HE DID WHAT??!Why You NEVER Poke Larry Bird - A Trash Talk STORY Told by NBA Legends!|Mekhi Reaction 

Bird played this game with a bad back, injuries to both achilles heels, and bronchial pneumonia. Probably the greatest 4th quarter in NBA playoff history. Great reaction as always bro.

I’m 60, saw this live, it was special.

The NBA needs a "trash talk" award, and they need to call it "The Bird!"

According to Bob Ryan, the famous sports writer, before one game, when Bird was warming up, Bob asked him if he thought he could shoot a 3-pointer left-handed. Bob bet him $5. Bird asked how long he had to get it done, and Bob didn't put a limit on it. He said Bird sank the lefty 3-pointer on his second shot. He said Bird played the game with that 5 spot tucked in his sock.

I love ‘Nique’s jumpshot. Watch his feet. Looked like Scissors. He always did that. I loved it!!

What always surprised me was that everyone saw the dunks that Dominique Wilkins did and thought all he had was those power dunks. If you watch him, he had an amazing touch when he shot.

Larry only played for 13 seasons. He played well , even with a broken back and surgery on both Achilles tendons.

Nice reaction. You understand the game..

Great choice, good narration and I have never seen this before. Killin

Love your commentary and no sweat that you may never change your mind.. you recognize the greatness of the ogs and that matters.

That is why Larry Legend is the GOAT

There was a book that quoted a rookie BJ Armstrong telling the story about MJ telling his teammates not to talk to Larry., Since MJ has said Larry was the best trash talker ever and he learned everything from him, I suppose it could be true.

Larry Legend

They called him, Larry legend while he was still playing

Whoever you have at number one..remember that MJ was zero for six against Bird in 6 playoff runs..and MJ’s MVP SEASON..HE WAS 1-4 against the Pistons and Isiah Thomas and Bill Laimbeer..not to mention..not only was Bird also an MVP..Bird was one of only 3 players in history to win it three in a row..Russell..Chamberlain…LARRY BIRD…and as a coach for 3 years at Indiana Pacers..Bird was Coach of the Year in 1998..and after moving to the front office as President of the Pacers..voted Executive of the Year in 2012..and yeah..in 1980..he was Rookie of the Year over Magic..in Bird’s 1st year..Bird took a team from worst in the league with 29 wins..to 61 wins and to the championship game..Bird’s 2nd year..they won it all..Jordan improved the Bulls by 2 games his first year..2 more games his 2nd year by year 4 ..you guessed it…they improved by 4 or 5 games over his first year..Bird played 13 years with a permanently dislocated forefinger on his dominant shooting hand..finger got dislocated in a baseball game the summer before his first Celtic contract..finger bent at 90 degrees toward his thumb and in 1985 in the off season..shoveling gravel for his mother’s driveway..tore his back so badly he wore a brace for the rest of his career..and doctors could never straighten his finger or stabilize his back..every night he played his last 7 years..was in pain..but he played..my home is Kansas..the man who invented basketball..James Naismith was our first coach..he is buried in Lawrence ,Kansas beside his wife (1939)..his original…Ten Rules of Basketball are behind glass next to Allen Field House..and he would probably say Bird was the best who ever played..Magic Johnson said so..and Pat Riley said he would Pick Larry Bird if he had to pick one player ti save his life..but Michael Jordan, who only started winning rings after Bird retired..is considered the GOAT..cuz people don’t dig to learn about the game in the ‘80’s…in the late ‘80’s it was Bird..and Jordan knew that..but everyone focuses on the 90’s..and Jordan..the 80’s were Kareem..Magic..Isiah Thomas, Dominque..Magic Johnson..Doctor J…Barkley..Karl Malone, John Stockton..etc..don’t know if Jordan is part of the club or not..but Bird is founder of the 50-40-90 club…50- from the floor..40% from 3..and 90% free throws..and only John Stockton did it more than Bird..But Jordan’s the GOAT….maybe..maybe not..

(I always make this comment on Bird vids). My mom was the real BB fan in our family. She was fanatical and knowledgeable. The reason I know a bit about the Celtics is because of her. Her favorite player was not Larry Bird. It was Dennis Johnson. She was a night owl and watched the NBA in the 1978-79 season when there was tape delay even for the playoff games. The taped games would be broadcast after the local news at 10:30 CST. The Supersonics won the championship in 1979 and I believe Dennis Johnson won the MVP.

