Indiana State University and Boston Celtics great Larry Bird explains how his former Springs Valley High School coach, Jim Jones, taught him to handle the ball during a press conference after the grand opening ceremony for the Larry Bird Museum, Thursday, May 30, 2024, in Terre Haute, Indiana. (Joseph C. Garza/The Tribune-Star via AP)
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. — By his admission, Larry Bird has at all times been a shy introvert.
So he wondered why he had to maintain talking on stage in front of hundreds of individuals.
“It’s due to the love and respect I’ve had for my fans and the love and respect they’ve shown me back,” Bird said.
The Indiana State University and Boston Celtics great addressed a public ceremony Thursday for the official opening of the Larry Bird Museum contained in the Terre Haute Convention Center. After the ceremony, Bird took questions from the media, which he jokingly said could be his last interview.
“I got a little bit street named after me, I got a statue on the market and now a museum here,” Bird said of town, the house of Indiana State. “Thanks, Terre Haute, but I believe that’s enough for some time. You’ve no idea how much I respect town and the people in it.”
Coincidentally, the ceremony took place just a few days after the Celtics advanced to the NBA Finals by sweeping the Indiana Pacers within the Eastern Conference finals. Bird, a former head coach and executive with the Pacers, returned to his home-state team as a consultant in 2023.
“I remember on the All-Star Game, I told considered one of the Celtics owners that I believed that they had the perfect team within the league,” said Bird, who won three NBA titles with the Celtics.
“I’m very pleased with the Indiana Pacers. I believe they’ve got a excellent opportunity to maintain moving on and doing thoroughly. (Tyrese) Haliburton and other guys play well together. When the ball’s moving, they win. In the event that they guard a little bit bit, they win. Sometimes they don’t guard. They’ve a excellent team they usually’ll only grow together and improve.”
READ: ‘Pressure? I don’t know what that’s,’ says NBA legend Larry Bird
Bird, 67, is just as pleased with the museum and all of the work that went into it. The museum accommodates memorabilia from Bird’s highschool, college and NBA profession, 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 believe they got enough in there to maintain everyone’s interest,” Bird said. “I believe it’s going to be good for town and numerous people will come through it.”
Bird said there are such a lot of items that bring back memories of his profession.
Capital Improvement Board Museum Co-Chair Terri Conley said one thing Bird insisted on is the museum admission was free.
Bird described the museum opening reception as unbelievable.
“I believe that’s what social media is all about, thank God they didn’t have that once I was playing,” he said. “There are such a lot of young kids wearing my jersey. … Terre Haute has followed my profession. You don’t make these journeys alone. Terre Haute at all times had my back.”
Items are displayed at the doorway to the Larry Bird Museum inside the Terre Haute Convention Center throughout the grand opening ceremony Thursday, May 30, 2024, in Terre Haute, Indiana. (Joseph C. Garza/The Tribune-Star via AP)
Bird never envisioned having a museum named after him.
“All I attempted to do was follow my brother’s footsteps and make the varsity team,” he said. “I made myself proud once I got to begin as a junior. I kept playing and, obviously, I like the sport. I loved other sports, too, but basketball clicked for me.”
READ: Not a ‘tattooed guy’: Larry Bird mural can be modified
Entering his sophomore 12 months at Springs Valley High School, Bird was just 6-foot-1 before undergoing an enormous growth spurt.
“Thank God, I grew or I’d still be working on that garbage truck,” said Bird, referring to the job he had in 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 quick. I even grew up at Indiana State. I went from 6-7 1/2 to 6-9 and that basically helped my game.”
Bird said there have been some tough losses and great wins along what he called his amazing journey.
“It’s just unlucky my profession didn’t last more because I could have played two more years however the injuries began mounting,” he said. “I felt we should always have won a minimum of yet one more championship with the team we had.”
Bird retired before the 1992-93 season with back problems. Bird helped the Celtics capture NBA titles in 1981, ’84, and ’86. As a head coach, Bird coached the Indiana Pacers to the NBA Finals in 2000 before losing to the Los Angeles Lakers.
