"Didn’t even know he hit me!" - Darryl Dawkins didn’t know he hurt Larry Bird until he read the newspapers the next morning
Darryl Dawkins wasn’t just a towering presence at 6’11” and 251 pounds; he was an intimidating force around the rim, renowned for his no-nonsense playing style, and him breaking two backboards in 1979, causing the league to return to breakaway rims reflected it perfectly.
However, Dr. Dunk’s reputation stemmed from his penchant for delivering hard fouls that rattled opponents’ confidence. And in one such instance, he didn’t realize how viciously he had hurt Larry Bird until he read the newspapers the next day.
Dawkins on hurting Bird
In the 1980-81 season, the Boston Celtics seemed unstoppable, as midway in the campaign, they had won 25 of their 27 games, and it was then the three-time MVP faced Dawkins’ Philadelphia 76ers.
In that particular game, Bird experienced excruciating pain as Darryl’s knee collided with his thigh, a level of pain he had never felt before. Surprisingly, despite the intensity of the impact, it seemed as if ‘Double D’ was oblivious to the extent of Bird’s suffering.
Recommended Articles
"It felt like my hip came out through my ear. And Darryl didn't even know he hit me! A while later, I see him and he says, 'I'm sorry, Larry. I thought I felt something against my leg that night. I read in the paper the next morning that I hit you,'" Bird said. "I never did get it back until the playoffs."
Even though Dawkins was known to exhaust his six fouls per game, he was never regarded as a ‘dirty player’ because his actions were never intended to cause harm. This distinction is particularly notable given his record-breaking 386 fouls during the ‘83-84 season, a stat that might typically raise eyebrows in discussions about player conduct. Despite his frequent fouls, Dawkins was never categorized with the label of being dirty.
Bird eventually got his revenge
Ultimately, the 12-time All-Star got his revenge on the court, leading the Celtics to a hard-fought 94-90 victory over Philly and acquiring the No. 1 seed in the Atlantic Division on the last day of the regular season. This win secured Boston a coveted first-round bye in the playoffs, a privilege earned despite finishing the regular season with an identical 62-30 record as the Sixers.
The Hick From The French Lick once again got a chance to infuriate 76ers fans when the two teams met in the Eastern Conference Finals that year. Initially, with Philly holding a 3-1 lead, it seemed they would top Bird & Co. However, the Indiana native averaged 28 points in the last three games to help Boston register a thrilling comeback and eliminate Philly 4-3 to reach the NBA Finals.
