Larry Bird said at his season-ending press conference that he’d like Roy Hibbert to learn from one of the NBA greats over the summer.
“I would encourage Roy to try and get with one of the greats,” Bird said back on June 2nd. “Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is one of the best teachers. Bill Walton is great. They know how to play the position as well as anyone ever has. I would encourage that.
“I think Roy is open to about anything that will make him a better basketball player.”
Bird is getting his wish, as Hall of Fame center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar tweeted late Tuesday that he’s in town – the trio had dinner downtown at Ruth’s Chris Steak House – and ready to get to work with the Pacers’ big man.
@Hoya2aPacer great dinner tonight w/you & #LarryBird. Looking forward to kicking it up a notch at practice tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/xMfm3n3Xb6
— Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (@kaj33) July 23, 2014
Abdul-Jabbar is a six-time champion and has a history of working with other centers, most notably Andrew Bynum.
“Pacer fans get ready for next season,” he wrote on Instagram. “I’m helping to get Roy ready to become a serious threat to his competitors.”
Hibbert is good friends with San Antonio Spurs center Tim Duncan, a player he respects maybe more than any other. He is frequently trying to pick his brain, and last summer Duncan invited Hibbert to Texas to work out with him for a few days in August.
Hibbert, who spends most of his summers in Indy, previously worked with Bill Walton, another exceptional UCLA product, back in 2010. Coming off a disappointing second half to the season, it’s Bird hope that a former rival can help get his former Defensive Player of the Year candidate back on track and confident in the middle.
Dinner with @kaj33 and Larry was great. Loved hearing their stories. Learned so much and asked a lot of questions. pic.twitter.com/FVgwJ0U1w6
— Roy Hibbert (@Hoya2aPacer) July 23, 2014