December 3, 2025 • 31 mins
Celtics Legend Robert Parish joins the VFTR pod for a wide-ranging conversation on one of the greatest eras in Boston basketball history, while connecting it with the game today. Parish reflects on the unselfish culture of the 1986 Celtics, reconnecting with Larry Bird and Kevin McHale, and what it meant to be a part of the original Big 3. He shares stories of the moment he knew how special that Celtics team would become, the hard lesson he learned when joining that team, and the underappreciated legacy of Cedric Maxwell. The Hall-of-Famer also dives into going head-to-head with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, winning titles with both Bird and Michael Jordan, and comparisons between the 1986 and 2024 championship teams. He gives his thoughts on why Jayson Tatum is a “generational talent,” and his view on Victor Wembanyama and the evolution of big men. From Celtics City nostalgia to a Maxwell Hall of Fame campaign, The Chief delivers honesty, humor, and timeless perspective on what makes championship basketball.
1:36 – What made the 1986 Celtics so special
4:44 – Reuniting with Larry Bird and Kevin McHale
6:21 – Cedric Maxwell’s overlooked impact
8:08 – When Parish knew the Celtics were championship material
10:14 – The origin story of No. 00
12:11 – Jayson Tatum as a “generational talent”
14:26 – Similarities between 1986 and 2024 title teams
14:40 – Parish on load management & his games-played record
19:30 – Battling Kareem & the most unstoppable big men
22:48 – Winning titles with Bird and MJ, their different leadership styles
28:54 – Cedric Maxwell’s Hall of Fame campaign
1:36 – What made the 1986 Celtics so special
4:44 – Reuniting with Larry Bird and Kevin McHale
6:21 – Cedric Maxwell’s overlooked impact
8:08 – When Parish knew the Celtics were championship material
10:14 – The origin story of No. 00
12:11 – Jayson Tatum as a “generational talent”
14:26 – Similarities between 1986 and 2024 title teams
14:40 – Parish on load management & his games-played record
19:30 – Battling Kareem & the most unstoppable big men
22:48 – Winning titles with Bird and MJ, their different leadership styles
28:54 – Cedric Maxwell’s Hall of Fame campaign
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:10):
Well, folks, if it looks like we're a little dressed
up for this episode of View from the Rafters presented
by Xfinity Mobile, it's because we are right. We've got
a Celtics game on the TED Garden Courton just a
couple of hours, and we are also celebrating the launch
of the Legendary Moments campaign. This campaign is going to
be going on throughout the season and you'll see the
Celtics tying some of their most legendary moments of their
(00:31):
history to some of the nights where they will be
wearing their city edition uniform. So keep an eye out
for that throughout the season. Now, what better way to
celebrate this than by bringing on a legend himself. This
is a man who is in the Basketball Hall of Fame.
This is a man who has won four NBA Championships
and a man whose number double zero is up in
(00:51):
the rafters at TV Garden.
Speaker 2 (00:53):
He is Robert Parrish. Robert, thank you for joining usive.
Speaker 3 (00:59):
Thank you Having me is a pleasure.
Speaker 1 (01:02):
It is a pleasure on our end as well. Listen,
I gotta start out and just say talking about legendary moments,
maybe the most legendary moment of your career, of Larry
Bird's career, of Kevin McHale's career, of Bill Walton's career
was winning that championship about forty years ago. Does it
even feel like it's been forty years since that championship
(01:22):
was taken home?
Speaker 3 (01:23):
No, it does not seem like it been forty years,
Clearly it does. I see all these wrinkles in a
full idiot, So that's an indicator right there. It's definitely,
uh was it?
Speaker 1 (01:37):
Was?
Speaker 3 (01:37):
It a fine time, memorable times and were able to
put the finish in touches on a great season by
winning the championship.
Speaker 2 (01:47):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (01:47):
When you think back about that run, and so many
people look back on that team and say that was
the greatest team ever, Like people are still saying that today.
What do you remember most about that year in that
run to winning that champion How.
Speaker 3 (02:01):
Un selfish we were. There's a major egos in the
locker room. But I'm very proud and happy to say
nobody allowed their ego or their selfishness get in the
way of our goal, and that was to try to
be the best team that we could be and hopefully
cap championship.
Speaker 4 (02:22):
It's so funny the championship came almost in connection by
accident with Celtic City, which was an opportunity for many
of us to sort of sit down and think about
what we have been connected to over the years. You
were such a big part of the documentary. How was
that experience? I was dying to know how that experience.
Speaker 2 (02:40):
Was for you?
Speaker 4 (02:41):
Did you watch it? Did you like how it came out?
And do you feel there's sort of this more appreciation
for the eighties and those teams now with this sort
of renaissance of nostalgia.
Speaker 3 (02:55):
Oh aramone involved with the documentary. It was willed done.
It was where researched, It was detail and it was accurate.
And also it gave me a chance to have flashbacks
to women this because I really when I was playing,
I really didn't pay attention and enjoyed the experience while
(03:18):
we was all going through it. But when I retired
and looked back on it, I realized how good we were,
how amazing we were, and most important to me, how
unselfish we were. Because it was very easy for all
of us to say, I know, I'm trying to get mine,
(03:39):
you know, be individuals instead of having the team concept
and having that one objective and the one goal, and
that's just to be the best possible team that we
could be, and I think we accomplished that.
Speaker 4 (03:52):
There's a great scene in Celtic City where I think
it struck home for me when you were driving the
bay of the car saying and they're like, hey, they're
gonna be happy to see you. Lauren said it to you,
and you were like, well, they'll be happy to see
Larry and Kevin, but I don't know about me. To
see the reception you get, the love there is for
you now and this sort of renaissance of Celtics nostalgia,
(04:13):
it has to be a wonderful thing. I know, you
know Ma' sitting next to Max every night and I
know he appreciates it. But when you come in from
Afar and see how much love there still is for you,
that's got to be a good feeling.
Speaker 3 (04:23):
Oh, it's a great feeling, you know, to be appreciated,
to be a knowledge, you know, it's gratifying and also
is validation. You know, we were as good as we
thought we were, are you Just because of the reaction
from the fans and the media, they're just a reminder
that we were as good as we thought we were
(04:45):
and if the fans appreciate it, which is equally important.
Speaker 1 (04:49):
They're still young fans that appreciate them, and maybe weren't
even alive then and they appreciate it at this time.
But that scene, I'm glad Sean brought that up because
it was fun to watch, not only because of the
reception that all of you got, but it seemed like
that was the first time you actually got to hang
out with Larry and Kevin in quite some time. What
was it like to see those guys again.
Speaker 3 (05:09):
Oh, it was a good feeling, always a good feeling.
You know, were is able to bond and reconnect and
catch up. So good seeing everybody. Everybody's doing well, everybody
looks well considering our age. It was a fun time.
