The NBA has seen its fair share of legendary rivalries, but few were as intense and personal as the one between Dominique Wilkins and Larry Bird. Throughout the 1980s, these two Hall of Famers clashed on the court in some of the most memorable battles in basketball history. However, what made their rivalry particularly unique was the complete lack of personal interaction between them.
Wilkins and Bird first faced off in the early 1980s. From the outset, it was clear that their relationship would be defined by fierce competition rather than friendhsip. Wilkins recently opened up about this dynamic, revealing that he and Bird never exchanged words or gestures of friendship throughout their careers.
Their on-court encounters were nothing short of legendary. Bird and Wilkins faced each other 57 times in NBA games, with Bird’s Celtics often getting the better of Wilkins’ Atlanta Hawks. Bird held a 40-17 winning record over Wilkins in regular-season games and a 10-5 record in the playoffs. Despite these numbers, Wilkins was a great opponent, averaging 26.0 points per game against Bird, including a standout performance where he scored 47 points.
One of the most iconic aspects of their rivalry was Bird’s notorious trash-talking. Wilkins recalled his rookie year when Bird immediately let him know what he was in for.
“Hey listen, first time I played against him. I’m a rookie, I’m glad to be in the league. I’m in the Boston Garden, and I’m guarding him, right? First play of the game, he said, ‘I don’t know why they got you guarding me, homes.’ He shoots a three, and… he made the three… But this son of a b**** just called me homes,” he added.
This kind of psychological warfare was a hallmark of Bird’s game, and it only fueled the competitive fire between the two.
Despite the lack of personal interaction, there was a deep mutual respect between Wilkins and Bird. Wilkins admitted that while they never spoke or shook hands, the respect was always there.
“We never shook hands. We never spoke. Never. Great players back then; you didn’t want another great player to get that close to you. So none of us liked each other. Never spoke. I didn’t speak to him for 13 years straight!” Wilkins said.
Dominique Wilkins on his rivalry with Larry Bird & NBA stars of his era:⁰⁰“You didn’t want another great player to get that close to you. None of us liked each other, never spoke.”⁰⁰ALL THE SMOKE with @DWilkins21: https://t.co/n8FzfNyObo pic.twitter.com/kPrHvMvQS7
— All the Smoke Productions (@allthesmokeprod) September 8, 2024
Their battles were not just about winning games but about proving who was the better player. While Bird’s accolades, including three NBA titles and three MVP awards, often overshadowed Wilkins’ achievements, the intensity of their matchups left an indelible mark on the sport.
