• Spike Lee is one of the most recognizable NBA superfans in the world
• Lee has often incorporated basketball culture in his films and shows, as he did with the 1986 classic ‘She’s Gotta Have It’
• Lee’s character disses Larry Bird in the film, leading Lee to apologize to Bird in real-life
Larry Bird is one of the most iconic NBA players to ever step onto the court. Whether it was his rivalry with Magic Johnson or his being one of the best players in the league and white, the world took notice of Bird on the big stage.
Basketball superfan Spike Lee has often referenced basketball culture in his movies. In the iconic ‘She’s Gotta Have It’ from 1986, Lee referred to Bird as ‘an ugly motherf***er’, a line that the director/actor wanted to apologize for later.
“My first film, my character Mars Blackmon is having a discussion about basketball. My character said a not-nice thing about Larry Bird.”
The character said, “He’s the ugliest motherf***er to me, that’s what he is.”
“The first time I met him was at a Capital One commercial. I was really nervous, I made a point that when Larry comes to the set, I will go to his trailer. So I went and knocked on his trailer, he was alone. ‘Mr. Bird, can I come in?’ I was nervous, and I said, ‘Larry I apologize for anything that you might have taken offense to. He went, ‘Spike man, forget about that’ and dapped me up.”
Lee’s ‘She’s Gotta Have It’ is a fantastic watch. His character, Mars Blackmon, was the first character to wear Air Jordans in a movie, which led to Lee playing the character and featuring in Air Jordan commercials alongside Michael Jordan.
Larry Bird Wouldn’t Take Offense To A Throwaway Comment
Larry Bird was often dishing the trash-talk, and not be on the receiving end. But by virtue of being like that, Bird had incredibly thick skin and would let his talking be done on the court. The line Lee’s character said isn’t really anything scathing about Bird, so it’s unlikely he was going to get offended by that. Good on Lee for apologizing, as some people may have held onto that portrayal negatively.
There’s nothing that anyone can say to diminish what Bird achieved. He became a three-time champion and three-time league MVP, winning two Finals MVP awards. He made 12 All-Star Games, 10 All-NBA Teams, and three All-Defensive Teams.
Bird’s career average of 24.3 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 6.3 assists per game proves that Bird is arguably one of the best two-way players of all time and one that would fit seamlessly in the modern era of positionless basketball.
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