I must say, Hey, Georgia experience and I'm glad we
(05:31):
was able to make it happen. Everybody schedule worked out
and we're all able to get together.
Speaker 2 (05:37):
And that's the hardest part is lining up those schedules nowadays.
Speaker 3 (05:40):
Right.
Speaker 1 (05:40):
But when we're talking, yeah, when we talk about those
three names, we know that is the original Big three
and we don't get to see you guys together very often.
That was a cool moment for us. I'm glad it
was a cool moment for you. But when you look
back on that title, coming about of the Big Three
for the first time in Celtic's history, what does that
(06:02):
mean to you? What did it mean to you then
and what does it mean to you now of being
a part of that group.
Speaker 3 (06:07):
It makes me stick my chest out, you know, because
if everyone knows mine, the trajectory of my of my
career changed and was altered, you know, the big shift
in the direction my career has hit it when I
got traded to Boston and so to be surrounded by
(06:28):
that type of talent. And another thing too, Let's not
forget about sethe Big Maxwell.
Speaker 1 (06:34):
How could we ever, I spent twenty.
Speaker 4 (06:38):
Five years with him every day. I can't chance to
forget a lot.
Speaker 3 (06:43):
Of people overlook how good Cedric was, because before the
three of us showed up, Larry, Kevin and myself, the
team was Cedrics. Cederic was the man and he and
he doesn't get the love and appreciation and that he deserved.
Because that eighty one champion, that eighty eighty one championship
(07:05):
that we won, we would not have won it and
Max not stepped up and played at the level that
he played at. He played at a very very high
level because the Big Three was struggling mightily for a
couple of games and said picked up the weight. So
I want to make sure that the Celtic nation do
(07:27):
not overlook and continue to appreciate CC because that's what
I call him. I don't call him Cedric.
Speaker 4 (07:35):
Now chief Chief. Come on, Billy Pultz was guarding him.
Let's not let's not go crazy, you know, let's put
the asters.
Speaker 3 (07:42):
We do all do we all professionals.
Speaker 4 (07:47):
I'll give yourself that a lot of people don't know.
Which is I'm never not amazed by how history can
easily change by one fraction of an inch one way
or the other. Golden State was talking about signing Max,
that you bring him to play with you in Golden
State and draft Kevin McHale. That was one of the
original plans before everything happened. And we know how history changed.
(08:09):
And obviously Red Hourback brought you when you got to
Boston in nineteen eighty with your situation in Golden State,
did you know how long did it take before you
realized this could be epic special and maybe something I'm
talking about on a zoom technology that hasn't even been
invented yet forty years from now.
Speaker 3 (08:31):
Oh first day of practice training camp, I knew right
then we could be a special team. Everybody came from
training camp in cheap except who me? Except for me?
When I when I heard about I had got traded
to the Celtics the first time in my career, and
(08:53):
I learned the valuable listen. I took the whole sum off,
I did not train, and what and what that? What
that lesson was, there is no off season. It's basketball
year round. You don't take days off, at least not
the whole summer off. So I learned the valuable lesson.
(09:13):
It's a continuation of everything. You cannot let up, you
cannot relax. It's an ongoing process. And that's what I learned.
You don't take a whole summer off and expect to
play at the level you want to play it.
Speaker 4 (09:31):
And what what did Bill Fitch say the biggest mistake
of his life was trading for me?
Speaker 1 (09:39):
How long did it take you to catch up? You know,
after you reported to training camp? How long was it
until you, like fella, you're around the same level as
everyone else.
Speaker 3 (09:48):
On the fifty fifty, I failed my conditioning changing it shift.
It was a shift. We always ran wind sprints at
the inner practice, and I always was the last one.
But on that fifth day, I was in the middle
of the pack. Finally I was able to keep up
(10:09):
and compete with the conditioning part of the practice.
Speaker 2 (10:13):
That's so funny that you still remember that to this day.
Speaker 3 (10:16):
Oh, I can forget it.
Speaker 2 (10:19):
Hey he was load managing.
Speaker 1 (10:20):
Yeah, there you got load managing back in the day.
You must have felt good the rest of the season. Hey, listen.
Another thing that you had to do when you came
to Boston was you had to choose a jersey number.
And nowadays, for these guys who come in here with
all so many numbers have been retired, they're like, I
gotta choose eighty eight, seventy seven, six four before whatever.
Speaker 2 (10:41):
You know, all these weird numbers.
Speaker 1 (10:42):
But when you came, there were a lot more open,
but you still chose double zero.
Speaker 2 (10:46):
What made you choose the number? Double zero?
Speaker 3 (10:52):
That's the number that I started with in junior high
school that first time I played organized basketball with Junior
high school. Beginning of the season, the coaches was hanging
out the jerseys in the last jersey was zero, and
being that out was the worst player on the team
(11:12):
at the time.
Speaker 2 (11:14):
That team, that must have been a good team.
Speaker 3 (11:16):
What the coach told me a deserving number, the double zero.
So and I was able to keep that number throughout
my career because it meant so much to me because
of how it started out.
Speaker 1 (11:34):
All right, we're experiencing some technical difficulties, but we've got
Robert Beck with us right now. Robert, a follow up
on that question about the jersey number. You explained what
went into you choose. Well, I guess you didn't choose it.
It was given to you back in the day. But
now you've got your double zero and we've got another
single number zero next to you. Jason Tatum was kind
of etching his name into Celtics history. What have you
(11:55):
seen from him and do you feel any parallels to
him of him wearing a very similar uniform number to
what you grew up wearing for your entire career.
Speaker 3 (12:06):
Well, that's where the similarity is in Jared number. First
of all, I'm taller.
Speaker 2 (12:13):
He is better rebounder too, I'll tell you that.
Speaker 3 (12:16):
Yeah, better rebound than me. I may have the edge defensively,
but Jason. Seriously, Jason is an awesome talent. You know,
He's that that generational type talent, and uh, I just
expect nothing but great things to continue to happen, not
only for Jason, but for the Celtics also because they
(12:38):
got a great leader and he sets a great example
because he does not take nice out. Becomes the player
at night, and that's rare in today's environment, today's athlete.
Very few players, especially the stalls, they'll come to player
avery night. And that's what I respect most about Jason.
He does not take nice out. He leaves by example,
(13:00):
and I respect that because that's the way when I
was bowling. That's where we approached every game. We didn't
take nights south. Whether you bottom feeders are used at
the top of the food change, we were bringing it
to you every night. And that's what I like about
Jason Tatum and the Celtics.
Speaker 2 (13:20):
Have you ever had a chance to meet him?
Speaker 3 (13:23):
Yes, I had a chance to meet Jason at the seventy.
Speaker 2 (13:31):
Fifth at the All Star Game.
Speaker 3 (13:32):
Yeah, the All Star Game. It's a seventy and fifth
anniversary team. I met him there.
Speaker 2 (13:39):
I remember him taking photos.
