“He had hops—would dunk on you,” said Bird’s former teammate.

Larry Bird is widely recognized as one of the greatest NBA players of all time, though he was never celebrated for his athleticism like contemporaries Michael Jordan or Dominique Wilkins. Instead, “Larry Legend” carved out his legacy through elite shooting, high basketball IQ, and relentless competitiveness. But before his NBA stardom, Bird displayed surprising athleticism—something many fans might not know.

During his high school years at Springs Valley High in French Lick, Bird wasn’t just a sharp shooter; he could jump and finish strong at the rim. Larry Moore, a fellow member of the 1974 Indiana High School All-Star team, recalled how young Bird could soar. “He could really jump. He’d dunk on you,” Moore said. “He was pretty athletic for a little skinny kid.”

Though Bird wasn’t yet a superstar, his talent was obvious. Without social media in the ’70s, fans couldn’t witness his highlights, but his stats did the talking—30.6 points and 20.5 rebounds per game in his senior year. He went on to dominate at Indiana State, averaging 30.3 points, 13.3 rebounds, and 2.6 steals per game over three seasons.

Bird’s stellar college career earned him top honors, including the Naismith and John Wooden Awards in 1979, along with multiple Player of the Year titles. Soon after, he joined the Boston Celtics and became an NBA legend.

Looking back, Moore admitted he never imagined Bird’s future greatness. “Oh no, not a clue,” he said. “He was just a young, 18-year-old kid like we all were. We all thought we were great. In my wildest imagination, I never had any idea Larry would become Larry Bird.”