The Shreveport Times announced Wednesday, August 12, that former Gent and NBA World Champion Robert Parish (1972-1976) ranks second in its Top-20 Countdown of local athletes.
Parish joins former Gent golfer Hal Sutton (1976-1980), baseball player Cecil Upshaw (1961-1964), and former Ladies gymnast Kathy Johnson Clarke (1977-79). Johnson checked in 19th, Cecil Upshaw took 15th and Sutton claimed fifth.
In Parish's four years at Centenary, the Gents won more than 20 games his sophomore-senior seasons, just missing that mark with 19 victories his freshman campaign. He also helped guide the Gents to a national ranking 16 times in the Associated Press poll, finishing his collegiate career with 21.6 points and 16.9 rebounds per game.
Parish still holds the College's career rebounding record with 1,820 - more than 800 boards ahead of his nearest competitor. He also ranks third in the men's basketball career annals with 2,334 points. Parish set the school record for points in a game with 50 as a freshman on Dec. 22, 1972, the top scoring mark in a single contest for nearly 40 years. The 50 points easily remains the best mark for a freshman.
In the 1976 NBA draft, the Golden State Warriors selected Parish with the eighth overall pick. Parish amassed 23, 3334 points, 14,715 rebounds, and 2,631 blocks in 21 NBA seasons with the Warriors, Boston Celtics, Charlotte Hornets, and the Chicago Bulls. Parish helped guide the Celtics to NBA Championships in 1981, 1984, and 1986, while winning a title with the Chicago Bulls in 1997.
Accolades for Parish in his NBA career include All-League honors in 1982 (Second Team) and 1989 (Third Team), a runner-up finish to teammate Larry Bird in the 1982 MVP voting, nine NBA All-Star Game appearances, being named one of the NBA's 50 greatest players in 1996, and having his 00 jersey retired by the Celtics. He remains the leader in NBA games played with 1,611. At 43 for the 1996-97 season, he is still the third-oldest player to ever play in the NBA and the oldest player to ever win an NBA Championship.
Parish's accolades include induction into the Centenary Hall of Fame in 1988 and the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2003.
Ladies and Gents fans, there is still time to make your voice heard! Email shreveportsports@gannett.com with whom you think should be the top athlete from Shreveport or Bossier City of all-time. The top-10 list as voted by the readers will be released following the announcement of the top athlete of all-time.
