Not every 1981 Boston Celtics champion was a fan of Bill Fitch’s coaching style

But in the end, winning was what mattered.

Former Boston Celtics head coach Bill Fitch was held in high regard for what he accomplished on the court with the teams he led. The Celtics were no exception. Boston legend Larry Bird was a fan of Fitch’s coaching style that helped lead to the Celtics’ 14th title in 1981.

But not all of Bird’s teammates were as wild about Fitch’s bedside manner, even if they respected the results. Among such players is Hall of Fame Celtics center Robert Parish, who described how Fitch bothered him with how he treated players on a recent episode of the “Players’ Own Voice” podcast.

“The late, great Bill Fitch — great coach, but he was lacking in the people skills,” said Parish.