The amazing thing about the Rodney Rogers anecdote- Bird was almost a cripple, he actually prayed to God to get him thru the Olympics, his back was so painful, so bad. Larry Bird was done, he was playing the last few weeks of his career in Barcelona before officially retiring months later. And yet he could STILL, at 36 yo, take a young 20-something powerhouse like Rogers to school, trash talking, scoring at will, and back up his trash talking. Pure Legend.
@rickbort7875 Scarier still is while Bird was playing a softball game with his brother during Bird's final year at Indiana State, he BADLY mangled his index finger on his shooting hand. To read the story, when Larry's brother saw HOW mangled his finger was, Larry's brother got sick right there. And even despite Larry being one of the GOATs of pro basketball, he never had the same feel holding a basketball after his finger injury. In other words, Larry would have likely been an even GREATER shooter than he already was, had he never suffered that finger injury. Amazing!
I wasn’t a Celtics fan but my buddy was so after watching a Celtics game and seeing Bird play still wasn’t a Celtics Fan BUT was a Bird Fan. Greatest Player ever in my opinion!!!
Larry is playing the Jazz in Utah. He’s going off in the first half. He walks by the Jazz bench and says to coach Frank Laden: “Hey Frank! Nobody out here can guard me. You got anybody on that bench who can stop me?” Frank looks up and down his bench. Turns to Larry and says: “Nope!”
If I was a rookie, and he started telling me I can't guard him, I'd say I know I can't, but my teammates were all afraid of you so here I am, please be gentle
My favorite player ever. I was born in the late 70's, so I was an infant when bird came into the league, but I got to enjoy the end of his career, and thanks to RUclips, I get to watch, how great he really was.
I went to Rose-Hulman, less than 4 miles down the road from Indiana State - during part of Bird's time at State. Only saw him play live one time though. 8-(
“It’s the fact that I can do it and stay in the game, you can’t do that.”That’s the greatest quote I’ve ever heard, to keep talking after an air ball while also making perfect sense is GOAT level.
He is a GOAT, when he played with the Celtics...They were The Juggernauts, The Team with the big target on their backs. If anyone scores more than 40-50-60 in that ERA the whole league knew. The NBA LEAGUE LITERALLY TARGETED THOSE PLAYERS TRYING TO STOP THEM FROM MAKING 50 OR 60 😁
I love these Larry Bird stories. He was absolutely fearless. He didn’t rest on his reputation, he always practicing. I grew up hating the NFL. I had no idea how cool basketball could be. It was scratching an itch I didn’t know I had. NBA forever! 🎉🎉🎉
Bird is the only player I've heard about that would tell opposing teams what the Celtics next play would be coming out of a timeout. That's savagery at its finest.
These are all great stories about Bird and everyone is enjoying telling these stories. Like Dominique said, he got fired up when Bird trashed him, which made him a better player. So Bird actually helped to draw out better play with his needling. It was his way of setting the bar higher to get the other guys to play better. I love how Magic kept feeding Bird the ball to prove to the young guys that Bird still could put them to shame. That's the mutual respect that the guys back then had for each other.
I remember being a kid who was a die hard Celts fan in Boston, and watching the game and asking my Dad why he laid on the ground. My father said because of his back, it would tighten up on him if he sat down. It sticks in my head. As a kid, it just added to the lure of Bird. He was just a different player in so many ways. Magic said it, there will never be another Larry Bird.
Larry Bird was a huge inspiration for me,……. As a competitive gymnast. His level of commitment his grit?! Inspired me to 5 state championships, 3 regional and 2 national titles in gymnastics. Bird IS the word! 🤘🏻😎❤️👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
OMG , I KNOW YOU ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️YOU STOOD IN PLACE HOLDING TWO SOUP SPOONS ,AND JUMPED TWENTY FT IN THE AIR AND CAUGHT TWO RAW EGGS WITH OUT DROPPING THEM...🤔💵💵💵💵💵💵💵💵💵💋💋💋💋💋💋💋
@@surfarijeff7884 And keep in mind that Tom is one of the 5 people in the Hall of Fame as BOTH Coach AND Player - not exactly dumb on the court himself! (note that 3 of them were Celtics from the Russell era).
