30 Straight Minutes Of The SAVAGEST x FUNNIEST Larry Bird Stories 🐐

in the 1980s Larry Bird and Kevin McHale were two of the most dominant players in the NBA leading the Boston Celtics to three championships and establishing themselves as indelible Legends of the game but what many fans may not know is the complexity of their relationship both on and off the court the Legends were tight but it still didn't stop Larry Legend from pranking his fellow Celtic star I was getting ready to start a game and get up to the jump ball and Larry said you know just just out of the blue he goes go ahead Kevin tell Elvin Hayes what you told me I didn't tell him anything and I said go ahead tell him like you said you're gonna kick his ass and I'm like oh man Elvin Hayes is looking at me well at that point it was hard to say no I didn't say anything I said I guess so but you know Larry just got so started up Larry is a funny guy Charles Barkley is one of the most recognizable figures in the NBA Not only was he a heck of a player but he has also transitioned into one of the best analysts on TV a position that is enhanced by his wealth of knowledge and his overall experience that being said there was a time when even Sir Charles was just a young man looking to make a name for himself and back when he first got started Chuck was easily Star Struck unfortunately it was his youthful naivety that led him to be pranked we had my first All-Star Game and Kareem sitting at the back and buried him a kill I said man I want to go meet Kareem I never met him they said go back there and say hello to him I walk back and he's back there reading and I said hey Mr Jabar he looks up I'm reading that's okay I turned around Michael and bird are laughing their asses okay okay okay y'all got me good in Spike Lee's 1986 film She's Gotta Have It Mars Blackman a character played by Lee himself refers to Larry Bird as the ugliest SOB in the NBA this line caused some controversy at the time with some people accusing Lee of racism Lee later defended the line saying that it was simply a reflection of Mars's character who is known for his blunt and often offensive remarks Lee also said that he respected Bird's playing ability even if he didn't find him attractive in 2022 Lee spoke on meeting bird for the first time and the anxiety he had before meeting the legend I tell a story about Larry Bird my first film my character Mars the Blackman is have a discussion about basketball white boys band you got it and my character said not a nice thing about Larry Bird he's the ugliest [ __ ] that's what he is for the first time Capital One commercials it's a parrot he's got a name Larry Bird hey guys Larry Legend hey who's that my bracket buddy Charles Barkley the first Larry Bird I'm like oh man life so I was really nervous I made a point that when Lowry comes to the set I'm gonna go to his trailer so I knocked on the trailer it was just him alone I said Mr Burke I come in I was nervous and I said Larry I apologize anything you know that you might have taken offense to he's a spike man forget about that adapt up I really want to say that because I was nervous Terrell Brandon played for three teams during his 11-year career in the NBA he's a two-time All-Star and was a key starter on three NBA franchises before a series of injuries ultimately forced him to play his last game at 31 years old Brandon was selected 11th overall in the 1991 NBA draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers after a strong rookie season Brandon was named to the NBA all-rookie team he spent his first three and a half Seasons as the backup to All-Star point guard and Cavs Legend Mark Price in 2021 he recalled how badass Larry Bird was on the court even at the end of his legendary career the bird is a psychologically assassin and what way though he was up one he said who is guarding me as we come out of time out I said Craig Elo he said why you have that white boy on me don't put the white ball on me he said I'm gonna go over here and I'm gonna get in the corner Dennis Johnson gonna pass it to me everyone here I told Joe what I said hey man listen the ball is going the right but everybody knows what what's going to like her do whatever you can Craig Gerald just cover him he hit the shot on him but jumping on right he was getting him off of him like this he walked off and said Legend Larry Bird Mary Larry Bird was a highly anticipated rookie when he joined the Boston Celtics in 1979. he had been a star at Indiana State and he was expected to be a major contributor right away however Bird's arrival was not without its challenges he was a white player in a league that was predominantly black and he was often stereotyped as being soft or not Tough Enough one of the people who was skeptical of bird was Cedric Maxwell a veteran forward who was already a key member of the Celtics Maxwell had a reputation for being a tough player and he was not afraid to speak