Larry Bird Speaks before the NBA 73rd All Star game | UNCUT FOOTAGE

Larry Bird Speaks before the NBA 73rd All Star game | UNCUT FOOTAGE

While Larry’s NBA playing career was in Boston his heart never left Indiana he joined the Pacers and was the NBA coach of the year and the executive of the Year becoming the only person to win those two honors in addition to NBA MVP and if you guys want to know what

Pressure is pressure is pling for Larry Bird as big smooth Jaylen they can attest to playing for Larry Bird and having to go to Boston and win those games in Boston for Larry Bird and by the way we were seven- one in those games and I apologize Larry for losing that one

Game but those were pressure so let’s take a look at the legend himself Larry Bird we didn’t have a lot when we grew up and basketball when it came into my life that’s all I did I don’t know where you get this Killer Instinct or wanting to win all

The time but it’s a competition and that’s the way I always looked at it drops in another I’d love to compete especially against the best and usually the best bring more out of there’s bird again Larry Bird with a steal Anderson back to bird beautiful won’t go bird the rebound over his head

To male what a show Larry Bird is putting on and now there’s a steal by bird underneath the DJ L what a play by bird oh my play crazy as I went along in Boston I sort of watched and enjoyed what I was doing the Boston Celtics are

The NBA world champions I just want everybody to know and I hope they think that I I gave them all I had every night the 1997 98 po of the Year award goes to our own L bird being a player is the ultimate like I always said I draw play for other guys

To have the ball in our hands I had it in my hands but it was a great experience for me just being on the other side of it be patient on offense okay take your time you get whatever you want I promise my players I wouldn’t put them through anything i’ never been

Through but we’re going to do things the right way we’re going to do them every night not just once in a while we had some success all because we believed in one Another like I tell people this is all I know coming from a small town going through college playing the NBA just something I never thought I’d be able to do it’s beyond belief you are watching what greatness is all about [Applause] the man who I patterned my game after the legend of the Year Larry Joe [Applause] [Applause] [Applause] Bird Good afternoon I have not hit a jump shot in over 30 years and here I am come on you know on on Thursday night we had the open ceremonies and um had the privilege of shaking Freddy Lewis’s hand that touched me I love Freddy Lewis played ABA he was a point guard very

Good player see I’m an ABA guy I grew up with the ABA because that’s all we get on our TV my dad go out and tell me how to turn the antenna and you holler at me turn it back that’s how we got the ABA

ABA games but I was a big ABA guy and and still is and I played against a lot of the ABA players but I just wonder we have all these Legends in here that paved the way for us if we never got a college scholarship

Will we ever be able to play in the NBA I don’t think so I think that scholarship that we got in college paved the way for us because we couldn’t afford to go to college you know if I walked in and asked my dad for money to

Go to college he ain’t got no money he probably slapped me upside the head and go go go get a job like I did but I know everybody in here that had an opportunity to get to college and pave the way and and I know for myself that

Once I got in the Le League it was a blessing it paved the way for my family and I to have a great life uh live a great life I mean it’s just unbelievable of how things turned out for me I competed hard I played the

Game away it was supposed to be played I played injured and I played with a lot of Pride so owe everything to the NBA and u a lot of players I played against had some great teammates in Boston I also got the coach for three years some of the finest

Young men you could ever be around we didn’t win a championship but we got there we won a lot of games and after that I was very fortunate her Simon let me come in the front office for over 20 years so I’ve been around a lot I know

What this league is all about and I’m very proud of it I’m proud of today’s players I like the game they play uh it opened up for a lot of the players to be able to do some things and shoulder skills unlike back in the 80s when on

The East Coast we hold and grab and push and fight and whatever it took to to win games but I like our game now the one thing I would really like to see is they play hard tonight and this uh tonight in this All-Star game I think it’s very

Important when you have the best the best players in the world together you got to compete and you got to play hard and you got to show the fans how good they really are so I hope you enjoy your weekend I’m enjoying mine have a good All-Star game so was it as I

Described this morning it’s one of the things I refer to the job I have and I’ve been at Inside the NBA for 35 years it’s a get

Larry Bird Career Stats:
24.3 points per game
10.0 rebounds per game
6.3 assists per game
49.6% FG
37.6% 3pt
88.6% FT

Larry Bird is a basketball icon who played for the Boston Celtics and won three NBA championships. He’s known for being a legendary shooter, as well as for his exceptional skills, leadership, and competitive drive.