Larry Bird - Confidence and even some more Trash Talking
3,696,278
Published 2013-04-22
Some more examples of Bird's trash talk:
After Craig Hodges won the NBA All-Star Game Three-Point contest in Bird's absence, Hodges was asked if the victory was tainted because Bird hadn't participated. "He knows where he can find me," was Hodges retort. Told of Hodges' challenge, Bird replied, "Yeah, at the end of the Bulls' bench."
Heat forward Glen Rice said, "When Bird started lighting you up and talking trash, that's hard on you. It's like driving a stake through your heart."
After Bird made four straight baskets with Rodman guarding him, he ran over to Chuck Daly and asked "who's guarding me, Chuck? Is anyone guarding me? You better get someone on me or I'm gonna go for 60." Then he'd continue the banter the next time he got the ball with Rodman inches away.
Shawn Kemp said, "Larry taught me a lesson. People criticized Larry... Larry is getting old, his back is in pain... So I go out, I hit a couple of shots on him, I was like man, said a couple of words to him, next thing you know, he is shooting threes in my face, he's talking to me, he ended up with like 40 points. He taught me a lesson that regardless of who you are, how good you are, you have to bring it every night, you got to get your respect that way."
"I started talking a little trash to him," Horace Grant recalled, when the Celtics were the defending champions. "I'm saying, 'You're not going to score. You're not getting this basket. I remember him then telling me exactly what he was going to do to me. He says he's going to fake me left and then he's going to shoot a right-hand hook over me. And then he goes and does it and scores."
Dennis Rodman on Larry Bird: "I would be all over him, trying to deny him the ball, and all Larry was doing was yelling at his teammates, I'm open! Hurry up before they notice nobody is guarding me!" then he would stick an elbow in my jaw and stick the jumper in my face, then he would start in on my coach "Coach you better get this guy out and send in somebody who's going to D me up, because its too easy when I'm wide open like this"
Knicks' forward Charles Smith remembers when Bird barked "Sorry, Charlie," as he released a long, last-second shot to win a game. "That kind of a thing makes you want to jump on a guy," said Smith.
When the Indiana Pacers put rookie George McCloud on Bird in the closing minutes of a game, Bird yelled over to the Pacers bench, "Hey, I know you guys are desperate, but can't you find someone who at least has prayer?"
The year after Bird greeted fellow three-point shooting contest participants by asking which one of them would finish in second place behind him, Dale Ellis told the press that Bird didn't have much to say this year. "There was no need to talk this time," Bird replied,"we all knew who was going to win."
On a West Coast trip in 1986, Bird told the entire Dallas Mavericks bench that after the time out, Ainge would inbounds the pass to DJ, who would hit Bird in the corner where Bird would step back and take a three. "So you got that?" Bird queried the bench. "I'm gonna stand right here. I'm not going to move. They'll pass me the ball, and the next sound you here will be the ball hitting the bottom of the net." And that's exactly what happened. Bird winked at the Maverick before heading back down to the other end of the court.
Bird even precipitated a fight with Julius Erving by repeating a single phrase over and over. The phrase? 42-5, or the number of points each had scored during an easy Boston victory.
Shawn Kemp was guarding Larry Bird one night. On the last three-pointer, Larry Shot in Kemp's face and he said, "I'm the best damn player from Indiana."
All Comments (21)
-
Larry is the type of guy to hit 2 game winning shots in one game
-
Larry Bird scored 27 points one game with his left hand he shoots right handed
-
For as great as Larry Bird was, he’s still underrated. I don’t think people realize how good Larry Bird actually was
-
Why does everyone always talk about Larry Legend like he’s dead😂
-
Larry Bird quotes from on the court: "J, come on, just you and me." -- to Dr. J "You don't belong in this league, homes." -- to Dominique Wilkins "I’m going to fake you left and shoot a right hand hook." -- to Horace Grant, which he then did "Rook, I am the best fucking shooter in the league." -- to Reggie Miller "I'm gonna light your ass up." -- to Michael Cooper "I’m open! Hurry up before they notice nobody is guarding me!" -- while being guarded closely by Dennis Rodman
-
“ i was up 38-6 “ that cheesy ass smile legend
-
I'm from Chicago and we hated Bird because he seemed to never miss. Nothing but respect for Larry Bird.
-
Pat Riley: "I'd want Jordan to take the shot with the game on the line. I'd want Bird to take it if my LIFE was on the line."
-
He was the smartest and the best
-
Most amazing thing to me about Larry is that he had the media frightened. He was so fucking good that he had the media frightened, that's pure talent.
-
27 points LEFT-HANDED??? Are you kidding me?? FUCKING BEAST.
-
I love that story at 5:15 about Bird telling Jordan, " you ain't shit" who the fucks ever told Jordan that? that's balls right there
-
That's why he's called Larry Legend!
-
Oh how I miss this era. The NBA in the 1980s was great. No dilution with expansion. Great rivalries and finals. Teams allowed to play tough defense. Great stuff.
-
Bird is so great that even his opponents came to tell the tales of his legend 😂
-
Larry might’ve even the biggest gangsta of all time on the court. I love these stories
-
"Someone took the gloves off and wanted to go, you had to go. If you didn't, there is no use playing."- Bird.... I wish more people thought that way in the NBA today. I love the emotion - shows he took it seriously.
-
In 1974 Larry Bird was my P.E assistant when I was in the 8th grade and he was a senior at Springs Valley High School. At the beginning of each P.E. class we always ran 10 warmup laps around the gym. One day, a trampoline was set up on the basketball court and there was Larry Bird bouncing on it. As the whistle blew and we reluctantly lined up to run our laps, our teacher (who was also Larry's basketball coach) blew his whistle, and said "Larry is going to take 10 shots while jumping on the trampoline. If Larry makes any shots, each one made will delete a lap that you must run." Coach threw the ball to Larry and right there in front of me and the entire boys Jr. High P.E. class, Larry proceeded to hit 7 out of 10 shots while bouncing up and down on the trampoline, 40 feet away from the goal. Larry set an incredible example for me as a young boy in French Lick, Indiana that helped me through my entire adult career. If you are willing to work very hard and never give up, your dreams can and will come true. Thank you Larry.
-
As a man, it is difficult to watch the love Magic has for Bird without crying. What beautiful friendship these two have for one another. I would be lucky enough to find a friend like this
-
lifelong Laker fan, 33 years old, still cant get enough of Larry. Kobe is one of my favorites ever, and 2 years ago on the Olympic Squad, Kobe, because he runs his mouth too, says "I think the 2012 team could beat the 1992 team. Everyone pitched a bitch, malone, Jordan, barkley etc. Larry, calmly said: "Yeah, the probably could. I haven't played basketball in 20 years and we're all old now." Its the "probably" that makes that statement so goddamned funny, because even at 50+ Bird isnt going to give anyone props as having a chance against him
