Chandler Parsons will don buzzed head Christmas Day for cancer patient

As it does every Christmas, the NBA has put together a full slate of games Wednesday featuring the Brooklyn Nets, Chicago Bulls, Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, New York Knicks, Oklahoma City Thunder and Houston Rockets.

With that said, many of the matchups will be missing marquee names like Carmelo Anthony, Derrick Rose, Kobe Bryant and Steve Nash and a noticeable playoff atmosphere — as only five of the 10 teams would be eligible for postseason play heading into Wednesday’s action.

While the games might not be big on hype, one will certainly deliver in the holiday cheer department.

That’s because when Rockets forward Chandler Parsons takes the floor against the Spurs, he’ll do so with a buzzed head. The haircut will be a nod to 10-year-old Patrick Hobbs-DeClaire, a Stage 4 cancer patient, whom Parson met while visiting the Texas-Children’s Hospital last week.

“His dad was telling me how he isn’t even scared of death,” Parson told the Houston Chronicle. “He is more worried about not looking like his twin brother anymore, so me being his favorite player, I decided to shave my head to look more like him and hopefully give him some support and encouragement from me.

“I was going through back spasms and had a hangnail on my toe and I went to see this 10-year-old fighting for his life so it really puts things in perspective.”

Hats off to Parsons. Not only is the third-year pro having a career year averaging 17.3 points and 5.0 rebounds per game, but he clearly understands what it means to be a role model in the community, especially during the holiday season.

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