Celtics’ Rick Carlisle, Larry Bird on the last tilt for the Hick From French Lick

Bird was still stepping onto the court behind closed doors as recently as the year 2000.

Fans of Hall of Fame Boston Celtics forward Larry Bird typically know quite a bit about The Hick From French Lick, but not all of them can tell you about the last time Larry Legend laced ’em up and took the court to play organized basketball. But fellow Celtics alum and Indiana Pacers coach Rick Carlisle does, and he told Boston Dot Com’s Chad Finn all about it.

Evidently, that tilt of sorts took place in the Pacers’ practice facility in 2000 in a four-on-four friendly contest, which went to the first team to hit 2 of 3 shots in a halfcourt setting, perhaps to keep those storied legs from getting too tired out.

“This is a story no one has ever heard, but the last time Larry played basketball was, I believe, the 2000 season,” began Carlisle.