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On November 9, 1984, Larry Bird of the Boston Celtics and Julius Erving of the Philadelphia 76ers were the centerpiece of an on-court brawl. A month later, on December 12, a handshake and a smile were central to the two of him in the match that followed. In the meantime came an invitation from boxing promoter Don King.
Larry Bird and Julius Erving challenged it during their 1984 match
The Celtics and 76ers battled for Eastern Conference supremacy throughout the early 1980s. In 1981, the Celtics recovered from a 3–1 deficit in the conference finals against the Sixers to eventually win the NBA championship. The Sixers defeated the Celtics in the 1982 Eastern Conference Finals. Both series were fighting and physical.
During the 1983 preseason games, the team was already in regular season form. It took just four minutes before the punch was thrown and the player was thrown out of the game. Byrd and Mark Iavaloni were sent off. Celtics president and general manager Red Auerbach stormed onto the court to face Philadelphia center Moses Malone.
According to United Press International, Maxwell said, “I thought it might be the first game in NBA history that I’ve been called up for violence.” It can happen, and I wouldn’t be surprised if something happens during the warm-up one day.”
The following year, Bird and Irving began their attack late in the third quarter early in the season. The two stars intertwined with each other after Bird was called for an offensive foul. Each of the two he was fined $7,500.
A month later, issues were settled between Byrd and Irving, and Irving received an invitation from Don King.
After the Battle of ’84, anticipation was high for the next time the teams met. It happened on December 12th in Philadelphia. According to Sports Illustrated, someone during the match perfectly described the pre-match atmosphere.
“It’s like a high school dance,” someone said hours before tip-off. “Everybody’s watching who’s talking to who.”
Unknown to anyone, Irving walked into the Celtics’ locker room and spoke with Bird before the game.
“I wanted to take the initiative with Larry,” Irving later said.
80 minutes before game time, Bird and Irving were shooting baskets together. They shook hands before the pre-match introduction. The battle became a memory.
“I fought my brothers my whole life,” Bird said after the game.
Sports Illustrated reported that in between the two games, King sent a telegram to both players, “asking them to fight under his auspices.” Irving was upset and embarrassed by King’s invitation.
“I need a better image than that as an athlete and as a gentleman in sports,” Irving said. “It was a night that must have been a full moon and it was a really bad scene.”
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