Celtics Earn Nos. 1, 2 Best Trash Talkers in NBA History

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>The Boston Celtics win a lot.

>That has certainly earned them the right to bring the heat with some serious trash talk.

>In fact, Bleacher Report has ranked two Celtics as the two best trash talkers in NBA history, both ranking ahead of the third-place finisher, Michael Jordan.

>In the No. 1 spot? Larry Bird.

>"Bird's dynamic with Michael Jordan says it all," B/R writes to help explain its ranking. "His Airness went out of his way to avoid giving Larry Legend any material to use against him. Jordan went as far as forbiddinghis teammates to engage with the Hall-of-Famer. There were no boundaries to when Bird's trash talk would begin, either. Before the game, after the game, in interviews—he was down to troll wherever and whenever."

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>There's also the famous story of Bird at the 1988 3-Point Contest asking who was playing for second.

>"Trash-talking extremes are always entertaining," B/R writes. "They take on new meaning when they're employed by an active legend, without filters or favors. Bird is a big name who needled other marquee talents, but he had no boundaries and didn't recognize status. He was an equal-opportunity troll, whose results backed up his smack talk."

>Just behind Bird on this ranking list: Kevin Garnett.

>"Nobody throughout NBA history has hurt more feelings and bruised more egos than Kevin Garnett," B/R writes. "His trash talk was so profoundly surgical, it impacted opponent behavior."

>They also acknowledge that his current KG Certified podcast has allowed Garnett to extend his trash talk into his post-playing days.

>Other former Celtics on the top-50 list include:

Cedric Maxwell No. 49 • >Rajon Rondo No. 46 • >Jason Terry No. 40 • >Xavier McDaniel No. 38 • >Kevin McHale No. 36 • >Sam Cassell No. 35 • >Marcus Smart No. 34 • >Paul Pierce No. 13 • >Shaquille O'Neal No. 11 • >Rasheed Wallace No. 8 • >Gary Payton No. 4Counting Bird and Garnett, that's 13 of the NBA's 50 all-time best trash talkers who have suited up for the Celtics.

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