In contrast to other NBA icons, Bird was never one to utilize his position to advocate for causes unrelated to basketball.
While many NBA stars use their platform to voice opinions on non-basketball-related issues, Larry Bird always took a different tack. The three-time MVP was only concerned with being a great player and winning games for the Boston Celtics, not with taking on extra, off-court responsibilities that came with it. Bird only cared about the game The Indiana native was known for his skill on the basketball court, being a wizard with the ball, trash-talking genius, and one of the best players of his era. Consequently, Bird’s greatness opened up many opportunities for him off the court, and while he took some of them, Larry kept his pursuits within the realm of basketball.
For this reason, the 12-time All-Star said that he had no interest in representing the league even in 1985, at the height of his playing days.
“I can never see me as Mr. Spokesman for the NBA or for this or that,” Bird stated. “I’m not responsible for that. It is my responsibility to represent the Boston Celtics and win basketball games by playing to the best of my abilities. It ends after that, and I may leave for home.”
Larry desired to take center stage on the basketball floor. Bird’s unparalleled commitment to the game dates back to his days at Spring Valley High School. The renowned forward chose to fully commit to the game and hasn’t considered exploiting his notoriety for any other reason since.
Due to his determination, Larry was able to flourish under duress and became accustomed to being the “hero” in high-stakes scenarios.
Bird talked about a pivotal time in his history, mentioning how he once fractured his ankle but still managed to play in the sectionals. His coach pulled him off the bench during crunch time despite his injury. Larry had a chance to give his squad a victory with ten seconds left.
“I walk to the free-throw line thinking, ‘I could be a hero,’ after the opposing team fouls me with 10 seconds remaining and we’re down one point. We won the game, and I made both of my shots,” he continued. I’ve always felt that I enjoyed taking center stage ever since. I enjoyed controlling the ball and causing things to occur.”
Despite the fact that many NBA players have used their position to make admirable contributions, Bird never considered himself to be anything more than a player. The same can be said about Nikola Jokic, who doesn’t seem to care about anything outside of the court while displaying an unparalleled level of talent.