Tbh, he knew what was happening on that court AND what would be happening 5 seconds later. He saw where everyone was moving while it was happening. I don't want to enshrine him too much, although Larry is my favorite player. He was human and fallible, as we all are. Exceptionally gifted. Easily one of the greatest players who ever played the game.
Trash talk aside, which is just mind games really, Bird was the most complete player ever. If you understand the tactics behind the game, every coach's dream is 5 Larry Birds
I agree bird had more game than anyone else through his hard work, but this trash talk was another side of his game that gave him a very sharp edge nobody else had. he got in their heads, and this planted seeds of doubt in their own ability. it worked more on some than others but it always worked.
Bird was so good because he was good at everything on the court. He was like a whole team wrapped up in one guy. He could do everything and be good at it
Correct.. if you didn't double team him, he'd shoot your lights out. If you double teamed him, he had the uncanny court presence to always know where the open man was. I believe he was just born to play basketball.
@@bonnieplasha4684 Yeah the passes he would make to DJ was crazy & DJ knowing they were coming. Dj would make Crazy passes to Bird to. My 10 year old was talking about how good Westbrook is it’s his favorite player. So I told him about Bird we’ve been watching Bird highlights & games. My son now has Larry Bird Posters in his room & had me but him a Bird jersey lol
@johnwood2013 That's just awesome! You have a smart kid there. My favorite Bird passes were the "fingertip" ones, (like setting in volleyball). There's some good videos of him passing the ball this way to DJ who was behind him. Bird never had to look. He always knew where DJ was or would be...and vice versa!
I got to Bulls vs Celtics game early at Chicago stadium in 1986.Larry. Bird ,Danny Ainge, and Kevin McHale we're playing Horse before the game Larry had a water bottle in one hand and would switch hands a call his shot ,and didn't miss once .....and beat both McHale, and Ainge 8 STR8 games .I just sat there and shook my head. Then Bird started shooting free throws , and hit 50 free throws STR8 25 with his left 25 with his right as his was still holding his water bottle switching hands ...we were like WTF😂😂WE JUST YELLED WE LOVE YOU.... YOU ARE THE MAN..He looked up at us and gave us a thumbs up... thank you Lord for birthing me Old School Highschool class of 85...
I watched Bird with binocs for an entire half at the Memorial Coliseum in PDX, against the great Drexler, Duckworth, (the "duck-hook") Jerome Kersey (died of an embolism recovery from a minor leg surgery) team. In the huddle, out-a-bounds, everywhere, Bird talked the whole time, but it was real hard to see his lips move. What blew my mind was seeing him get rebounds surrounded by 4 guys above the rim, and Larry gets the ball, jumping 6". What a show!!
Exactly, people don’t understand how fucking big Larry is/was, we see luka dominate and bully people on the post and sometimes I just kind of laugh seeing a guard try to defend him , Larry was bigger and had one of the best offense in the post and iq that we have ever seen imo, along with his ability to shoot the ball (50,40,90 group) and his passing and rebounding (top in his position) etc he is without a doubt one of the crazy talents and personality’s in nba history, it’s crazy the disrespect to the old greats.
Larry Bird was perhaps an INCH shorter than Bill Russell. Him playing "small forward" would have been a joke had the "power forward" at that time been smaller than McHale. I don't remember Parrish being a LOT taller himself!
Yes the NBA might just not allow Birds level of talk stuff anymore. Maybe? Maybe not? Or, are their now imposed limitations of trash stuff? Regardless, he was something else. Back when I was watching BB all the time I honestly never ever knew bird was always talking until I started watching these videos. No kidding! Dean Seattle
The literal wars that Larry and Magic went through made them tough mentally. They know basketball is not just skills, you must be able to believe you can do it.
that first 3:14 is legendary, and some NEW stuff, that was some real shyte, "the fact that i can and stay in the game(after an airball)", that's gangsta!!!!!!!!!!!
I saw all that weekly.. grew up a diehard Celtic fan in NY out if all places… man that was fun! I remember one game at MSG where Larry was trash talking Bernard King all game, just mortifying him. Lol!
Man I never new what I had until it was gone. All those greats I watched as a kid in the 1980's. A great time in the sport. Now it's full of prima donnas.
