NBA's greatest players have a signature game or performance that people talk about for years and years. For Michael Jordan, it's his game-winning shot over Bryon Russell in the 1998 NBA Finals. For Magic Johnson, it's leading the Los Angeles Lakers to the 1980 NBA Championship as a rookie.
Apart from his winning the 1986 NBA 3-point contest, Larry Bird 's signature moment was his 60-point explosion against the Atlanta Hawks in the 1984-85 season. It has been etched in history as a remarkable feat of offensive skill. But if the Boston Celtics legend is concerned, it's not his favorite game.
Bird's 60-piece
Basketball is a sport with many facets. While the team with the most points wins, they need to crash the boards, move the ball, and play defense to ensure a victory. However, scoring is the one facet that gets the most attention. There's something magical about seeing the ball swish the net.
But Bird, a certified basketball genius, appreciates the game's other elements apart from scoring. That's why he doesn't particularly love his 60-point performance because he failed to do other things on the floor.
"People get caught up in points, but I can't say it's in the top 20 of my favorite games," Larry said , per Boston.com. I had games where I scored just 15 or 16 points, but I played excellent basketball in my mind; I did a little bit of everything. I didn't rebound or pass much."
The three-time NBA Champion shot a ridiculous 61.1% from the field that night against the Hawks . He knocked down one 3-pointer and was 15-of-16 from the field.
He had seven rebounds and three assists, way below his 10.5 boards and 6.6 dishes that season. Bird averaged as much as 11 rebounds and 7.6 assists in his NBA career. If he had logged in stats closer to his average, that 60-piece would've been Larry Legend's favorite game.
Related: Tracy McGrady once pointed out the main reason why he never won a title: "A lot of people don't realize it"
How to win the game
The Hick From French Lick wasn't trying to act modest or corny. Doing as much as he can on the floor has been his mantra ever since. In a special CBS Sports interview in 1982, Bird revealed to fellow Celtics legend Bill Russell his greatest skill as a player .
"There's no doubt I believe now that I'm one of the best players in the league down the stretch," he said . "Not only scoring, but I might have to play the defensive end, take the charge, make a steal, get the rebound; that's when the game is the most important; when the game's tied two or three minutes to go, I feel that I got something like you said, I think I know how to win the game."
This may be the reason why the three-time league MVP won all those titles and why he's regarded as one of the best. He did everything humanly possible to help his team win. Bird did it the whole game. And when it mattered the most, Larry doubled his efforts.
Related: "It's always the same thing; 'how's Magic?, Like I live with him or something" - Larry Bird on people always asking him about Magic Johnson
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