Former NBA forward Al Harrington recently shared a story about being late to his first-ever meeting with NBA legend Larry Bird.
Harrington revealed that the reason for his tardiness was due to his obese manager’s inability to fit into a taxi because of his size.
At the time, Harrington and his manager were staying at a Marriott hotel near the airport, but complications arose when his manager couldn’t fit into a taxi.
This caused Harrington to miss a significant press conference where he was set to meet Bird, then a coach, for the first time.
“When I walked into the arena for the press conference, I could see my mom’s disappointed face as soon as I arrived,” Harrington recalled, via HoopsHype.
As soon as Harrington approached Bird, the Hall of Famer greeted him with a stern warning instead of a warm welcome.
“Larry Bird looked at me, reached his hand out, and said, ‘Don’t f*cking be late again,’” Harrington said.
Harrington expressed his surprise at the greeting, noting how he had admired Bird growing up.
He mentioned how Bird didn’t offer any pleasantries like “hi” or “welcome to the team” and instead chose to reprimand him immediately.
“That’s the first thing Larry Bird said to me,” Harrington continued. “I was excited to meet Larry Legend, and that’s how he greets me.”
Harrington revealed that missing the meeting left a lasting impression on Bird, which he believes affected their relationship during the two years Bird coached him.
“To this day, I feel like he held that against me the whole time he coached me,” Harrington added.
He speculated that Bird never liked him after the incident, although he attempted to explain the situation at the time.
“I told him then, ‘Look at this dude!’” Harrington explained, referring to his manager’s difficulty getting into the car, but Bird didn’t seem interested.
Bird’s response was simply, “I don’t care.”
Despite the awkward first meeting, Harrington went on to have a successful NBA career, playing for several teams and becoming a notable presence in the league.
Harrington’s anecdote about Bird reflects the no-nonsense demeanor that Bird was known for throughout his career, both as a player and a coach.
The former Indiana Pacers star had nothing but respect for Bird, though he still believes the missed meeting played a role in their dynamic.
