He thought Bird was too slow to play at Kentucky
Joe B. Hall’s Larry Bird misstep reshapes the Kentucky GM debate | A Sea Of Blue
Joe B. Hall’s Larry Bird misstep reshapes the Kentucky GM debate | A Sea Of Blue
Never knew JB Hall passed on Larry Bird because
- Thread starter billCgmx_
- Start date
Pretty much. Plus, he was getting Givens, Lee, Robey, Phillips. This is a good book and even better story. I thought I knew a lot about Larry Bird, but there was more in this book.
Nobody knew Bird would become The Legend when he was in high school. Also, with Givens, Robey, Phillips and Lee getting a lot of minutes as freshmen Hall had his front court set for the next 3 years. Knight also lost out on Bird at IU.
Bird never would have made it at UK. He lasted what, a month at IU? He just wasn't designed, especially not at 18, to be part of a huge school with a huge spotlight. He needed some place like Indiana State.
I think he did end up becoming good friends with Rick Robey (as opposed to Kent Benson, who was allegedly a complete *** to Bird when Bird arrived at IU) when they were together on the Celtics, but the Celtics ended up trading Robey, allegedly in part because they thought he was a bad influence on Bird in terms of his training/beer drinking habits.
I think he did end up becoming good friends with Rick Robey (as opposed to Kent Benson, who was allegedly a complete *** to Bird when Bird arrived at IU) when they were together on the Celtics, but the Celtics ended up trading Robey, allegedly in part because they thought he was a bad influence on Bird in terms of his training/beer drinking habits.
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I've heard that he struggled with the vastness of IU. Maybe it was a lot more about Knight, who I feel lacked the ability to make a guy feel warmer about his situation when facing something like homesickness.
Hall might have been just what Bird needed. I wish it would have happened. He'd be the OG of all UK basketball, and UK wins back-to-back titles with Bird.
Over half of modern RRs would pass as well, he wasn't one of the top recruits in the country so obviously he couldn't play
Had nothing to do with Knight. This story story has been brought up 300 times
Bird made Givens look like a silly fool. Love it, especially in Halls face. Bird is my favorite basketball player ever.
He left IU because Kent Benson was mean to him. He got even with him in the NBA, though. Kevin McHale put 56 on him.
He abandoned his first child, a girl, and essentially disowned her for life. He’s now done a few things with her, now that she is grown, though not much.
I said the same thing that Hall thought about Bird. I never thought he would make it in the NBA. I was as wrong as wrong can be.
It had to be Popes fault why Bird didn’t come to UK. Come on cesspool, blame Pope. (Sarcasm)
Bird wanted to go to Kentucky but Hall already had Givens. Hall had to take Givens, being from Lexington and being one of the first black players at UK. Imagine passing on Givens and Bird pulling what he pulled at IU.
I can't say I wouldn't have made the same mistake since I didn't hear about him until he was already tearing it up at Indiana State.
Can you imagine how this board would react if he committed today with that low ranking
Fire Pope!! LOLCan you imagine how this board would react if he committed today with that low ranking
And was part of the only team to defeat Magic Johnson in the tournament.Givens won us a title & put 41 up Duke's ***