I'm continually entertained and impressed with the fact that these guys are willing to tell on themselves. Even the young guys I see interviewed are self-deprecating and they put themselves as the butt of the joke oftentimes. And as competitive as everyone is, they still respect each other. Especially Bird, it's obvious.
Hearing all these players you can tell they not only respected Bird they enjoyed his company. What a time to play in that league. I stopped watching basketball 20 years ago. These players are not what I grew up with.
You should tune in again, some great ball being played. I started watching in the mid 70s when everyone wanted to be Dr. J on the playground court as kids.
most impressive statement made was Shawn Kemp said I tried to foul him on his right side(cause he was so hot), so he shot with is left hand..what could I do
Larry Legend from French Lick Indiana. He was not only as trash he talked but he is one of the best shooters in the game. If his back wasn't messed up. He would have played 4/5 more yrs
I always had the impression that bird could score 80 points in a game if he wanted, but he was never that type of player. He was a team player, and he made everyone around him better. He probably added 5 points to everyone on the teams total, with his great rebounding, and no look passing.
I had court side season tickets in Utah from 1992- 2002. I hated Bird so bad BUT.... I loved watching him eat Karl Malone for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner. It was so fkn funny at times. I was more worried about Boston than anyone else and I knew basketball. I played through College and a bit of minor Baseball. I actually got to know a few of them personally. I was pretty tight with Malone, Darrell Griffith, Brian Russell and Ron Boone. I worked with them through my business doing promo stuff. ** It was common knowledge amongst us all, BIRD WAS THE GOAT.
Larry bird was so good so confident there will never be another Larry bird. He is the goat of trash, talking and all around best basketball player that ever step on the floor.
Nice, simple and effective. You reach a point where you have heard the majority of the Larry Bird stories but I really like them. This video has a nice flow about it. I love how people speak so fondly and respectfully about getting owned by the great man. When at the time they were annoyed but you know there was nothing they could do about it. Early ego check for all who encountered him.
Larry Bird is genius. He purposely gets into the rookies head and knowing he'll be in their heads every time they have to play against him in the years to come.
There aren't any real trash talkers in the NBA right now. There are plenty of guys who will pound their chest, talk smack and celebrate AFTER they do something impressive but they damn sure aren't telling you what they're gonna do to you before they actually do it. It wouldn't be the same, anyway, as there isn't more than a half dozen guys in the league who even try to play defense.
There are many Greats but how many people do you know that would talk to the other team like that and tell them exactly what they was gonna do and the execute? That's beyond Great, that's Legendary.
I moved my mother and my step father to Terra Haute in 1981. They were 3 miles from French Lick. Mr. Larry owned that whole area. He was God there. Everywhere was a sign with something BIRD ON IT. Everywhere. Im driving back to Ohio leaving Terra Haute and I pass Mr. LARRY driving into Terra Haute. I was shell shocked, fan girled or whatever label. I had to pull off the road at first pay phone call my wife and told her I just saw Larry Bird. She said Who?????? 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 Made my trip
I started paying attention to bball at the end of the 60s and I will always say that 80s and 90s NBA is the best era with the best play by the most really good teams I've ever seen. The NBA Eastern division with both the Celtics and the 76ers was a meatgrinder for over a decade. For my money the karma that put magic in LA after Bird was in Boston is the greatest single thing that ever happened to pro basketball ever. Nothing else has ever meant as much to the future of basketball as those two and their rivalry. Remember that Jordan never won anything until those 2 guys were gone.
In a philosophical way, I don't like trash talk. In real life, it can be clever, funny, and a winning strategy. It has to be backed up to be any of these, though. Bird could back it up. He was one of the players who made the game fun to watch. After all these years, I still miss him.
Larry didn't talk trash, instead he'd ask if your MAMA was watching, and in the 4th ask you if YOU could do THIS! Then he'd shoot an AIRBALL. "I can do that and STAY in the game". CAN YOU"! LMAO
All these great stories were impressive but the one that sticks out the most is The Man Child. I know he got in the league at a young age but to be able to put it on Shawn Kemp at any age is phenomenal.
Larry Legend! We're still talking about your Greatness to this day 01-02-2023! Larry is one of the players, IMO Among the Greatest to ever compete in Basketball! Bird, MJ, Bernard King, Manu Ginobili, Hakeem are my Greatest to Ever Play!
