Myles Turner on the first time he met Boston Celtics legend Larry Bird

“It made you lock in that much more, because you knew greatness was in the room,” said Turner.

It’s been a while since Hall of Fame small forward Larry Bird was playing for the Boston Celtics, but the shadow of his greatness with the Celtics continues to impact those around him.

In a recent interview with Tidal League‘s “Run Your Race” podcast hosted by another Boston alum, wing Theo Pinson, Indiana Pacers big man Myles Turner opened up about what it was like to meet the Celtics great while he was working in his current role as a member of the Pacers’ front office working as a consultant. “People don’t realize how big he is in person,” related Turner. “He’s all of 6-foot-10, 6-foot-11.”

“Even at his elder age, he still … has such an intimidating aura about him,” added the Pacers center. “Very intimidating aura. He’s the one who drafted me, for people who don’t know. He was the GM at the time when I first got to Indy.”