Larry Bird Would Go to the Gym ‘Every Single Day’ After His Playing Career to Help a Former All-Star Improve Their Game

Larry Bird was an all-time great basketball player from the 80’s as a member of the Boston Celtics, and he was a pioneer when it came to using technology to train. He was a machine in the weight room, and if he wasn’t, he was certainly pushing it. Larry had a very strict diet and training routine, and he was known for going to the gym on a daily basis.

Larry Bird, a National Basketball Association all-star and Hall of Fame player, was in his heyday in 1984. Playing for the Boston Celtics, he was a beast on the court, known for his consistency, stamina, defense, and shooting. Bird was one of the greatest players of all time, winning three NBA titles and the MVP award twice. He was named to the All-NBA Team seven times and the All-NBA Defensive Second-Team five times. He also won the NBA Most Valuable Player Award three times. One of his most impressive performances came in the 1985 NBA Finals against the Lakers, when he scored 60 points in a game—the most points the Celtics ever scored in a single game. Bird is one of the most

Larry Bird is a household name. The 21-year-old Boston Celtics legend is one of the greatest players of all time, and is credited with being one of the greatest clutch players in all of sports. Bird was so good, that he was able to play for nearly 20 years without having to commit to playing in the NBA, due to the Celtics drafting him as an 18 year old. During his career, Bird made 13 all-star appearances, and was the recipient of nine of the league’s most prestigious awards. In the 1986-87 season, Bird garnered his first NBA MVP after leading the Celtics to a 60 win season.. Read more about where did larry bird grow up and let us know what you think.

It’s always inspiring to watch some of the NBA’s best players pass on their expertise to future generations, and Larry Bird has done just that since his final season in 1991-92. Bird’s prior responsibilities with the Indiana Pacers as a head coach and executive allowed him maintain a direct channel of contact with NBA players who came after him.

Bird even went to the gym every day to assist a former All-Star player improve his skills.

Metta World Peace was that former All-Star.

Larry Bird worked with the Indiana Pacers as a coach and executive.

NBA legend Larry Bird, who used to go to the gym every day to help Metta World Peace.

NBA legend Larry Bird, who used to go to the gym every day to help Metta World Peace. On October 11, 2009, Larry Bird gestures from his seat during a game between the Denver Nuggets and the Indiana Pacers. | Getty Images/AFP/Frederic J. Brown

Bird’s Hall of Fame NBA career ended in 1991-92, with the Boston Celtics, where he was a 12-time All-Star, three-time NBA MVP, and three-time champion.

Bird did, however, join the Indiana Pacers — his home state’s club — as a special assistant inside the front office not long after his retirement, according to Yahoo. From 1997-98 to 1999-2000, he led the club for three seasons, taking it to the Eastern Conference Finals each year and the NBA Finals in 1999-2000.

In 2003, Bird was promoted to president of basketball operations for the club. Danny Granger, Paul George, and Myles Turner are just a few of the successful players he selected. Before stepping down in 2017, the former two-time NBA Finals MVP also helped Indiana reach three more Eastern Conference Finals.

Bird, on the other hand, got to work with a lot of outstanding players during his tenure as the Pacers’ head coach and president of basketball operations, including Metta World Peace.

Metta World Peace benefited from Larry Bird’s assistance in improving his game.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACs vLorc7c

Metta World Peace, also known as Ron Artest and Metta Sandiford-Artest, was dealt to Indiana by the Chicago Bulls in February 2002, following Bird’s coaching stint but before he became president of basketball operations. 

He immediately rose to prominence with the Pacers, averaging 15.5 points and 5.2 rebounds in his first full season in 2002-03. In 2003-04, he averaged 18.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 2.1 steals per game, helping him to become an All-Star.

Around that time, Larry Bird became president, and his leadership was crucial in improving World Peace.

“I told him, I told him, ‘Larry, I want to become so much better,’” World Peace stated on Shannon Sharpe’s Club Shay Shay on Aug. 9. “Every day, Larry would come down to the gym and speak to me about my game. That’s also when my grade point average increased.” 

“Larry would be there, working with me on my elbow; he got my elbow in, and (former coach and player) Chuck Person got my elbow up,” he said. And I’m collaborating with both of them… “It’s the first time I’ve ever had a jumper,” I said. It was just insane.”

As a result, World Peace gives Bird a lot of credit for helping him become an All-Star while with the Pacers. And who knows, maybe all of his hard training on his shot paid off when he won a championship in Los Angeles.

For Metta World Peace, the hard effort paid off.

World Peace went on to have a long and successful NBA career, but one of his most memorable moments occurred when he needed to depend on his jumper.

During Game 7 of the 2010 NBA Finals, the play occurred.

In 2009-10, World Peace had just signed the Los Angeles Lakers, where he would play with Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol. He also became a valuable member of one of the league’s top teams, averaging 11.0 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 1.4 steals a game.

But, against the Boston Celtics in Game 7 of the 2010 NBA Finals, he showed how much his hard work paid off by making a 3-pointer with 1:01 remaining to increase the Lakers’ advantage to six points. After that, the Celtics had to foul LA for the remainder of the game, which resulted in the Lake Show winning the title 83-79.

World Peace’s shot was undoubtedly his best of his career, but it also cemented Bryant’s legacy by winning him his sixth NBA title.

So, although Bird’s work with World Peace didn’t directly contribute to the Lakers winning a championship, it’s easy to speculate how much it contributed to the former All-Star and 2003-04 Defensive Player of the Year making that shot.

Who knows, maybe Bryant would only have four championships if Bird hadn’t stepped in to assist World Peace. And maybe Bird’s old club, the Celtics, would have won another title. It’s difficult to say one way or the other, but one thing is certain: Larry Bird had a major influence on Metta World Peace’s career.

Basketball Reference provided the statistics.

Larry Bird’s $24 million career was ruined when he built a driveway for his mother: ‘I was wondering whether I was going to be in a wheelchair.’

Larry Bird would go to the gym “every single day” after his playing career to help a former all-star improve their game. According to Larry Bird, he would go to the gym “every single day” after his playing career to help a former all-star improve their game. At least, that’s what he said. What’s interesting is that he never said it during his playing career.. Read more about is larry bird still alive and let us know what you think.

This article broadly covered the following related topics:

  • larry bird
  • larry bird championships
  • larry bird wife
  • the legend of larry bird
  • what teams did larry bird play for

Related articles

Comments

Share article

Latest articles

Newsletter

Subscribe to stay updated.