"Failure, to me, was probably the biggest motivation" - Cedric Maxwell’s confidence to take over came from his failure at basketball as a child

Cedric Maxwell was the Boston Celtics ’ most underrated clutch performer for the Boston Celtics in the 1980s. Despite never being the team’s No. 1 option since Larry Bird’s arrival, Ced consistently rose to the occasion when victory hung in the balance.

While his heroics in the 1981 and ‘84 NBA Finals highlight his clutch prowess, if you were to believe the 6’8” forward, he wasn’t always so fearless on the court. Instead, it was the failure he experienced throughout his ‘pee-wee’ basketball that prompted him to go all-out when he became a pro.

Maxwell had no fear as he became a pro

One of Maxwell’s most iconic moments in a decade-long career arrived in Game 7 of the 1984 NBA Finals against the LA Lakers. Following the Purple and Gold’s resurgence with an 11-point victory in Game 6, which came after two consecutive losses, Ced recognized his need to elevate his performance to help him reach the finish line.

He boldly encouraged his teammates to rely on him, understanding his value if Boston were to clinch the Larry O’Brien trophy at the expense of their arch-rivals.

As Bird, Robert Parish, and Dennis Johnson struggled to find their efficient rhythm, shooting merely 33.3%, 25%, and 38.5% from the field, respectively, Ced recognized the necessity of leading by example. Consequently, he scored a team-high 24 points on 50% shooting from the field to help the Celtics win despite the Lakers' fourth-quarter supremacy.

In an interview with Brian Scalabrine, when questioned about his consistent clutch performances, the two-time NBA Champ elaborated that his ability to thrive under pressure stemmed from his early experiences of failure in the sport.

"I remember failing when I was in pee-wee basketball. Went to an all-star game, and I didn't play well. From then on, I made it a mission in my mind to put so much fear in my body that I was going to respond in a positive way," Maxwell said . "Failure, to me, was probably the biggest motivation to be who I was in these big games."

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Maxwell always delivered when it mattered

Given that Ced was picked 12th overall in the 1977 NBA draft, it's understandable why he wasn’t initially lauded as much as he later was with the Celtics. However, his impact in the championship rounds, especially in the 1981 championship round, showcased how he utilized the failing steps in the right manner to build his nerves.

Had it not been for him to average 23.5 points on 70.2% shooting from the field in the ‘81 Finals when the Houston Rockets leveled the series two apiece. Who knows what Bird-led Celtics legacy would have been?

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