When Larry Bird threatened to retire if Michael Jordan scored 77 points

The 1985-86 Boston Celtics team, boasting four Hall of Famers in their starting lineup, were determined to reclaim championship glory. With former Finals MVP Bill Walton coming off the bench, the Celtics not only recorded the best defensive rating that season but also presented such a stern challenge for even the greatest scorers that they were unable to impose their presence against them.

However, in the first round of their playoff series against the Chicago Bulls , sophomore Michael Jordan defied expectations by averaging 56 points in the initial two games of the series. While all the experienced Celtics stars applauded MJ's incredible showing, it also left Larry Bird in a state of disbelief. The three-time MVP was so shocked to see his team getting dominated by a mere 22-year-old that he even threatened retirement if the onslaught continued in Game 3.

Larry Bird threatened retirement

Despite the Celtics being confident in their ability and talent to beat a relatively young Bulls team that had an aging George Gervin, they were simply unprepared for Jordan writing his name all over the series opener. In Game 1, the 1985 ROY dropped 49 points on 50% shooting from the field, necessitating four Celtics starters to score in double digits to register a win.

In Game 2, Boston was absolutely clueless on how to contain Mike, who elevated his performance even further by dropping 63 points on 53.7% shooting from the field. With the contest going into double OT, the Celtics outscored the Bulls 10-6 to secure a 2-0 advantage, courtesy of six of their players scoring in double digits. While Larry Legend famously likened the experience to witnessing ' God disguised as Michael Jordan ,' he was simultaneously astonished to see a newcomer dominate every player on his team.

Related: "Bird was showing me it was all business, and I was beneath him" - Michael Jordan on how Larry Bird put him in his place in 1984

As coach KC Jones' team traveled to Chicago to close out the series, the Indiana native humorously (or perhaps seriously) threatened retirement should Mike manage to score 77 points.

"I couldn't believe anybody could do that against the Boston Celtics, " Bird said after Game 2. "He won't get 77 points on Tuesday. I'll retire if he scores 77."

The Celtics effectively contained Michael Jordan

From the opening tip, the 1984 NBA Champs prioritized containing the 6'6" shooting guard. After scoring 33 points in each of the first three quarters, the Celtics established a 28-point lead before heading into the fourth. Jordan, too, was restricted to merely 19 points and eventually fouled out with over five minutes remaining in the fourth quarter.

"They were prepared for me, " Jordan said . "It seemed like every time I got the ball before I could make a move, they would send someone else at me. They played very good defense."

Though MJ acknowledged that the Celtics played exceptional defense against him and were prepared to stop him, one could only imagine what the scenario would have been if he had indeed managed to score 77 points in Game 3, especially considering Bird's reputation for always keeping his word.

Related: "He didn't have a team" - Larry Bird on Michael Jordan's lack of "team mentality" early on