Bird was a Relentless Beast. Aint nothing worse on the court than someone gonna tell you That You're Going To Get Burnt. And then it happens right in front of your eyes.
"Welcome to the parachute club rookie" 😂 Larry was ice cold!
I can listen to larry stories all day
The amazing thing about the Rodney Rogers anecdote- Bird was almost a cripple, he actually prayed to God to get him thru the Olympics, his back was so painful, so bad.
Larry Bird was done, he was playing the last few weeks of his career in Barcelona before officially retiring months later. And yet he could STILL, at 36 yo, take a young 20-something powerhouse like Rogers to school, trash talking, scoring at will, and back up his trash talking. Pure Legend.
Great Comment RB!!
two people that would have played another five years without the crippling injury; Bird and Peyton Manning.
@rickbort7875 Scarier still is while Bird was playing a softball game with his brother during Bird's final year at Indiana State, he BADLY mangled his index finger on his shooting hand. To read the story, when Larry's brother saw HOW mangled his finger was, Larry's brother got sick right there. And even despite Larry being one of the GOATs of pro basketball, he never had the same feel holding a basketball after his finger injury. In other words, Larry would have likely been an even GREATER shooter than he already was, had he never suffered that finger injury. Amazing!
@Jurgen Cuypers Philippians 4:6
@@pcooke9865 yes we rejoice!! And always will no matter the persecution’s or hardships we face GOD Bless brother!
I wasn’t a Celtics fan but my buddy was so after watching a Celtics game and seeing Bird play still wasn’t a Celtics Fan BUT was a Bird Fan. Greatest Player ever in my opinion!!!
Forever my #1 pick.
Bird was the ultimate NBA Gangsta
Larry is playing the Jazz in Utah. He’s going off in the first half. He walks by the Jazz bench and says to coach Frank Laden: “Hey Frank! Nobody out here can guard me. You got anybody on that bench who can stop me?” Frank looks up and down his bench. Turns to Larry and says: “Nope!”
One of the best stories.
😂😂😂 One of my favorite Bird stories!
Ahahaha!!!
If I was a rookie, and he started telling me I can't guard him, I'd say I know I can't, but my teammates were all afraid of you so here I am, please be gentle
@@djf750 😆😆😆👍
I'm not even a basketball fan but I love Larry Bird stories dude really is a legend 🙌
My favorite player ever. I was born in the late 70's, so I was an infant when bird came into the league, but I got to enjoy the end of his career, and thanks to RUclips, I get to watch, how great he really was.
I went to Rose-Hulman, less than 4 miles down the road from Indiana State - during part of Bird's time at State.
Only saw him play live one time though. 8-(
What makes this so funny and entertaining is that these stories were from the top players of the day and they still laugh!
“It’s the fact that I can do it and stay in the game, you can’t do that.”That’s the greatest quote I’ve ever heard, to keep talking after an air ball while also making perfect sense is GOAT level.
He did the air ball intentionally, just to get that line in. And he was correct.
He is a GOAT, when he played with the Celtics...They were The Juggernauts, The Team with the big target on their backs. If anyone scores more than 40-50-60 in that ERA the whole league knew. The NBA LEAGUE LITERALLY TARGETED THOSE PLAYERS TRYING TO STOP THEM FROM MAKING 50 OR 60 😁
@@anonimous2451 haha, can't trash talk an airball without one. Might as well get a new one going
@bork19 - agreed.
That had me laughing so hard
I love these Larry Bird stories. He was absolutely fearless. He didn’t rest on his reputation, he always practicing. I grew up hating the NFL. I had no idea how cool basketball could be. It was scratching an itch I didn’t know I had. NBA forever! 🎉🎉🎉
Bird is the only player I've heard about that would tell opposing teams what the Celtics next play would be coming out of a timeout. That's savagery at its finest.
He always did it
People call Bird a trash talker - it was more like fortune telling.
🤣🤣 nice...
Prophecy
@@senormac̄˗̈ˡ̄
Nostradamus
TRUTH, jűs sāyīn !😎✌😎!