Speaker 1 (13:40):
It was like he was fan boying around you guys like,
oh my god, I got the big three here, like
this is crazy.
Speaker 3 (13:45):
Yeah, well well we we we all had mutual respect
for one another, and like I said, the three of
us respect what Jason has accomplished individually and collectively, and
so I respect nothing but great things from here in
the in the rest of the Celtics going forward.
Speaker 4 (14:03):
The street cred that Max got with Jason and Jalen.
When the thirty for thirty came out about the Celtics
and Lakers, it was, you know, it's completely changed in
their eyes. It changed, you know, seeing him in that and.
Speaker 2 (14:16):
What I've been trying to take exactly, that's the point.
This is its Slenderton, that's well, ye know what right
now have been.
Speaker 4 (14:24):
And while he by employment has stayed connected to the team,
I'm curious how connected with Celtic City with everything, how
connected you work to the championship run and watching it
from afar, Because as you talk about the validation of
the eighty six team, whenever you were asked about the
eighty sixt team, you say unselfish and the way we
played together, And to me, people here wanted to compare
(14:48):
twenty four to eight and I didn't think that fit.
I thought if you wanted to find a team to
compare to the twenty four team and the way they played,
it was the way that you guys played in the eighties.
Speaker 3 (14:58):
I would agree with that. I like the fact that
they play smart, they played hard, and then they play
together and that's the way we played. And and also uh,
I was able to uh attend a couple of games
on that championship run. I was in the house cheering
them on, so I had my little bird chair stuck
(15:19):
out when it looked like we was gonna get it done.
Speaker 2 (15:22):
Hell yeah, that Celtic's green and your blood never goes away,
does it?
Speaker 3 (15:29):
Never, ever, never ever going to go away? Yeah, that's
when my that's when my career really took off. It
took me to a whole other level playing with playing
with some great players, and that made all the difference
in the world because you getting not win on the
pro level with that talent and that was surrounded by talent.
Speaker 2 (15:51):
Yeah, that's what.
Speaker 3 (15:53):
I soon care of one.
Speaker 2 (16:00):
And a half and saved sixty five dollars a month
for your first year, like excanity mobile.
Speaker 4 (16:06):
Every night for many many years, and since there was
no load management, then, for it's been almost thirty years
you've held the NBA record for most games played. And
this is sort of a two parter. What does that
record mean to you, especially now that it appears it's
about to be broken finally by Lebron.
Speaker 3 (16:25):
Yeah, Lebron is amazing. I'm just gonna leave it again.
Goodness too, for first of all, he hasn't got tie
in of the process. First of all, as long as
he has played, because he skipped college and went right
to the pros and he has exceeded all expectations. And
so what that longevity record means to me, especially when
(16:49):
I think about today's NBA the mask you guys the
question who bright idea with that load management?
Speaker 2 (16:55):
Who came up with that node?
Speaker 3 (16:57):
Do not understanding it? Yeah, if you get yourself in
the past, That's what I respect about Lebron, Kevin Durant,
Stephen Curry, in the late great Kobe Bryant. They took
their fitness serious. They did not take it for granted.
Because you cannot play the game of basketball at a
(17:18):
consistently high level if you're not in the best physical
condition that you could be in. It's impossible to do that.
And That's one of the reason why I respect Lebron
so much. He take his fitness dead series along with
Durant and Stephen Curry. Also, that's why they continue to
(17:41):
play at a very high level at the advanced age
because we all know athletics it is a young man's game.
Speaker 4 (17:47):
It just seems this is sort of another chapter in
what all great players like you say, which is that
great players in any era, even if the game has changed,
great players would be great players without a doubt.
Speaker 3 (17:59):
And that's the one thing all great playoffs have in common.
We take our a fitness and conditioning series.
Speaker 2 (18:08):
Except for the summer of nineteen eighty, right, except nineteen eighty.
Speaker 3 (18:12):
What I told you, I learned a valuable lesson. Yeah,
no old seasons. You got to go at it year round.
So actually me taking the summer of was a good thing.
It was a teaching lesson for me.
Speaker 1 (18:28):
So you wound up, just for all all of the
fans out there who don't know, over sixteen hundred career games,
you were playing well into your forties. Like now we're
starting to see in different sports that it's becoming more normalized,
but you.
Speaker 2 (18:40):
Were doing that. That was in the nineties.
Speaker 1 (18:42):
When you were playing in your four How do you
think that you reached that level you were able to
play that long back.
Speaker 3 (18:48):
Then, Well, Janet explains the poet, I never sustained a
major injury, and I didn't lose my appetite for the game,
because as you get old, you get tired of the grind,
the repetitiveness of it doing the same old, same old.
You get tired of the training. There's one reason why
I retired. I got tired of training, and I had
(19:11):
I had I signed a two year deal with ch Cargo,
I had another year left on the contract Bubby called.
I didn't want to go through the rigorous of getting
back into shape, stand back in shape, and as you
get older, it takes you longer to get back to
that physical peakness that you were a year before. And
so I just had enough. I just loved my appetite
(19:32):
for training. I still wanted to play and enjoy playing
the game. I just didn't want to go through the
process of what it took to be able to play
at the same number.
Speaker 4 (19:41):
See not only could he have starred in Celtic City,
could have started the last Dance if you had stayed
one more year, right and played with Michael. You know,
there are obviously a lot of younger fans who don't
know that you played with Michael and won that last
championship with him in ninety seven. Nowadays, every talking head
show wants to pump up their ratings by arguing about
is it Ron?
Speaker 2 (20:00):
Is it Michael? Is it Michael? Is it Lebron?
Speaker 4 (20:02):
And when people talk to you about the mythical greatest
of all time, which kind of a silly argument. Max
will always bring up a Elijahan basically played with Elijah Wan.
But you bring up somebody that doesn't get enough conversation
in that doesn't get enough credit in that conversation because
how many times did you go head to head in
the finals in the regular season, in those endless preseason
games you played with the Lakers, when you went head
(20:24):
to head with Kareem that's a guy that doesn't get
as much conversation. I know you'd like to bring him
up with that topic comes up.
Speaker 3 (20:32):
In my opinion three payers, And I know I'm showing
favorite tism for the big man that I feel like
was unstoppable. Bill Russell, Will Chamberlin and Karenne ain't not
do with your ball there was no stopping them. The
only thing stopped in was time. That's it in my opinion.
But I all due respect that Michael and Lebron they're
(20:54):
both great players, tremendous talents, but it comes to unstoppable
about this. Nobody figured out a defense how to stop
those three Nobody. Then think about that for a second.
When you talk about the whole time Beth, the Old
Time Great or the Goat, those three guys, nobody and
(21:15):
we talking about some small coaches with the Exes and
old in this in the Gematics, nobody figured out a
way that stopped them or to contain them. Then think
about it for a second.
