Trash talking is a crucial part of NBA basketball. When things get heated on the court, it’s one of the go-to ways that players use to let off their anger. We have seen many legendary trash talkers in NBA history. While many feel Michael Jordan was one of the most intense trash talkers in NBA history, there’s another legend who set the bar for trash talking in the NBA. It’s none other than the Boston legend Larry Bird. Even LeBron James agrees through his Instagram story that one of the coldest trash talkers in NBA history was Larry Bird.

In the first episode of Throwing Bones, Gary Payton revealed what it was like to face Bird’s trash talking.

LeBron James and Gary Payton agree about Bird’s legendary trash talking

In the first episode of Throwing Bones, the Seattle legend Gary Payton revealed how crucial trash talking is in the NBA. Or well at least to him it was.

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He said, “I like people that talk sh*t to me, cause it is what it is. Me, I don’t hold no grudges. I ain’t got no feelings about it. It makes me even better. You know what I’m saying? Cause If you were with my mama last night and my wife, I was with yours too..” 

While Payton had a good laugh reminiscing about his days, as soon as it came to Bird, he got serious. That is because he knows that’s how cold Larry Bird was.

Payton said, “Let me tell y’all something, Bird used to tell me ‘Look here man, I’m gonna go shoot this moth**f**in jumper in your face right here in that corner, and it’s gonna be your Christmas present. I’m gonna wrap it up and bust yo head open’ and all that sh*t. He was the coldest dude I ever seen with that sh*t man.”

Trash talking in today’s NBA

Just a week ago, Draymond Green revealed he felt Kevin Durant is one of the best trash talkers in today’s game. Since if you’re the best player on the floor, it’s natural that all the opposition’s players and fans will look to get in your head. Even LeBron James has faced such situations several times on the floor.

Consequently, many NBA legends feel trash talking’s a natural part of the game and often helps with a confidence boost.  However, in a generation that is moving towards being sensitive to boundaries, do you think it affected trash talking today? Or is it still as heated today as it was in the days of Michael Jordan and Larry Bird? Let us know what you think about it.

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