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 Madness
2:04 – Meaning of the Book Title
4:20 – What Clicked for Larry Bird
8:20 – Larry Bird’s Coaches
12:35 – Mark Bird
15:12 – When Did Larry Bird Beat Mark in Basketball?
17:12 – Indiana Basketball
19:08 – Larry Bird’s Play Style in High School
26:55 – Larry Bird’s Defense
28:30 – Larry Getting Into Weights
30:30 – Dealing With Pressure
32:14 – Indiana State – Larry Bird
42:50 – How Good Was the Competition in High School?
44:55 – Bob Knight & Larry Bird
47:20 – Unknown Stories of Larry Bird
54:00 – Crazy Stat Lines
57:33 – Magic Johnson & Larry Bird
1:01:00 – Larry Bird in Boston
1:03:40 – Boston vs. Lakers Rivalry
1:04:03 – Writing Process
1:13:00 – What Should Be in a Writer’s Toolkit?

📘 Get the book: https://www.amazon.com/As-If-Magic-Indiana-Basketball/dp/1681572311

https://brpressbooks.com/product/as-if-by-magic/

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