These are all great stories about Bird and everyone is enjoying telling these stories. Like Dominique said, he got fired up when Bird trashed him, which made him a better player. So Bird actually helped to draw out better play with his needling. It was his way of setting the bar higher to get the other guys to play better. I love how Magic kept feeding Bird the ball to prove to the young guys that Bird still could put them to shame. That's the mutual respect that the guys back then had for each other.
Dominique is a big Larry Bird
fan,he always has a big smile
on his face when he talks about Bird.
Imagine a man telling you what he is about to do to you and you can't stop him. Larry Legend!
Sounds a lot like prison rape.
Larry Bird was the best basketball player ever, ever!
Yes, he most certainly was. Best all around player. Magic probably #2.
@K A LeBron hasn't played tough basketball like in the 80s, 90s. Despite that Larry did a hell of a lot more for his team.
Mj!
😭
I remember being a kid who was a die hard Celts fan in Boston, and watching the game and asking my Dad why he laid on the ground. My father said because of his back, it would tighten up on him if he sat down. It sticks in my head. As a kid, it just added to the lure of Bird. He was just a different player in so many ways. Magic said it, there will never be another Larry Bird.
Larry Bird was a huge inspiration for me,……. As a competitive gymnast. His level of commitment his grit?! Inspired me to 5 state championships, 3 regional and 2 national titles in gymnastics. Bird IS the word! 🤘🏻😎❤️👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Proud of you.
Congratulations. 2 time National Champion is quite an acheivement.
OMG , I KNOW YOU ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️YOU STOOD IN PLACE HOLDING TWO SOUP SPOONS ,AND JUMPED TWENTY FT IN THE AIR AND CAUGHT TWO RAW EGGS WITH OUT DROPPING THEM...🤔💵💵💵💵💵💵💵💵💵💋💋💋💋💋💋💋
Ok cool but change ur pic its scary!
As someone once said,”Bird was playing chess while everyone else was playing checkers”
He knew what was happening at all times on that court.
"He was playing chess & the rest of the league was playing checkers, one box at a time." - Tom Heinsohn on Larry Bird
That kind of understanding comes with laser focus, faithfulness and a commitment to the game that is insanely rare.
He was the most intelligent player I have ever seen - on top of his extraterrestrial skills.
@@surfarijeff7884 And keep in mind that Tom is one of the 5 people in the Hall of Fame as BOTH Coach AND Player - not exactly dumb on the court himself!
(note that 3 of them were Celtics from the Russell era).
Tbh, he knew what was happening on that court AND what would be happening 5 seconds later. He saw where everyone was moving while it was happening.
I don't want to enshrine him too much, although Larry is my favorite player. He was human and fallible, as we all are.
Exceptionally gifted. Easily one of the greatest players who ever played the game.
Trash talk aside, which is just mind games really, Bird was the most complete player ever. If you understand the tactics behind the game, every coach's dream is 5 Larry Birds
I agree bird had more game than anyone else through his hard work, but this trash talk was another side of his game that gave him a very sharp edge nobody else had. he got in their heads, and this planted seeds of doubt in their own ability. it worked more on some than others but it always worked.
Absolutely right
Jordan
100% correct!
Bird is by far the best all around player ever imo and for sure his mind was so far ahead of everyone.
Bird was so good because he was good at everything on the court. He was like a whole team wrapped up in one guy. He could do everything and be good at it
Correct.. if you didn't double team him, he'd shoot your lights out. If you double teamed him, he had the uncanny court presence to always know where the open man was. I believe he was just born to play basketball.
Bird had the best work ethic in basketball.
Sorry Kobe, you had an impressive one by all accounts, but Bird LIVED the game.
@howieduin915 He had a God-given talent and the best Court Sense ever seen in the game. Plus, he had an almost psychic connection with DJ.
@@bonnieplasha4684 Yeah the passes he would make to DJ was crazy & DJ knowing they were coming. Dj would make Crazy passes to Bird to. My 10 year old was talking about how good Westbrook is it’s his favorite player. So I told him about Bird we’ve been watching Bird highlights & games. My son now has Larry Bird Posters in his room & had me but him a Bird jersey lol
@johnwood2013 That's just awesome! You have a smart kid there. My favorite Bird passes were the "fingertip" ones, (like setting in volleyball). There's some good videos of him passing the ball this way to DJ who was behind him. Bird never had to look. He always knew where DJ was or would be...and vice versa!
