“I should have quit right there.” Larry Bird said after his greatest game, in which he double-doubled the legendary big man to help the Celtics win their third NBA title.
When it comes to clinching an NBA Finals, Larry Bird is an experienced player.
The Boston Celtics of 2024 will take on the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA Finals on Monday night, and Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and company only need to look to Larry Legend’s lead to know exactly how to win a crucial game in the series.
In the NBA Finals of 1986, Bird and the Celtics faced off against the Houston Rockets and a youthful Hakeem Olajuwon.
During the height of Bird and the Celtics’ dominance, Olajuwon had not yet developed into the dominant center he would eventually become.
Bird had defeated the Rockets in the 1981 Finals and led Boston to victory over Magic Johnson and the Los Angeles Lakers in 1984.
In addition, he won the league MVP award in 1984–1986 and wanted to win back the championship after losing to the Lakers in the 1985 Finals.
After acquiring former Clippers big man Bill Walton, who won Sixth Man of the Year in his first season in green and white, Bird and Boston made a triumphant comeback in 1986.
Often regarded as one of the greatest frontcourts in NBA history, the Celtics’ “Big Three” of Bird, Kevin McHale, and Robert Parish dominated the league on their way to 67 regular season victories.
Being the first player in NBA history to win three consecutive MVP Awards, Bird was an incredible player who trash-talked Olajuwon at the All-Star Game, won the first-ever Three-Point Shootout, and averaged 25.8 points, 9.8 rebounds, 6.8 assists, and 2.0 steals per game.
The Celtics’ dominance carried over into the postseason, and they advanced to the Finals where they faced the Rockets after dropping just one game in three rounds.
Olajuwon, a Nigerian native born in Lagos, claimed prior to Game 1 that he was unaware of the Celtics’ rich past, which included 15 championship banners.
“I have no knowledge of this custom. “I’m not from this area,” he declared.
Bird said, “We’d like to give him a two-week history lesson.”
In the series, Bird accomplished just that, recording two triple-doubles, the most notable of which was a 29-point, 11-rebound, 12-assist, and three-steal performance in a decisive Game 6.
The starting five for the C’s outscored the Rockets team 98-97 to win 114-97 and secure the final title at Boston Garden.
Bird averaged 24 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 9.5 assists per game in the Finals, earning him the title of MVP for the second and final time in his career.
Olajuwon, a Nigerian native born in Lagos, claimed prior to Game 1 that he was unaware of the Celtics’ rich past, which included 15 championship banners.
“I have no knowledge of this custom. “I’m not from this area,” he declared.
Bird said, “We’d like to give him a two-week history lesson.”
In the series, Bird accomplished just that, recording two triple-doubles, the most notable of which was a 29-point, 11-rebound, 12-assist, and three-steal performance in a decisive Game 6.
The starting five for the C’s outscored the Rockets team 98-97 to win 114-97 and secure the final title at Boston Garden.
Bird averaged 24 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 9.5 assists per game in the Finals, earning him the title of MVP for the second and final time in his career.
