Larry Bird is one of the all-time great NBA players and he has been a rather successful executive since his retirement from the game, too.
As a key decision-maker for the Pacers, Bird has identified superstars like Kawhi Leonard and Paul George in the past, however, he told David Aldridge of NBA.com that there is one player in the league today he got totally wrong - DeAndre Jordan.
"When he came in here to work out the first time, I couldn’t believe the kid was even thinking about coming out," Bird said. "He was tall, he could run and he could jump. But basketball (skills)? Had none."
The Clippers would pick the 28-year-old up with the 35th pick in the second round of the 2008 draft. The Pacers, on the other hand, secured Brandon Rush after trading their eleventh pick, Jerryd Bayless, with Portland.
"I thought there’s no way in hell this kid will ever make it in this league. And I don’t know who got with him, or what he did, but to watch him play and perform on a nightly basis the way he does is just breathtaking to me," Bird revealed.
"After everything I’ve seen, I always go back to that. It’s pretty amazing. And this wasn’t this year; this happened five years ago. And just watching him, he was in here the other night and I thought, boy, I’m so proud of that kid. It’s amazing."
Jordan is now both a two-time All-NBA and two-time NBA All-Defensive Team member, he has twice led the league in rebounding and he is an Olympic gold medallist. However, he is yet to earn All-Star honours.
