How Good Was Larry Bird Really? Indiana HS Days, Boston Celtics & Magic Johnson | Randy Mills

How good was Larry Bird really? In this interview with author and historian Randy Mills, we go deep into Larry Bird’s high school days in Indiana, his sudden rise to stardom, his time at Indiana State, and the rivalry that shaped basketball history with Magic Johnson.We also discuss how Bob Knight nearly coached Bird, why Boston was the perfect city for his pro career, and some wild, rarely-heard stories from Bird’s youth. If you’re a basketball fan, a Celtics diehard, or love uncovering sports legends’ early days—this is for you.🎙️ Randy Mills is the author of As If By Magic, a deep dive into Bird’s high school career and Indiana basketball.0:54 – March Madness2:04 – Meaning of the Book Title4:20 – What Clicked for Larry Bird8:20 – Larry Bird’s Coaches12:35 – Mark Bird15:12 – When Did Larry Bird Beat Mark in Basketball?17:12 – Indiana Basketball19:08 – Larry Bird’s Play Style in High School26:55 – Larry Bird’s Defense28:30 – Larry Getting Into Weights30:30 – Dealing With Pressure32:14 – Indiana State – Larry Bird42:50 – How Good Was the Competition in High School?44:55 – Bob Knight & Larry Bird47:20 – Unknown Stories of Larry Bird54:00 – Crazy Stat Lines57:33 – Magic Johnson & Larry Bird1:01:00 – Larry Bird in Boston1:03:40 – Boston vs. Lakers Rivalry1:04:03 – Writing Process1:13:00 – What Should Be in a Writer’s Toolkit?📘 Get the book: https://www.amazon.com/As-If-Magic-Indiana-Basketball/dp/1681572311https://brpressbooks.com/product/as-if-by-magic/Subscribe for more interviews with authors, creators, and cultural legends.This Podcast is to brought you by Bookum - The book communities NEW and BEST way to host dynamic online book clubs. Download the App and Start your Book club today at www.bookumapp.com Catch all of conversations live on the Bookum App Nooks!