Dallas Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle apologized on Sunday for some recent comments he made about his team’s biggest offseason acquisition. After Chandler Parsons missed five of six 3-pointers during a preseason game last week, Carlisle said Parsons needs to lose some weight and work on his conditioning.
“Parsons looked tired out there,” Carlisle said, via Eddie Sefko of The Dallas Morning News. “His shot was short. He’s working on losing some weight. He’s a little heavier than he’s been. He’s up over 230 and we’d like to see him get down to at least 225. That’s a work in progress. Tonight was one of those nights where I think the extra weight was a hindrance.
“He’s gotten stronger, but he’s been playing at 215 his first three years. An increase of 18-to-20 pounds is just too much. And we talk about it a lot. He’ll get there. But he looked tired and a little heavy-legged. And the extra seven or eight pounds aren’t helping.”
Parsons later responded by posting the photo you see above on Instagram, which shows that he isn’t exactly looking chubby. Maybe Carlisle feels he has put on too much muscle. In any event, Carlisle apologized with a statement on Sunday.
“It was unfair and inappropriate to single out Chandler Parsons after the game,” the statement read. “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.
“I also made it clear to our players and staff this morning that this type of bad example is not acceptable and beneath the dignity of a championship organization like the Dallas Mavericks.”
Did Mark Cuban get on Carlisle about the comments? Possibly, as you’ll remember how hard the Mavs owner worked to sign Parsons to that offer sheet a few months ago. When a reporter asked Carlisle about the apology on Sunday evening, he cracked a joke about Parsons’ Instagram photo.
“It’s closed,” he said. “I’ve received my punishment. My wife and daughter became full-time Chandler Parsons Twitter and Instagram followers.”
Looks like Chandler won this battle.
