NBA Legend Larry Bird Opens About His NCAA Career Struggles

Icons like Larry Bird have grabbed all the opportunities possible as a basketball player. However, there was one thing on his bucket list that he could never do. The legend wanted to play for the Wildcats after high school, but coach Joe Hall did not want to add him to his team.

The three-time NBA champion recently opened up about why Hall did not approve of him. He also talked about why he dropped out of IU and opted for a local college instead.

Bird talks about his personal challenges

In a discussion during the All-Star Weekend, Reggie Miller and Isaiah Thomas got together with Larry Bird to give fans some insights into their careers. According to a YouTube short posted by the CBS Sports CBB, Larry Bird revealed that Kentucky (Wildcats) stopped recruiting him. Shedding more light on the topic, he said, “I wanted to go Kentucky but Kentucky quit recruiting me.”

When Larry’s high-school coach James Jones asked the Wildcats coach Joe Hall about Larry, he stated that Bird was too slow to play for his team. Continuing the conversation, Kodak also mentioned why he left Indiana University within a month where he played under coach Bob Knight. He said, “It was down to Indiana State and IU, so I went to IU. But financially, I couldn’t stay. It wasn’t like I was home sick or I didn’t like the coach.” 

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After spending a year in a local college, Larry Bird rolled up at Indiana State University. But he also mentioned something about the coaches he spent his time with when talking to Reggie and Isaiah.

Larry Bird: College stats

Larry Bird, The Great White Hope, was very successful and helped Indiana State University reach great heights in his three years with the Sycamores. Evidently, his averages of 30.3 points, 13.3 rebounds, and 4.6 assists got him the Naismith Player of the Year award in 1979. He also led the Sycamores to the title game of 1979 against Magic Johnson’s Michigan State where he lost with 75–64 on the board. This gave rise to the enmity between the two icons. Nevertheless, he bagged an 81-13 record for ISU after which he was drafted by the Boston Celtics.

While he may never have gotten a chance to represent the University of Kentucky, the two-time Finals MVP did turn all the available opportunities into wins. Today, the Hall of Famer is highly regarded in the basketball world. With multiple accolades to his name, Larry Bird is a living legend for all the ballers.