Joe Kleine shares his best Larry Bird memory from his Boston Celtics days.

Joe Kleine shares his best Larry Bird memory from his Boston Celtics days.

Even as his ailments mounted later in his career, Bird consistently produced for the Celtics.

Although Larry Bird is among the best NBA players of all time, it’s reasonable to question whether or not he could have continued to play if he had been able to maintain his health. After the Boston Celtics won the 1986 NBA Finals, Bird’s injuries started to take a toll in his 30s. Despite his contributions to the team’s competitiveness, they were unable to return to the top of the standings.

Kleine was quick to bring up Bird’s significant suffering when talking about the Celtics star. It wasn’t as though he wasn’t playing well, either, as the NBA traveler remembered an occasion when “Larry Legend” overcame a number of injuries to defeat the Portland Trail Blazers with 48 points.

“Although I was unable to participate in the championships, I was able to be a part of something that I felt was more meaningful than winning. We were still in the running for the playoffs when I watched this guy get hurt versus Portland. He was wearing body armor made of plastic. Wearing that, he scored 48 points, made the game-winning shot, and called it when he did. As I sat there, I saw no individual who didn’t look like he was in excruciating pain. Kleine told AllBasketballTV, “It wasn’t an ankle; it was serious pain, and he did everything.”