Boston Celtics' Larry Bird made a free throw against the Milwaukee Bucks at Boston Garden Court
Bird never crossed the defender quickly in the full court and dunked hard in his face. He was never lucky enough to have the physical talent of his opponent, Magic Johnson. But what the Boston Celtics legend has is probably the most fundamental game in NBA history.
Even at the peak of his career, in 1985, the legend quickly spoke out for several coaches who helped him grow into an eventual Hall of Famer. But not Red Auerbach or KC Jones.
That was his youth coach. Or, as Bird puts it, his "enlightenment" coach.
Boston Celtics legend Bird learned everything he needed from his youth coach.
Bird became an important recruit after his career at Springs Valley High School. By the time he graduated in 1974, his overall score had reached 1125, according to Hoops Hall.
Averaging 30.6 points and 20.5 rebounds per game, he was selected for the Indiana All-Star Game and received a scholarship from Bob Knight's Indiana University.
However, Bird left Indiana University and eventually came to Indiana State University. When he led the Sycamores unbeaten in the regular season, he was named the 1979 College Player of the Year.
According to Sports Reference, he scored 28.6 points per night of games that year, plus 14.9 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 2.5 steals.
At that year's National Championship, his battle with Johnson was the start of an epic duel of their careers.
In a New York Times article, Bird said the biggest influence on his career was his youth coach:
I've never had a talent for speed, but I've always had good coaches, back to when I played Beatty League basketball. Jim Jones, my high school coach, probably had a bigger impact on my game than anyone else. He believes in the importance of teaching fundamentals, leadership and teamwork.
He taught basketball more than just running around on the court. He always points out that if you pass the ball to a teammate who is easier at shooting than you, it's just as worth scoring it yourself.
Bird talks about learning how to play basketball as a child
When he entered the NBA, he wasn't yet a mature product. Bird moved on. But the groundwork was laid before he arrived in Indiana.
Dribbling, passing, shooting, being selfless — these are all things the 206cm forward uses to rule the NBA.
He honed his physical qualities. But as Bird puts it, "the importance of leadership and teamwork," and the mindset of providing and giving teammates empty shooting opportunities
He was the first to play the magician at the 1979 National Championship. For the rest of their NBA careers, they continued to compete.
But Larry already had what he needed—and defeated—the magician. He learned this before he graduated from high school.