National Basketball Association

George: Bird showed he's still got it

Published Jul. 23, 2013 1:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

If the Celtics are looking for some veteran leadership and a spot shooter as they rebuild, they may consider turning to the alumni club.

Even at 56, Larry Bird apparently still has it.

Pacers swingman Paul George recently talked to SLAM magazine about his time in Indiana, which includes some interaction with Bird, the Pacers’ president of basketball operations. George talked about Bird helping him when he was struggling in the 2012 playoffs against Miami, saying Bird always has been in his “corner” throughout his career.

Then George offered an anecdote. Let’s just say that while Bird is impressive in the front office, he’s not a stranger to reinforcing just how good of a player he was, too.

“He picked a ball up that had rolled over,” George said of Bird showing up at a practice. “He rolled up his sleeves and made about 15 in a row and just walked out like nothing just happened. It was the craziest thing I’ve seen.”

SLAM asked George how he and the rest of the team reacted.

“We were speechless,” George said. “We didn’t know whether to keep shooting or just to end practice. It was sweet, man.”

Hear that, Danny Ainge? It was sweet.