his mind in one of their first practices together Maxwell quickly learned this bird guy is something special gotta walk in the first day of camp them guys were on the floor stretch and then here comes the white savior Here Comes This here comes that I think that you would say that most black players at the time were racist in in the sense that we did not think that you could find a white guy who could play better than any black guy I sort of enjoyed it because I knew I was going to battle him all day I'm thinking oh he's slow he can't get off a shot he's not that strong it's gonna be a layup the Curtis and sitting didn't last long they didn't make it through the first practice and they were cut bam knocks down the jump shot maybe that was luck gets the ball again bam knocks down another jump shot now I'm thinking like okay hey you know what up in the D this guy up I'm just showing his life 20 feet away bam 25 feet away bam my mind just going so good damn this white guy keep playing James Worthy was a key member of the showtime Lakers one of the most dominant teams in NBA history he was a versatile player who could score rebound and defend at a high level he was also a clutch performer in the playoffs and he helped the Lakers win three NBA championships were these battles with Larry Bird were some of the most exciting games of the 1980s they were two of the best players in the league and they always brought their best when they faced each other but after all these years worthy apparently still hates Larry Legend Larry could just flat out score and give you numbers be talking [ __ ] there were times I had to Garden you know the players coming but he would tell you was coming and he says if you Trail I'm on the trail into the lane and shoot a little floater and he said if you [ __ ] pop he said if you try to get over the top he said I'm gonna pop to that corner and bust a jumper I'm like [ __ ] you Mom I'm all up on it you know I got a shirt tail I'm holding it you know you know where I'm from I'm from Gastonia sure enough man the ball comes in DJ takes a couple dribbles I'm quick I'm quick enough I think I can get over the top I I get over the top I get out there but he pops to the corner and I'm running he kind of waiting you know he was an [ __ ] Craig Elo was a professional basketball player who played in the NBA for 14 Seasons ELO is perhaps best remembered for his role in one of the most famous plays in NBA history as Michael Jordan hit a game-winning jumper over him in what is known as the shot ELO played for the Cavaliers for seven seasons and he too suffered quite a bit from the trash talk and the Brilliance of Larry Bird there was one game in in Cleveland where he was having a pretty rough first half and in the old days in Cleveland you walked off the court the same way at halftime and I kind of puffed up on him and walked beside him and was like yeah you're one for ten I was like that's defense you know and he just kind of looked at me and said there's two halves and he came back out and hit about 10 in a row on me and the last one was left-handed and he asked me if my mother was watching because uh he wanted to embarrass me so yeah so he was while Larry Bird always tried to keep a low profile he was just too much to overcome playing in Boston on some excellent Celtics teams he was always in the spotlight his three MVP awards and three championships along with his trash talking ability didn't help keep him out of people's mind especially when he was playing against their favorite team in his Hall of Fame speech the legend shared a funny but true story on the time he got death threats from the opposite team's fans mid game game five of the championship series we was out there we were down by two or three points at halftime and Casey come walking out and he called me over Larry he said I hate to tell you this he said he's been on death threat on your life you're going to make a decision whether you want to finish the game or go back and sit in the locker room wait till we get done or leave the arena that's why I'm going to play so Casey just turns and walks away I go right through the layup line on the other side and I look over and here's some Casey pointing at me I walk over to cases and now what he goes well the Horn's getting right below here Larry he said whatever you do don't come to the Huddle he said could you please stand out here [Applause] Court he said you never know the guy might be a bad shot so just from the horn blows I'll walk over to KC he's drawing on the play I put my arm around him he looks up puts his head down squats down a little bit so the guys are surrounding him he goes thanks a lot bird was part of the Pacers front office from 1997 until 2022 when he stepped down from an active role during his time there Pacers players must have been in awe when he was around in 2022 Lance Stevenson who played for the Pacers for seven seasons has added another