‘Pressure? I don’t know what that is,’ says NBA legend Bird

Larry Bird answers questions from the media for the first time. Photo by Mark Giongco/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — Larry Bird managed to stay away from media attention since Indiana arrived here on Tuesday for the lead up to the NBA Global Games.

But when he finally talked to the Philippine press on Wednesday, the NBA legend was eloquent and honest in answering questions ranging from his time in Boston to his role in the Pacers’ front office.

Bird, Indiana’s president for basketball operations, traveled with the team all the way to the Philippines for the first ever NBA game here set on Thursday before an expected jampacked crowd at the Mall of Asia Arena.

He believes that such international exposure would help widen the reach of the Pacers brand, which evidently isn’t as extensive as that of the Los Angeles Lakers or the Boston Celtics.

“This is great for us to be here.  Believe me. This is not something we did not want to do. We wanted this,” Bird said.

The Pacers are kicking off the 2013-2014 NBA season with the highest of expectations after pushing eventual champions Miami Heat to a grueling seven-game series in the Eastern Conference finals last year.

And with the return of Danny Granger and the addition of Luis Scola, CJ Watson and Chris Copeland to the roster, Indiana is poised to give Miami trouble for the title.

While Bird admits that the Pacers are “good enough and deep enough” to compete for a championship, getting that Larry O’ Brien trophy amid  a loaded race in the East remains to “tough.”

“It’s always tough to win a championship. What we’re trying to do is build a team that could compete on a nightly level. As always, our goal is to get to the finals and try to win to the whole time. I do like our chances and I like our team,” he said.

Bird was the last coach to lead the Pacers to a finals berth in 2000, then later on got recognition as the NBA Executive of the Year in 2011. He took a year-long, health related sabbatical before returning anew last year.

When asked when he most felt the pressure, as a player or as an executive, Bird cut the local reporter midway the question.

“Pressure? I don’t know what that is. Obviously you’ve never seen my play,” Bird bluntly answered with a laugh.