Rex Chapman’s recent appearance on ‘Vlad TV’ provided a fascinating glimpse into his experiences with two basketball legends: Michael Jordan and Stephen Curry. In a candid conversation, Chapman shared anecdotes about gambling with Jordan and babysitting a young Curry, shedding light on their relationships and personalities off the court.
“We hung out for a week or two and played basketball, golf, gambling, all of it. So yeah, and we were, Michael and I were very good friends the whole time and still buddies, but his folks lived in Charlotte and so they came to all of our games.”
“I got to know them and his whole family very well when I was living there. So yeah, but I went down the first time and hung out with Michael summer before my rookie year.”
“And we played golf, cards, everything for days but at the end I had no idea how much money we’re playing for nothing also, I don’t really have much money. I’ve got a little cash in the bank at the end of the trip he said alright you owe so-and-so ten grand blah blah blah blah.”
“I had a checkbook so I wrote a check for ten grand gave it and then I had to call up a booster friend in Kentucky to get him to wire me some money to cover the gambling debt and get me to my first paycheck in the fall.” (0:51)
Chapman recalled a memorable encounter with Michael Jordan during his rookie year in the NBA. Desperate for competitive games to prepare for training camp, Chapman accepted an invitation to hang out with Jordan in North Carolina. Over the course of a week or two, they engaged in various activities, including basketball, golf, and gambling.
Chapman described Jordan as a good friend and revealed that they maintained a close bond throughout their careers. However, one particular gambling session left Chapman with a hefty debt, forcing him to scramble for funds to cover it before his first paycheck arrived in the fall. He was even forced to write a cheque as he didn’t have enough money to pay his debt.
In another revealing story, Chapman reminisced about babysitting Stephen Curry during their playing days.
“Yeah, I was always relegated to the back seat. Somehow Muggsy got all the leg room in the front seat and somehow we didn’t put him in the baby seat. But Stephen would ride beside me in the back and Dell and Muggs up front.”
“And I’m sure we weren’t talking about how great we were, but we were probably listening to sports radio. Muggsy was a lottery pick, I was a lottery pick, Dell was a first-round pick.”
“The idea that the baby sitting next to us would be the best player maybe in the world ever or the greatest shooter ever or even an NBA player at all, it was not even something that you would think about. Now, he was the best baby, the best little kid, all the way from born to the time he left and went to Davidson.”
“The best kid in the world and if there was any of the kids that we all grew up around that would have gone on to do this, Stephan is the one that deserves it.” (6:34)
Chapman, along with Dell Curry and Muggsy Bogues, formed a close-knit group within the Charlotte Hornets organization. As they traveled together, Chapman found himself sitting in the backseat beside a young Curry, who would later become one of the greatest basketball players of all time.
Despite their humble beginnings, Chapman recognized Curry’s exceptional character and talent from an early age, acknowledging him as the standout among their group of aspiring athletes.
Chapman’s anecdotes offer a glimpse into the personal lives and relationships of two basketball icons. From bonding over games of golf and cards with Jordan to sharing car rides and conversations with a young Curry, Chapman’s experiences highlight the human side of these larger-than-life figures.
Through his stories, Chapman provides valuable insights into the personalities and character traits that have contributed to the success of both Jordan and Curry on and off the basketball court.
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