Speaker 4 (21:28):
I love talking about Kareem because looking back at that time,
he was considered by the media and by people aloof
and he didn't talk and people didn't really get to
know him. And I imagine that sounds very familiar because
you were very similar in that way. He sort of
didn't let people get to know you. And I'm wondering now,
is Kareem has a blog and you'll see him do
interviews and things like that. Now, maybe regret is the
(21:50):
wrong word, but do you look back and wish you
had been engaged more when you were younger in the
time and maybe let people get to know you more
or or was that the right approach for you to
take as being a twenty five year old in the
NBA in nineteen eighty.
Speaker 3 (22:08):
Well, I will confess the main reason why I do
not have the best of relationships with the media is me.
I know I'm distant and dismisses. That's who I am,
and for me to try to be something that I'm not,
that wouldn't be true to who I am. So I
(22:28):
take all the responsibility for my indifference with the media,
and that's all me. I know, I give off that impression,
you know, leave me there for alone. I know that
about myself. That's why I have tremendous respect for my woman.
She understands that. She indulges me, you know that will
(22:54):
be there for the word peculiarity. She deal with my
peculiarities now of course.
Speaker 1 (23:05):
Hey, well right now, it seems like you're doing a
great job with us as the media, so we appreciate
you coming on with us. Sean brought it up, and
I don't want it to kind of slip away here.
But you did get to win championships with both Larry
Bird and Michael Jordan, and these are those those mythical
names in not only Celtic's history and both history but
like basketball history. What are some things that maybe you
(23:28):
saw as similarities between those two great players as players
and people, and maybe some differences that you notice between
those guys as well.
Speaker 3 (23:37):
Well. The likeness similarities, if you will, their competitiveness, they dislike,
they got a strong dislike for losing, and both of
them are generational players. You know. The one difference Jordan
(23:59):
had with Larry, He's more athletic. Michael played above the rim.
Larry Paye played below the rim, but just as effective.
And the difference in their leadership. Michael was more aggressive.
He was in your face. Uh, Larry lad by example,
you know he wasn't aggressive with his leadership. He shows
(24:23):
you what it took to be a great player. And
one thing I always respected about Larry during his premium years,
he came back better than he was the year before,
and that inspired me to be the best that I
could be, because here's a here's a player that can
(24:43):
afford to live off his reputation, and he didn't do that.
Every year Larry came back. Dawn Don is premium years.
Like I said, he came back better. He did something
better the upcoming season that he did the year before,
and that said something because he really didn't have to
put the time and effort into getting better, but he did.
Speaker 4 (25:08):
We hear so many players from your era now look
at the NBA in twenty twenty five and oh, there's
a three point shot and the way they play the
game now. But I would imagine, as a student of
the game as you are, there are great young bigs
in the league that are fun to watch every night.
They're still rebounding, They're still running the floor. Bigs are
(25:28):
just as important now as they always work, just a
different game around them, right, That is true.
Speaker 3 (25:36):
That's one That's why I do not criticize the bigs
in today's game, because they still do big man things.
You know, even though they be out on the perimeter
a lot, taking the three pointers in the long twos,
they still run the floor, they still play defense, they
still have a defensive presence, they still rebound, And that's
(25:58):
why I don't criticize today's big because they still do
big man things. As long as they are still doing
big man things, I don't think this room to criticize
them because they getting have done on both ends, on
both sides of the basketball, and you gotta respect that.
Speaker 1 (26:15):
What do you think about Victor Webbinett While we're talking
about big Man, This guy just seems like an alien
to me. I don't know how he does the things
that he does. Hey, I man at the height and
length that he has. What are your takeaways from watching
this kid over the first few years of his career.
Speaker 3 (26:31):
Where yes, I really haven't followed him there closely, but
what I have seen of him, Uh, he has tremendous
promise a bright future. But one thing I want I
want to touch on, but I don't do respect to
the big fella down there in uh San Antonio. Let's
not forget about raf since m let's not forget about
(26:52):
him because he is an older version of the big
fellow down that say he was doing all those only
different here. Raft played with his back to the basket
more than the big fella in San Antonio does. I
wish he would he would all play inside more because
(27:15):
nobody can stop it. He's so much bigger or taller
than everyone else. I like the fact that he mixed
it up inside outside. He just don't give me enough
inside because he's suddenly getting it done defensively because he's
a defensive presence. But he would post up more, play
with his back to the basket, or just flash in
(27:37):
the lane more. Oh, they may have to change the
game up of basketball, like they to do for with Chamber.
Speaker 2 (27:43):
I think they changed the.
Speaker 3 (27:44):
Game and beg with that.
Speaker 1 (27:45):
They might have to, they might have the long run.
But Sean also touched on this that just the game
has changed so much, and you're some legends of the
game who are like, no, I like the better back
in my day. Some actually say they they appreciate and
enjoy why watching this style of basketball even more than
what they were involved in back in the day.
Speaker 2 (28:04):
What's what's your take on that?
Speaker 1 (28:06):
Do you you really enjoy what you watch as the
product of the NBA right now or do you prefer
what you guys went through back in the day.
Speaker 3 (28:13):
I enjoyed when we played back in the day, the physicality. Ever,
they enjoyed that mixing it up. But also I like
the fact that the NBA and a nod to the commissioner,
has legislated some of the physicality out of the game
so the game flows more I think it's more exciting.
(28:34):
I think there's one of the reasons why, Uh, there's
more scoring from every one and not not just from
the three point shooting, because your your progress is not
impeded anymore. You can't put your hands on anybody, you
can't put that air bow in the back, you can't
control their movement like you could when I was playing.
(28:54):
And so I like the freedom of the game today.
Speaker 4 (28:58):
I guess the only thing we've learned today is that
Cedric Maxwell could have played in any era.
Speaker 3 (29:02):
Oh, no question about that in my opinion.
Speaker 1 (29:06):
Anyways, we're gonna have to clip this up and just
show it to said. I mean, well, you know, I
thought we don't do. He is going to love this episode.
Speaker 2 (29:15):
I'll never hear he had heard me say it.
Speaker 3 (29:17):
I told him that, and and and another thing we're
talking about Sedric. You know some of these question about
inductees into the Hall of Fame. When is Cedric Maximill
gonna get his No, it was about that. He was sorry.
Speaker 4 (29:33):
He's the original obviously, the fourth guy playing with you,
And and never made an All Star team because of that,
because they weren't going to put four guys on the
All Star team, and he was he could have been,
you know, because you played in that time. Had he
gone somewhere else, he would have been the leading scorer
on on a team that maybe wasn't as successful. But
that was the you know, the you noways choose your path,
(29:53):
but that was his.
Speaker 3 (29:54):
That's true. That's the only thing missing from Cedric rhythume
Hall of Fame, and hopefully one day they would give
it to him because he suddenly deserved it and he
has earned it.
Speaker 2 (30:07):
Well. Of course, the promotional tour starts right here.
