Larry Bird is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in NBA history—a three-time NBA champion with the Boston Celtics, three-time MVP, and Hall of Famer known for his fierce competitiveness. That intensity, it turns out, extended well beyond the hardwood, as a former opponent of the Washington Wizards recently shared in a striking anecdote.
Speaking on the Cedric Maxwell Podcast, four-time NBA All-Star Bernard King revealed that he nearly joined Bird and the Boston Celtics after returning from a serious knee injury—but ultimately chose the Washington Bullets instead, a decision that left Bird with lasting disappointment.
“Bird and I never once said a word to one another on the court,” King said. “Never, in the entire 10-year period we played against each other. But here’s something you don’t know… After I came back from my injury—I played six games, averaged 22 points—I proved I could still play, that I was healthy. Then I became a free agent.”
Bird blames King
King explained that he hired Bob Wolfe, a top agent with close ties to Boston and Bird. Shortly after, Wolfe told him the Celtics were interested. “I got on a plane and flew to Boston. I couldn’t believe it,” King recalled. “I met with Red Auerbach and K.C. Jones. Red was sitting there with his cigar and said, ‘Bernard, why do you want to play for the Celtics? We’ve already got a pretty good small forward,’ clearly referring to Bird. I told him, ‘I want to win a championship.’ That was the end of the meeting.”
The Celtics made an offer soon after, which King believes wouldn’t have happened without Bird’s approval. But before he could finalize anything, the Washington Bullets made a competing bid—and King chose them, citing financial reasons.
“You know, it was a different era,” he said. “We didn’t make the kind of money guys make today.” That decision led to a moment King will never forget. “The first game of that season, we played the Celtics,” King said. “Remember, Bird and I never talked in 10 years. But before tip-off, Bird came up to me and said, ‘You cost me a championship.’”
King delivers a historic comeback in D.C.
Despite passing on Boston, King’s time in Washington turned out to be historic. After missing nearly two full seasons due to reconstructive knee surgery, he bounced back in the 1990–91 season at age 34 to average 28.4 points per game—earning his fourth All-Star nod.
At the time, it was one of the best scoring seasons ever by a veteran in the twilight of his career. King became the oldest player in NBA history to average over 28 points per game in a single NBA season, a testament to his perseverance and elite skill.