Robert Parish facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Robert Parish

Parish in 2005
Personal information
Born	(1953-08-30) August 30, 1953 (age 71) Shreveport, Louisiana, U.S.
High school	Woodlawn (Shreveport, Louisiana)
Listed height	7 ft 1 in (2.16 m)
Listed weight	244 lb (111 kg)
Career information
College	Centenary (1972–1976)
NBA Draft	1976 / Round: 1 / Pick: 8th overall
Selected by the Golden State Warriors
Pro career	1976–1997
Career history
As player:
1976–1980	Golden State Warriors
1980–1994	Boston Celtics
1994–1996	Charlotte Hornets
1996–1997	Chicago Bulls
As coach:
2001	Maryland Mustangs
Career highlights and awards
As player: 4× NBA champion (1981, 1984, 1986, 1997) 9× NBA All-Star (1981–1987, 1990, 1991) All-NBA Second Team (1982) All-NBA Third Team (1989) NBA anniversary team (50th, 75th) No. 00 retired by Boston Celtics Second-team All-American – AP (1976) As coach: USBL Coach of the Year (2001)
Career statistics
Points	23,334 (14.5 ppg)
Rebounds	14,715 (9.1 rpg)
Blocks	2,361 (1.5 bpg)
Medals Representing  United States Men's basketball Pan American Games Gold 1975 Mexico City Team competition

Robert Lee Parish (born August 30, 1953) is a famous American former professional basketball player. He was a 7-foot-1-inch (2.16 m) tall player known as a center. People nicknamed him "the Chief" because he was so calm and quiet. Parish played for four different teams in the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 1976 to 1997. He played for the Boston Celtics for 14 years. There, he joined two other amazing players, Larry Bird and Kevin McHale. Together, they formed one of the best groups of players in NBA history.

During his time playing college basketball at Centenary College, Parish was so good that he was drafted three times! Two times by teams from the American Basketball Association (ABA), and once by the Golden State Warriors of the NBA in 1976. Parish played four seasons for the Warriors. In 1980, he was traded to the Boston Celtics. The Celtics also got a draft pick in that trade, which they used to choose Kevin McHale. Parish and McHale then joined star player Larry Bird on the Celtics. This famous trio was called "The Big Three." They won three NBA championships together.

After the 1993–1994 season, Parish left the Celtics. He then played two more seasons with the Charlotte Hornets and one season with the Chicago Bulls. He won another NBA championship with the Bulls in 1997. After that, he retired from the NBA at 43 years old.

Parish played in an NBA-record 1,611 games during his career. He played for 21 NBA seasons, which is tied for the second-most in league history. Besides playing for a very long time, Parish was known for his strong defense, his ability to get rebounds, and his unique jump shot. He was chosen as an NBA All-Star nine times and won four NBA championships. He was also named to the NBA's 50th and 75th anniversary teams. The Celtics honored him by retiring his jersey number in 1998. In 2003, Robert Parish was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.

Growing Up and Starting Basketball

Robert Parish is the oldest of four children. His parents are Robert Sr. and Ada Parish.

When Robert was in seventh grade, he was already 6 feet 6 inches (1.98 m) tall! His junior high coach, Coleman Kidd, saw him and encouraged him to try basketball. Robert had never played before. Coach Kidd would even go to Robert's house if he missed practice. He also gave Robert a basketball to practice with. This is when Robert started wearing his famous uniform number, 00. It was the only jersey left on the day they handed out uniforms in junior high.

Parish once said, "I really didn’t like basketball growing up." He preferred football, baseball, and track. He added, "Coach Coleman would come to my house and take me to practice every day until I had to start showing up myself; I give all the credit to him."

Parish went to Woodlawn High School in Shreveport, Louisiana. He played for Coach Ken Ivy. Before that, he went to Union High School, but it closed because of desegregation. In 1972, Parish was named All-American, All-State, All-District, and All-City. He led Woodlawn High School to win the 1972 Louisiana High School Athletic Association Class AAAA state championship.

College Basketball Journey

Parish as a junior at Centenary.

Robert Parish went to Centenary College of Louisiana from 1972 to 1976. He chose this school because it was close to his home. However, he didn't get much attention for his amazing playing. This was because of a very strict rule from the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).

Parish explained, "The reason why I chose Centenary is because of their coaches. I was very impressed with the coaches."

The NCAA had a rule about how college freshmen could be eligible to play sports. Parish took a test that didn't fit the NCAA's exact formula. Centenary College changed his score to fit the formula, which they had done for other athletes before. But the NCAA said this was against their rules.

When Centenary refused to take away Parish's scholarship, the NCAA punished the school very harshly. Centenary's basketball program was put on probation for six years. This meant they couldn't play in postseason games. Also, Parish's great statistics were not officially counted by the NCAA.

