{"id":1352799,"date":"2021-04-19T15:41:01","date_gmt":"2021-04-19T19:41:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sports7.us\/?p=1352799"},"modified":"2021-04-19T16:19:38","modified_gmt":"2021-04-19T20:19:38","slug":"larry-bird-received-death-threat-mid-game-k-c-jones-found-humor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sports7.us\/news\/larry-bird-received-death-threat-mid-game-k-c-jones-found-humor\/","title":{"rendered":"Larry Bird Received a Death Threat Mid-Game, and K.C. Jones Added Humor to It"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

During the 1985 NBA Finals, Larry Bird <\/a>was warming up at halftime as his Boston Celtics<\/a> were taking on the Los Angeles Lakers. While shooting around, head coach K.C. Jones informed Bird that a threat was made on his life. Bird was given the option of heading back to the hotel under security or finishing the game. He finished playing. An antsy Jones found a way to joke about the matter during the second half.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Larry Bird never enjoyed the spotlight<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Larry
Head coach K.C. Jones of the Boston Celtics is with Larry Bird #33 against the Washington Bullets during an NBA basketball game circa 1984 at the Capital Centre in Landover, Maryland. Jones coached the Celtics from 1983-88. (Photo by Focus on Sport\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

RELATED: Larry Bird May Have Stayed a Garbage Man If Not for a Man Named Bill Hodges<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Larry Bird<\/a> never liked being the center of attention. He came from a small town in Indiana and then went to a small college in the same state, enrolling in Indiana State. After a stellar career playing for the Sycamores, he was thrown into the big city. The Boston Celtics <\/a>drafted him, and he spent 13 years in one of the country's biggest markets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When injuries caught up to Bird, he retired after the 1991-92 NBA season. For five years after his retirement from the game, he kept a low profile. According to Sports Illustrated<\/a>, he spent his retirement between Florida and Indiana. He was never in the public eye unless he was seen at a charity event or when he made appearances on behalf of Miller Lite for its campaign against drunk driving.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bird returned to the public eye a few years later. He took over as head coach of the Indiana Pacers for the 1997-98 season. The Pacers had just missed the playoffs for the first time in eight years. Bird saw it as a challenge, and it was right in his own backyard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Death threat against Larry Bird led to some humor from K.C. Jones<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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