Robert Parish

The Chief: 4-time NBA champion, Hall of Fame center, and Celtic legend.

Robert Lee Parish (born August 30, 1953), nicknamed "the Chief", is an American former professional basketball player. A 7 ft center, he played 21 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for the Golden State Warriors, Boston Celtics, Charlotte Hornets, and Chicago Bulls, helping the Celtics win three NBA championships while teaming with Hall-of-Fame forwards Larry Bird and Kevin McHale, and won a fourth championship with the Bulls prior to his retirement.

Quick Facts

Born: 30 August 1953
Birthplace: Shreveport, Louisiana, U.S.
High school: Woodlawn (Shreveport, Louisiana)
College: Centenary (1972–1976)
Draft pick: 8
Drafted by: Golden State Warriors
Career position: Center
Career number: 00

Lore & Background

Parish played 1,611 games in his career, ranking second of all-time in the NBA, behind only LeBron James. He played in 21 NBA seasons, a 5-way tie for third-most in league history. He is a nine-time NBA All-Star, a four-time NBA champion and was named to the NBA's 50th and 75th anniversary teams. The Celtics retired his jersey in 1998. Parish was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2003.

Reader's Guide

On June 9, 1980 in a pre-draft trade, Celtics president Red Auerbach dealt the top overall pick and an additional first-round pick to the Warriors for Parish and the Warriors' first-round pick, the third overall. With that pick, the Celtics chose Kevin McHale. The Warriors then selected Joe Barry Carroll with the first pick.

Did You Know?

Parish was drafted three times—twice by teams from the ABA and once in 1976 by the Golden State Warriors of the NBA.
He wore uniform No. 00 because he was viewed as the worst player and received the last remaining jersey.
Parish led Team USA to a gold medal at the 1975 Pan American Games.
In 2018, following a formal appeal from Centenary College, the NCAA announced that Parish's records would be recognized and placed into the NCAA Record Book.