# Was Dave Cowens Lying About Larry Bird? Bob Ryan Responds

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/nba-history-story-tellers-on-clns-6383520/was-dave-cowens-lying-about-larry-bird-bob-ryan-responds
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/nba-history-story-tellers-on-clns-6383520/was-dave-cowens-lying-about-larry-bird-bob-ryan-responds.md
Podcast: [NBA History Story Tellers on CLNS](https://stenobird.com/podcast/nba-history-story-tellers-on-clns-6383520)
Published: 2026-08-02T22:28:00+00:00
Episode link: https://pscrb.fm/rss/p/traffic.megaphone.fm/NSM4188546748.mp3
Audio file: https://pscrb.fm/rss/p/traffic.megaphone.fm/NSM4188546748.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/nba-history-story-tellers-on-clns-6383520/episodes/was-dave-cowens-lying-about-larry-bird-bob-ryan-responds
Duration seconds: 1139

## Resource

Was Dave Cowens telling the truth about never seeing Larry Bird play? Bob Ryan settles it — and the answer goes back further than you’d think. Cowens never watched Wilt Chamberlain, Wes Unseld, or Willis Reed on tape before playing them either. This wasn’t about Bird. This was just who Dave Cowens was. Plus: what would the Celtics have looked like with Cowens, Bird, AND Havlicek together? 🍀 Watch the original clip that started the debate: https://youtu.be/F0gk_COfa1Y — Chapters: 0:00 - Intro: Dave Cowens and Larry Bird 0:48 - 1979 Interview with Dave Cowens 1:26 - Cowens' Unique Basketball Philosophy 5:15 - Cowens' Off-Court Adventures and Folklore 7:53 - What If Havlicek Played With Bird? 9:43 - Do Great Players Exceed Expectations? 💰 PrizePicks - Sign up at http://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/CLNS & Download the app today and use code CLNS to get $150 instantly in Lineups if you win your first $5 Lineup! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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## Transcript

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