ROBERTPARISH
BOSTON CELTICSRobert Parish — 4× NBA champion, 9× All-Star, the NBA's all-time leader in games played. Career stats, bio and legacy of "The Chief," anchor of the Celtics' 1980s "Big Three."
4×NBA CHAMPION
9×ALL-STAR
2xALL-NBA
✓NBA 75TH ANNIV. TEAMRobert Parish biography — NBA career story, legacy, championships, awards and personal background.
Career timeline, milestones, and place among all-time greats.
Nobody has ever played more NBA games than Robert Parish — 1,611 across 21 seasons, a testament to a disciplined lifestyle that included yoga and a vegetarian diet decades before either was common in pro sports. Born August 30, 1953, in Shreveport, Louisiana. Height 7 ft 1 in (216 cm).
He played at Centenary College (1972–1976). Drafted 8th overall by the Golden State Warriors in 1976, he was traded to the Boston Celtics in 1980, where he formed the legendary "Big Three" frontcourt alongside Larry Bird and Kevin McHale before closing his career with the Charlotte Hornets and Chicago Bulls.
Nicknamed "The Chief," Parish won four NBA championships — three with Boston (1981, 1984, 1986) and one with Chicago in his final season (1997). A nine-time All-Star, he was known for a smooth, high-arcing jump shot that was unusually refined for a center of his size.
Career totals: 23,334 points (14.5 ppg), 14,715 rebounds (9.1 rpg), 2,361 blocks (1.5 bpg) — his 1,611 games played and 21 seasons remain NBA records.
Named to the NBA's 50th and 75th Anniversary Teams. Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2003.
Robert Parish quick facts — Height 7'1. 14.5 PPG career average. Championship years: 1981, 1984, 1986, 1997.
Height, weight, draft year, and years in the league.
Robert Parish career statistics summary — 14.5 PPG career average.
Regular-season averages and totals across the full NBA career.
Robert Parish career highs — best single-game performances in points, rebounds, assists and more.
Personal records with dates and opponents.
vs SAS
vs GSW
vs BOS
vs BOS
vs CLE
vs BOS
Robert Parish advanced stats — PER, win shares, BPM and overall impact metrics.
Impact measured beyond traditional box score statistics.
Robert Parish playoff stats — postseason points, rebounds, assists and games played.
Postseason production across every playoff run.
Robert Parish All-Star Game stats — appearances, minutes and showcase performance.
Mid-season exhibition stats across every All-Star selection.
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Robert Parish NBA transactions — trades, signings and team changes by date.
Team moves and dates across every NBA stop.
FAQ about Robert Parish — rings, MVP awards, career stats, height.
Answers to the most searched questions about championships and career honors.
Robert Parish averaged 14.5 points, 9.1 rebounds, 1.4 assists per game in the regular season.
Robert Parish salary history — Career salary $27,064,666.
Year-by-year compensation across the professional career.
Players similar to Robert Parish — statistical peers by position, peak seasons and career arc.
All-time comparisons with the closest playing profile.
NoteThe club shown in the profile isn't necessarily the player's last team, but the one he's most associated with and that defined his career. See the full team history in the Transactions section.