Throughout his career, Larry Bird shared his mentality.

Bird just had a conversation with Reggie Miller and Isiah Thomas for a Basketball Stories episode. He disclosed his mindset during his tenure there.

Bird remarked, “The one thing I had that many people didn’t have—many players have it—was the ability to play every night.” “Each night, I brought it. It was clear to me that the Celtics were paying me to win basketball games. I felt like I had to win every time I went out there because it was my duty to win basketball games and I wanted to please them. I can say with certainty that I gave everything I did my all.

I suffered a great deal of injuries as a result of my constant sacrifice, but practicing and playing every night improved me. I was also up against the top players in the world. That is the main focus.

The Celtics, in my opinion, got a lot of value for their money. Throughout his 13-year NBA career, Bird averaged 24.3 points, 10.0 rebounds, 6.3 assists, 1.7 steals, and 0.8 blocks a game while playing for the Boston Celtics. Along the way, he was awarded two MVPs of the Finals and three NBA championships.

Bird, who did so from 1984 to 1986, is still the only player to have won three MVPs in a row. It’s absurd that throughout the eight years from 1981 to 1988, he placed in the top two votes seven times.

It’s a major what-if as to how much more Bird could have accomplished in his career if his crippling back issue hadn’t prevented it. It’s the reason he decided to call it quits during the 1991–92 season, when he was still competing at a respectable level. Even though he had to leave the game far sooner than he would have like, Bird will always be remembered as one of the all-time great players and possibly the best Celtic of all time.