Mavericks’ Rick Carlisle Apologizes for Calling Out Chandler Parsons
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Ronald Martinez/Getty Images(DALLAS) — A couple of days after criticizing newly-signed forward Chandler Parsons for his weight and conditioning, Dallas Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle has apologized for his comments.
“An increase of 18 to 20 pounds is just too much,” Carlisle said Friday night. “We talked about it today. We talk about it a lot. He’ll get there, but he looked tired out there and a little heavy-legged, and the extra 7 or 8 pounds aren’t helping.”
Carlisle realized he was wrong to publicly criticize Parsons, and promptly apologized.
“It was unfair and inappropriate to single out Chandler Parsons after the game Friday night,” Carlisle wrote in a statement issued Sunday afternoon. “I have apologized to him and the entire team for this error in judgment. Not only is Chandler Parsons one of our best players, he is also one of our hardest working players and the kind of high-character person we strive to bring to our city and franchise.”
Parsons, who signed a three-year deal with the Mavericks this past summer worth $46 million, says he has moved on from the incident.
“It just shows what kind of guy he is,” Parsons said of Carlisle’s apology. “We’re in this together. Everybody makes mistakes, and he came to me as a man. We have a great relationship. It’s in the past, and we’re going to move forward. It’s over with.”
Last season with the Houston Rockets, Parsons averaged 16.6 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game.
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