The so-called “Original Big Three” of the Boston Celtics were larger than life in their heyday — and deservedly so given Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, and Robert Parish were some of the greatest to ever play the game at any level. The trio of Celtics stars would all end up Hall of Famers in the future, but they also had to sacrifice a lot to make the team work.
In a recent interview with HoopsHype reporter Sam Yip, the Chief was asked whether those big egos ever clashed in the locker room. “Oh, no, no, no,” he recalled. “Not at all. We got along. We were respectful.”
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“We were close,” he continued. “And I think because there was calm and peace in the locker room, it was reflected in our play on the court because we didn’t play as individuals.”
Basketball: NBA Playoffs: Boston Celtics Larry Bird (33), Kevin McHale (32) and Robert Parish (00) during game vs Atlanta Hawks at Boston Garden. Game 2. Boston, MA 5/13/1988 CREDIT: Steve Lipofsky (Photo by Steve Lipofsky /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)
“We played as teammates,” said Parish. “We played together. We got it done collectively, and I think it’s one of the reasons why our teams were so successful.”
“We played as a team, and I think it’s one of the reasons, in my opinion anyway, that Larry, Kevin, and myself are in the Hall of Fame. Not so much about our individual talents, but I think it’s more about the great teams we were a part of.”
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This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Despite their larger-than-life stardom, ‘Original Big 3’ Celtics kept the peace