Robert Parish Talks Winning Titles with Larry Bird & Michael Jordan

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