{"id":1537003,"date":"2022-11-05T11:14:06","date_gmt":"2022-11-05T15:14:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sports7.us\/?p=1537003"},"modified":"2022-11-05T11:25:44","modified_gmt":"2022-11-05T15:25:44","slug":"robert-parish-had-no-problem-accepting-the-challenge-of-replacing-boston-celtics-favorite-dave-cowens","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sports7.us\/news\/robert-parish-had-no-problem-accepting-the-challenge-of-replacing-boston-celtics-favorite-dave-cowens\/","title":{"rendered":"Robert Parish Had No Problem Accepting the ‘Challenge' of Replacing Boston Celtics Fan-Favorite Dave Cowens"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Robert Parish faced a tough task when he came to the Boston Celtics.<\/a> He didn't appear to be the most motivated guy during his four years with the Golden State Warriors, but he was coming to Boston to replace one of the team's hardest workers in Dave Cowens.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Parish found the going tough<\/a> when he first put on a Celtics uniform. Practices were harder. Expectations were higher. Despite the reputation that followed Parish to Boston, he had no problems accepting the “challenge” of taking over for a Boston legend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Robert Parish dealt with some culture shock when he came to the Boston Celtics<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Robert
Robert Parish of the Boston Celtics in action against the Phoenix Suns during an NBA basketball game circa 1991 at the Boston Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. | Focus on Sport\/Getty Images.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Parish came to Boston via one of the greatest trades in franchise history.<\/a> The Celtics held the No. 1 pick in the 1980 NBA Draft but sent it, along with the 13th pick, to the Golden State Warriors. In return, the Celtics received Parish and the No. 3 pick in the draft. With that third pick, they selected Kevin McHale.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Celtics paired Parish and McHale with a young Larry Bird, who was just fresh off winning Rookie of the Year honors. Boston's Big Three eventually became arguably the best frontcourt ever to play in the NBA.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Parish had come serious culture shock<\/a> when it first arrived in Boston. It went well beyond the geographical change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCoach (Bill) Fitch set the mindset during training camp,\u201d Parish said during a 2020 appearance on\u00a0The Cedric Maxwell Podcast<\/a><\/em>. \u201cToughest training camp I\u2019ve ever been in.\u00a0I was out of shape,\u00a0and I\u2019ll be the first to admit that because I did not prepare properly. Oooh, it was grueling. I\u2019m not gonna lie.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The reserved Parish was always quiet and usually kept to himself. That was often perceived as not caring. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I get misunderstood because I don't smile and I want to be left alone most of the time,” Parish told Sports Illustrated<\/a> in March 1981. “It's just that I've always felt that my actions could speak louder than anything I could say.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was a far cry from Cowens, an undersized center, who made eight All-Star appearances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Parish didn't compare himself to Cowens<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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ARCHIVE 75: Robert Parish

The legacy of the 75th Anniversary Team\u2019s Robert Parish!

Read Here:
https:\/\/t.co\/PeQdv6hLp5<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/zUsX0wqvH9<\/a><\/p>— NBA (@NBA) December 20, 2021<\/a><\/blockquote>