You also should know that he only scored 12 in the beginning of the game because he was suffering from bronchial pneumonia. If you watch him come down the court you can see he is struggling to breathe and was breathing through his mouth. If you go to the nba website this talked about. He was a phenomenon and as fans watching him do all the things he did made us bird fans forever. He also was dealing with Achilles tendons and bone spurs in both feet. He was just an amazing player.

I have fond memories laying on the couch at my grandparent’s house on the weekends watching the NBA in the 1980’s. Very fortunate to be born in 75 to have this NBA for my younger years.

Im an old Bird fan but regardless I still think Dominique deserves mad respect for his amazing abilities and how he played in this game and in general, they both made that night one of the most memorable games in NBA history. We'll never see this kind of basketball again, it was so physical back then they wouldnt even be allowed to play that aggressive in the post now I dont think. I feel the same as many others do we will never see an era like this again, but then im 64 and grew up in this era so im sure my view is a little biased. lol

Great reaction! Bird and Magic were dopplegangers (remarkably similar to each other). I agree with your take that Bird would win individually but Magic would win team wise due to championships. I had the priviledge of watching Jordan in person at a playoiff game. He will forever be the greatest in my mind. Yet I find myself watching old footage of Bird nowadays and enjoy watching younger folks discover Larry Legend for the first time. It's just fun to watch!

True. That was Jordan 's rule.

Please do a reaction to that other video. I can't wait to hear your reaction to it.

Happy seeing boys with really strong mid-range games

3:19 I've watched vids in which players talk about that old parquet floor. There were various dead spots in certain parquet squares. The Celtics knew the dead spots and the visitors mostly didn't. The old Boston Gardens was a tough place to play for the visiting team.

I really enjoy your narrations…keep it up!!

Another good reaction. Thanks.

Hey Mekhi, Great video. Yes, Absolutely please react to that video mentioned early on about Domingue Wilkins. Thank you. Much Love!!

I’ve never heard of anyone breaking down the best ballers as u did , excellent basketball knowledge when u said magic and Bird must be consecutive in the rankings

Charles Barkley was always my favorit player but Spud Webb was a close second. It never stopped to amaze me how that little shrimp of a man could fly like a fakking super hero. Still to this day, it never gets old- Hes 5'7... Im 6'2, I could just barely hit the rim Spud was one of those players you had to assume they were bionic, or an alien or some other from of superguman life form to make it make sense.

That is true. also, MJ also said Bird taught him how to trash talk

Shawn Kemp dunked pretty powerfully also

Larry himself has said everything you said to finish.

Yeah not even a question bird is #1 trash talking goat if mj Barkley Miller and the glove who are all top end trash talkers all agree that he's #1 its gotta be true

Well done young man. Much respect. I have Jordan and Bird at the top.

John stockton was another great shorter player.. he was good stealing and threes

Ah the 80’s NBA, between bird, magic,Kareem, Jordan, Barkley,etc we were spoiled. As a white boy, bird held a special place.

BIRD 🐐

I'm not a basketball fan. But, I remember a video about Larry Bird trash talking and one of the players telling a story about a game where Larry would tell the man guarding him exactly what he was going to do step by step and score. Larry then proceeded to do exactly what he told the defender he would do. Like numerous times in that game.

My first trip to your channel. Keep in mind that sports back in these days All sports Dan Marino said that he could pass for 6,000 yards with today's rules. That is a bold statement! Bill Russell the great, a hall of famer! Said someone called football a contact sport. He went on to state that is wrong. Because the NFL was a collision sport, the NBA is a contact sport. When these men played that held true! When they fouled you they got their moneys worth. The same was true in the NFL, they did things that are illegal these days. Not only was Bird a good shooter & passer, but the greatest trash talker ever! He played mind games. He would tell the other team what he was going to do. And then do it. And then run back down the court. He played hurt. I know that pros do that all of the time. But Larry just wore his body out!!! He worked really hard!! Going after loose balls, etc..... One of Larry's funniest lines was when he complained because the other team had a white guy guarding him. Barkley tells that tail..I think it was on the Dan Patrick show. Funny........... Magic said Bird was the best ever!! High praise...... Take care!!!!!!! Later

Dominique was known as a high flyer, but one aspect of his game that I liked was his bank shot. Not enough players utilize that.

