Reggie Miller, Mark Jackson Recall Larry Bird Incident That Left Them Flustered.
Larry Bird’s legendary status with the Boston Celtics, where he won three consecutive MVPs in the 1980s, extended into his coaching career with the Indiana Pacers.
However, his antics off the court could still surprise his players. Reggie Miller and Mark Jackson shared a humorous and shocking story about Bird during a June 2024 episode of the “Mark Jackson Show.”
The story began with Miller and Jackson reminiscing about their time playing for Bird. Jackson described Bird as one of the greatest, someone they idolized and competed against. Before one game, the captains had to speak with Bird and jogged off the court with 20 seconds left on the clock.
Miller continued, recounting how they couldn’t find Bird in his office. Eventually, they discovered him in the shower area, sitting in a chair and smoking a pack of Newport cigarettes. Bird nonchalantly asked what they needed, but Miller and Jackson, startled by the sight, assured him they were fine and left.
The encounter left Jackson and Miller flustered, impacting their performance. Jackson admitted it led to the worst first half for a starting backcourt. Miller echoed the sentiment, saying he couldn’t make a shot and that seeing Bird like that affected them mentally.
Both players emphasized how much they revered Bird. Miller, who patterned his game after Bird’s, was particularly struck by the incident. They recounted how it wasn’t just Bird’s skill but his approach to the game and his trash-talking that they admired. The sight of their hero casually smoking before a game was a jarring contrast to the legend they idolized.