No Boston Celtics player in the present day even approaches Larry Bird’s legendary position within the team. In Boston, Larry Legend has won three titles and is regarded as the epitome of an NBA player.
However, there was a moment when Larry Bird was on the verge of not playing for the Celtics. It appeared that Bird and former Celtics President Red Auerbach couldn’t agree on a $25,000 clause during 1984 contract discussions. And Larry added that he might have missed the entire year of school if it hadn’t been resolved.
In his book Bird Watching, Larry writes, “I remember the contract I signed in 1984, right after we won a championship.” In the summer, Red Auerbach gave me a call and said, “Come down and let’s finish this contract.”
“Should I bring [agent] Bob Woolf?,” I asked. “You can if you want to,” he said. Mr. Woolf and I proceed to the Celtics offices, where Red is accompanied by his general manager, Jan Volk. Everything is going well until we get into the figures.
Despite early resistance, Larry Bird’s demands for a $1.8 million annual salary were ultimately reduced to one tiny condition. And Bird reported that tensions increased until a solution was found.
I would never have allowed Red to hold me up over $25,000—I can’t even recall what it was. I would have waited the entire year. I was pleased that I had received both the $25,000 and my $1.8 million in the end.
“Mr. Woolf wanted me to ask for $2.3 million or $2.5 million, but that’s not what I wanted. I was aware that Moses would likely receive a higher salary than I did in the upcoming season due to his contract, but I didn’t give a damn.”
An icon like Larry Bird knew what he was worth and what he wanted, though it’s difficult to envision him refusing to suit up. Bird led the team to the NBA Finals and won another MVP award in 1984–85, so the Celtics were undoubtedly happy to give him what he wanted. The following year, he would win the MVP award, add another title, and win the MVP in the Finals.