story to the great Larry Bird legend by Lance during an Indiana Pacers practice 60-year-old Larry Bird decided to show off his shooting stroke right in front of his young players so we are we stretching right so the whole team is just stretching and Larry just walks in the walks on the court like grab the ball and start it Jack and threes like I'm like I'm looking at everybody I'm like do y'all see this right now and he's he made like at least 10 in a row three he's like just walked in came in looked at us and was like looking at her stretch and hit like 10 threes in a row and walked off and and sat like he ain't doing nothing like it was [ __ ] fold his legs and just sitting there looking at us I'm like yo this guy is nice that's Larry Legend right there all right man that's the legend right there apart from being an elite scorer Larry Legend was also known for his superb trash talking skills bird was so gifted that he would often tell his Defenders exactly how he planned on scoring and would end up pulling that exact same move the brutal confidence he had when playing in the NBA at the highest level was absolutely staggering and these stories epitomizes that perfectly Larry Bird would put fear in me and everyone else to do couldn't jump wasn't fast wasn't athletic dude just knew how to play so Larry got in the game one time and for some reason Chuck Daly puts me in and now he looks around and goes uh what's up Sal I said no he goes you or me I said yeah I got size on you right now I've been watching every movie he goes y'all not doing yo I go nah it's just me fella he goes Mouse in the house dude would just tell you where he's going shoot it in your face talk [ __ ] to you and run back down the floor yeah he cashes the ball and looks over at our bench and goes I'm gonna take two dribbles right cross over left and he catches the ball he does this and he shoots it he says you better ask for a double team bro pull up jump shot and looks over at our bench and we're all looking at each other like is he for real he was the biggest trash talker back in the day but he would back it up the fact that he's able to back it up made it that much special around the NBA everyone has their first moment in the league they still remember whether it's a trash talk exchange or getting owned by a more experienced player those memories stay with you forever but things might get even worse when that vet player who's welcoming you is the trash talking goat himself Larry Bird with the number of players he trash talked and took to school if the NBA ever introduces a trash talking award it should be named after Larry Bird the guy was just Fearless when it comes to mind games as rookie Eddie Johnson found out the hard way Larry Bird basically taught me how to track stuff it was my second game of my career and I'm scared to death already and he walks out and he just stands next to me and he leans over and he looks at and honestly paying me attention he said do you honestly think you gonna guard me then he stands up and he looks over at our bench and he looks at God you all think this rookie gonna guard Me Bama bust you up just right in my ear and finally he walks around stairs in front of me so I'm gonna tell you something right now I'm gonna wear your ass out game starts and he's just wearing me out and he came down he said I bet you can't do this and he raises up from Steph Curry right and he shoots an air ball and I look at him he like that don't matter it's the fact that I could do it to stay in the game I bet you can't in 1992 the best players from various colleges were called in to face the Dream Team for their first scrimmage if you future All-Stars Chris Webber Penny Hardaway Alan Houston grant hill and Jamal Mashburn were part of the team dubbed the college All-Stars according to Mashburn he along with his fellow select teammates given first-hand experience of Larry Bird's trash talking the very first time they met Larry Legend Larry Bird you don't realize how big Larry Bird is until you stand up he walked by us he says y'all those college guys and he looked at us and he said get some [ __ ] rest it's going to be a long week and walked off and we get back to the hotel and Ronnie Rogers said hey Larry you ain't hit a jumper since 84. we ain't think none of it the next day we came in yeah I never seen this and this one I was like this is a different breed Larry Bird got the ball on Rodney Rogers and every time he was about to make a move he told him what he was going to do one dribble pull-up going left off glass one dribble going right spin shot bucket he scored nine times or eight times in a row and said Young fella look like 84 huh last time he made the playoffs are where Superstars shine adrenaline and pure talent will take over if you believe you can't be stopped usually you can't however sometimes when your game goes to a new level this challenge inspires your competitor to wrestle the spotlight