"Basketball is Life is Basketball"

Types of Leadership in the NBA. Part 3

All of the names about to be mention in this article are all driven by an amazing desire to win.
Win at all cost.
They all earn respect on the court not only by their peers,but also from their rivals.
They've been through losts and devastation. But in time, they'll win.
They did so, time and time again.

But still , each and every person has put their personal stamp in the game on their own term.
In the court, these players have their own way of leading.
Ways, that we're about to learn...


Types of Leadership :
3. Larry Bird

One word would describe Larry Bird:
Tough.

" I fear no one, but Larry Bird"
Magic's testament really shows how Larry is perceived upon his rivals.
He looks weak, but he'll break you down with fierce determination .
He looks slow, yet leads the fastbreak.
He seems laid back, but he'll take the winning shot.
" You, know when the game is on the line, and you have no cushion in terms of a lead... Larry Bird can win the game"
You can always depend on Larry Bird... Well almost always .

In 1979, the world stopped to watch the NCAA Finals between Magic's Spartans against Larry's Indiana State University .
Its the highest rating in NCAA history.
The game, was won by Magic.
From that day forth, Larry sets his destiny. He founded a quest.

Going into the NBA, Larry founds himself in the holliest cathedral of basketball , the Boston Garden.
Hand picked by Red Auerbach himself.
Quickly gained recognition and won the rookie of the year award.
The next year, Larry and the Boston Celtics replaced the LA Lakers as the league's champion.
He lead the greatest team turn around in NBA. Making the Boston Celtics a winner from being the team nobody noticed. In less than 2 years .

And in that short period of time, Larry instantly gave message to his opponents that he's a player to consider .
His Weapon of Choice is his Mental Toughness. His bread and butter "Go to Move" is his Killer Three Pointer, that seems even lethal in crunch times.
His leadership on court helped his team to understand their role. Kevin Mc Hale said,
"We're like in the factory , everybody is doing their own job, there's someone putting the buttons , and someone putting the antenna, and Larry's the antenna man. He gets guys around ."
His reputation around the league is earned by his plays.
During practice and games.
His teamates knows that Larry's always the first to come practice, and always the last to leave.
Teamate Dennis Johnson testifies,
"If you're superstar is always the first to come at practice and the last to leave, you're expected to do the same. If Larry's willing to dive to the floor , then the rest of us might as well be ready to do the same."
In games,
"If you wanna play Larry Bird you have to be in your top performance , otherwise you can't keep up with him"
That is how dangerous he is.
"He's the type of player who'd throw himself to the floor , he'll do whatever it takes to win" coming from Red must be the highest of compliment.

But his leadership shines the most, in critical times.
Like say, the NBA Finals.
Against the Lakers .

It was redemption day.
Pay back time.
Finally Larry got his rematch with Magic in the biggest stage.
Again, the whole world was watching.

But as the series began, it was the Lakers who was taking charge.
Breaking the Celtics with ferocious determination and deadly effective fastbreak .
Celtics was blown out in National TV.
Afterwards Larry was interviewed by the press and ripped his heart.
Telling them that his team, despite of the talent they have, needed something else, a Heart.
A Strong Heart needed to win over what seemed to be impossible at the moment.
The next morning , newspaper reports.

Fueled by Larry's words the Celtics fought Lakers , physically .
Valiantly leading his team point by point. Possession after possession .
In the last and deciding game, The Boston Celtics won through .
They're the new NBA Champions.

So now we understand how Larry leads.
First , he leads by example.
Larry trains hard and plays hard, he never showed any signs of wearing down. That hits the team. Everytime Larry hustles it whipped them and telling them that if their superstar would die on the floor , then everybody should be ready to do the same.
Secondly , is the intangible asset that Larry owns, the rare quality one can ever have. Confidence the size of an iceberg . You know when you're leader thinks and acts like its impossible to beat you, then you'd start to believe it to be true.
But such confidence can only shine from a guy like Larry.
Like Larry once said,
"Anybody can score at crunch time when you're leading or tied even. But when you're down a point, that really separates the boys from men"