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Memphis Grizzlies: Chandler Parsons Could Follow Footsteps of Grant Hill

By Christian Dudley

PHILADELPHIA,PA - MARCH 21 : Chandler Parsons #25 of the Memphis Grizzlies puts up the shot against the Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Center on March 21, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA,PA - MARCH 21 : Chandler Parsons #25 of the Memphis Grizzlies puts up the shot against the Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Center on March 21, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Chandler Parsons has regained a bill of good health and looks to revive his professional basketball career with the Memphis Grizzlies.

At the start of this past week’s Memphis Grizzlies training camp, Chandler Parsons publicly shared his deepest thoughts via The Players’ Tribune.

Within his humble message, which reiterated the version of Parsons that arrived to Monday’s Media Day, one of his childhood stories really stood out. Chandler reminisced his days as an Orlando Magic fan in addition to being a Grant Hill fan. This particular excerpt truly identifies a fine correlation between Parsons and Hill:

"“Then nothing went like it was supposed to. Grant Hill had injury after injury. He only played about 200 total games over seven seasons for the Magic. By the time he left, in 2007, I blamed Grant Hill for the Magic’s failures. It felt personal to me, like he had gone out of his way to let me down.I’ve been thinking about that a lot this summer. It’s funny to be finding myself in a similar position, but this time as a player. I’m not Grant Hill, but just like him, I went to a new team and got injured right away. Two years have gone by, and today I’m closer to being the player I was pre-injury than any time since I got to Memphis. But during a lot of my time here, I think I lost touch with the way I felt as a basketball fan. When I was going through my own share of criticism the past few years, I wish I’d thought more about how I felt at age 11 about my home team.”"

All of a sudden, it makes perfect sense to Chandler Parsons. He can now relate to the Memphis Grizzlies and the team’s fan base. This is only added motivation for him to produce this season, his third as a member of the Grizzlies. His next regular season game with Memphis will mark just No. 71 since joining forces in 2016.

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All of this talk is great within the offseason and even preseason setting. It generates hype and excitement for a new year of Grizzlies basketball. Yet, nothing really matters until Game No. 1 of 82 tips off on October 17th.

Continuing the example of Grant Hill, assume that Chandler Parsons is the reincarnation of the former Duke star. If history were to repeat itself, will Chandler Parsons become a star contributor for the Memphis Grizzlies?

After joining Orlando in 2000, Hill played three seasons where injuries limited him to less than 30 games in each. The fourth season? Grant sat it out entirely. It was a more frustrating situation that what the Memphis Grizzlies have experienced with Chandler Parsons.

Thankfully for Grant Hill, things improved. Majorly.

In Hill’s final three seasons with the Orlando Magic, he notched the 65-game mark in two of those. By moving on to become a member of the Phoenix Suns, his game started to flourish once again despite not being prime Grant Hill.

Grant played all 82 regular season games in the 2008-09 season, followed by seasons of 81 games and 80 games, respectively. It was a totally different player in terms of a bill of good health being displayed.

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Through 18 seasons of NBA action, Grant Hill averaged less than double figure scoring only once — his final run in the league as a member of the Los Angeles Clippers. Post-injuries, Hill was able to keep his shooting accuracy stable — if not improved — all while owning a solid level of efficiency.

Grant Hill is a perfect example for Chandler Parsons to study. They are a very similar type of player and they both have the same unfortunate history with injuries. If anything, Hill’s career provides hope for Parsons and Grizzlies fans alike.

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Though there is not much to show for it just yet, Parsons is not washed. His offseason workouts have provided evidence that he can still be a major X-factor for the Grizzlies. His best days are truly yet to come — just ask Grant Hill’s 18-season NBA career.

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