Retired NBA star Dominique Wilkins recalls Larry Bird comment, 'You don't belong in this league, Homes...' | Bob's Blitz

Retired NBA star Dominique Wilkins recalls Larry Bird comment, 'You don't belong in this league, Homes...'

Retired NBA star Dominique Wilkins recalled a 1988 Larry Bird comment, "You don't belong in this league, Homes..." with the Boston Herald's Steve Bulpett:

“One of the first times I ever played against him, I went out for the opening tip and I went to shake his hand. He just stood there and looked at me stone-faced with his hands behind his back,” Wilkins said recently.

“I was like, ‘Whoa.' Then we were getting ready for the tip and he says to me, ‘You don't belong in this league, Homes.' I couldn't believe it, but it happened so fast, I didn't know what to think.

“Then they had the ball and I was on him and he said, ‘I don't know why they got you guarding me, Homes. You can't guard me.' Then, whap, he hit a 3. Then he came down again and said, ‘They made a mistake putting you on me, Homes,' and he took another 3.”

Getting into the story, Wilkins began to act things out with his facial expressions.

“So now I'm hot,” he said. “I'm hot. I mean, I'm steaming.

“Then a little while later, I came down on a break and he was backpedaling. I just went right after him. I jumped up and he tried to challenge, but I took that right through the rim. He fell and hit the basket support.



“He got up and said, ‘I like you, rookie. You've got (guts).' I was happy for a second, and then he said, ‘But I'm still going for 40 on you tonight.' ”

He then paused the story, stepped back and smiled.

“But I got him,” Wilkins said. “He only scored 39.”

The Human Highlight Film and Larry Legend went on to star in Game 7, The Duel.



Follow us on Twitter for exclusive stories, Subscribe by Email, or Return home for Top sports news.