Bird goat
Larry Legend is the best small forward to ever play the game. Period.
What made Larry's trash talk so good was when he would trash talk, the only one that heard him was the guy guarding him.
I had a friend, she was black, and back in the day she loved her some Larry Bird. She was a faithful fan.
She has passed on about 4 years ago..
So sorry that your friend has passed. But it sounds like she had a joyful time watching Larry. Blessings to you!
I got to Bulls vs Celtics game early at Chicago stadium in 1986.Larry. Bird ,Danny Ainge, and Kevin McHale we're playing Horse before the game Larry had a water bottle in one hand and would switch hands a call his shot ,and didn't miss once .....and beat both McHale, and Ainge 8 STR8 games .I just sat there and shook my head. Then Bird started shooting free throws , and hit 50 free throws STR8 25 with his left 25 with his right as his was still holding his water bottle switching hands ...we were like WTF😂😂WE JUST YELLED WE LOVE YOU.... YOU ARE THE MAN..He looked up at us and gave us a thumbs up... thank you Lord for birthing me Old School Highschool class of 85...
That's a great story. Thanks for sharing it.
Bird in response: "I have never talked trash. I was just stating facts."
I watched Bird with binocs for an entire half at the Memorial Coliseum in PDX, against the great Drexler, Duckworth, (the "duck-hook") Jerome Kersey (died of an embolism recovery from a minor leg surgery) team. In the huddle, out-a-bounds, everywhere, Bird talked the whole time, but it was real hard to see his lips move. What blew my mind was seeing him get rebounds surrounded by 4 guys above the rim, and Larry gets the ball, jumping 6". What a show!!
NBA in the 90s was unbelievable. Glad I was able to see it.
Much agreed
80's
@@robertdaley9103 I'd go 80s over 90s, but it's CLOSE.
Exactly, people don’t understand how fucking big Larry is/was, we see luka dominate and bully people on the post and sometimes I just kind of laugh seeing a guard try to defend him , Larry was bigger and had one of the best offense in the post and iq that we have ever seen imo, along with his ability to shoot the ball (50,40,90 group) and his passing and rebounding (top in his position) etc he is without a doubt one of the crazy talents and personality’s in nba history, it’s crazy the disrespect to the old greats.
Larry Bird was perhaps an INCH shorter than Bill Russell.
Him playing "small forward" would have been a joke had the "power forward" at that time been smaller than McHale.
I don't remember Parrish being a LOT taller himself!
Never going to be another Larry Bird, one of a kind talent
Just think if he hadn't hurt his back, no telling what we would be talking about.
Just keep watching Luka.
@@darenevans2828 Luka 🤣🤣🤣🤣 can't even hold his towell
@@darenevans2828
Not even close never will be
Yes the NBA might just not allow Birds level of talk stuff anymore. Maybe? Maybe not? Or, are their now imposed limitations of trash stuff? Regardless, he was something else. Back when I was watching BB all the time I honestly never ever knew bird was always talking until I started watching these videos. No kidding!
Dean
Seattle
"I can throw an air ball and stay in the game."
"I bet you cain't."
Larry the legend...no doubt.
That airball bit was mind fuckery of epic proportions..
The literal wars that Larry and Magic went through made them tough mentally. They know basketball is not just skills, you must be able to believe you can do it.
Larry Legend was a badass! 🏀
I love these Larey Legend trash talking stories!!! 😂🏀😂
Bird stories are pure genius. Goat!
that first 3:14 is legendary, and some NEW stuff, that was some real shyte, "the fact that i can and stay in the game(after an airball)", that's gangsta!!!!!!!!!!!
Watching Larry Bird play the game with Johnny Most announcing the games was the best.
The “feel like 43” has got to be the most creative troll of all time. It’s one that the other team has to be impressed with.
The Bird bird bird is the word
I saw all that weekly.. grew up a diehard Celtic fan in NY out if all places… man that was fun! I remember one game at MSG where Larry was trash talking Bernard King all game, just mortifying him. Lol!
Man I never new what I had until it was gone. All those greats I watched as a kid in the 1980's. A great time in the sport. Now it's full of prima donnas.
