One of the world's biggest pop stars found salvation in the Upper West Side bathtub of former Knicks center Tyson Chandler.
According to an article in the January 2016 issue of GQ, the rebirth of Justin Bieber happened last year in the unlikeliest of places. GQ writer Taffy Brodesser-Akner tells the story of Bieber living with Pastor Carl Lentz, one of the leading figures at Hillsong, an international mega-church that caters to celebrities like Kevin Durant, Kendall Jenner, Selena Gomez, and, yes, Justin Bieber.
At one point, Bieber is said to have been sobbing and "ravaged by feelings of loss." He and Pastor Carl prayed together until Bieber asked to be baptized—which apparently was easier said than done.
The two traveled to a Manhattan hotel where Hillsong rents pools for baptisms, but by that time the paparazzi had found out and there was already a crowd of hundreds. Pastor Carl called a friend who had a pool, but by the time they arrived there was a crowd there, too. So, finally, Pastor Carl called his boy.
Carl has many boys, but in this case his boy was Tyson Chandler, who was then on the New York Knicks. It was 2 a.m. by now. The Knicks had beaten the Miami Heat earlier that night.
Tyson Chandler—who now plays for the Phoenix Suns—offered his building's pool for JB's baptism, but the pool was closed. Out of options, Chandler decided to offer up his tub, which was surely large enough since the former All-Star is listed at 7'1".
Looking back at the Knicks schedule, the date of this incident would've had to be January 9, 2014, as that was the last time the Knicks beat the Heat in New York. Which is interesting, since Chandler didn't play in that game due to an upper respiratory infection.
A crying and freshly-baptized Justin Bieber hugging a celebrity Pastor in a sick Tyson Chandler's bathroom? Not an image we'll forget any time soon.
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[via GQ]
