A Young Larry Bird Boldly Demanded the Rock From His Hall of Fame Point Guard: ‘Make Sure You Know Who Gave You the Ball’
Larry Bird imposed his will on his opponents. He did the same with Boston Celtics teammates, even as a young up-and-comer playing alongside a Hall of Fame point guard.
Bird had no qualms sharing the ball. His exceptional vision and playmaking made him an elite assist man (even if he thinks assists are overrated), especially as far as forwards go. But Larry Legend also demanded the ball be placed in his hands, and he wasn’t shy letting Nate “Tiny” Archibald know all about it.
By the time Nate Archibald joined the Boston Celtics ahead of the 1978-79 season, he had already established himself as one of the best point guards in basketball.
Despite lacking in physical stature, Tiny dominated with his quickness and shot-making. He is one of just seven players in NBA history to lead the league in scoring and assists in the same season, averaging 34.0 points and 11.4 dimes with the Kansas City-Omaha Kings during the 1972-73 campaign.
