Eighteen of those 50 — were players from two franchises — the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics.
That’s 36%.
Bob Cousy, Dave Cowens, Bill Russell, Bill
Sharman, John Havlicek, Bill Walton, Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, Nate
Archibald, Sam Jones, Robert Parish, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Elgin Baylor,
Shaquille O’Neal, Wilt Chamberlain, George Mikan, James Worthy, and
Magic Johnson.
During the 2008 NBA Finals, I’ll profile (nba.com, youtube, basketball-reference.com) one of those Lakers-Celtics legends daily.
"Robert Parish played in more games than
any other player in NBA history. A 7-1 center who combined strength,
agility and remarkable endurance, Parish won three NBA championships
with the Boston Celtics in the 1980s and teamed with Larry Bird and
Kevin McHale to form one of the greatest front lines in NBA history. He
capped his career by winning yet another championship ring as a member
of the 1996-97 Chicago Bulls.
Parish, whose signature shot was a high trajectory jumper that seemed
to kiss the banners at Boston Garden before finding its way to the
basket, announced his retirement at age 43 following the 1996-97
season, his 21st in the NBA, and after playing in 1,611 games. Upon his
retirement, Parish ranked 13th in the NBA in scoring with 23,334
points, sixth in rebounds with 14,715, sixth in blocked shots with
2,361 and eighth in field goals made with 9,614.
"He's probably the best medium-range shooting big man in the history of
the game," said Hall of Famer Bill Walton, who was Parish's backup in
the Celtics' 1986 championship season.
The Warriors traded Parish to Boston in 1980, and he enjoyed a
remarkable 14-year run with the Celtics. In his tenure with the club,
the Celtics went to the playoffs 13 times, won nine Atlantic Division
titles, reached the NBA Finals five times and came away with three NBA
titles." [Read]
Robert Parrish was a very average ballplayer with limited skills. He was fortunate to be taller than nearly everyone and play on a team that helped him display what he could do. He could shoot inside consistently, extending to the key sometimes and he was able to play acceptable defense. In my opinion he in no way was one of the 50 best players. More of a cat's paw on a team with star players.
You must be careful about listening to Walton, he's like Vitale, he'll have 98 players in the 50 best.
Does he belong in the top 50? Won't be their too much longer along with Cowens and some of those other 36%. Walton made the list based on his play as a Portland Trailblazer.
Robert Parish - Boston Celtics star arrested in 1991 when police intercepted two ounces of pot being shipped Federal Express to his Massachusetts house. He paid a $37 fine.
You must not be much of a Celtics fan eh Baby Tate.....I don't know if the Chief belongs in the top 50 of all time either.
But to say that he's a very average player with limited skills, just shows that you must have issues for some reason.
Parrish is a 10 time NBA allstar and Hall of Famer..........I could see someone picking out Bill Walton to criticize, I don't understand his HOF selection either.
I love basketball. While many basketball fans enjoy the month of March, I prefer the months of April, May, and June. I look forward to productive chats, heated debates, and honest opinions.
