"They've definitely cleaned it up in that aspect" - Parish on why he's in favor of the so-called 'soft' NBA era

Yahoo

a day ago

"They've definitely cleaned it up in that aspect" - Parish on why he's in favor of the so-called 'soft' NBA era originally appeared on Basketball Network.
Many NBA legends are critical of how the game is being played these days. For most of them, the league has gone "soft." While that might be the case in today's NBA, Boston Celtics legend Robert Parish doesn't see anything wrong with it.
During his playing years, Parish was one of the most dominant big men in the league. He never shied away from banging bodies with his matchups season after season. The Chief believes that today's NBA players are no longer doing the same, and it makes the game "better."
Parish argued that players couldn't play their game back then because of too much physicality. Today, however, Robert can see most players being able to play their game without getting hacked or hurt.
"From a physicality standpoint, I think it's better because first of all, you're eliminating a lot of the altercations that went on when they had the hand-checking and the bumping and grinding impeding players' progress when they wanted to make a move," Parish told The Signal in a Q&A session in 2016. "So, they've definitely cleaned it up in that aspect."
Parish is against load management
Even though Parish supports the NBA's shift from physical to softball, he disagrees with some league trends and practices, one of which is load management.
For Robert, load management should not exist in a prestigious and competitive league such as the NBA. He believes injuries could be prevented in many ways without compromising the number of games a player is supposed to play each season.
The Chief noted that being healthy is the result of a player's discipline and work ethic. He thinks all players are obliged to stay fit to avoid injuries, and resting should never be an option. For Parish, that's what LeBron James does best, and his longevity speaks volumes about his remarkable conditioning.
"First of all, I find it insulting. First and foremost, your main and most significant priority should be fitness and conditioning. Load management should not be an issue unless you're coming off a significant injury," the nine-time NBA All-Star once said of load management. "We're all tired. We're all banged up and beat up. You take personal pride in your fitness and conditioning."
"Everybody in the NBA needs to take a page out of LeBron's book in terms of fitness and conditioning, to take it as serious as he does. If you take care of your body the way LeBron does, load management should not be an issue," he pointed out.Parish made a good point
In all fairness, Parish made a good point with his take on today's NBA. He enlightened fans about the positive side of the soft NBA era and what players should do to stay healthy, apart from load management.
Not everybody would agree with Robert, but he was right about players being able to maximize their abilities because of the absence of physicality. Moreover, Parish has also proven that load management isn't the key to avoiding injuries, as he lasted 21 years in the NBA just by being disciplined and dedicated.
All told, it's quite interesting to know that a legendary player from the past era believes that the evolution of the game is good for the league.This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Aug 3, 2025, where it first appeared.