Starstruck Jayson Tatum Was Every Celtics Fan After Meeting Larry Bird

He couldn’t believe the Boston Celtics legend was looking forward to meeting him, too.

Jayson Tatum was drafted by the Boston Celtics in 2017. But for some reason, the standout small forward hadn’t met one of the franchise’s greatest players until this past All-Star weekend. 

Ahead of Sunday’s All-Star Game in Indianapolis, Tatum was being interviewed by former NBA guard Jamal Crawford, and Tatum shared that he’d just met Celtics great Larry Bird.

The 25-year-old five-time All-Star still appeared to be a bit jittery from the interaction.

“I ain’t gon’ lie. I met Larry Bird tonight for the first time,” Tatum told Crawford. “I never met Larry Bird in my life, so, I got to meet him, and that just gave me like … I was anxious.”

Jayson Tatum just said he met Larry Bird for the first time tonight.

Tatum was drafted by the Celtics in 2017. pic.twitter.com/P8iJkwYcHA

— Jeff Eisenband (@JeffEisenband) February 19, 2024

The event was an appropriate setting for the two to meet, as Bird hails from Indiana. But the fact that the two never had met previously, despite their Celtics connection, is surprising. After the game, Tatum discussed the meeting a bit more. 

“I got a chance to go meet him and tell him how much of an honor it was to meet him,” Tatum said after the Eastern Conference’s 211–186 win. “He told me he was looking forward to meeting me, so, that was crazy to hear him say that. He’s a lot taller than I thought he was.” 

Tatum is 6’8”, and Bird was listed at 6’9” during his playing days. So Tatum apparently was looking up to Bird in more ways than one.