Larry made sure to make his presence known around a young Michael.
Michael Jordan might be the consensus GOAT and the most feared player in NBA history, but before he came onto the scene, there was one guy who also had opponents shaking and scared even before the game started. As a matter of fact, in one instance, he even made Michael realize that the NBA wasn’t going to become his just like that.
Former Sports Illustrated writer Curry Kirkpatrick once told the compelling story about one of the first interactions between MJ and Larry Bird.
“84′ Olympics team played in an exhibition game against a bunch of pros, including Larry Bird. Early in the warmups, and the ball bounced down from the college end of the floor to the pro end. Then Michael Jordan went down to chase it,” Kirkpatrick started telling the story as per The Universe Galaxy NBA.
“The ball had to be picked up by Larry Bird. And Michael went up a few feet away and held out his hands, and Bird took the ball and fired it back down the court over Jordan’s head as if to say, you’re not only not getting this ball, I don’t give a damn who you are. Larry Bird knows exactly who this guy is and what’s gonna happen in the next few years, and he wants to get every edge he can get right now,” Kirkpatrick explained on how Larry got one up on the young Michael.
Larry Legend could see it from a mile away
This story might sound a bit extreme initially, but this was a different time, as Larry simply saw the potential in the young Michael. Bird had to establish his dominance and show that he was the top dog that is not ready to just hand over the league to Jordan.
The 1984 US Olympic Team, headlined by an MJ coming out of UNC and a bunch of young college prospects, had a few exhibition games versus a mix of NBA stars, which included the likes of Bird, McHale, Magic, Isiah, and many more.
Jordan would show the potential for greatness before playing in a single game for the Chicago Bulls, therefore warning all the stars in presence to take notice and prepare for what was coming ahead in the foreseeable future.
Bird and Jordan ultimately really respected each other
Larry was still at the peak of his powers, but he knew the inevitable end was coming, especially with guys like MJ entering the NBA. The only way Bird could prolong his dominance over the league, alongside Magic, was by warning and slowing down a young Michael.
By not just handing him the ball, Larry metaphorically showed Jordan that nothing would be given to him, as hard work was ahead to climb the top of the mountain and become the guy. Bird’s Celtics eliminating MJ in the first two playoff appearances of his career was the prime example of it.
But over time, age would catch up to the Celtics legend, and the rise of the Bulls and #23 would make him the undisputed new king of the league. Bird didn’t take it to heart, as he saw it coming ever since that day. The respect between the two only rose and carried out through the years.