When asked what he would have said to Bill Laimbeer, if he had attended Larry Bird Night, Larry Bird responded in a classic way.
The most sought-after ticket in the city since the 1984 NBA Finals’ Game 7. It was quite the challenge to get into the Boston Garden for Larry Bird Night in February 1993. Stars such as Magic Johnson, Bobby Orr, John Havlicek, and other of Bird’s previous teammates were there in the building.
One individual who was not present was Bird’s bitter rival and well-known provocateur, Bill Laimbeer. The legendary Boston Celtics player responded in a manner reminiscent of Larry Bird when asked what he would have done if Laimbeer had shown up.
If you weren’t among the fortunate 14,890 individuals who were able to secure a ticket for Larry Bird Night, you may find scalpers selling them for as much as $500 on the streets, according to the Los Angeles Times. Those were the hardest tickets to obtain since the seventh game of the 1984 NBA Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers, according to Steven Riley, the vice president of sales for the Boston Celtics at the time.
It was a night of tributes and reflections. The first standing ovation of the evening was given to Larry’s mother, Georgia Bird. She didn’t say much, but when asked about her son by emcee Bob Costas, she replied, “He was a great little boy.”
Several well-known Celtics and former Celtics were present, including Dave Cowens, Bill Walton, K.C. Jones, Artis Gilmore, Cedric Maxwell, JoJo White, and Tiny Archibald.
As Bird made his way to the middle of the court, his name was chanted and he received another standing ovation upon emerging from the tunnel. It was a wonderful homage to the man who won three NBA titles and contributed to reviving Boston’s winning culture.
