Former Boston Celtics star Robert Parish is undoubtedly one of the greatest players to ever step foot on the NBA hardcourt. A four-time champion and nine-time All-Star, Parish is forever immortalized in Boston sporting lore, as his No. 00 jersey number was retired by the Celtics.
Parish is also a member of the NBA’s 50th and 75th Anniversary Teams, further highlighting his impact and influence on the league.
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For years, Parish also held the record for the second-most wins in league history with 1,014, only behind the great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1,074).
Unfortunately, the NBA icon lost that record last Sunday, when the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Philadelphia 76ers. LeBron Jamesmoved up the all-time regular season wins list with 1,015, supplanting Parish from his spot.
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) calls a play against the Boston Celtics.Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images
While Parish still doesn’t like the Lakers, stemming from the Celtics’ rivalry with them, he still made sure to show his respect for James and what he has accomplished.
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“Watching greatness reach new heights is always special,” Parish wrote on X. “Records are meant to be broken, and seeing LeBron surpass mine for regular season wins is a reminder of his remarkable talent and passion for the game. Congratulations LeBron!”
Parish’s message came after James showed his appreciation for him, highlighting how the Celtics legend competed during his time and helped shape their era to further popularize the game.
Parish also holds the record for most regular season games played with 1,611, and James is 43 games away from surpassing him. That being said, there’s a chance the Lakers star breaks the record this campaign.
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Whatever happens, though, both players have massive respect for each other regardless of their affiliations.
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This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Dec 10, 2025, where it first appeared in the NBA section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.