I'm continually entertained and impressed with the fact that these guys are willing to tell on themselves. Even the young guys I see interviewed are self-deprecating and they put themselves as the butt of the joke oftentimes. And as competitive as everyone is, they still respect each other. Especially Bird, it's obvious.
Every player is a rookie to start out, except Bird, he knew he was the best his first day in the league, and he was right.
I remember him saying to malone the mailman doesn't deliver on Sunday lmao
Hearing all these players you can tell they not only respected Bird they enjoyed his company. What a time to play in that league. I stopped watching basketball 20 years ago. These players are not what I grew up with.
You should tune in again, some great ball being played. I started watching in the mid 70s when everyone wanted to be Dr. J on the playground court as kids.
Dawkins, well put together video. I enjoyed that, Bird stories never get old. Keep up the great work.
most impressive statement made was Shawn Kemp said I tried to foul him on his right side(cause he was so hot), so he shot with is left hand..what could I do
It's the mastery of the workaround that makes Larry GOAT. Larry liked obstacles so he could have some fun~!
@andybilakshow260 Yep, he got bored easy.
I always felt the other teams intentionally offered their rookies to Bird to see if the experience would make or break them for the game
I always thought the SEASONED players KNEW how it would go....and let the ROOKIE deal with him. 😄
Sacrificing their young to Larry Legend to appease the monster? LOL
The Larry Bird Pressure Cooker
@@rustydaboyrobot I'm sure the vets bet on how many points bird would have on the rookies
They offered up the rookies because the veterans wanted no parts of Bird
It is not bragging if you can do it!
Larry Legend from French Lick Indiana. He was not only as trash he talked but he is one of the best shooters in the game. If his back wasn't messed up. He would have played 4/5 more yrs
I always had the impression that bird could score 80 points in a game if he wanted, but he was never that type of player. He was a team player, and he made everyone around him better. He probably added 5 points to everyone on the teams total, with his great rebounding, and no look passing.
💯 Truth!!
"Tweet tweet, go have a seat."
I had court side season tickets in Utah from 1992- 2002. I hated Bird so bad BUT.... I loved watching him eat Karl Malone for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner. It was so fkn funny at times. I was more worried about Boston than anyone else and I knew basketball. I played through College and a bit of minor Baseball. I actually got to know a few of them personally. I was pretty tight with Malone, Darrell Griffith, Brian Russell and Ron Boone. I worked with them through my business doing promo stuff. ** It was common knowledge amongst us all, BIRD WAS THE GOAT.
Larry bird was so good so confident there will never be another Larry bird. He is the goat of trash, talking and all around best basketball player that ever step on the floor.
That's the mutual respect that the guys back then had for each other.
Loved watching Boston in their prime. The 80’s and 90’s to me was the golden age. So many legends.
Nice, simple and effective. You reach a point where you have heard the majority of the Larry Bird stories but I really like them. This video has a nice flow about it. I love how people speak so fondly and respectfully about getting owned by the great man. When at the time they were annoyed but you know there was nothing they could do about it. Early ego check for all who encountered him.
Every couple months I come watch these again. So good.
I wish they would create a trash talking award and name it after Larry. Maybe call it "The Bird Effect" 😂😂
After watching films of Bird, I am convinced he is the GOAT. Even above Michael Jordan, who he dominated in several games.
With modern medicine, chemicals and fitness training, Larry may have had a much longer career
Larry Bird is genius. He purposely gets into the rookies head and knowing he'll be in their heads every time they have to play against him in the years to come.
Man I wish they had mic’d Bird up during a game. I’d gladly pay to listen to his trash talk.
Larry was like Neon Deion-it ain’t bragging’ if you can do it..
He was so good, computers want to narrate his clips.
There aren't any real trash talkers in the NBA right now. There are plenty of guys who will pound their chest, talk smack and celebrate AFTER they do something impressive but they damn sure aren't telling you what they're gonna do to you before they actually do it. It wouldn't be the same, anyway, as there isn't more than a half dozen guys in the league who even try to play defense.
Bird stories are the best. Thanks.
There are many Greats but how many people do you know that would talk to the other team like that and tell them exactly what they was gonna do and the execute? That's beyond Great, that's Legendary.
