Michael Jordan once said, “Larry Bird is the greatest trash talker and mind-game player of all time. He taught me everything I know about getting in folks’ heads.”
That was reason enough to call 17 of Bird’s former teammates and opponents and ask for their best trash-talking stories about Larry Legend. They delivered.
Leo Rautins, opponent: I say this in the utmost complimentary way: Larry was a prick.
Kevin Gamble, teammate: He would run by you and say, “I told you, motherfucker. I told you I was going to do that.” Or he’d smack you on the butt and say, “Nice try.”
Earl Cureton, opponent: He pump-faked a lot so you’d be running at him, and as you went by, he’d slap you on your ass and then shoot the ball.
Xavier McDaniel, opponent: You had to get up to play him because he was one of those guys that would torch you and talk shit until the end.
Lon Rosen, Magic Johnson’s agent: Earvin used to tell me,…