Speaker 4 (30:10):
I know you from the Hey listen, they put broadcasters in,
so yeah, yeah, there you go.
Speaker 3 (30:15):
However he get in, he deserves to be in broadcaster
as a bawler. Whichever of both centric deserves to be
in the Hall of Fame.
Speaker 1 (30:25):
Well, we will make sure. I'm sure you've told him this.
Actually you just told us that you've you've said this
to him. We'll deliver the note to him as well.
Speaker 4 (30:31):
Yes, he tells me every day.
Speaker 3 (30:34):
I know it's Cric.
Speaker 2 (30:36):
That's Cedric Maxwellup to the tee. Hey, Robert, we appreciate.
Speaker 1 (30:40):
You jumping on and I know you experienced some some
technical difficulties over there, so thanks for battling through it
and hanging out with us for a little bit here.
Speaker 3 (30:48):
We appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (30:48):
I know the fans are going to enjoy this as well.
Speaker 3 (30:50):
I want to thank you guys for your time and
your patience and your indulgence. Thank you much
Well, folks, if it looks like we're a little dressed
up for this episode of View from the Rafters presented
by Xfinity Mobile, it's because we are right. We've got
a Celtics game on the TED Garden Courton just a
couple of hours, and we are also celebrating the launch
of the Legendary Moments campaign. This campaign is going to
be going on throughout the season and you'll see the
Celtics tying some of their most legendary moments of their
(00:31):
history to some of the nights where they will be
wearing their city edition uniform. So keep an eye out
for that throughout the season. Now, what better way to
celebrate this than by bringing on a legend himself. This
is a man who is in the Basketball Hall of Fame.
This is a man who has won four NBA Championships
and a man whose number double zero is up in
(00:51):
the rafters at TV Garden.
Speaker 2 (00:53):
He is Robert Parrish. Robert, thank you for joining usive.
Speaker 3 (00:59):
Thank you Having me is a pleasure.
Speaker 1 (01:02):
It is a pleasure on our end as well. Listen,
I gotta start out and just say talking about legendary moments,
maybe the most legendary moment of your career, of Larry
Bird's career, of Kevin McHale's career, of Bill Walton's career
was winning that championship about forty years ago. Does it
even feel like it's been forty years since that championship
(01:22):
was taken home?
Speaker 3 (01:23):
No, it does not seem like it been forty years,
Clearly it does. I see all these wrinkles in a
full idiot, So that's an indicator right there. It's definitely,
uh was it?
Speaker 1 (01:37):
Was?
Speaker 3 (01:37):
It a fine time, memorable times and were able to
put the finish in touches on a great season by
winning the championship.
Speaker 2 (01:47):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (01:47):
When you think back about that run, and so many
people look back on that team and say that was
the greatest team ever, Like people are still saying that today.
What do you remember most about that year in that
run to winning that champion How.
Speaker 3 (02:01):
Un selfish we were. There's a major egos in the
locker room. But I'm very proud and happy to say
nobody allowed their ego or their selfishness get in the
way of our goal, and that was to try to
be the best team that we could be and hopefully
cap championship.
Speaker 4 (02:22):
It's so funny the championship came almost in connection by
accident with Celtic City, which was an opportunity for many
of us to sort of sit down and think about
what we have been connected to over the years. You
were such a big part of the documentary. How was
that experience? I was dying to know how that experience.
Speaker 2 (02:40):
Was for you?
Speaker 4 (02:41):
Did you watch it? Did you like how it came out?
And do you feel there's sort of this more appreciation
for the eighties and those teams now with this sort
of renaissance of nostalgia.
Speaker 3 (02:55):
Oh aramone involved with the documentary. It was willed done.
It was where researched, It was detail and it was accurate.
And also it gave me a chance to have flashbacks
to women this because I really when I was playing,
I really didn't pay attention and enjoyed the experience while
(03:18):
we was all going through it. But when I retired
and looked back on it, I realized how good we were,
how amazing we were, and most important to me, how
unselfish we were. Because it was very easy for all
of us to say, I know, I'm trying to get mine,
(03:39):
you know, be individuals instead of having the team concept
and having that one objective and the one goal, and
that's just to be the best possible team that we
could be, and I think we accomplished that.
Speaker 4 (03:52):
There's a great scene in Celtic City where I think
it struck home for me when you were driving the
bay of the car saying and they're like, hey, they're
gonna be happy to see you. Lauren said it to you,
and you were like, well, they'll be happy to see
Larry and Kevin, but I don't know about me. To
see the reception you get, the love there is for
you now and this sort of renaissance of Celtics nostalgia,
(04:13):
it has to be a wonderful thing. I know, you
know Ma' sitting next to Max every night and I
know he appreciates it. But when you come in from
Afar and see how much love there still is for you,
that's got to be a good feeling.
Speaker 3 (04:23):
Oh, it's a great feeling, you know, to be appreciated,
to be a knowledge, you know, it's gratifying and also
is validation. You know, we were as good as we
thought we were, are you Just because of the reaction
from the fans and the media, they're just a reminder
that we were as good as we thought we were
(04:45):
and if the fans appreciate it, which is equally important.
Speaker 1 (04:49):
They're still young fans that appreciate them, and maybe weren't
even alive then and they appreciate it at this time.
But that scene, I'm glad Sean brought that up because
it was fun to watch, not only because of the
reception that all of you got, but it seemed like
that was the first time you actually got to hang
out with Larry and Kevin in quite some time. What
was it like to see those guys again.
Speaker 3 (05:09):
Oh, it was a good feeling, always a good feeling.
You know, were is able to bond and reconnect and
catch up. So good seeing everybody. Everybody's doing well, everybody
looks well considering our age. It was a fun time.
I must say, Hey, Georgia experience and I'm glad we
(05:31):
was able to make it happen. Everybody schedule worked out
and we're all able to get together.
Speaker 2 (05:37):
And that's the hardest part is lining up those schedules nowadays.
Speaker 3 (05:40):
Right.
Speaker 1 (05:40):
But when we're talking, yeah, when we talk about those
three names, we know that is the original Big three
and we don't get to see you guys together very often.
That was a cool moment for us. I'm glad it
was a cool moment for you. But when you look
back on that title, coming about of the Big Three
for the first time in Celtic's history, what does that
(06:02):
mean to you? What did it mean to you then
and what does it mean to you now of being
a part of that group.
Speaker 3 (06:07):
It makes me stick my chest out, you know, because
if everyone knows mine, the trajectory of my of my
career changed and was altered, you know, the big shift
in the direction my career has hit it when I
got traded to Boston and so to be surrounded by
(06:28):
that type of talent. And another thing too, Let's not
forget about sethe Big Maxwell.
Speaker 1 (06:34):
How could we ever, I spent twenty.
Speaker 4 (06:38):
Five years with him every day. I can't chance to
forget a lot.
