dominating with the Orlando Magic. The connection grew stronger when Parsons signed with Dwight’s agent, Dan Fegan, back in May 2013. From there, their friendship took off, and it played a huge role in shaping that Houston Rockets roster. Chandler even once said, “I made him really comfortable that he was not only coming to a really good team but a team with his friends on it.”  And that comfort, that trust, is what sealed the deal.

In a recent episode of the Run It Back podcast, Chandler Parsons opened up about just how much Dwight changed the game for the Rockets. “He was unbelievable defensively, coming weak sides, blocking shots. I love Dwight, he was one of my favorite teammates of all time.” Now, sure, you might think that’s just a buddy hyping his friend. But nah, the numbers back it up. Dwight finished that regular season with the Rockets averaging 18.3 points and 12.2 rebounds. On top of that, he earned All-NBA Second Team honors. And during the 2014 playoffs, he turned it up even more: 26 points and 13.7 rebounds per game.

And hammering it home was Chandler dropping one line: “This season he was the closest thing to Shaq.” Man, that ain’t a light comparison. That’s like getting knighted in basketball. It tells you exactly how dominant Dwight was, clogging the paint, shutting down drives, and making life miserable for attackers. Opponents thought twice before taking it to the rim. You could feel his presence. And boy, when you’re being mentioned in the same breath as Shaquille O’Neil, you know you left a dent in the league. That kind of fear factor is rare. And Dwight had it locked.

Chandler wrapped it with, “He has been that guy pretty much his whole career and this is much deserved. And I am super happy.” And when you remember that it was Chandler who lobbied Houston to bring Dwight in? Man… talk about full circle – from recruiting him to watching him make the Hall again. Dwight’s come a long, long way – and Parsons’s lobbied all along.

Beneath Houston skies, Chandler Parsons claims his piece in Dwight Howard’s lone star leap

When Dwight Howard shocked the NBA world by choosing the Houston Rockets in free agency, the headlines focused on championship hopes and franchise potential. But if you ask Chandler Parsons, there was something more personal behind the move. Something rooted in friendship and a bit of persuasive hustle.

“I think I had a big impact,” Parsons admitted during USA Basketball’s mini-camp, as quoted by Yahoo! Sports. And he wasn’t exaggerating. At Howard’s introductory press conference, the All-Star center himself said, “You guys should thank Chandler Parsons because he is a big reason why I am here.” Back then, Parsons was a rising star with charm to match his game, and he reportedly played a key role in showing Howard the lifestyle, and vision of Houston. From dining together to casual chats about the future, Parsons made the city feel like home before the contract was even signed.

In a league where agents and GMs usually close the deals, Parsons proved that a teammate’s voice and a little of good old Southern hospitality can still make all the difference. Beneath those Houston skies, it wasn’t just about basketball. It was about trust. And that trust brought Superman to Texas.