Parish, Robert L.
Basketball
b. Aug. 30, 1953, Shreveport, LA
The 7-foot-1, 230-pound Parish, known as the "Chief," quietly ruled as one of the best centers in the NBA for 20 seasons. After averaging 21.6 points a game during four years as a starter at Centenary College in Louisiana, he was chosen by the Golden State Warriors in the first round of the 1976 NBA draft.
After four virtually anonymous seasons with Golden State, Parish was traded to the Boston Celtics with a 1980 first-round draft choice for two of Boston's first-round picks. In his first season with the Celtics, 1980-81, they won the NBA championship. He averaged 18.9 points and more than 9 rebounds a game.
He averaged 19.0 points and more than 10 rebounds a game in 1983-84, when they won another title. Parish helped lead them to a third title in 1985-86, though his numbers declined somewhat to 16.1 points and 9.6 rebounds per game.
In 1994, Parish signed with the Charlotte Hornets as a free agent. After two seasons with Charlotte, he joined the Chicago Bulls as a backup and won a fourth championship ring, then announced his retirement.
Remarkably durable, Parish played in 72 or more games in each of his first 20 NBA seasons. Although he never led the NBA in any category and was never a first-team All-NBA selection, he consistently posted good numbers as a scorer, rebounder, and shot blocker.
Parish was strong enough to hold his own around the basket with bulkier opponents, and he could often wear them down by running the floor on the fast break. Although effective from close in, he scored most of his points with a high-arching, medium-range jump shot.
When he retired, Parish held NBA records for most seasons and most games played. He ranked sixth all-time in rebounds and blocked shots, eighth in field goals made, and 13th in total points. In 1996, he was voted one of the 50 greatest players in NBA history.