Speaker 3 (06:43):
Of people overlook how good Cedric was, because before the
three of us showed up, Larry, Kevin and myself, the
team was Cedrics. Cederic was the man and he and
he doesn't get the love and appreciation and that he deserved.
Because that eighty one champion, that eighty eighty one championship
(07:05):
that we won, we would not have won it and
Max not stepped up and played at the level that
he played at. He played at a very very high
level because the Big Three was struggling mightily for a
couple of games and said picked up the weight. So
I want to make sure that the Celtic nation do
(07:27):
not overlook and continue to appreciate CC because that's what
I call him. I don't call him Cedric.
Speaker 4 (07:35):
Now chief Chief. Come on, Billy Pultz was guarding him.
Let's not let's not go crazy, you know, let's put
the asters.
Speaker 3 (07:42):
We do all do we all professionals.
Speaker 4 (07:47):
I'll give yourself that a lot of people don't know.
Which is I'm never not amazed by how history can
easily change by one fraction of an inch one way
or the other. Golden State was talking about signing Max,
that you bring him to play with you in Golden
State and draft Kevin McHale. That was one of the
original plans before everything happened. And we know how history changed.
(08:09):
And obviously Red Hourback brought you when you got to
Boston in nineteen eighty with your situation in Golden State,
did you know how long did it take before you
realized this could be epic special and maybe something I'm
talking about on a zoom technology that hasn't even been
invented yet forty years from now.
Speaker 3 (08:31):
Oh first day of practice training camp, I knew right
then we could be a special team. Everybody came from
training camp in cheap except who me? Except for me?
When I when I heard about I had got traded
to the Celtics the first time in my career, and
(08:53):
I learned the valuable listen. I took the whole sum off,
I did not train, and what and what that? What
that lesson was, there is no off season. It's basketball
year round. You don't take days off, at least not
the whole summer off. So I learned the valuable lesson.
(09:13):
It's a continuation of everything. You cannot let up, you
cannot relax. It's an ongoing process. And that's what I learned.
You don't take a whole summer off and expect to
play at the level you want to play it.
Speaker 4 (09:31):
And what what did Bill Fitch say the biggest mistake
of his life was trading for me?
Speaker 1 (09:39):
How long did it take you to catch up? You know,
after you reported to training camp? How long was it
until you, like fella, you're around the same level as
everyone else.
Speaker 3 (09:48):
On the fifty fifty, I failed my conditioning changing it shift.
It was a shift. We always ran wind sprints at
the inner practice, and I always was the last one.
But on that fifth day, I was in the middle
of the pack. Finally I was able to keep up
(10:09):
and compete with the conditioning part of the practice.
Speaker 2 (10:13):
That's so funny that you still remember that to this day.
Speaker 3 (10:16):
Oh, I can forget it.
Speaker 2 (10:19):
Hey he was load managing.
Speaker 1 (10:20):
Yeah, there you got load managing back in the day.
You must have felt good the rest of the season. Hey, listen.
Another thing that you had to do when you came
to Boston was you had to choose a jersey number.
And nowadays, for these guys who come in here with
all so many numbers have been retired, they're like, I
gotta choose eighty eight, seventy seven, six four before whatever.
Speaker 2 (10:41):
You know, all these weird numbers.
Speaker 1 (10:42):
But when you came, there were a lot more open,
but you still chose double zero.
Speaker 2 (10:46):
What made you choose the number? Double zero?
Speaker 3 (10:52):
That's the number that I started with in junior high
school that first time I played organized basketball with Junior
high school. Beginning of the season, the coaches was hanging
out the jerseys in the last jersey was zero, and
being that out was the worst player on the team
(11:12):
at the time.
Speaker 2 (11:14):
That team, that must have been a good team.
Speaker 3 (11:16):
What the coach told me a deserving number, the double zero.
So and I was able to keep that number throughout
my career because it meant so much to me because
of how it started out.
Speaker 1 (11:34):
All right, we're experiencing some technical difficulties, but we've got
Robert Beck with us right now. Robert, a follow up
on that question about the jersey number. You explained what
went into you choose. Well, I guess you didn't choose it.
It was given to you back in the day. But
now you've got your double zero and we've got another
single number zero next to you. Jason Tatum was kind
of etching his name into Celtics history. What have you
(11:55):
seen from him and do you feel any parallels to
him of him wearing a very similar uniform number to
what you grew up wearing for your entire career.
Speaker 3 (12:06):
Well, that's where the similarity is in Jared number. First
of all, I'm taller.
Speaker 2 (12:13):
He is better rebounder too, I'll tell you that.
Speaker 3 (12:16):
Yeah, better rebound than me. I may have the edge defensively,
but Jason. Seriously, Jason is an awesome talent. You know,
He's that that generational type talent, and uh, I just
expect nothing but great things to continue to happen, not
only for Jason, but for the Celtics also because they
(12:38):
got a great leader and he sets a great example
because he does not take nice out. Becomes the player
at night, and that's rare in today's environment, today's athlete.
Very few players, especially the stalls, they'll come to player
avery night. And that's what I respect most about Jason.
He does not take nice out. He leaves by example,
(13:00):
and I respect that because that's the way when I
was bowling. That's where we approached every game. We didn't
take nights south. Whether you bottom feeders are used at
the top of the food change, we were bringing it
to you every night. And that's what I like about
Jason Tatum and the Celtics.
Speaker 2 (13:20):
Have you ever had a chance to meet him?
Speaker 3 (13:23):
Yes, I had a chance to meet Jason at the seventy.
Speaker 2 (13:31):
Fifth at the All Star Game.
Speaker 3 (13:32):
Yeah, the All Star Game. It's a seventy and fifth
anniversary team. I met him there.
Speaker 2 (13:39):
I remember him taking photos.
Speaker 1 (13:40):
It was like he was fan boying around you guys like,
oh my god, I got the big three here, like
this is crazy.
Speaker 3 (13:45):
Yeah, well well we we we all had mutual respect
for one another, and like I said, the three of
us respect what Jason has accomplished individually and collectively, and
so I respect nothing but great things from here in
the in the rest of the Celtics going forward.
Speaker 4 (14:03):
The street cred that Max got with Jason and Jalen.
When the thirty for thirty came out about the Celtics
and Lakers, it was, you know, it's completely changed in
their eyes. It changed, you know, seeing him in that and.
Speaker 2 (14:16):
What I've been trying to take exactly, that's the point.
This is its Slenderton, that's well, ye know what right
now have been.
Speaker 4 (14:24):
And while he by employment has stayed connected to the team,
I'm curious how connected with Celtic City with everything, how
connected you work to the championship run and watching it
from afar, Because as you talk about the validation of
the eighty six team, whenever you were asked about the
eighty sixt team, you say unselfish and the way we
played together, And to me, people here wanted to compare
(14:48):
twenty four to eight and I didn't think that fit.
