There's a plethora of legendary Larry Bird trash-talk stories told by his Boston Celtics buddies and some of his foes who were spectators or were on the receiving end. What made Bird an iconic trash-talker was that he didn't choose his target. Whether he was playing in the NBA or some international tourney, the Celtics forward was locked and loaded.
Dunk on your face!
Bird was one of the collegiate stars selected to represent Team USA at the 1977 World Games. Utah standout Jeff Judkins, too, was among the top amateur players playing for the U.S. squad. It was a thrilling experience for Judkins, not just because he represented his country but also because he had a front-row view of how the Indiana native backed his smack talk.
"There was a big 7-foot-2 center from Russia," Judkins said , per The Athletic. "He was a really good player, and I'm sitting on the bench with Larry, and he said, 'When I get in the game, I'm going to tell this guy I'm going to dunk in his face.'"
"As you well know, Larry doesn't jump that well, so that was a little interesting," Jeff continued. "He gets in the game and starts talking to this guy. He told him he was going to dunk in his face, and by dang it, he got the ball, drove down the lane, and dunked right in his face."
The three-time MVP didn't dunk that often in the NBA. So, it's difficult to imagine him posterizing a Russian goliath. But let's not forget that while The Hick from French Lick wasn't known for his athletic abilities, looks can be deceiving. His smarts and relentless desire to prove a point powered him over that seven-footer.
Related: Ainge on what if Bird played in today's era: "I'm pretty confident that he would be shooting nine or ten 3-point shots per game"
The genesis
A year after guiding Team USA to the gold at the World Games, Larry was drafted by the Celtics. It wasn't until 1979 that Bird made his professional debut as he chose to play his final season at Indiana State and led the Sycamores to the NCAA title game.
He carried over the oozing confidence he possessed as an amateur into the NBA. As a rookie, Bird knew from the get-go that he would wreak havoc . Along the way, he shut up the critics who thought he wouldn't be good enough.
"Once I got out of college, I came to the pros, and well, 'How's he gonna do? He won't be able to get his jumpshot off in the pros, or he won't be quick enough, or he won't be able to rebound'. And I think it took me probably three days after rookie camp, I found out, this league is nothing. I could play in this league and I would dominate this league," Larry said .
Judkins witnessed Bird's dominant rookie year as they became teammates for one season. While everyone was in shock at how The Hick From French Lick averaged 21.3 points per game as a first-year pro, Judkins was taking everything in stride with a big grin. He knew the NBA was in for a wild ride.
Related: Chuck Person on Larry Bird's iconic Game 5 comeback in 1991: "It was like a superhuman person reemerged"
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