National Basketball Association

Mavs coach Carlisle apologizes to 'heavy' Parsons

Published Oct. 12, 2014 4:52 p.m. ET

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DALLAS -- Two days after taking the unusual measure of calling out Chandler Parsons for carrying "extra pounds,'' coach Rick Carlisle orchestrated an equally unusual move: The Mavs coach issued a private and public apology to Dallas' new budding star.

"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.

"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."

"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 seven or eight pounds aren't helping. ... I don't mean to call him out in public or ridicule him, but it's just a fact.''

And then on Saturday, Parsons responded agan -- maybe unhappily or maybe playfully -- with a shirtless Instagram photo showing him sporting six-pack abs and looking notably fit.

So "Abpocalypse'' is over for the very best of reasons. Parsons will shed some weight but is already in terrific shape. And Carlisle will gain some respect because while he is already very much in charge here, he's admitting he was wrong.

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