On May 5, 1981, Larry Bird scored a legendary basket in the NBA Finals

NBA – For his first game in the Finals, the Boston winger will register an anthology basket. The “biggest action” ever seen by the legendary Red Auerbach.

In his second season, and like Tim Duncan later, Larry Bird is already playing in the NBA Finals. And from the first match, played on May 5, 1981 in Boston, the Boston winger will mark the spirits with an unforgettable action.

In this Game 1, Moses Malone’s Rockets are in front at the break. Then, in the last quarter, the Celtics push to win. That’s when Larry Bird attempts a mid-range shot. But as soon as the ball leaves his hands, the 1980 rookie of the year feels that he has missed himself, that his shot will be short.

He then anticipates the rebound, which will go to the right of the floor, jumps and takes it with his right hand before going through his left hand to deposit the ball in the circle. All this in the air and in just a few moments. A remarkable action of timing and technical mastery.

The Fate of Larry Bird in One Action

“It’s the greatest action I’ve ever seen”says Red Auerbach, the franchise legend and GM of the Celtics at the time. “It’s fate: Larry Bird will mark the history of basketball. »

Even the Rockets, finally beaten (98-95), admire this achievement. ” I don’t know how he got that shot.”will wonder the future coach Mike Dunleavy, then player of Houston. “His whole body, except his head and his left hand, was behind the panel. »

Larry Bird will finish the game with an MVP performance, compiling 18 points, 21 rebounds and 9 assists. He will win his first NBA title a few days later, but it is Cedric Maxwell who will be MVP of the Finals.