Golf With Travis Kelce and Justin Timberlake Catches up to Ex Mavs Star on Father-Daughter Outing

Picture this: the guy who used to soar for alley-oops now watching his kids from a golf cart because his knees won’t cooperate. That contrast, that shift from NBA star to sidelined dad, really grabs you and sets up his whole journey into golf as this new chapter. “I miss the game, I miss hooping, I miss being healthy,” the former NBA player told Golf magazine. After an accident brought his NBA career to an abrupt end, the retired NBA player struggled to deal with the void and the constant craving for competition. After years, he found his peace in a different sport. However, the situation with his injuries didn’t change much. And the memories came back quickly after he had to reject his daughter’s one request.

Several celebrities, amateur golfers, and athletes were present at the Wynn Las Vegas for the annual 8AM Invitational. The winners from last year’s event, Chandler Parsons and Blake Griffin, were also present. While the former NBA player didn’t win the tournament this year, he and his family attended the entire event. This time, Team Timberlake clinched the win. Parsons earlier shared a story featuring Travis Kelce and Justin Timberlake.

This 8AM Invitational isn’t just some casual celeb golf outing; it’s got some serious names and a competitive vibe, with past winners like Parsons himself and Blake Griffin. So, even though he’s not on the NBA court anymore, he’s still mixing it up with other athletes and famous faces in a setting that still has that competitive edge.

There are more. Just recently, Parsons’ wife, Haylee, shared a snippet on her Instagram. As she seemingly held the trolley carrying their son, Chrome, their daughter, Rocket’s voice was heard asking, “I want to go on Daddy’s golf cart.” To which Parsons responded, “Yeah, it’s not funny anymore.” “Daddy’s knees ain’t working like they used to” Haylee captioned it which was reshared by her husband. 

The reason behind Parsons’ retirement is closely tied to the injuries that he sustained during his plays. Back in 2017, he was ruled out after a partial meniscus tear in his left knee. By that time, Parsons had been struggling with his knee issues. He had already undergone two surgeries on his right knee and was heading for a third that year. Multiple knee surgeries afterward took a toll on the player and his abilities.

He was traded to the Atlanta Hawks in 2019. Following this, he suffered the worst accident of his life in 2020. It’s understandable how the sudden retirement pushed him into a difficult position. He wondered about the next chapter of his life, and that’s when he found golf.

Chandler Parsons found new love for golf

Parsons had an interesting 9-year NBA career, playing for four different teams. But after signing a $95 million contract with the Grizzlies, he didn’t get enough playing time due to his knee issues. After the accident, Parsons was waived by the Atlanta Hawks. And some days later, he announced his retirement. 

He had suffered a traumatic brain injury, a disc herniation, and a torn labrum due to his accident. In a conversation with GOLF Subpar co-hosts Colt Knost and Drew Stoltz, he said, “I miss my knee not f****** me up and me going out and having 25 and feeling great. And like I miss that feeling of winning and competing and, you know, it was awesome. My dream as a kid was to make the NBA.”

He is the first Florida Gators star to win 2011 SEC Player of the Year. He was drafted as the 38th overall pick  by the Houston Rockets. He sees the parallels in the two sports as well as the huge differences. “The country club and that kind of hang of the gambling, the s— talk like the locker room, that’s the closest thing an ex-athlete has to that,” he said. 

“Like from the locker room to like the locker room attendant who picks up after you and has all the products there and the showers. It’s the same feel as an NBA locker room,” he added. He is also the co-host of the FanDuel online show Run it Back. While he has found a new love in golf, Parsons hasn’t forgotten about basketball.

So, Parsons has found this new passion in golf, but what’s next for him? Is he just playing for fun, or does he have any bigger aspirations in the golf world? Maybe he’s aiming to play in more celebrity tournaments or even get involved in golf media. A little hint at his future would wrap things up nicely.