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Dominique Wilkins tells Larry Bird trash talk story

By Charles Rahrig V

May 24, 2014; Miami, FL, USA; Indiana Pacers president Larry Bird watches the game against the Miami Heat in game three of the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at American Airlines Arena. Miami Heat defeated the Indiana Pacers 99-87. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
May 24, 2014; Miami, FL, USA; Indiana Pacers president Larry Bird watches the game against the Miami Heat in game three of the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at American Airlines Arena. Miami Heat defeated the Indiana Pacers 99-87. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Atlanta Hawks legend shares a story about the Boston Celtics legend

Larry Bird is one of the greatest to ever take the court in the NBA. His performances were legendary and so was his trash talk. Before the Hawks take on the Celtics Wednesday night, Hawks legend Dominique Wilkins was interviewed about his playing days and more importantly his battles against Larry Legend.

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Wilkins and his Hawks team were a young team and they quickly learned the greatness of Boston.

One of Wilkins’ stories highlighted one of his first games against Bird and it appeared that the Celtics star showed no mercy to him verbally and physically on the court.

"“One of the first times I ever played against him, I went out for the opening tip and I went to shake his hand. He just stood there and looked at me stone-faced with his hands behind his back,” Wilkins said recently.“I was like, ‘Whoa.’ Then we were getting ready for the tip and he says to me, ‘You don’t belong in this league, Homes.’ I couldn’t believe it, but it happened so fast, I didn’t know what to think.“Then they had the ball and I was on him and he said, ‘I don’t know why they got you guarding me, Homes. You can’t guard me.’ Then, whap, he hit a 3. Then he came down again and said, ‘They made a mistake putting you on me, Homes,’ and he took another 3.”Getting into the story, Wilkins began to act things out with his facial expressions.“So now I’m hot,” he said. “I’m hot. I mean, I’m steaming.“Then a little while later, I came down on a break and he was backpedaling. I just went right after him. I jumped up and he tried to challenge, but I took that right through the rim. He fell and hit the basket support.“He got up and said, ‘I like you, rookie. You’ve got(guts).’ I was happy for a second, and then he said, ‘But I’m still going for 40 on you tonight.’ ”He then paused the story, stepped back and smiled.“But I got him,” Wilkins said. “He only scored 39.”"

While Bird wasn’t easy on Wilkins, you can tell he had respect for Wilkins not backing down and continuing to fight every play. The rivalry between Atlanta and Boston is one of the more underrated rivalries, but perhaps produced one of the greatest games in NBA history. The Celtics edged the young Hawks team 118-116 in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals in 1988.

It was probably one of the most memorable moments of Wilkins career as his 47 points almost carried the Hawks to victory. However, the experience of the Bird and the Celtics carried them past Atlanta. The story told by Wilkins shows not only how great Bird and the Celtics were, but how understated their rivalry was.

The 80’s were some of the best years of basketball and hearing classic stories like that of Wilkins, creates an even more nostalgic feeling.

[H/T: CBS Sports]

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