I thought if you wanted to find a team to
compare to the twenty four team and the way they played,
it was the way that you guys played in the eighties.
Speaker 3 (14:58):
I would agree with that. I like the fact that
they play smart, they played hard, and then they play
together and that's the way we played. And and also uh,
I was able to uh attend a couple of games
on that championship run. I was in the house cheering
them on, so I had my little bird chair stuck
(15:19):
out when it looked like we was gonna get it done.
Speaker 2 (15:22):
Hell yeah, that Celtic's green and your blood never goes away,
does it?
Speaker 3 (15:29):
Never, ever, never ever going to go away? Yeah, that's
when my that's when my career really took off. It
took me to a whole other level playing with playing
with some great players, and that made all the difference
in the world because you getting not win on the
pro level with that talent and that was surrounded by talent.
Speaker 2 (15:51):
Yeah, that's what.
Speaker 3 (15:53):
I soon care of one.
Speaker 2 (16:00):
And a half and saved sixty five dollars a month
for your first year, like excanity mobile.
Speaker 4 (16:06):
Every night for many many years, and since there was
no load management, then, for it's been almost thirty years
you've held the NBA record for most games played. And
this is sort of a two parter. What does that
record mean to you, especially now that it appears it's
about to be broken finally by Lebron.
Speaker 3 (16:25):
Yeah, Lebron is amazing. I'm just gonna leave it again.
Goodness too, for first of all, he hasn't got tie
in of the process. First of all, as long as
he has played, because he skipped college and went right
to the pros and he has exceeded all expectations. And
so what that longevity record means to me, especially when
(16:49):
I think about today's NBA the mask you guys the
question who bright idea with that load management?
Speaker 2 (16:55):
Who came up with that node?
Speaker 3 (16:57):
Do not understanding it? Yeah, if you get yourself in
the past, That's what I respect about Lebron, Kevin Durant,
Stephen Curry, in the late great Kobe Bryant. They took
their fitness serious. They did not take it for granted.
Because you cannot play the game of basketball at a
(17:18):
consistently high level if you're not in the best physical
condition that you could be in. It's impossible to do that.
And That's one of the reason why I respect Lebron
so much. He take his fitness dead series along with
Durant and Stephen Curry. Also, that's why they continue to
(17:41):
play at a very high level at the advanced age
because we all know athletics it is a young man's game.
Speaker 4 (17:47):
It just seems this is sort of another chapter in
what all great players like you say, which is that
great players in any era, even if the game has changed,
great players would be great players without a doubt.
Speaker 3 (17:59):
And that's the one thing all great playoffs have in common.
We take our a fitness and conditioning series.
Speaker 2 (18:08):
Except for the summer of nineteen eighty, right, except nineteen eighty.
Speaker 3 (18:12):
What I told you, I learned a valuable lesson. Yeah,
no old seasons. You got to go at it year round.
So actually me taking the summer of was a good thing.
It was a teaching lesson for me.
Speaker 1 (18:28):
So you wound up, just for all all of the
fans out there who don't know, over sixteen hundred career games,
you were playing well into your forties. Like now we're
starting to see in different sports that it's becoming more normalized,
but you.
Speaker 2 (18:40):
Were doing that. That was in the nineties.
Speaker 1 (18:42):
When you were playing in your four How do you
think that you reached that level you were able to
play that long back.
Speaker 3 (18:48):
Then, Well, Janet explains the poet, I never sustained a
major injury, and I didn't lose my appetite for the game,
because as you get old, you get tired of the grind,
the repetitiveness of it doing the same old, same old.
You get tired of the training. There's one reason why
I retired. I got tired of training, and I had
(19:11):
I had I signed a two year deal with ch Cargo,
I had another year left on the contract Bubby called.
I didn't want to go through the rigorous of getting
back into shape, stand back in shape, and as you
get older, it takes you longer to get back to
that physical peakness that you were a year before. And
so I just had enough. I just loved my appetite
(19:32):
for training. I still wanted to play and enjoy playing
the game. I just didn't want to go through the
process of what it took to be able to play
at the same number.
Speaker 4 (19:41):
See not only could he have starred in Celtic City,
could have started the last Dance if you had stayed
one more year, right and played with Michael. You know,
there are obviously a lot of younger fans who don't
know that you played with Michael and won that last
championship with him in ninety seven. Nowadays, every talking head
show wants to pump up their ratings by arguing about
is it Ron?
Speaker 2 (20:00):
Is it Michael? Is it Michael? Is it Lebron?
Speaker 4 (20:02):
And when people talk to you about the mythical greatest
of all time, which kind of a silly argument. Max
will always bring up a Elijahan basically played with Elijah Wan.
But you bring up somebody that doesn't get enough conversation
in that doesn't get enough credit in that conversation because
how many times did you go head to head in
the finals in the regular season, in those endless preseason
games you played with the Lakers, when you went head
(20:24):
to head with Kareem that's a guy that doesn't get
as much conversation. I know you'd like to bring him
up with that topic comes up.
Speaker 3 (20:32):
In my opinion three payers, And I know I'm showing
favorite tism for the big man that I feel like
was unstoppable. Bill Russell, Will Chamberlin and Karenne ain't not
do with your ball there was no stopping them. The
only thing stopped in was time. That's it in my opinion.
But I all due respect that Michael and Lebron they're
(20:54):
both great players, tremendous talents, but it comes to unstoppable
about this. Nobody figured out a defense how to stop
those three Nobody. Then think about that for a second.
When you talk about the whole time Beth, the Old
Time Great or the Goat, those three guys, nobody and
(21:15):
we talking about some small coaches with the Exes and
old in this in the Gematics, nobody figured out a
way that stopped them or to contain them. Then think
about it for a second.
Speaker 4 (21:28):
I love talking about Kareem because looking back at that time,
he was considered by the media and by people aloof
and he didn't talk and people didn't really get to
know him. And I imagine that sounds very familiar because
you were very similar in that way. He sort of
didn't let people get to know you. And I'm wondering now,
is Kareem has a blog and you'll see him do
interviews and things like that. Now, maybe regret is the
(21:50):
wrong word, but do you look back and wish you
had been engaged more when you were younger in the
time and maybe let people get to know you more
or or was that the right approach for you to
take as being a twenty five year old in the
NBA in nineteen eighty.
Speaker 3 (22:08):
Well, I will confess the main reason why I do
not have the best of relationships with the media is me.
I know I'm distant and dismisses. That's who I am,
and for me to try to be something that I'm not,
that wouldn't be true to who I am. So I
(22:28):
take all the responsibility for my indifference with the media,
and that's all me. I know, I give off that impression,
you know, leave me there for alone. I know that
about myself. That's why I have tremendous respect for my woman.
She understands that. She indulges me, you know that will
(22:54):
be there for the word peculiarity. She deal with my
peculiarities now of course.
