Parker’s Memories Not All That Fond

Dallas assistant Charlie Parker returned to his old stomping grounds Saturday when the Mavericks made their first trip of the season to the Sports Arena.

Parker spent eight years coaching at USC. His first six years were as an assistant under George Raveling, before he took over for a season when Raveling was injured in an auto accident. Parker was the Trojans’ head coach for the 1995-96 season before being fired, which still does not sit well with him.

“I spent eight years of my life here, so I have a lot of special feelings,” said Parker, who joined the Mavericks under then-coach Jim Cleamons in 1996 and was kept on staff by Don Nelson. “I’m happy to be back, but at the same time, I have some bad feelings too.”

Parker is pleased to be working in the NBA.

“On the positive side [about being fired by USC], I’m coaching at the highest level of basketball . . . and I’m totally enjoying it,” said Parker, who is credited for the development of the Mavericks’ backcourt players Michael Finley and former Trojan Robert Pack.

“Someday, I hope to be a head coach again, but it has to be the right situation. It has to be someplace where I trust the people I’m working for and there’s a lot of belief.”

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Sherman Douglas did not play because of a groin injury he suffered in Tuesday’s double-overtime loss to Vancouver. He is listed as day-to-day. Pooh Richardson backed up starting point guard Darrick Martin. Coach Chris Ford started Maurice Taylor, Rodney Rogers, Michael Olowokandi, Lamond Murray and Martin. Murray replaced Eric Piatkowski at shooting guard.