Jayson Tatum played in his fifth straight All-Star Game on Sunday, but the biggest moment of the day came before tip-off.
The current leader of the Boston Celtics shared a moment with Celtics legend Larry Bird, who was sitting courtside in Indianapolis.
Mics and cameras caught the moment the two exchanged pleasantries.
“It’s an honor to meet you,” Tatum told Bird.
"Honor to meet you."
— NBA (@NBA) February 20, 2024
Jayson Tatum got to meet Larry Bird for the first time! ☘️ pic.twitter.com/iZ0xcMa9pd
Despite Tatum now being in his seventh season in Boston, it was the first time he had crossed paths with Bird, and after the game, he made clear just how much the moment meant to him.
“I ain’t gon’ lie. I met Larry Bird tonight for the first time,” Tatum told former NBA guard Jamal Crawford on the TNT broadcast. “I never met Larry Bird in my life, so, I got to meet him, and that just gave me like … I was anxious.”
With the Celtics currently leading the Eastern Conference and potentially on a run to the NBA Finals, there’s a chance Tatum and Bird’s paths cross again in the near future.