"Y'all those college guys? getting some fucking rest it's going to be a long week" 😆
I'm so happy to have grown up in that era of sports. I can hardly watch anymore.
"It ain't braggin' when you can do it...." LB
Larry should hold a Master Class in trash talking.
I moved my mother and my step father to Terra Haute in 1981. They were 3 miles from French Lick. Mr. Larry owned that whole area. He was God there. Everywhere was a sign with something BIRD ON IT. Everywhere. Im driving back to Ohio leaving Terra Haute and I pass Mr. LARRY driving into Terra Haute. I was shell shocked, fan girled or whatever label. I had to pull off the road at first pay phone call my wife and told her I just saw Larry Bird. She said Who?????? 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 Made my trip
Great story! Thanks for sharing.
Larry Legend was amazing
My favorite Bird story is when he got all pissed off at the opposing head coach for putting a white guy on him. 😂
I started paying attention to bball at the end of the 60s and I will always say that 80s and 90s NBA is the best era with the best play by the most really good teams I've ever seen. The NBA Eastern division with both the Celtics and the 76ers was a meatgrinder for over a decade. For my money the karma that put magic in LA after Bird was in Boston is the greatest single thing that ever happened to pro basketball ever. Nothing else has ever meant as much to the future of basketball as those two and their rivalry. Remember that Jordan never won anything until those 2 guys were gone.
OG.
In a philosophical way, I don't like trash talk. In real life, it can be clever, funny, and a winning strategy. It has to be backed up to be any of these, though. Bird could back it up. He was one of the players who made the game fun to watch. After all these years, I still miss him.
Just try to imagine Magic and Larry on same team? I would love to have seen that. Absolute dominance
Larry, Magic, MJ and 2 Laker Girls. Unbeatable.
@@madjayhawk 🤣 nice one
Ummmm it happened...the Dream Team
I don't have to IMAGINE it.
Dream Team.
@@madjayhawk🤣🤣🤣
1:01
Not the only such story by far - starting with Jordan and working it's way down the list of a lot of players Bird faced when they were rookies.
On a basketball court, Bird saw all, knew all, controlled all.
Well said! 👏👏👏👏
Reggie Johnson, trash talking extraordinaire.
Larry didn't talk trash, instead he'd ask if your MAMA was watching, and in the 4th ask you if YOU could do THIS!
Then he'd shoot an AIRBALL. "I can do that and STAY in the game". CAN YOU"! LMAO
hmmm i feel like 43 today lol stonecold and he backs it up hehe
All these great stories were impressive but the one that sticks out the most is The Man Child. I know he got in the league at a young age but to be able to put it on Shawn Kemp at any age is phenomenal.
Larry Legend! We're still talking about your Greatness to this day 01-02-2023!
Larry is one of the players, IMO Among the Greatest to ever compete in Basketball!
Bird, MJ, Bernard King, Manu Ginobili, Hakeem are my Greatest to Ever Play!
Bernard King was my favorite growing up...imagine if he never hut his knee....
Imagine you're a rookie, and got your first assignment is to guard Larry Bird
No prob!
It's not talking shit when you back it up. Coldest baller I ever seen
LEGEND!
Nobody talks trash now because it would end up being a hate crime and someone would want the player cancelled. #SoftEra
Technical foul for hurting his feelings.
Doesn't this bullshit ever get old? Go wash your MAGA tee-shirt. It is getting a little ripe.
@@mc76 thanks for proving my point, soy boy.
even worse, today's players get affected by the trash talking fans. like grow a pair
@@iluvpets , True, no shortage of woke pussies in sports these days
Legend.
Bird was a Relentless Beast. Aint nothing worse on the court than someone gonna tell you That You're Going To Get Burnt. And then it happens right in front of your eyes.
Hey, it's only trash talk when you can't back it up!
Larry was sitting down in the 3rd with 50 points. What would the record be if he played the whole game?
I dont think anyone talks any trash in the NBA today. But I grew up watching 80s ball. I dont watch this weird stuff anymore lol
Bro they still talk trash
Dan Patrick loves Larry Bird stories,
he is the one who would ask the
guys who played against Bird to
tell their Bird stories.
"this is not the first story we will hear about Larry bird welcoming players to the league" - lol yeah I hope so given the name of the video