Chandler Parsons believes DeAndre Jordan is 'the best center in the NBA'
Chandler Parsons thinks very highly of DeAndre Jordan.
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1 min read
Chandler Parsons was the driving force to get DeAndre Jordan to join the Dallas Mavericks. By spending six straight days with Jordan, Parsons sold his future teammate on how much of an impact he would have on the Mavs. Parsons went above and beyond in his pitch because he strongly believes that Jordan is the "best center in the NBA."
From ESPN's Tim MacMahon:
"It all came down to him being the best center in the NBA, an All-Star-caliber and MVP-caliber player in this league," Parsons told ESPN.com in his first public comments since the Mavs secured the commitments of Jordan and shooting guard Wesley Matthews, their other top target in free agency. "No doubt in my mind that [opportunity] was here in Dallas."
"I was basically just telling him that we want you," said Parsons, who organized a dinner with Mavs legend Dirk Nowitzki, owner Mark Cuban, Jordan and himself at a swanky sushi restaurant in Malibu for the second free agency started Tuesday night. "You're our priority. We believe that you can be a 20 and 15 a night kind of guy. We think that you are the best center in the NBA, and we think that there's no other place better than Dallas [to prove it]."
"I think he's a perennial All-Star. I think he's the most athletic, best defending, finishing lob threat in the NBA. He has a chance to be the best center in the NBA the next 10 years."
These are very high compliments Parsons is paying Jordan, especially since the new Mavs center has never been an All-Star and only real accolades came last season when he was selected to be on the All-NBA Third team and NBA's All-Defensive First team. Jordan should be very good on the Mavs, but it's too early to tell how he'll handle an increase in offensive responsibility.
However, Parsons' comments are a big reason why Jordan left the Clippers for the Mavs. In Los Angeles, he felt undervalued, and his relationship with Chris Paul seemed to be only cordial. With the Mavericks, he is joining an organization that very clearly wanted him. Jordan may not be able to live up to Parsons' high praise, but he can take comfort in knowing that he has a teammate that is willing to go to bat for him before they've even played a single game together.
