Boston Celtics Legend Larry Bird Once Played A Game Mostly With His Left Hand Because He Could

Larry Bird claimed he was saving his right hand for the next opponent

Larry Bird appears at the top of all NBA trash-talk lists. 

If you ask any player from his era, they say Bird could bark with the best of them. No moment showed that better than when the Boston Celtics played the Portland Trail Blazers Feb. 14, 1986. 

Bird decided to shoot left-handed (he is right-handed) most of the game. He finished with 47 points, 14 rebounds, 11 assists in 49 minutes in a 120-119 victory in overtime. Ten of his 34 shots were taken with the left. 

Bird's reasoning was simple: His next opponent was rival Magic Johnson and the Los Angeles Lakers. 

 “I’m saving my right hand for the Lakers," Bird told reporters in the postgame. 

Sure enough, Bird led the Celtics past the Lakers two days later by recording 22 points, 18 rebounds and seven assists. 

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