Price has the utmost respect for Bird, but will never forget when the Cavs ended his run in the league.
Mark Price believes that Larry Bird is one of the all-time great players in NBA history, and he is taking sole credit for sending him into retirement.
The Cleveland Calievers legend sat down for a podcast interview with Basketball Time Machine in 2021 and jokingly tried to push the narrative that Bird decided to retire after facing the Cavs in the Eastern Conference Semifinals in 1992—the legendary forward averaged 11.3 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 5.3 assists in that series.
“Larry’s last game happened to be against us in the Eastern Conference Finals the year we got there. So, I like to tell people that I ended Larry’s career. When he was in the game, and you are playing against them, he had such an impact on it in so many ways,” Price said.
Familiar foes
Of course, Price’s comments were tongue-in-cheek, but the Cavs beating the Celtics in 1992 did signal a somewhat changing of the guard in the league as the next generation of talent was beginning to emerge.
Price’s career acted as the bridge between generations, given he was drafted in 1986 and retired just before the 2000s.
The duo shared their fair share of battles during their playing days, both in a highly competitive Eastern Conference ruled by the Celtics for much of the ’80s before the Cavs, Pistons, Bulls, and Knicks all grew into worthy contenders.
Price’s respect for Bird
The opportunity to square off against the Celtics legend was not lost on Price, as the crafty point guard had the utmost respect for Larry’s game and held him in high esteem as a competitor and pioneer of the league.
Price went on to praise Bird for his ability on the court and acknowledged how special it was to share the floor with an all-timer.
His nickname ‘Larry Legend’ says it all because he really was a legend. He was such a great player, and the things he could do at his size, and he was one of the first big guys that shot a lot of three-point shots. He could stretch the defense; he could play inside and outside. Larry was such a great passer and a smart basketball player. It was a privilege to play in that era and play against so many of those great players,” he said.
While Bird grew into a household name worldwide, Price remains one of the more underrated players in league history when looking back on his career.
He was the epitome of a true professional, and it’s likely the Celtics legend has the same sentiment of appreciation towards him for what he did for the Cavs when the organization was still trying to find its identity.