It’s fun to think that Larry Bird played a game entirely left-handed, but it didn’t quite happen that way.
Midway through the 1985-86 season, the Boston Celtics were on a long Western Conference trip. The Celtics were rolling with a 39-9 record and had lost just once over the past five weeks.
On February 14, 1986, the Celtics were set to face the Portland Trail Blazers at the Memorial Coliseum, but Larry felt slightly bored. So, before the Celtics played the Trail Blazers, Larry Bird told teammates that he would play strictly left-handed.
“Tomorrow night’s the last game of the trip; I’m going to play this one left-handed. Well, at least through three quarters.”
He also famously joked while interviewed by reports after the game, “I’m saving my right hand for the Lakers.”
Sure enough, when Boston played Los Angeles two days later, they won again, 105-99, with Bird scoring 22 points, 18 rebounds, and seven assists.
Bird finished the Portland Trail Blazers game with 47 points, 14 rebounds, and 11 assists in a 120-119 overtime victory.
He scored 20 points left-handed, on baskets 10 feet and in. However, he made three 3-pointers — and critical 15-footers late in regulation and overtime — right-handed.
First-half Numbers
- Left-handed runner along the right baseline from 10 feet
- Post-up left-handed basket
- Right-handed fast-break dunk
- Right-handed jumper
- Right-handed 3
- He missed a left-handed layup and followed up with a right-handed putback.
- Left-handed fast-break layup
- Left-handed putback
- Right-handed 3
Second-half Numbers
- Right-handed 3
- Left-handed layup off an offensive rebound
- Left-handed layup
- Left-handed layup
- Left-handed 10-foot bank shot
- Left-handed hook
- Left-hand hook (he was fouled on the play)
- Right-handed putback
- Right-handed jumper at the elbow to tie the score
Overtime Numbers
- Right-handed jumper at the elbow
- Right-hand jumper at the free throw line with 3 seconds left for the winning points
