During a recent appearance on the ‘Podcast P With Paul George’, former Boston Celtics player Brian Shaw shared a captivating anecdote about NBA legend Larry Bird. Shaw, who was part of the Celtics from 1990 to 1992, recounted a memorable encounter with Bird during one of their early practices together.
“I remember one of the first practices, he told me and Reggie Lewis, he said, I want to play you guys one on two. So like, come on, man. He was like, the only catch is I get the ball first. So me and Reggie look at each other, we like, yeah, all right, man, whatever.”
In the story, Shaw revealed that Bird challenged him and fellow teammate Reggie Lewis to a one-on-two basketball contest. Bird’s stipulation was that he would start with the ball, giving him an immediate advantage. Initially skeptical, Shaw and Lewis accepted the challenge, thinking it would be a straightforward victory against the older Bird.
“So the next thing you know, it’s six nothing. We ain’t even touched the ball yet. He gets his first six shots.
“So we was like, f*** that, we double-teamed him. He finally missed, we got the ball. And then we just kind of played keep away from him. We ended up coming back and winning seven to six.”
To their astonishment, Bird swiftly scored the first six points of the game without Shaw or Lewis even touching the ball. Feeling outmatched, the duo decided to adjust their strategy and double-team Bird to disrupt his scoring rhythm. Eventually, they managed to regain possession and took the lead, winning the game by a narrow margin of seven to six.
“And I was like, and that was one of my early experiences with him. I was like, okay, all right, he got a little bit more than what I thought he had. Then when we started playing, he was cooking everybody, but talking shit and telling them about it.”
Larry Bird played Brian Shaw and Reggie Lewis 1-on-2 and only lost by 1 point!
(via @PodcastPShow) pic.twitter.com/FQqEROZIoZ
— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) February 23, 2024
Reflecting on the experience, Shaw admitted that Bird’s skill and competitiveness exceeded his expectations. Despite being past his prime, Bird demonstrated his scoring prowess and tenacity on the court, all while engaging in playful trash talk.
This anecdote sheds light on Bird’s enduring competitive spirit and basketball IQ, showcasing his ability to hold his own against younger and more athletic opponents. Even in a lighthearted practice setting, Bird’s determination and skill were evident, leaving a lasting impression on Shaw and Lewis.
Karl Malone Nearly Took Out Brian Shaw As Larry Bird Was Destroying Him
During a game against the Utah Jazz, former Boston Celtics player Brian Shaw found himself in a precarious situation as NBA legend Larry Bird was dismantling their opponents. Shaw recounted a memorable encounter involving Bird and Utah Jazz star Karl Malone, highlighting the intensity and physicality of NBA matchups during that era.
“We were playing Utah and back then you score on a play, you just keep running it again until they stop it. So I would have to hit Reggie, go through, set a cross screen for Larry and Karl Malone was guarding Larry. Larry was killing him.”
“Kevin Mchale was locking Karl Malone up on the other end and Larry was talking about, yeah, we too bad white boys ain’t we?”
As Bird repeatedly torched Malone on the court, Shaw’s role in the game became significant. In an era where teams ran the same play until it was stopped, Shaw was tasked with setting screens to free up Bird for scoring opportunities. However, this routine task turned into a nerve-wracking ordeal when Malone issued a stern warning to Shaw after being repeatedly embarrassed by Bird’s scoring prowess.
“So I remember going across, setting the screen on Karl the first time Larry came off, caught it, scored. As we were running back down the court, Karl Malone said, young fella, you set a screen on me again like that, I’m going to knock your head off your shoulders.”
Malone’s frustration reached a boiling point as Bird continued to dominate their matchup. Shaw vividly recalled the tense moment when Malone threatened to retaliate against him for setting screens that facilitated Bird’s scoring. As Shaw prepared to set another screen, he couldn’t shake the feeling of apprehension, fearing Malone’s physical retaliation.
“The whole time I’m running down court, I’m like, damn, is he really going to do this shit? And I know we’re about to run the play again, right? Because we just scored on him. So I hit Reggie again. I go across to set the pick.”
“I’m standing in the middle of the lane. Larry cuts off, and I see Karl rear his forearm back like this. And so I’m standing in, standing in. I’m like, is this motherfucker really going to try to do it?”
“And then he came through, and at the last second, I jumped out the way. And I was like, damn, he really, and he was going to take it out on me because Larry was busting his ass.”
Despite the looming threat, Shaw fulfilled his role in the play, setting a screen for Bird as planned. However, as Bird made his move, Shaw witnessed Malone’s forearm rear back in preparation for a potential collision. In a split-second decision, Shaw narrowly avoided a dangerous encounter as Malone barreled towards him with hostile intentions.
Reflecting on the incident, Shaw marveled at Malone’s determination to exact revenge for Bird’s dominance on the court. The story serves as a testament to the intense competitiveness and physicality that defined NBA matchups during that era, showcasing the lengths players would go to gain a competitive edge.
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