Larry Bird’s Attempted Joke at Iconic 3pt Contest Had Unintended Consequences: “They Didn’t Like That…”

“Larry Bird is the greatest trash talker mind-game player of all time,” Michael Jordan had once said. The Boston Celtics legend would never miss an opportunity to mess with his opponents. However, this one time in 1986, before his first of three 3-point contest wins in a row, he decided to be funny and it backfired. The three-point battle was first brought into the All-Star weekend in 1986 in Dallas. It was the inaugural year and many were a bit tensed. But Bird went on to display his usual cockiness. 

Bird entered a quiet locker room before the battle and saw everyone’s heads down. So he questioned his fellow contestants, “Who’s coming in 2nd?” Sadly, this attempted joke did not sit well with them. Bird shared in an interview today, “I just did it for a joke, but they didn’t like that very well.” Fortunately for the 3x NBA champion, he secured the title that year with a stellar shooting display. 

Bird went 22/30 in the inaugural battle, that too against some of the best 3-point shooters in the league back then. Well, it’s now really doubtful if Bird was joking here! 

Bird was an excellent shooter throughout his career. He won the 3-point contest in the first three years it was introduced. Even when he shot around 50% in his second and third battle, his opponents couldn’t catch up. He has the most 3-point contest titles. In fact, he could have earned more, but he was done with winning.

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Nonetheless, everyone’s reaction to Bird’s attempted humor is not all that surprising considering the tense nature of basketball locker rooms back in the day.

Former Mavericks star explains how tense an All-Star locker room used to be  

You could get away with anything in the modern NBA due to the developed bonding between the players. But the 1980s were different. Former Mavericks star Detlef Schrempf explained, “Back then, there was not like this friendly locker room where we’re sitting there chatting and hugging it up… It was a little bit of a different interaction then.” All-Star was serious business back then and that is why Bird’s joke did not sit well. 

Bird himself had a slight regret for making that statement. He shared in an old interview, “I don’t know why I (said it), but I did. Everybody was sitting there not saying a word…It just came out. Thank God I won.” That’s what aura does.

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Read more: Despite Being Humbled by Larry Bird on His NBA Debut, 2x NBA Champion Swoons Over Celtics Legend’s “Unbelievable Confidence”