'To have him tell the world, 'No, you guys have miscast this guy'' - Jalen Rose on why he's forever indebted to Larry Bird

Jalen Rose found himself on the sidelines, barely getting enough playing time during his debut season with the Indiana Pacers. However, this situation lasted only briefly, and it changed dramatically when the legendary Larry Bird was appointed the team's head coach the following year.

Unlike former Pacers coach Larry Brown, Bird recognized early on the potential that Rose possessed and made it his mission to help him flourish as a player. Bird's belief in him not only boosted Jalen's confidence but also ignited a fire within him to prove himself.

Rose was already grateful for the chance to work with a living legend like Bird, but what truly touched him was hearing the Boston Celtics icon publicly praise his talent and potential. For "Jinx," Bird was a game-changer, instilling a sense of pride and motivation to elevate his game to new heights.

"It was really special being part of those Pacers teams… Back then, I remember thinking it was surreal that those guys knew who I was. I'm thinking, 'Magic Johnson, Larry Bird and Isiah Thomas know my name! And I know their phone numbers!'," Rose told HoopsHype in 2019.

"Then, to have Larry Bird as my head coach and have him tell the world, 'No, you guys have miscast this guy. I'm going to show you all that this guy can be a terrific performer.' For him to believe in me like that meant so much. And then for the franchise to have so much success during the three years that he was coaching was just fantastic," he continued.

Jalen didn't like Bird growing up

As a Detroit native, Rose rooted for the Pistons and grew up idolizing the team's star Isiah Thomas. At the same time, Los Angeles Lakers' Magic Johnson was another '80s NBA superstar who emerged as his role model. Understandably, the University of Michigan alum never liked Bird as a player back then.

Yet, even during those heated matchups, Rose still acknowledged Bird's incredible talent and unwavering competitive spirit. Like with his idols, Jalen also recognized Bird's dedication and commitment to winning, which only heightened his respect for "Larry Legend."

"I was born in 1973, so I grew up watching basketball in the '80s and my idol was Magic Johnson, especially because we're both from Michigan. So, I rooted against Larry Bird his entire career. I respected him. I appreciated his game. I always gave him his props because he's the real deal… But I always rooted against him and now he's my head coach! (Laughs)," Rose admitted.

Bird saw Jalen as the most complete player of his era

Bird had yet to distinguish himself as a promising talent evaluator when he was appointed as the head coach of the Pacers in 1997. Despite that, Larry's extensive experience as one of the most dominant players in NBA history gave him a keen eye for recognizing exceptional talent whenever he saw one.

One player who stood out to Bird during his coaching tenure with Indy was none other than Rose. Bird viewed Rose as a remarkably versatile and multi-talented player. In fact, "The Hick from French Lick" even once implied that Rose was the best all-around player of his generation.

"I just feel that anytime you go out in free agency, or anytime you go into the draft, you've got to get players that can play multiple positions. Jalen Rose is the best thing to have on your team," Bird once said in 2001. "He plays three positions. So, when you look to build a team or go out to try to pick up a free agent, you just can't pick up a point guard that can just play one position. You've got to be able to play a couple of positions."