NBA legend wanted to be a Kentucky Wildcat

Originally posted on FanNation Wildcats Today
By Daniel Locke | Last updated 2/22/24

The Kentucky Wildcats have a legacy of producing NBA players. 132 players have gone on to play for an NBA team after leaving Lexington.

This extensive list includes some of the game's best, but it had the opportunity to include one more household name.

NBA Hall of Famer Larry Bird talked about how he wanted to be a Wildcat in an episode of Basketball Stories on the NBA on TNT YouTube channel.

"I wanted to go to Kentucky but Kentucky quit recruiting me," Bird said.

Larry Bird says he wanted to go to Kentucky to play college basketball but they quit recruiting him…

Could you imagine. pic.twitter.com/3FAmwvxeNe
— Tres Terrell (@TerrellTres) February 21, 2024

Bird would end up playing for the Indiana State Sycamores for three seasons. He averaged 36.9 minutes, 30.3 points, 13.3 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 2.6 steals per game during his time with the program.

Bird was selected No. 6 overall by the Boston Celtics in the 1978 NBA Draft. He would end up spending his entire 13-year career in a Celtics uniform.

During his career, Bird averaged 24.3 points, 10 rebounds, 6.3 assists and 1.7 steals per game. He shot 49% from the field, 38% from 3-point range and 89% from the free-throw line.

Bird's career included many accolades. He was a 12-time All-Star, 10-time All-NBA team member, three-time MVP, three-time NBA champion, two-time NBA Finals MVP, three-time All-NBA Defensive Team member, 1979-80 rookie of the year and a member of the NBA 75th Anniversary Team.

Bird was inducted into the NBA Hall of Fame in 1998.

This article first appeared on FanNation Wildcats Today and was syndicated with permission.

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