May 30, 2024, 03:18 pm Eastern Time
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. — By his own admission, Larry Bird has always been a shy and introverted person.
Then he asked himself why he has to continue speaking on stage in front of thousands of people.
“It’s because of the love and respect that I’ve had for my fans and the love and respect that they’ve shown me,” Bird said.
Indiana State University and Boston Celtics greats headed to a public ceremony Thursday for the official opening of the Larry Bird Museum inside the Terre Haute Convention Center. After the ceremony, Bird took questions from the media, joking that it might be his last interview.
“I have a little street named after me, I have a statue there and now a museum here,” Bird said of the city, home to the state of Indiana. “Thank you, Terre Haute, but I think that’s enough for a while. You have no idea how much I respect the city and the people who live in it.”
The ceremony took place a few days after the Celtics advanced to the NBA Finals by sweeping the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference finals. Bird, a former Pacers head coach and executive, returned to his home-state team as a consultant in 2023.
“I remember at the All-Star Game telling one of the Celtics owners that I thought they had the best team in the league,” said Bird, who won three NBA titles with the Celtics. “I’m very proud of the Indiana Pacers. I think they have a very good chance to move forward and do very well. (Tyrese) Haliburton and other guys play well together. When the ball moves, they win. If they score a little, they win “Sometimes they don’t score. They have a very good team and they will only grow together and improve.”
Bird, 67, is equally proud of the museum and all the work done. The museum contains memorabilia from Bird’s high school, college and NBA career, interactive exhibits and interviews with coaches, teammates and rivals. Bird led Indiana State to the 1979 NCAA championship game before losing to Magic Johnson-led Michigan State.
“I think they accomplished enough to keep everyone’s interest,” Bird said. “I think it will be good for the city and a lot of people will get over it.”
Bird said there are many elements that bring back memories of his career.
Capital Improvement Board Museum Co-Chairwoman Terri Conley said one thing Bird insisted on was that admission to the museum was free.
Bird described the museum’s opening reception as incredible.
“I think that’s what social media is all about, thank God they didn’t have that when I played,” he said. “There are so many little kids wearing my jersey…Terre Haute has followed my career. You don’t go on these trips alone. Terre Haute always had my back.”
Bird never imagined a museum would bear his name.
“All I tried to do was follow in my brother’s footsteps and make the varsity team,” he said. “I was proud when I started as a junior. I kept playing and obviously I love the game. I also loved other sports, but basketball clicked for me.”
Entering his sophomore year at Springs Valley High School, Bird stood just 6-foot-1 before experiencing a huge growth spurt.
“Thank God I grew up or I’d still be working on that garbage truck,” Bird said, referring to the job he had at French Lick after leaving Indiana University before his freshman season began and before enrolling at ISU . “At 6-1, you don’t make it to the NBA unless you’re special and really fast. I even grew up at Indiana State. I went from 6-7½ to 6-9 and that really helped my game.”
Bird said there were some tough losses and big wins along what he called his incredible journey.
“It’s a shame my career didn’t last longer because I could have played two more years but the injuries started piling up,” he said. “I felt like we should have won at least one more championship with the team we had.”
Bird retired before the 1992-93 season due to back problems. Bird helped the Celtics capture NBA titles in 1981, 1984 and 1986. As head coach, Bird led the Indiana Pacers to the NBA Finals in 2000 before losing to the Los Angeles Lakers.
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