Steve continues his Celtics Countdown series with the No. 2 pick on his all-time Celtics list: Larry Bird. From a legendary trash-talking moment at the All-Star three-point contest to the garbage truck detour that nearly kept him out of Indiana State, Steve walks through the full arc of Bird's career — three championships, three MVPs, the Bird-Magic rivalry that helped save the NBA, and the front-office success he never got to have in Boston. Before diving in, check out more from the network at https://thepeachbasket.net/ballmer/.
00:00 — Intro and a quick word on thePeachBasket network
01:00 — Setting up the No. 2 pick: Larry Bird
02:00 — Bird's underrated defense and the All-Star three-point contest trash talk
03:00 — Career accolades: Rookie of the Year, AP Athlete of the Year, retired No. 33
04:00 — French Lick roots, the Bob Knight recruitment, and the garbage truck story
05:00 — Indiana State's run to the title game against Magic Johnson and Michigan State
06:00 — Boston drafts Bird, and his rookie-year turnaround
07:00 — The 1981 title, plus the additions of Kevin McHale and Robert Parish
08:00 — The trade for Bill Walton and the 1986 championship run
09:00 — The 1987 Finals loss to the Lakers and McHale's broken foot
10:00 — Career decline, retirement, the Pacers years, and Bird's legacy
01:00 — Setting up the No. 2 pick: Larry Bird
02:00 — Bird's underrated defense and the All-Star three-point contest trash talk
03:00 — Career accolades: Rookie of the Year, AP Athlete of the Year, retired No. 33
04:00 — French Lick roots, the Bob Knight recruitment, and the garbage truck story
05:00 — Indiana State's run to the title game against Magic Johnson and Michigan State
06:00 — Boston drafts Bird, and his rookie-year turnaround
07:00 — The 1981 title, plus the additions of Kevin McHale and Robert Parish
08:00 — The trade for Bill Walton and the 1986 championship run
09:00 — The 1987 Finals loss to the Lakers and McHale's broken foot
10:00 — Career decline, retirement, the Pacers years, and Bird's legacy