Image Source: Celticslife
[Saba Sports News] Jayson Tatum, selected third overall by the Boston Celtics in 2017, had never encountered Celtics legend Larry Bird until the 2024 All-Star Weekend in Indiana. Their meeting captured on video, quickly gained widespread attention.
Jayson Tatum: “Honor to meet you. Good to see you.”
Larry Bird: “I’ve been looking forward to seeing you.”
Jayson Tatum: “Me too, I’m excited about this.”
Larry Bird: “Good luck there, go get them.”
During their interaction, Tatum expressed his honor in meeting Bird, who reciprocated with enthusiasm and wished Tatum good luck. Tatum openly shared his excitement and anxiety about meeting Bird for the first time, marking a memorable moment in his career. In the All-Star game, Tatum contributed 20 points, helping the Eastern Conference secure a victory over the Western Conference with a score of 211-186.
“I ain’t gonna lie. I met Larry Bird tonight for the first time. I never met Larry Bird in my life. So I got to meet him. I was anxious.”
Despite Tatum’s remarkable early career achievements with the Celtics, including five All-Star selections and three All-NBA Selections, his accomplishments still fall short of Bird’s legendary status. Bird, a three-time NBA MVP and three-time champion, set a high bar during his tenure with the Celtics. Interestingly, Bird has not actively mentored Tatum, possibly due to Bird’s long-standing involvement with the Indiana Pacers.
The 2024 All-Star Weekend also saw Bird, alongside NBA greats Andre Iguodala and Julius Erving, attempting to instill a competitive spirit in the players. Despite their efforts, including a locker room visit and motivational speeches, their call for a competitive All-Star game seemed to have limited impact, with the game’s high score being criticized by some as indicative of a lack of competitiveness.