After a surprising rookie season and breakout sophomore campaign, forward Chandler Parsons has made plenty of Houston Rockets fans happy by scoring more than his fair share of points and dishing some important dimes over the last two years.

But his biggest assist to date came this past week when Parsons played a major role in recruiting free agent center Dwight Howard to Houston, sources confirmed to OnlyGators.com and FORBES on Saturday.

A source close to the situation spoke with FORBES sports business writer Darren Heitner on Saturday and confirmed that not only was Parsons involved in the Rockets’ initial pitch to Howard, he went above and beyond following that meeting to ensure that Howard picked Houston when he came to his final decision.

“Chandler was relentless,” the source said. “[Chandler] called and texted [Dwight] every day, even face-timed and would answer every question Dwight could potentially have. We would drive to his house in the hills and talk to him. Basically Chandler Parsons recruited him like Nick Saban and a five-star defensive tackle; they hardly knew each other at the beginning of the process.”

That source contends “there is no one on the Rockets more responsible for [Dwight] in Houston than Chandler,” noting that Parsons’s outlined to Howard how he would have the best chance to win with the Rockets compared to his other suitors.

Parsons, who is away on vacation in Mexico and therefore did not return a text message seeking comment from OnlyGators.com, was simply an acquaintance of Howard prior to free agency. Growing up in Orlando, FL, Parsons would bump into Howard when he returned home in the offseason, so the two were familiar with each other.



A source close to Parsons confirmed to OnlyGators.com that “Chandler was very involved in recruiting Dwight and the two developed a great relationship. They became much closer during the free agent process.”

The source explained that Parsons was indeed instrumental in Howard eventually choosing the Rockets despite also having heavy interest from the Los Angeles Lakers (which could have offered him one year and $30 million more on his contract), Atlanta, Dallas and Golden State.

“Chandler is extremely happy about Dwight picking Houston and thinks he gives the Rockets a chance to contend immediately,” the source added.

Now that Howard is on board, Houston will enter the 2013-14 season with one of the most talented starting fives in the NBA. Parsons’s extra effort this offseason may help the Rockets return to the finals for the first time since 1995.