Larry Bird is an NBA legend and was notorious for his trash talk when he was a member of the Boston Celtics.
Former Atlanta Hawks star Dominique Wilkins had a few epic showdowns with Bird, and recently recalled his first encounter with the Celtics legend as a rookie.
From the Boston Herald:
"One of the first times I ever played against him, I went out for the opening tip and I went to shake his hand. He just stood there and looked at me stone-faced with his hands behind his back," Wilkins said recently.
"I was like, 'Whoa.' Then we were getting ready for the tip and he says to me, 'You don't belong in this league, Homes.' I couldn't believe it, but it happened so fast, I didn't know what to think.
"Then they had the ball and I was on him and he said, 'I don't know why they got you guarding me, Homes. You can't guard me.' Then, whap, he hit a 3. Then he came down again and said, 'They made a mistake putting you on me, Homes,' and he took another 3."
"So now I'm hot," he said. "I'm hot. I mean, I'm steaming.
"Then a little while later, I came down on a break and he was backpedaling. I just went right after him. I jumped up and he tried to challenge, but I took that right through the rim. He fell and hit the basket support.
"He got up and said, 'I like you, rookie. You've got(guts).' I was happy for a second, and then he said, 'But I'm still going for 40 on you tonight.'?"
"But I got him," Wilkins said. "He only scored 39."
This story really is Bird at his best and it's great that Nique can look back and laugh at his old showdown. I'd be interested to know if Wilkins and Bird still talk trash as executives for two teams in the Eastern Conference (Atlanta Hawks and Indiana Pacers, respectfully).
