Larry said DeAndre had no basketball skills at all.
In a December 2016 interview with NBA journalist David Aldridge, Larry Bird discussed one of basketball’s most rewarding aspects — seeing players exceed expectations. The Boston Celtics legend admitted he took particular pride in watching athletes he once doubted build successful careers.
Bird recalled one such case: future one-time NBA champion DeAndre Jordan. Before the 2008 Draft, the young center had worked out with the Indiana Pacers. As team president at the time, “Larry Legend” observed “DeAndre 3000” firsthand. His first impression? He was far from convinced.
Bird’s harsh assessment
That year, as the Pacers looked at potential picks for the later rounds — holding the 41st pick — they invited Jordan for a workout.
Typically, late second-round draft picks face low expectations. This case was no exception. The ex-Texas A&M player failed to impress, with Bird being particularly unimpressed. In fact, the NBA legend was actually shocked.
“I couldn’t believe the kid was even thinking about coming out. He was tall, he could run, and he could jump. But basketball (skills)? Had none,” said the former 12-time All-Star, later adding, “I really felt sorry for the kid. I thought there’s no way in hell this kid will ever make it in this league.”
The doubt was understandable, given DeAndre’s lone college season, during which he showed raw potential but struggled with the basics.
As a freshman with the Aggies, the now Denver Nuggets player started 21 of 35 games, averaging nearly eight points, six boards, and 1.3 blocks per game. His field goal percentage was solid at 61.7 percent, though most shots were close-range. However, free throw shooting was a team-low 43.7 percent.
Draft analysts saw both promise and risk: a “freakish athlete” with “defensive potential” but also “poor fundamentals”and “high bust potential.”
Larry Bird
A “breathtaking” transformation
DeAndre 3000″ was eventually drafted 35th by the Los Angeles Clippers. As a rookie and sophomore, the Texas native started only 25 games, and Bird’s initial impression seemed to prove accurate.
However, by the late-2010s, the once underperforming player had become a force to be reckoned with, earning an All-Star selection, an All-NBA First Team spot, two All-NBA Third Team honors, two NBA All-Defensive First Team honors, and two rebounding leader titles.
“I don’t know who got with him (Jordan), or what he did, but to watch him play and perform on a nightly basis the way he does is just breathtaking to me,” reflected Bird. “I am truly amazed how this young man has developed his game from where he was to the point he’s at today. I’ve never seen that before.”
“Larry Legend” could have questioned himself for failing to recognize that potential earlier but instead expressed admiration for DeAndre’s growth and even felt “proud.”
For the Hall of Fame forward, it was eye-opening to witness a player with many initial weaknesses rise to stardom. Overall, it taught a powerful lesson: never write off a player who’s willing to put in the hard work, even when success seems out of reach.