Even though the NCAA changed this rule soon after, they still wouldn't let Parish's statistics be recognized. This made Parish like an "invisible man" in college basketball. He put up huge numbers, but few people outside of Centenary knew about them. In his four years at Centenary, his team, the Gents, won 87 games and lost only 21. They were even ranked in the top 20 teams for 14 weeks. Parish averaged 21.6 points and 16.9 rebounds per game during his college career.

Playing for Team USA in 1975

Between his junior and senior years of college, Parish played for Team USA at the 1975 Pan American Games. Because of his problems with the NCAA, he wasn't recommended for the team at first. But Centenary College paid for him to try out. He made the team, was chosen as captain, and helped the team win a gold medal!

Robert Parish's College Legacy

Throughout his time at Centenary, Parish chose to stay. He could have left for professional leagues or transferred to another college. Professional teams offered him a lot of money, and transferring would have made him eligible for NCAA recognition. But Parish said, "I didn't transfer because Centenary did nothing wrong. And I have no regrets. None."

Overall, Parish averaged 21.6 points and 16.9 rebounds in 108 games at Centenary. In his senior year, he averaged 24.8 points and 18 rebounds. The Sporting News named him a first-team All-American as a senior.

In 2018, the NCAA finally announced that Robert Parish's college records would be officially recognized. They are now included in the NCAA Record Book.

Professional Basketball Career

Golden State Warriors (1976–1980)

After college, the Golden State Warriors picked Parish in the first round of the 1976 NBA draft. He had also been drafted by other teams in a different league (the ABA) before. Parish signed with the Warriors. The Warriors had won the NBA championship two seasons before Parish joined. However, the team started to struggle, and they missed the playoffs from 1978 to 1980.

Parish said he thought about quitting basketball because of all the losing with the Warriors. He felt blamed for the team's struggles. He explained that basketball is a team sport, and he felt the team didn't work well together.

In his four seasons with the Warriors, Parish played 307 games. He averaged 13.8 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks per game.

Boston Celtics (1980–1994)

Parish during his time with the Celtics

Before the 1980 NBA draft, the Boston Celtics needed a new center because Dave Cowens retired. They also had Larry Bird ready for his second NBA season. The Celtics had the first pick in the draft.

On June 9, 1980, the Celtics' president, Red Auerbach, made a big trade. He sent the first overall pick and another pick to the Warriors. In return, the Celtics got Robert Parish and the Warriors' third overall pick. With that pick, the Celtics chose Kevin McHale.

Parish in the mid-1980s with Boston mayor Raymond Flynn

Parish played 14 years with the Celtics, from 1980 to 1994. He won three NBA championships (1981, 1984, and 1986) with Bird and McHale. This group was known as "The Big Three." They are considered one of the best groups of frontcourt players in NBA history. Parish, Bird, and McHale were all named to the NBA's 50th Anniversary All-Time Team.

Parish got his nickname "the Chief" from former Celtics player Cedric Maxwell. Maxwell said it was because Parish was quiet and calm, like the character Chief Bromden from the movie One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.

Parish was named to the All-NBA Second Team in 1981–82 and to the All-NBA Third Team in 1988–89.

Parish holds many Celtics records. He is the team's all-time leader in blocked shots (1,703), offensive rebounds (3,450), and defensive rebounds (7,601). In 14 seasons and 1106 games with the Celtics, Parish averaged 16.5 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game.

Charlotte Hornets (1994–1996)

On August 4, 1994, when he was 41 years old, Parish left the Celtics. He signed with the Charlotte Hornets. Parish played two seasons with the Hornets, mostly as a backup player.

Chicago Bulls (1996–1997)

On September 25, 1996, Parish signed with the Chicago Bulls. The Bulls had just won their fourth championship. Parish joined a team with other Hall of Fame players like Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and Dennis Rodman.

Playing his last NBA season with the Chicago Bulls in 1996–97, he won his fourth NBA title. Parish played a reserve role for the Bulls. He stayed in the NBA until he was 43 years old. On August 25, 1997, Parish officially retired from the NBA.

Career Records and Achievements

As of 2023, Robert Parish holds the record for the most games played in NBA history, with 1,611 games. He is also tied for the second-most seasons played in NBA history, with 21 seasons. As of 2022, he is the oldest player to ever win an NBA championship. He was 43 years old when he won with the Chicago Bulls in 1997.

In his 1,611 NBA games, Parish averaged 14.5 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game. In 184 playoff games, he averaged 15.3 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks.

As of 2023, Parish ranks fifth in NBA history for career defensive rebounds. He is also fourth in playoff career offensive rebounds.

Robert Parish's Legacy in Basketball

Parish is remembered for his strong defense, his ability to get rebounds, and how well he could run the fast break. His teammate, Bill Walton, who is also in the Hall of Fame, once called Parish "probably the best medium-range shooting big man in the history of the game." Parish's special move was his jump shot, which went very high before going into the basket.

Bill Walton said about Parish, "There was no showmanship to Robert's game. There was the rebounding. There was the defense. There was the scoring. There was the setting of screens. There was the way he ran the floor. How many centers in today's NBA do any of that?"

