Larry Bird talks about his game-day mindset and remembers 3-point shootouts.

It was a big mind game, right?

“I really had no clue,” Bird said. “I never really practiced them. Everybody’s sitting there (in the locker room), everybody’s real quiet … so I look in and I look around, and it just came out. I had no clue I was going to win it.”

Bird was well aware the winner received “10 grand,” he got a little extra motivation from Celtics teammate Robert Parish.

In an NBA TV special that aired on Monday night, Bird spoke with Kevin McHale, a former teammate of his while playing for the Boston Celtics.
In 3-point shooting competitions
One of Bird’s most well-known moments was telling his opponents ahead of time in 1986 that he would win the inaugural NBA All-Star 3-point shooting competition.
Yes, it was a major mind trick.

Bird admitted, “I really had no clue.” “I didn’t really get to practice them. Everyone is sitting there in the locker room, and they are all quite silent. As I peer inside and around, it suddenly appears. I had no idea that I would come out on top.”

Although Bird was well aware that the winner received “10 grand,” his Celtics teammate Robert Parish gave him a little more inspiration.

I knew right then that I had to win because Robert (Parish) told me there was no way in hell I was going to win.”

Bird won the first three All-Star 3-point shooting competitions, and he sealed his title in the final one by making the money shot in the colors red, white, and blue. As he shot, he glanced at the hoop and pointed upward, confident in his basket.