Parish, ‘The Double Zero’ for Eternity

Robert Parish’s journey from a hard past to NBA immortality is a testament to perseverance and quiet excellence. Traded to the Boston Celtics on June 9, 1980, Parish found a home where he blossomed, playing fourteen years and ultimately becoming the NBA’s oldest champion at 43 years and 254 days. Only Nat Hickey (45 years and 363 days in 1948) and Kevin Willis (44 years and 224 days) played professional basketball at an older age. Parish’s 21 NBA seasons (1976-1997) rank third all-time, surpassed only by Vince Carter and LeBron James, the latter of whom recently eclipsed Parish’s record for most games played in NBA history.

Red Auerbach’s vision dramatically altered Parish’s career trajectory. The trade, a pivotal moment in NBA history, helped define the early years of the league’s exposure in Europe, marked by the intense rivalry between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics in the 1980s. Auerbach masterfully sent the Golden State Warriors’ first overall draft pick in 1980, along with another first-round pick, in exchange for Parish and a third pick that was used to select Kevin McHale. This trade created a fresh landscape for a Larry Bird entering his second season in the NBA.

A Fortuitous Trade… and Larry Bird

Interestingly, Auerbach’s initial target wasn’t Parish. His primary goal was to acquire Ralph Sampson, the dominant collegiate player at the time, who stood over 7’4”. Sampson ultimately entered the NBA in 1983 as the first overall pick, joining the Houston Rockets alongside Hakeem Olajuwon. A year prior, Sampson had declined to enter the draft to avoid the risk of being selected by the San Diego Clippers, as the number one pick was decided by a coin flip between the Clippers and the Lakers. The coin flip favored the Lakers, who then drafted James Worthy. Two years before that, Sampson decided he wasn’t ready for the professional level, despite being impressed by a visit from Auerbach, who reportedly presented his parents with a $1 million check and the promise: “Come and play for the mighty Celtics.”

However, the “Plan B” proved to be a defining moment in NBA history. Auerbach convinced everyone he was solely focused on Joe Barry Carroll, maneuvering the Warriors into a trade that sent them the first (Carroll) and 13th (Rickey Brown) picks in exchange for the third pick (McHale) and Parish, who hadn’t found his footing with the Warriors following their 1975 championship. In Boston, Parish was initially expected to be a backup to Dave Cowens, an eight-time All-Star and champion in 1974 and 1976, who unexpectedly retired just before the start of the 1980-81 season, much to the dismay of Larry Bird. Bird immediately turned to Parish and told him, “You better step up.”

In Boston, Parish played under Bill Fitch, a notoriously strict coach with a background in the Marines. Fitch’s rigorous methods appealed to Bird, though Parish initially felt as if Fitch was trying to break him. Under Fitch’s guidance, alongside Bird and a McHale who took five years to become an undisputed starter, Parish transformed his physique and competitive spirit, becoming the defensive anchor that guarded Maurice Malone during the 1981 championship run and famously stealing a crucial ball from McAdoo in overtime of Game 2 of the 1984 Finals against the Lakers – a legendary series Boston won 4-3. It was during that series that Parish overcame any lingering inferiority complex against Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, winning the rebounding battle 16-6 in the seventh game and producing several iconic plays, including two offensive rebounds and a subsequent 2+1 against Abdul-Jabbar that fueled another improbable comeback.

Parish played through injured ankles in the 1986 playoffs to secure his third championship. Eleven years later, at age 43, he faced Michael Jordan in a training camp scrimmage while vying for a spot on the Chicago Bulls’ fifth championship team. “With me at pivot, the backups were crushing the starters in practice, and Michael told me he was going to kick my butt. I told him to prove it if he was so sure… I think it was more of a threat than a test. He liked to test newcomers,” Parish recalled. Phil Jackson, meanwhile, valued veteran players with intelligence and competitive scars.

Bill Walton described Parish as pure professionalism, a rock without pretense. He was renowned for his unique high-arcing jump shot from a height of 7’1”. It was his defense, the battles against Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the cascading rebounds, the intimidation factor, and the surprisingly quick transitions that defined his game.

And, according to McHale, it was his unwavering presence, his constant availability to teammates, and his remarkable consistency – missing only 72 games in 21 seasons. He averaged 15.5 points, and 9.1 rebounds throughout his career, winning four championships (including one with the Bulls), earning nine All-Star selections, and being inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame with his iconic number 00 retired by the Celtics.

Cedric Maxwell, a champion alongside Parish in 1981 and 1984, bestowed upon him the unforgettable nickname “Chief,” a reference to Chief Bromden, the silent character from “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.” Parish remains the Celtics’ all-time leader in defensive and offensive rebounds, and his blocked shots, while not officially recorded during Bill Russell’s era, were significant. It wasn’t until 2018 that his college statistics from Centenary were officially recognized by the NCAA. Despite averaging over 21 points and nearly 17 rebounds over four years of college, he was a relative unknown due to his school’s sanctions and the non-recognition of manipulated eligibility tests.

From Monumental Career to Relative Obscurity

A legend of the 1980s, Parish was included in the NBA’s 50th and 75th anniversary lists of the greatest players in league history. However, his profile faded after retirement, disconnected from a league he desperately tried to re-enter in 2013, citing boredom and financial difficulties. He even sold his championship rings and Hall of Fame ring. He sought a position within any team, in a technical role or in the front office, reaching out to Bird and McHale, but claimed they didn’t respond. Danny Ainge, another former teammate in a front-office role with the Celtics, too didn’t offer assistance.

Bird and McHale later defended themselves, with Bird stating Parish never directly asked for help and McHale explaining that the Timberwolves didn’t have the budget. Parish’s past was also shadowed by a domestic violence case that resulted in no charges but involved his admission of physical abuse against his then-wife, Nancy Saad.

Saad recounted an incident in 1987, while Parish was in Los Angeles for the NBA Finals against the Lakers, where he allegedly slammed the door in her face and physically assaulted her in the hallway. Parish suggested Saad provoked him, claiming she was the aggressor.

Despite winning his final championship with Jordan’s Bulls, Parish consistently maintained that Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was the greatest player of all time: “I don’t go with the grain. Michael was the best in his time, and you have to give him all the credit for winning six titles basically back-to-back. Two three-peats. I respect that to the fullest, but for as exceptional as he was, Kareem’s skyhook was unstoppable. That was the most difficult weapon to defend in basketball history.” And now, despite his Celtics legacy, he has acknowledged LeBron James surpassing his record for games played, stating, “He deserves it, it’s an Iron Man record. No one deserves it more than him.”

Robert Parish’s story is one of quiet dominance, unwavering professionalism, and a remarkable career spanning two decades. His impact on the game, particularly his role in the iconic Celtics dynasty of the 1980s, continues to resonate with basketball fans worldwide.