Parish was honored in many ways. He was inducted into the Centenary College Athletics Hall of Fame in 1988. He also joined the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame in 2001 and the College Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006.

In 1996, Parish was chosen as one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History. His teammates Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, Nate Archibald, and Bill Walton were also on this list. On January 18, 1998, the Celtics retired Parish's famous #00 jersey. Bird and McHale were there for the ceremony. Parish was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2003. In October 2021, Parish was again honored by being named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team.

McHale said about Parish, "He was there for every practice. For every game. He very seldom missed anything, including assignments on the floor. His longevity is unbelievable, but his dependability was just as impressive."

Coaching Career

In 2001, Robert Parish became the head coach for the Maryland Mustangs. This was a new team in the United States Basketball League (USBL). Parish led the team to 19 wins and 11 losses, which was the best record in their division. He was named the USBL Coach of the Year.

Unlike some of his Celtics teammates, Parish has not taken a coaching or executive job in the NBA. However, in 2013, Parish said he thought he could be an NBA coach. He felt that during his last three years as a player, he was already acting like a coach.

As of 2016, Parish worked as a consultant for the Celtics. He helped mentor the team's tall players.

Personal Life

Robert Parish was divorced from his wife, Nancy Saad, in 1990.

During his career, people said Parish used martial arts, yoga, and a vegetarian diet to stay in shape. However, in a 2022 interview, Parish said he was never a vegetarian. He eats chicken and fish, but he avoids red meat.

The Celtics retired Parish's No. 00 in 1998.

NBA Career Statistics

Regular season

Year	Team	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
1976–77	Golden State	77	1	18.0	.503	—	.708	7.1	1.0	0.7	1.2	9.1
1977–78	Golden State	82	37	24.0	.472	—	.625	8.3	1.2	1.0	1.5	12.5
1978–79	Golden State	76	75	31.7	.499	—	.698	12.1	1.5	1.3	2.9	17.2
1979–80	Golden State	72	69	29.4	.507	.000	.715	10.9	1.7	0.8	1.6	17.0
1980–81†	Boston	82	78	28.0	.545	.000	.710	9.5	1.8	1.0	2.6	18.9
1981–82	Boston	80	78	31.7	.542	—	.710	10.8	1.8	0.8	2.4	19.9
1982–83	Boston	78	76	31.5	.550	.000	.698	10.6	1.8	1.0	1.9	19.3
1983–84†	Boston	80	79	35.8	.546	—	.745	10.7	1.7	0.7	1.5	19.0
1984–85	Boston	79	78	36.1	.542	—	.743	10.6	1.6	0.7	1.3	17.6
1985–86†	Boston	81	80	31.7	.549	—	.731	9.5	1.8	0.8	1.4	16.1
1986–87	Boston	80	80	37.4	.556	.000	.735	10.6	2.2	0.8	1.8	17.5
1987–88	Boston	74	73	31.2	.589	.000	.734	8.5	1.6	0.7	1.1	14.3
1988–89	Boston	80	80	35.5	.570	—	.719	12.5	2.2	1.0	1.5	18.6
1989–90	Boston	79	78	30.3	.580	—	.747	10.1	1.3	0.5	0.9	15.7
1990–91	Boston	81	81	30.1	.598	.000	.767	10.6	0.8	0.8	1.3	14.9
1991–92	Boston	79	79	28.9	.535	—	.772	8.9	0.9	0.9	1.2	14.1
1992–93	Boston	79	79	27.2	.535	—	.689	9.4	0.8	0.7	1.4	12.6
1993–94	Boston	74	74	26.9	.491	—	.740	7.3	1.1	0.6	1.3	11.7
1994–95	Charlotte	81	4	16.7	.427	—	.703	4.3	0.5	0.3	0.4	4.8
1995–96	Charlotte	74	34	14.7	.498	—	.704	4.1	0.4	0.3	0.7	3.9
1996–97†	Chicago	43	3	9.4	.490	—	.677	2.1	0.5	0.1	0.4	3.7
Career		1,611	1,320	28.4	.537	.000	.721	9.1	1.4	0.8	1.5	14.5
All-Star		9	1	15.8	.529	—	.667	5.9	0.9	0.4	0.9	9.6

Playoffs

See also

In Spanish: Robert Parish para niños

• List of NBA career games played leaders
• List of NBA career scoring leaders
• List of NBA career rebounding leaders
• List of NBA career blocks leaders
• List of NBA career turnovers leaders
• List of NBA career personal fouls leaders
• List of NBA career minutes played leaders
• List of NBA career playoff rebounding leaders
• List of NBA career playoff blocks leaders
• List of NBA career playoff turnovers leaders
• List of NBA single-game rebounding leaders
• List of NBA single-game blocks leaders
• List of NBA seasons played leaders
• List of oldest and youngest NBA players