Robert Parish Reveals All-Time NBA Starting Five

Boston Celtics Hall of Famer Robert Parish recently outlined his all-time NBA starting lineup in an interview, selecting a group of legends that emphasizes championship success and versatility while igniting discussions on basketball's greatest eras. The 72-year-old center, known as the "Chief," chose Magic Johnson at point guard, Michael Jordan at shooting guard, Larry Bird at small forward, Tim Duncan at power forward and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar at center. Parish shared these picks during a March 31, 2026, appearance on the "Run It Back" podcast, where he also defended Bird's place among the all-time elite and pushed back against criticism of modern big men.

Parish, who won four NBA titles during his 21-season career, primarily with the Celtics in the 1980s, built his selections around players he admired for their impact across generations. He placed Johnson, his longtime rival from the Lakers-Celtics showdowns, at point guard for his size, vision and five championships. Jordan earned the shooting guard spot for his scoring dominance and six titles with the Chicago Bulls, a team Parish joined late in his career for a fourth ring in 1997. Bird, Parish's teammate on Boston's...