Celtics icon Larry Bird was famous for his unshakeable belief in himself and his sharp tongue on the court. Just ask rookie Shawn Kemp, who got a taste of Bird’s trash talk firsthand.
There’s a famous story about Larry Bird, the Celtics legend known for his supreme confidence. Bird wasn’t just a phenomenal player, he was also a master of trash talk. Apparently, he’d mess with his defenders by calling out his moves before he even made them. This tactic wasn’t just some tall tale – Shawn Kemp, a rookie at the time and a physically imposing player (6’10”, 230 pounds!), can attest to it. Some might think stories about Bird’s trash talk are overblown, but even decades later, Kemp himself confirmed that Bird’s mind games were very much a reality.
It could have been a rude awakening for Kemp, a rookie fresh out of college, facing Larry Bird on his home turf. December 13th, 1989 marked the date when the Seattle Sonics rolled into Boston to battle Bird and the Celtics. The Celtics’ reign of terror in the 80s was over. Bird, alongside his longtime teammates Kevin McHale and Robert Parish, were all past their prime having secured three championships in that decade. This game might have been a changing of the guard, with a young Kemp stepping into the league while Bird’s era was slowly fading.
Despite nagging injuries, Larry Bird wasn’t ready to concede defeat. His competitive fire and unwavering self-belief still burned strong. On the other side of the court stood a young Shawn Kemp, fresh out of college and drafted 17th overall in 1989. A rising star with incredible athleticism, Kemp would later become a six-time NBA All-Star.
Kemp’s rookie season was likely a gradual introduction to the NBA. However, that all changed in Boston when he found himself unexpectedly thrust into the spotlight, tasked (even for a short stint) with guarding the legendary Larry Bird.
“We got to Boston that night, and (Xavier McDaniel) had some knee pain,” Kemp said during a 2024 appearance on the “All the Smoke” podcast. “I was like, it’s a hell of a time for you to come up with knee pain.
“I look in the mirror and I’m like, well I’m about to give this (expletive) fits out here tonight. Before the game, I was rubbing my hands, looking at (Bird), like I’m gonna get your ass, man.
“That morning, they came out with a USA Today article, and it said that Larry didn’t have it no more. So, he came out that night to make a statement. Before the game, he just shook his head and told me, ‘Man, it’s going to be a (expletive)-up night for you.’
Capping off a dominant performance, Bird put up a staggering 40 points, 10 assists, and 11 rebounds for a triple-double. (This emphasizes the overall impact of Bird’s performance)
Bird wasn’t just scoring on Kemp, he was narrating the play-by-play. Bird sank a staggering 17 of his 27 shots, seemingly predicting each bucket before it went in. It was a rough night for Kemp, who only managed 13 minutes on the court against the Celtics legend.
“He was actually calling out bank shots,” Kemp admitted. “He would say, ‘Next time, bank shot left side. I’m gonna pump-fake you, and your dumb ass is gonna go for it.’
“I said, ‘First of all, I’m gonna be so close to you that if you shoot the ball, I’m going to try to rip your (expletive) arm off. What do you think he did? Quick pump-fake, dog, and he just (scored).”
Even though Bird dominated Kemp that night, showing surprising sportsmanship, Kemp revealed Bird actually approached him after the game.
“I guarded his ass so tough that after the game, he sent a little letter over there to me,” Kemp said. “He was like, I’ve had nobody play defense that hard on me. I appreciate you. Then he was like, I got a little All-Star Game. Why don’t you come work out with me and then come to the All-Star Game.
“That meant everything to me. It went from him whoopin’ my ass to him teaching me a few things. I surely appreciate it.”
