Breaking. Larry bird was one of the most confident players the NBA has ever seen. He was also one of the biggest trash talkers. Former Seattle SuperSonics star Shawn Kemp found out first hand as a rookie.

It’s widely known that Boston Celtics legend Larry Bird was one of the most confident players the NBA has ever seen. He was also one of the biggest trash talkers. Former Seattle SuperSonics star Shawn Kemp found out first hand as a rookie.

As the story goes, Bird would tell certain defenders exactly what he was going to do in a game before he actually went out and did it. Kemp, an athletic 6-foot-10, 230-pound forward/center was one of those defenders. Some may believe Bird’s trash-talking stories might be often exaggerated.Thirty-five years later, Kemp confirmed that was not the case.

Maybe it was Kemp’s welcome-to-the-NBA moment. On December 13, 1989, The Sonics headed to Boston to face Bird and the Celtics. Boston’s championship reign in the 1980s was over. Bird, Kevin McHale, and Robert Parish were past their prime after winning three titles in the decade.

While Bird battled back, elbow, and foot problems, he still had the drive. He still had the confidence. Kemp came into the NBA as a hyped-up rookie after being selected with the 17th overall pick in the 1989 NBA Draft. Athletically gifted, Kemp went on to become a six-time NBA All-Star.

McDaniel) had some knee pain,” Kemp said during a 2024 appearance on the “All the Smoke” podcast. “I was like, it’s a hell of a time for you to come up with knee pain.