away from you this happened in game 7 of the 1988 Eastern Conference semi-finals and the stars were Larry Bird and Dominique Wilkins The Human Highlight Reel and Larry Legend couldn't be any more polar opposite in their playing Styles bird was pure finesse and poetry in motion Wilkins was more shock and awe Boston won the first two contests then the upstart Hawks took the next three however Boston was not going to throw in the towel as they were able to salvage their season with a game 6 win in Atlanta game 7 ended up being a gunfight a duel and battle of two Wills here's the crucial moments of game seven told by Wilkins we knew going to game six and said man we could we could advance and we can beat these guys and we blew our opportunity after the game Barrett made of addiction he said Atlanta blue day opportunity I'm guaranteeing the win in Boston our shots going to do your job a little bit better and we're going to be running a little bit faster so I'd say Sunday's gonna be able to win for the Celtics we get to Boston yeah so whoever got me tonight gonna have a long night unfortunately bird was saying the same thing another locker room to his teammates he only had 12 points going to fourth quarter Kevin Willis was me and Larry we were running down the court and Kevin reached off me put his hands in bird said don't let this so-and-so scoring and when I'm like what you doing you don't wake up or sleeping and his eyes got that big and he got hot it's Bird's turn bird snaps free comes up with a shot third it was a shootout in the fourth quarter it came down to the last shot [Music] in the 1980s Wilkins and bird two of the greatest players in NBA history engaged in an exciting rivalry the two players who played in different ways were equally dominant on the court and contributed to numerous memorable plays and deep playoff runs by their respective teams but despite their strong battles on the court and early difficulties Wilkins and bird respected one another as Rivals this wasn't the case early in wilkins's NBA career rookie Wilkins had to earn the respect of Larry Legend by Wilkins bird didn't even want to shake hands with him and that's what will remind him of their first meeting come and win the Boston God I'm in awe because this is a stink of the Boston Garden and I remember the first planet we was at the jump Circle I go Shake Larry Bird hand he put both hands behind his back you know like I'm like you know what maybe he's just getting into the game you know like I'm trying to give the benefit down the first play of the game I'm gone he said I don't know where they got you guarding me homes she's a three and I wasn't mad he made the three I think this some [ __ ] just called me homes oh man I was so mad so I was coming down the left side I go up in a fast way and he comes out to another gun I'm pumping it behind my head and [Applause] he's sitting down the ground I'm pointing like this he said hey Brooke I like what he said I like you you have balls but I'm still getting 40 on your ass Larry Bird and Magic Johnson started the Golden Era of the NBA during the 1980s it continued in the 1990s as a myriad of basketball Legends Grace the hardwood each leaving an indelible mark on the sport bird was the Catalyst for countless Tales shared by NBA legends of that era from Magic Johnson's Fierce rivalry to Michael Jordan's admiration every basketball great from that time seems to have a Larry Bird Story a testament to his unique skill determination and enduring impact on the game they all loved here's another 90s Legend telling a Larry Bird Story the great Utah Jazz power forward Carl Malone I remember sitting on the bench watching Kevin McHale and Larry Bird and Larry Bird did something to me I'm still Marvel at this and he got so many people it was a timeout and one of our teammates Bart covered had a camera right he's taking pictures so Larry Bird came over there and looked at our bench and he said uh three-pointer from right over here so I'm sitting over there looking like Babe Ruth calling you a shot already right yeah so Isaiah I'm sitting there looking he looked down at the floor hell everybody look down at the floor he like he threw something and he hit the three you believe that and I remember Kevin kind of looking over at the bench like this is going to be a long night there's no question Bill Walton played a significant role in helping the 1985-86 Boston Celtics win a championship in his first year with the team Walton came off the bench to spell both Kevin McHale and Robert Parish the oft injured Walton who missed three full NBA Seasons because of injury played 80 games that season and was named the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year in 2020 Walton shared a great story on how bird took over a game that was seemed to be over already in the start of the third quarter nobody wants to ever take the ball out of bounds because they know they're never going