Image Source: NBA.com
[Saba Sports News] One might assume Paul Pierce and Larry Bird have crossed paths many times, given their status as Boston Celtics legends. Surprisingly, they haven’t. Pierce explained why during an appearance on Undisputed.
“I saw Larry once when he came to the (TD) Garden for a game against Indiana,” Pierce said. “I was playing for the Celtics, and they gave him a standing ovation. That’s the closest I’ve seen him. He never really came back to Boston, likely due to issues with the former owners.”
Pierce noted that Bird didn’t attend the Celtics’ 75th anniversary celebration or their 2008 championship celebration. When asked if he wished he could have picked Bird’s brain about basketball, Pierce said he would have loved to. He did, however, cherish conversations with other Celtics legends like Bill Russell and Tom Heinsohn.
It’s not that Bird has an issue with Pierce. Bird only met Jayson Tatum for the first time at the 2024 All-Star Game, likely because it was held in Indiana. Bird’s absence from Boston is likely due to his long association with the Indiana Pacers.
He joined the Pacers as head coach in 1997, became president of basketball operations in 2003, and now serves as a consultant.
Interestingly, Bird’s name has come up as the Pacers face the Celtics in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. Despite his accomplishments with Boston, Bird is undoubtedly rooting for the Pacers. They nearly won Game 1 but lost 133-128 in overtime.