Despite Being One of the Celtics’ Biggest Legends, Larry Bird Faced ‘Constant Mental Burden’ in Boston for 1 Reason

Published 11/01/2022, 6:30 PM EDT

The Boston Celtics boast of having some of the best players ever represent the franchise. Widely regarded as one of the greatest NBA players ever, Larry Bird is undoubtedly one of the biggest legends to represent the Celtics.

With a fan following like no other, Bird was under extreme pressure all the time. While on the court, he faced the pressure of the fans and the expectations.

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Alongside Bird, Kevin McHale and Robert Parish formed an integral part of the team. McHale once revealed why Bird is under ‘constant mental burden’ whenever he is playing at home. However, he was quite relaxed while on the road.

“At home, under the constant mental burden of being Larry Bird, he tended to shun off-court commitments and quite frequently ducked out on the press at Boston Garden, but the road seemed to liberate him“, said a report talking about how McHale viewed Bird.

Moreover, it seems the away environment worked better for Bird. The new faces, places, and even the new hotel coffee shops meant Bird would often give long interviews to reporters while on the road.

How good was Larry Bird for the Boston Celtics?

There are few NBA legends who are as iconic as Larry Bird. He was drafted by the Boston Celtics as the sixth overall pick during the 1978 NBA draft.

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He spent his entire career with the Celtics winning three NBA championships. Alongside his titles, Bird has been named the Rookie of the Year during the 1978-79 season. Moreover, he has three MVP awards and two final MVP accolades. In his 13 seasons in the league, Bird has a phenomenal career average of 24.3 points, 6.3 assists, and 10.0 rebounds.

He is best remembered for his rivalry with fellow Hall of Famer and Los Angeles Lakers legend Magic Johnson. Johnson has a 22-15 record against the Celtics legend.

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What is your favorite memory of Larry Bird? Let us know in the comments down below.

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Abhinava is an NBA writer for EssentiallySports. He is currently pursuing his Bachelor's in Journalism and Mass Communication. Abhinava has been following NBA for the past 6 years and is a huge fan of the Golden State Warriors and Stephen Curry.

Despite Being One of the Celtics’ Biggest Legends, Larry Bird Faced ‘Constant Mental Burden’ in Boston for 1 Reason

How good was Larry Bird for the Boston Celtics?

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