Speaker 1 (23:05):
Hey, well right now, it seems like you're doing a
great job with us as the media, so we appreciate
you coming on with us. Sean brought it up, and
I don't want it to kind of slip away here.
But you did get to win championships with both Larry
Bird and Michael Jordan, and these are those those mythical
names in not only Celtic's history and both history but
like basketball history. What are some things that maybe you
(23:28):
saw as similarities between those two great players as players
and people, and maybe some differences that you notice between
those guys as well.
Speaker 3 (23:37):
Well. The likeness similarities, if you will, their competitiveness, they dislike,
they got a strong dislike for losing, and both of
them are generational players. You know. The one difference Jordan
(23:59):
had with Larry, He's more athletic. Michael played above the rim.
Larry Paye played below the rim, but just as effective.
And the difference in their leadership. Michael was more aggressive.
He was in your face. Uh, Larry lad by example,
you know he wasn't aggressive with his leadership. He shows
(24:23):
you what it took to be a great player. And
one thing I always respected about Larry during his premium years,
he came back better than he was the year before,
and that inspired me to be the best that I
could be, because here's a here's a player that can
(24:43):
afford to live off his reputation, and he didn't do that.
Every year Larry came back. Dawn Don is premium years.
Like I said, he came back better. He did something
better the upcoming season that he did the year before,
and that said something because he really didn't have to
put the time and effort into getting better, but he did.
Speaker 4 (25:08):
We hear so many players from your era now look
at the NBA in twenty twenty five and oh, there's
a three point shot and the way they play the
game now. But I would imagine, as a student of
the game as you are, there are great young bigs
in the league that are fun to watch every night.
They're still rebounding, They're still running the floor. Bigs are
(25:28):
just as important now as they always work, just a
different game around them, right, That is true.
Speaker 3 (25:36):
That's one That's why I do not criticize the bigs
in today's game, because they still do big man things.
You know, even though they be out on the perimeter
a lot, taking the three pointers in the long twos,
they still run the floor, they still play defense, they
still have a defensive presence, they still rebound, And that's
(25:58):
why I don't criticize today's big because they still do
big man things. As long as they are still doing
big man things, I don't think this room to criticize
them because they getting have done on both ends, on
both sides of the basketball, and you gotta respect that.
Speaker 1 (26:15):
What do you think about Victor Webbinett While we're talking
about big Man, This guy just seems like an alien
to me. I don't know how he does the things
that he does. Hey, I man at the height and
length that he has. What are your takeaways from watching
this kid over the first few years of his career.
Speaker 3 (26:31):
Where yes, I really haven't followed him there closely, but
what I have seen of him, Uh, he has tremendous
promise a bright future. But one thing I want I
want to touch on, but I don't do respect to
the big fella down there in uh San Antonio. Let's
not forget about raf since m let's not forget about
(26:52):
him because he is an older version of the big
fellow down that say he was doing all those only
different here. Raft played with his back to the basket
more than the big fella in San Antonio does. I
wish he would he would all play inside more because
(27:15):
nobody can stop it. He's so much bigger or taller
than everyone else. I like the fact that he mixed
it up inside outside. He just don't give me enough
inside because he's suddenly getting it done defensively because he's
a defensive presence. But he would post up more, play
with his back to the basket, or just flash in
(27:37):
the lane more. Oh, they may have to change the
game up of basketball, like they to do for with Chamber.
Speaker 2 (27:43):
I think they changed the.
Speaker 3 (27:44):
Game and beg with that.
Speaker 1 (27:45):
They might have to, they might have the long run.
But Sean also touched on this that just the game
has changed so much, and you're some legends of the
game who are like, no, I like the better back
in my day. Some actually say they they appreciate and
enjoy why watching this style of basketball even more than
what they were involved in back in the day.
Speaker 2 (28:04):
What's what's your take on that?
Speaker 1 (28:06):
Do you you really enjoy what you watch as the
product of the NBA right now or do you prefer
what you guys went through back in the day.
Speaker 3 (28:13):
I enjoyed when we played back in the day, the physicality. Ever,
they enjoyed that mixing it up. But also I like
the fact that the NBA and a nod to the commissioner,
has legislated some of the physicality out of the game
so the game flows more I think it's more exciting.
(28:34):
I think there's one of the reasons why, Uh, there's
more scoring from every one and not not just from
the three point shooting, because your your progress is not
impeded anymore. You can't put your hands on anybody, you
can't put that air bow in the back, you can't
control their movement like you could when I was playing.
(28:54):
And so I like the freedom of the game today.
Speaker 4 (28:58):
I guess the only thing we've learned today is that
Cedric Maxwell could have played in any era.
Speaker 3 (29:02):
Oh, no question about that in my opinion.
Speaker 1 (29:06):
Anyways, we're gonna have to clip this up and just
show it to said. I mean, well, you know, I
thought we don't do. He is going to love this episode.
Speaker 2 (29:15):
I'll never hear he had heard me say it.
Speaker 3 (29:17):
I told him that, and and and another thing we're
talking about Sedric. You know some of these question about
inductees into the Hall of Fame. When is Cedric Maximill
gonna get his No, it was about that. He was sorry.
Speaker 4 (29:33):
He's the original obviously, the fourth guy playing with you,
And and never made an All Star team because of that,
because they weren't going to put four guys on the
All Star team, and he was he could have been,
you know, because you played in that time. Had he
gone somewhere else, he would have been the leading scorer
on on a team that maybe wasn't as successful. But
that was the you know, the you noways choose your path,
(29:53):
but that was his.
Speaker 3 (29:54):
That's true. That's the only thing missing from Cedric rhythume
Hall of Fame, and hopefully one day they would give
it to him because he suddenly deserved it and he
has earned it.
Speaker 2 (30:07):
Well. Of course, the promotional tour starts right here.
Speaker 4 (30:10):
I know you from the Hey listen, they put broadcasters in,
so yeah, yeah, there you go.
Speaker 3 (30:15):
However he get in, he deserves to be in broadcaster
as a bawler. Whichever of both centric deserves to be
in the Hall of Fame.
Speaker 1 (30:25):
Well, we will make sure. I'm sure you've told him this.
Actually you just told us that you've you've said this
to him. We'll deliver the note to him as well.
Speaker 4 (30:31):
Yes, he tells me every day.
Speaker 3 (30:34):
I know it's Cric.
Speaker 2 (30:36):
That's Cedric Maxwellup to the tee. Hey, Robert, we appreciate.
Speaker 1 (30:40):
You jumping on and I know you experienced some some
technical difficulties over there, so thanks for battling through it
and hanging out with us for a little bit here.
Speaker 3 (30:48):
We appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (30:48):
I know the fans are going to enjoy this as well.
Speaker 3 (30:50):
I want to thank you guys for your time and
your patience and your indulgence. Thank you much
Host
Marc D'Amico
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