to get it back Larry Bird always took the ball out of town he's going to take the ball out of bounds and that referee comes and the referee hands the ball to Larry to start the third we're down 25. Larry takes the ball and pushes it back into the midsection of the referee so that he can't get away and referees like startled stagger what's going on here was all right there right in front of the Celtic bench and Larry looks right into the soul Right Through The Eyes of that referee and he says to him We're not gonna quit you make sure you don't quit either the guy just like melted on the spot Larry hit 11 straight shots to start the third including seven threes we were tied at the end of the third we won in overtime we did not need a plane to get home that night Larry Bird you're awesome in 1986 the great Larry Bird won the NBA's first Three-Point Contest everybody knows about his famous Flex when walked into the locker room and asked his peers who's coming in second but after claiming Victory and reuniting with his teammates the Sharpshooter was on a mission if you bet against him you were going to pay the price literally as The Story Goes some members of the Boston Squad apparently doubted his chances not only did that skepticism push the forward to enter the contest but it gave him the perfect opportunity to flex his metaphorical muscles after his win so when the Celtics checked in in hotel to resume the regular season bird patrolled the lobby with a mini golf pencil and small notepad collecting cash from teammates who made the mistake of betting against him in the three-point contest and no one was allowed to postpone payment in his exact words if you don't have your money I'll wait right here while you go back to your room and get it bird told teammates I'm the three-point King in the 1986 NBA Finals it was the first time Hakeem the dream had played on the biggest basketball stage before game one he was asked about facing the storied Boston Celtics franchise the 23 year old from Lagos Nigeria said he knew nothing about the Celtics history I know nothing of this tradition I am not from around here he said when Larry Bird heard what Hakeem said Larry Legend offered to educate him about the 15 banners that hung from the Boston Garden Rafters we'd like to give him a two-week history lesson bird savagely replied the legend went on to record two triple doubles in the series including a takeover performance in game six Larry got every rebound Larry made every steal he made every pass he just literally did everything the Celtics closed out the rockets in that sixth game and bird won Finals MVP after averaging 24 points 9.7 rebounds and 9.5 assists for the series Larry Bird the greatest player I've ever played when it comes to Modern NBA trash talkers Gary Payton sits near the top of the list the glove was a Relentless Defender and verbal Warfare was part of his Arsenal in retirement though he's able to see things from a more removed perspective and dish out a few compliments when Peyton was asked about Larry Legend's trash talk not only did he confirm that bird could talk a big game but the former guard also admitted that he could back it up he'll give it to you any way he wanted to anyway he wanted to Larry Bird was called Planet the guards man on his last leg Barry you should tell me look at him go shoot his mother jump in your face right there in that cone I just want to jump her anywhere I want to he said I'm gonna make sure I tell you where I'm gonna shoot the ball at wrap it up and bust your head open all that [ __ ] and I said [ __ ] and watch this and I'm teeing him up and he slope on me and he said young father what did I tell you I was going to do and he turned around raised up looked around it was all drawn he's the coldest dude I ever seen with that [ __ ] man I said [ __ ] I ain't gonna mess with you no more everybody talking about these great greats you know we always missing him he was the [ __ ] if you played professional basketball Between 1979 and 1992 being asked to defend Larry Bird was the sporting equivalent of drawing the Short Straw even if you knew what the Boston Celtics star was going to do stopping him was another story Dominique Wilkins experienced that reality firsthand not only did he have to try and slow down the prolific scorer but he was on the receiving end of some trash talk along the way and while both men have long since retired that verbal Warfare is still going on on January 26 2023 Pacers President of basketball operations Kevin Pritchard took to Twitter to share some texts that he had received from bird the former forward who spent time in Indianapolis as both a coach and an executive had snapped a picture of a photo of him shooting a jumper over Wilkins it wasn't enough to just send a picture though Larry Legend had to talk a bit of trash writing can you please tell your boy to put a hand up I think that is the pose for the Statue once that