Boston Celtics Great Larry Bird Even Trash-Talked Opposing Coaches

Danny Ainge recalls the time Larry Bird trash-talked New York Knicks coach Hubie Brown

Boston Celtics great Larry Bird is often considered one of the best trash-talkers in NBA history. 

Most of his words were directed at opposing players but coaches weren't off limits. During a recent interview with The Players' Tribune, Celtics teammate Danny Ainge told a story of Bird giving it to the New York Knicks coach Hubie Brown. 

It was basically Bird saying the Knicks had no one who could guard him. He averaged 24.7 points, 10.9 rebounds and 6.8 assists in 60 games against the Knicks. 

"They're sitting there, playing in Madison Square Garden," Ainge said. "And he's just taking the ball out of bounds in front of the bench. So the whole bench can hear him, right? And he'd go like, `Hubie, this is all you got for me tonight? Like, you have no one else that can guard me? This is getting ridiculous.' And then Hubie would put in like Johnny Newman. He goes, `Wait, are you serious? That's the guy you're putting on me?'"

“Wait, are you serious? That’s the guy you’re putting on me?”

Larry Bird’s legendary trash talk didn’t stop with the players. He had plenty to say to coaches, too, that had both benches cracking up.😂 pic.twitter.com/WRJ2g16ufj

— The Players' Tribune (@PlayersTribune) August 19, 2023

Brown later gained fame as a television announcer but Bird was doing all the commentary on this night. It was yet another one of his legendary trash-talking scenes. 

"We loved it," Ainge said. "Even Hubie's team in New York is like laughing at Bird's trash talk." 

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