Robert Parish (Part 3)

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10 Mar 2024

Robert Parish (Part 3)

After being released from the Charlotte Hornets, Robert Parish signed as a free agent with the Chicago Bulls on September 25, 1996. Joining the Bulls, Parish became part of a formidable team that already boasted Hall of Famers Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and Dennis Rodman, coming off their fourth NBA championship.
In his final NBA season during 1996–97, Parish played a reserve role for the Bulls, contributing to the team's success. Despite being in the latter stage of his career, Parish continued to showcase his skills and experience on the court. His presence added depth and veteran leadership to an already talented roster.
Parish's time with the Bulls culminated in winning his fourth NBA title, solidifying his status as one of the most accomplished players in league history. Following the conclusion of the 1996–97 season, Parish announced his retirement from the NBA on August 25, 1997, marking the end of an illustrious 21-year career in professional basketball.

Parish is recognized for his prowess in defense, rebounding, and his capability to lead the fast break. Former teammate Bill Walton once hailed Parish as "perhaps the premier medium-range shooting big man ever to grace the game." His distinctive skill was showcased in his jump shot, characterized by its lofty arc before finding the net.
"There was a lack of flashiness in Robert's style," remarked Walton. "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 exhibit any of those qualities?"

Parish's accolades include inductions into the Centenary College Athletics Hall of Fame in 1988, the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame in 2001, and the College Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006. In 1996, Parish, alongside Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, Nate Archibald, and Bill Walton, was chosen among the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History. On January 18, 1998, the Celtics retired Parish's iconic #00 jersey during halftime of a Celtics–Indiana Pacers game, with Bird and McHale in attendance. He was enshrined into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2003. In October 2021, Parish was once more celebrated as one of the league's all-time greats by being named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team. In commemoration of the NBA's 75th Anniversary, The Athletic ranked their top 75 players of all time, selecting Parish as the 74th greatest player in NBA history.
"He was present for every practice," noted McHale about Parish. "For every game. He rarely missed anything, including his duties on the court. His durability is astounding, but his reliability was just as remarkable."

In 2001, Parish took on the role of head coach for the Maryland Mustangs, an expansion franchise in the United States Basketball League (USBL). Under his guidance, the team achieved a commendable record of 19 wins and 11 losses in the USBL Northern Division, boasting a .633 win percentage. However, their playoff journey was cut short as they succumbed to a 109-106 defeat against the Dodge City Legend in the quarterfinals. Despite the team's brief existence, Parish's coaching prowess earned him recognition as the USBL Coach of the Year.

In contrast to his former Celtics comrades Larry Bird, Danny Ainge, and Kevin McHale, Parish has yet to secure a coaching, executive, or broadcasting role within the NBA. McHale, who held the position of general manager for the Minnesota Timberwolves, revealed his attempts to recruit Parish before departing from the team. However, due to a scarcity of available positions, this endeavor proved unsuccessful. In 2013, Parish expressed his aspiration to become an NBA coach, highlighting his substantial coaching contributions during the latter years of his playing career.
As of 2016, Parish assumed the role of Celtics consultant, serving as a mentor to the team's frontcourt players, offering his wealth of knowledge and experience to aid in their development.

Parish's personal life has been marked by notable events, including his divorce from his wife, Nancy Saad, in 1990. The divorce proceedings took a contentious turn when Saad accused Parish of subjecting her to physical abuse throughout their marriage, alleging a particularly severe incident in 1987 that led to her hospitalization. Parish initially denied these accusations, but in 2013, he admitted to pushing Saad on June 2, 1987.
In February 1993, authorities discovered marijuana in Parish's residence, leading to legal repercussions. He pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor drug possession charge later that month and received six months' probation as a consequence.
Throughout his basketball career, Parish was rumored to have embraced various unconventional methods for training and conditioning, including martial arts, yoga, and vegetarianism. However, in a 2022 interview, Parish clarified that he was never a strict vegetarian; instead, he occasionally consumes chicken and fish while abstaining from red meat.