“Larry Bird said ‘You don’t belong in the league, Homes'”: Dominique Wilkins recalls how Celtics legend trash talked him in his first encounter against him with Atlanta Hawks

Dominique Wilkins added another story to a long collection of Larry Bird trash talk stories that continue to permeate through basketball fans.

Larry Bird was without a doubt one of the greatest players on the planet. Unless you count jumping 35+ inches and power-dunking the ball as a basketball skill, he had everything you wanted.

This man could dot you in the eye from 30 feet out off the dribble like Steph Curry. He could navigate through series of screens and spot up on you like Rip Hamilton. He could handle the ball and initiate transition like Larry Bird.

Pure basketball skill wise, there really aren’t many names that you can put up there alongside Larry Legend. And that’s what Dominique Wilkins didn’t know before his debut game.

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Dominique Wilkins recalls how Larry Bird trash talked him in his first encounter against him

Nique recently gave an interview where he told basketball fans about his ‘Welcome to the NBA’ moment. And you guessed it, it was Larry Bird who gave the First Ballot Hall of Famer his housewarming gift:

“I remember the first time I played against Larry Bird, I’ll never forget this. I go to shake his hand – I’m a rookie playing against the Boston Celtics in the Boston Garden. And Larry put both hands behind his back.”

“He wouldn’t shake my hand. I said ‘Ok, he’s just getting into the game.’ First play of the game, he said ‘You don’t even belong in the league, homes’ and he shoots a 3.”

“Now, I wasn’t mad that he made that 3, but I said ‘Did this son of a bit** just call me Homes?’ And he came down and did it again, so I’m pis*ed, you know.”

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“So next time down, see me on the break in that picture, I jump up and I throw it down on him. Right? I mean, he fouls me. And he says, ‘Hey rook, I like you. You got heart. But I’m still getting 30 on your a**.'”

“I mean, that’s who he was. But that’s the only time ever talked trash to me, because he respected me, because he knew that I was going to keep coming. That really taught me something, you know.”