Reggie Miller and Mark Jackson remember the shocking incident with Larry Bird

It got to the point where the actions of Boston Celtics legend Larry Bird no longer surprised anyone – at least not on the court.

Bird, who won three consecutive MVP awards in the 1980s, went on to become a successful coach with the Indiana Pacers. During his time as coach, he shocked captains Reggie Miller and Mark Jackson before one of their games. Miller and Jackson could barely contain their laughter on “The Mark Jackson Show” as they told their story involving an absent Coach Bird and a pack of Newport cigarettes.

Reggie Miller and Mark Jackson caught Larry Bird smoking before one of their games

Miller was a guest on an episode of “The Mark Jackson Show” in June 2024 and the two couldn’t help but share their story about their legendary trainer.

“Playing for Larry Bird was incredible,” Jackson said. “One of the all-time greats, one of our heroes, who we watched and competed against. For some reason, we were in the layup line. I don’t remember what Reggie and I, as captains of the team, had to talk to Larry Bird before the game. Twenty seconds on the clock, Reg and I jog off the court and go to the back. It goes from there.”

“So Jack and I go back to the locker room,” Miller said, “and we ask, ‘Where’s Coach Bird?’ They say, ‘He’s in his office.’ We go to his office and he’s not in his office.”

“We go to the showers because we had to ask him that question before we went out. We go around the corner and Larry Legend is sitting in a chair. He has a pack of Newports and he’s just smoking. ‘What do you guys need?’ We say, ‘We’re good, Coach. Don’t worry. We’re good.’ He says, ‘All right, see you out there in a few minutes.'”

Jackson said he was so nervous that it ruined his game

When they saw Larry Bird smoking a cigarette in the backroom before the game, Jackson and Miller were shaken. Jackson said the two were nervous, and it showed. Miller and Jackson were asked if they ever mentioned it to Bird.

“No, no, no,” Jackson said. “And it’s documented: the worst first half a starting backcourt has ever had.”

“Oh my God,” Miller said. “I couldn’t fire a shot.”

“We were mentally exhausted,” Jackson said. “Our hero. What we had just experienced affected us.”

“Remember how we view Larry Bird,” Miller said. “First of all, we played against him. I modeled my game after Larry Legend. In the ’80s, it was Lakers versus Boston and you had to pick sides. We were Laker fans, but I modeled my game after Larry Bird. I wanted to know how he coached, how he approached games, how he trash-talked, all that.

“That’s how we saw Larry. We came around the corner and saw him just sprawled out on a chair, smoking. It wasn’t like he was shocked, like, ‘Oh God, here are our captains.’ It wasn’t anything like that.”