screen screenshot hit social media it made its way to Wilkins the former Atlanta Hawk simply responded man the disrespect with four crying laughing emojis based on his reaction it's fair to say that Dominique Wilkins hasn't taken Bird's jab personally at this point he probably knows what it's like dealing with Larry Legend when Reggie Miller was a rookie he did his best to psych out the great Larry Bird and failed miserably luckily this didn't stop Miller from having a storied NBA career he was even fortunate enough to play for bird from 1997 to 2000 when Miller entered the league in 1987 bird and the Boston Celtics were already legendary they had won three NBA championships in the 1980s and Bird was the MVP three years running Miller didn't seem to care about any of that in a snippet from his book I love being the enemy Reggie recounts his story of razzing the legend a close game between the Celtics and Pacers was coming down to free throws with only 20 seconds left bird was fouled and sent to the free throw line to distract him from making the shot Miller tried trash talking bird irritated by the Miller Whispers turned his head to look at Miller you got to be kidding me Rook you gotta be kidding me he said bird hit the first free throw and continued on his rant Rook I'm the best shooter in the league right now in the league understand and you're up here trying to say something after he easily hit the next shot Miller said he felt like an idiot trying to get under the skin of the great Larry Bird especially in front of birds teammates who found the whole scene hilarious even after his retirement bird was a terrific shooter and many years after hanging the boots the legendary small forward still knocked shots surprising former and current players during his time as the president of basketball operations for the Indiana Pacers Byrd once shocked Paul George and the rest of the team when he made 15 straight shots while wearing a suit during a q a session with slam George recalled how impressive bird was by George bird picked a ball up that had rolled over he rolled up his sleeves and made about 15 in a row and just walked out like nothing just happened PG also told it was the craziest thing he's ever seen and that him and his Pacers teammates were speechless and they didn't know whether to keep shooting or just to end practice in 2023 George again talked on the Celtics Legend This Time he told a different story while doing a podcast P episode we had a tight relationship he's in front office though when you were there right yeah he was in front office crazy Larry's story it was after practice right and we were shooting around and he's walking out to this point I've never seen him play like I've never seen him shoot I always had this vision of him from you know YouTube videos and old clips like that we're shooting and he's like walking out of the gym about to leave but the ball rolls over to him so he picks the ball up bro shoots that [ __ ] cash from three and he's in slacks button down he got his loafers on he could have [ __ ] that up and airballed and then I would have just had this whole different like mindset about who he was like it was not like that yeah did he say anything to you after him oh bro and just walked out like didn't say [ __ ] just walked out of the gym I am who I am I am who I am I'm the bird for a guy who's always at a disadvantage due to his lack of athleticism Larry Bird was one confident dude he would often seek out the toughest Defenders who are almost always the most athletically gifted players in the NBA as Charles Barkley told numerous times bird used to call out coaches and players for assigning a white player to guard him mid game but bird didn't talk trash to you oh my god bird talk trash to everybody I remember him he was cursing under his breath and I asked myself Larry what's going on with you he says you guys are being disrespectful to me and I says what are you talking about he says you guys are putting a white guy on me disrespectful wait who's the white guy I can't remember who it was I just started laughing I had no comeback but he said he said it's disrespectful when y'all put a white guy on me yeah and I'm sitting there like I'm laughing in the middle of a game and there's only two guys saying that to me him and Michael Larry and Michael the only two guys and You Gotta Laugh don't put a white guy on me that's just [ __ ] disrespectful I mean it's crazy it's crazy tell us in the comments what is your favorite Larry Bird's trash talk and if you enjoy this video hit the like button share and subscribe for even more basketball content subscribe to our other channels free Dawkins and vintage Dawkins and follow us on social media foreign

Channel: SQUADawkins

Views: 1,456,943

Keywords: larry bird story, larry bird trash talk stories, larri byrd, lary byrd, larri beard

Id: u5hTClH1-Hw

Length: 30min 10sec (1810 seconds)

Published: Thu Aug 03 2023