Robert Lee Parish (born August 30, 1953(1953-08-30) in Shreveport, Louisiana) is a retired American basketball center. He was known for his strong defense and jump shooting, and was elected in the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2003. In 1997, Parish was also named as one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History. After a modest career at Centenary College of Louisiana, Parish was drafted in the first round of the 1976 NBA Draft by the Golden State Warriors, before being sent to the Boston ...