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Boston Celtics: 25 Best Players To Play For The Celtics

By Phil Watson

Apr 24, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; A general view of TD Garden prior to the first round of the NBA Playoffs between the Boston Celtics and Atlanta Hawks. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 24, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; A general view of TD Garden prior to the first round of the NBA Playoffs between the Boston Celtics and Atlanta Hawks. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports /
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BOSTON, MA – CIRCA 1980’s: Robert Parish #00 of the Boston Celtics shooting a jump shot over Rick Mahorn #44 of the Detroit Pistons during late circa 1980’s NBA basketball game at the Boston Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. Parish played for the Celtics from 1980-94. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA – CIRCA 1980’s: Robert Parish #00 of the Boston Celtics shooting a jump shot over Rick Mahorn #44 of the Detroit Pistons during late circa 1980’s NBA basketball game at the Boston Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. Parish played for the Celtics from 1980-94. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /

18. <strong> How Acquired: </strong>Trade, Golden State Warriors, June 9, 1980. C. 1980-94. Robert Parish. 12. player

The Boston Celtics made one of the most significant trades in the history of the franchise the day before the draft in June 1980, acquiring Robert Parish and the No. 3 overall pick from the Golden State Warriors in exchange for the first and 13th overall selections.

In Boston, Parish turned into a nine-time All-Star and a two-time All-NBA selection, finishing fourth in the MVP voting in 1981-82.

BOS_12_PARISH
BOS_12_PARISH /

He was also a three-time champion with the Celtics, helping them to titles in 1981, 1984 and 1986. In five NBA Finals with Boston, Parish averaged 15.4 points, 8.5 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game.

Parish finished third in the NBA in rebounding in 1988-89, was fourth in blocks in 1980-81 and fifth in 1981-82 and finished in the top five in field-goal percentage four times.

Parish left the Celtics in August 1994 to sign as a free agent with the Charlotte Hornets.

In 14 seasons in Boston, Parish averaged 16.5 points, 10 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.5 blocks in 31.6 minutes per game, shooting .552/0-for-5/.730.

He was an All-American at Centenary College as a senior, averaging 24.8 points and 18.0 rebounds a game.

The Warriors took Parish with the eighth overall pick in the 1976 NBA Draft. Parish played four seasons in Golden State and was fourth in the NBA in blocks in 1978-79.

Released by the Hornets in July 1996, Parish signed with the Chicago Bulls in September 1996 and played one more season, retiring in August 1997 after winning a fourth NBA title.

Parish is the NBA’s all-time leader with 1,611 games and is 15th with 45,704 minutes played, seventh with 14,715 rebounds, 10th with 2,361 blocked shots, 26th with 23,334 points and 30th with a field-goal percentage of .537.

Parish was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2003.

Next: The Territorial Pick Paid Off

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