I do like players like Dominique who play for one team (mostly).

Really They Probably Could Have Won Game 7 Also. But When Willis Put His Figure On Bird's Chest & Said That To Wilkins; That Was A Big Difference In The Game. Larry Could Trash Talk Other's & Mainly The One's He Knew It Would Work On. But Doing It To Him Never Worked Out Good, ha ha ha. That's Why Wilkins Wasn't To Happy With His Players Remark. He Has Seen Other's Try To Do That Back To Bird & It Always Failed. Bird Did Pick At Wilkins At Time's Like On, Wilkins Trying To Defend Bird. But That Was Always In A Joking Mainer & Bird Really Did Like Him & Respected Him. I Heard Bird Had Only Kinda Criticized Wilkins One Time; Saying That Wilkins Needed To Learn To Be Team Player & Not Be a "Ball Hog". That Was In Wilkins Early Time In. And Wilkins Did Get Better As Time Went On Doing The Team-Playing. But Even When Bird Said That It Wasn't In A Disrespectful Way Because He Also Said What A Remarkably He Had Also. Could People Notice How Bird Was Feeling Good? I Noticed It. Sense Bird Would Hardly Ever Let His Team/Coach/Doctor On The Team Know Just How Bad He Was Hurting OR Not Feeling Good. Not Sure If They Knew About Him Playing With Bronchial-Pneumonia, Because It Wasn't Stated In The " Sports Part Of The News Paper's" Until After The Game Was Over, They Found Out After & Not Before. Thank You For Sharing This One

Wilkins had that crazy perfect 3 body.... 6'8, bouncy... could shoot passably

Dominique is actually high on my list. He's underrated

Larry Bird is the best player ever.

It was a war, and Bird and 'Nique were warriors.

5:24 The Hawks got nationwide attention when Ted Turner broadcast the games on TBS. TBS was a cable channel you could get on the basic.

Jordan had one rule for his team.....never trash talk Larry, ever. .

Someone finally said it - the Celtics would outsmart the opposing teams.

I watched that game, as a former Lakers' fan, I wanted Bird to lose. Loved Dominique, but young stud Willes, a bad bad man, messed up. Probably one of the best 4th quarters of bball ever ❤❤🎉🎉🎉

I believe that both teams deserved to win. This was one of the best games ever and I'm glad they did such a good job of getting the guys together to document it. Kevin Willis did not screw that game up with the finger pointing. Larry was just due in the fourth quarter. That's my belief. Of course the finger didn't do much to help but the real story was Larry's determination at crunch time, and he was due. Agree?

To me, team awards mean almost as little as the best sportsman trophy when comparing players in terms of GOAT status. If a player reached but never won the final due to not stepping up, that would hurt them. If said player did step up but the team sucked then it wouldn't hurt them in my view.

dont forget Larry was healthy for under 7 years and he was 18 and 11 against MJ and 6 and 0 in the playoffs as Bird was beginning to amass injuries

They didn't call Nique the human highlight reel for nothing.

say his name.......Legend

One of the few times I'll agree with Olli😂. Like c'mon on man, if you're gonna do a cover you better own it. The original with Teddy Pendergrass is better.

3 out of 5 of magics championships Kareem was the top dog of the championship series

it is funny how dominique refuses to admin larry was better… u see it over and over

I think the best argument for Bird being the GOAT is that he lacked the same level of physical abilities that the players he's been compared against had. That is frequently commented on, but I feel it's not sufficiently appreciated. Consider if Bird had had the physical capabilities of MJ - can you imagine what he would have accomplished? Larry Bird is the GOAT because he did more with relatively less (in the way of physical talents) than any other player in NBA history.

If you love basketball and you know nothing about Larry Bird you need to educate yourself. They don’t call him Larry Legend for nothing.

When comparing Bird versus Jordan I think it's important to remember MJ entered the league in the 84-85 season and didn't know how to elevate a TEAM instead of individual stats. When Jordan and the Bulls met Larry and the Celtics in the playoffs, Jordan had great numbers and even dropped a playoff record 63 points in one game, but the Bulls got SWEPT winning zero games and going 0-6 in back to back seasons. I usually state it this way, if I want to sell tickets I'll pick MJ, if I want to win games I'll take Larry.

