For Larry Bird , the media was often just a static-filled backdrop to the actual work. That's how he felt during his playing years and especially during his tenure as the head coach of the Indiana Pacers .
Despite that, Larry Legend didn't harbor a deep-seated hatred for the press, as hate requires too much energy. However, Coach Bird had set some boundaries that he expected every reporter to respect.
According to Bird, "the one thing he couldn't stand" about some NBA reporters is those who were always "snooping around." For him, it wasn't just annoying but more so, very disrespectful.
"If they want to talk about it after I finished saying my piece, that's fine," Bird wrote in his book, "Bird Watching: On Playing and Coaching the Game I Love." "But don't send somebody in there to spy. You won't get very far with me when you pull that crap."
As the years rolled by, Bird had gotten familiar with the NBA reporters, their working styles and tendencies. He knew exactly which reporters were there to talk shop and which ones were trying to squeeze a narrative out of him and his players.
Eventually, Coach Bird became wary and mindful of the sneaky types. Among those whom Larry Legend often watched out for was Jim Gray. For Bird, Gray's style of reporting prioritized spectacle over sports, often looking for drama and controversy.
"I don't like it when one of these TV guys grabs one of my players and says, 'Go in there and tell me what the coach says to you before the game.' I know Jim Gray does that," the three-time league MVP added .
As it turned out, Bird wasn't always a stone wall. If the mood struck him just right, The Hick from French Lick would even have a little fun with the media.
An epic example of this occurred during his playing years with the Boston Celtics . Following an ugly bar fight, Bird injured his shooting hand. While shooting around with his right hand taped up, a reporter began chirping about his injury. What happened next was another classic Larry Legend moment.
Bird challenged the reporter to a free-throw shooting contest with one major handicap: he would only shoot with his left hand. As expected, Larry still won.
"When Dan Shaughnessy asked doubtfully if he was going to play like that in the game, Bird informed the reporter that he could tape up his entire hand and still outshoot him. He then had the trainer tape his shooting hand into a fist and challenged Shaughnessy to a shooting competition: one hundred free throws at $5 a shot," said "Under the Boards" author Jeffrey Lane.
"The two took turns shooting in rounds of ten. Bird, resting the ball on the palm of his bound right fist and guiding it with his left hand, made eighty-six shots, and Shaughnessy owed him $160," he added.
All told, it's quite fascinating to realize how Bird managed to stay composed and be in control even when the media was all over him. Perhaps reporters knew better, so they didn't even dare test Bird's patience.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Mar 31, 2026, where it first appeared in the Old School section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
