Larry Bird Trash-Talked Almost Everyone In The NBA. But There Was One Legend He Refused To Say A Word To: Julius Erving. Larry Bird was one of the most fearless competitors basketball has ever seen. He talked trash to Michael Jordan, challenged the toughest defenders, and sometimes told opponents exactly how he was going to score before doing it. But when he faced Julius Erving, something was different. Larry Legend kept his mouth shut. In his autobiography, Bird revealed that guarding Dr. J during his early NBA years was one of the most difficult challenges of his career. Erving was at the peak of his powers, and Bird was still establishing himself as a superstar. Every matchup felt like a battle. Bird admitted that whenever Dr. J attacked the baseline, he knew exactly what was coming. Erving wanted to dunk, and once he gained a step on his defender, stopping him was nearly impossible. Even giving him space wasn't a safe option. Bird remembered Erving's dangerous bank shot from the left side and admitted that defending it frightened him. And Bird believed Dr. J's defense was far better than most people realized. But the most surprising revelation came when Bird discussed their famous rivalry. "Believe me; I never said a word to Dr. J on the court." Bird even addressed the rumors that he had taunted Erving during one particularly heated game. According to Bird, it was teammate M.L. Carr doing the talking from the Celtics bench. That is remarkable considering these two legends once got into a physical confrontation during a Celtics–76ers game in November 1984. Their rivalry was fierce. Their battles were physical. Neither man wanted to lose. Yet Bird's recollections revealed just how deeply he respected the man who had helped revolutionize basketball before his arrival. Larry Bird never lacked confidence. He simply understood how extraordinary Julius Erving was. One Of Basketball's Greatest Trash-Talkers Had Almost Nothing To Say To Dr. J. Sometimes, the greatest respect between two legends needs no words.