It's true Jordan told his teammates never talk trash or back , there's a youtube video of it

M J never beat Bird in the play off

Magic best point guard all time. Not the best player on Lakers for 3 of Magics 5 rings. Kareem. He was MVP of the NBA when Magic was given the finals MVP rookie year. Kareem dominated the series. Could not play game 6. Magic had big game 6. The league love it. Media hype. Bird is top 5 all time. Mike Wilt Kareem Dream Bird

If larry and magic switched teams the outcome would be the same.

I tell you what I think!! The difference for me is I believe you can't really compare Magic with Bird using stats. You are talking about two players who played different positions meaning their jobs in the team construct was different. The real question is the impact each had within the team construct and when viewing it from that position I believe their impact was equally important to their team. For those who don't understand the team concept then you will argue who is the best all day and will never agree.

Magic thought Bird was the best...

25:20 I do respect Micheal Jordan the GOAT, but it's hard for me to watch vids of him because he crushed my soul so many times.

How can a Bird also be a Goat??!!😂😅

Jordan never beat bird. The two times they faced off in the finals the bulls got swept

And imagine putting up all star numbers 4 years with a broken back and Double Achilles surgery how many fings did Jordan teams get while Mr Bird was in the league because Bird Celtics SWEPT Jordan teams 2 years in a row in the playoffs

GOAT Bird did everything better

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Great content but who wants to see you in the lower corner for the entire video.

Take Magic off the Lakers, put Bird on. How many Championships then?

iTZ Mekhi, you would have enjoyed that Golden Era of the NBA, but then you be old like me.

Nah yo..... .... remember now, Magic was not the sole powerhouse talent on that Laker team, LIke the way Larry was for Boston....Magic had, without a doubt, the more talented team support...with James Worthy, Byron Scott, Michael Cooper and Kareem. Not throwing shade on Magic or Robert Parish or McHale, Ainge or DJ. But, think of this.... I wonder , if Magic had to carry the Lakers, score that amount of points in the 4th just to stay alive against Nique and the Hawks, and hit every clutch shot needed, I can't say I believe he could., if you add Larrys back and Achilles tendon pain, yeah, IDK. Honestly, he has a different game and mentality, he's my GOAT, but he shares that title as equally with Kobe, Michael, and Magic.

It wasn't this game or series I dont think it was the same season but there was one game a playoff game I think where bird went to get a rebound & was fighting for it as a loose ball slammed his jaw on the floor & ended up breaking his jaw. he left the game to the locker room celtics up but the other team either the hawks or lakers I think started taking advantage of Bird being off court to the point that Bird broken jaw & all came back on the court to finish the game & ended up making sure Celtics won by several points after the other team had clawed back most of the points the lead was when Bird got hurt. You wouldn't/ wont see Kobe or Lebron do that even in their youth let alone their 30s. You can't even compare Lebron to Bird or Johnson or Thomas or Wilkins.

You're pretty much dead on with your analysis at the end. By the way- your GOAT _shouldn't_ ever change- because you're right: Michael Jordan is and will always be the greatest player of all time. Anyone who claims Larry is better is nuts.

Magic is just better because he’s won more???

Sorry but wilkins was no Magic Johnson the rivalry between bird & johnson was more then Wilkins & bird hands down that was old time basketball nothing anyone from the last lazy pathetic 25 years can say or do can compare to that rivalry & the skill of either player.

Your analysis is pretty good but very very skewed because of your age...keep diving and you will be revealed the truth...and magic has said so himself. Bird was different...the lakers had more firepower, Larry flat out dominated all the greatest player in the most golden era of basketball. You didn't watch those years, you did not see the physicality, the mental toughness durning this time...these men were warriors. No one today has ever been tested like these players....not physically or mentally.... Larry dominated this era...including Jordan!

Problem I have is people do not recognize, nor respect, how talented Dominique was/is. Kind soul. Unbelievably talented. I know he's in the HoF - f***ing deservedly so. The '92 Dream Team was amazing. Can't argue pulling one of them off. But Nique earned the right to be on that team, too. Dominique was a monster; I loved watching those Hawks' games. ✌️💨🍻