'We call him Lucky Larry' - Why Dale Ellis wasn't impressed by Larry Bird's 1988 3-point shootout win

As the saying goes, "History is written by the victors." In the 1988 3-point shootout, Boston Celtics legend Larry Bird sealed his place in history as one of the greats when he started celebrating while the final money ball was still in the air.

Seattle Supersonics sharpshooter Dale Ellis was the victim of Bird's vintage victory. Larry struggled in the first few racks but suddenly went hot towards the end. Ellis would've been crowned the 3-point king that night if that final money ball bricked.

"Hey, yeah, he got lucky," Dale said, smiling. "He got lucky. You can call him Larry Legend, (they) gave him that name for a reason. You know, he loved the situation where he was taking that final shot. He liked it in that situation. And it took him making a final shot to beat me."

"They call him Larry Legend. We call him Lucky Larry."

Sweet revenge

Dale wanted exact revenge the following year. He wanted to prove that the Bird's 1988 victory was just a fluke and that Ellis would annihilate him in a rematch. But alas, Larry missed the tourney because of an injury. He felt that "The Hick From French Lick" was ducking him.

"When he won, he beat me (in 1988), he didn't even come back," Ellis said. "He wouldn't come back."

Ellis was confident in his abilities. After his heartbreaking loss in 1988, he won the 1989 3-point shootout after beating Chicago Bulls guard Craig Hodges convincingly. Even before he reached the fifth and final rack, Ellis had sealed his victory.

Straight shooter

Though called the "Silent Assassin," Dale carries a certain swag. He may not talk much, but when he does, we get a glimpse of his oozing confidence in his shooting talents.

As Stephen Curry was on the rise as one of the league's greatest shooters, Ellis shared his opinion on the Golden State Warriors guard. He may not have sufficient stamina or running power, but Dale believes his lethal shooting stroke can beat just about anyone.

"I can't get up and down the court like Stephen Curry, but I can stand there and outshoot him all day long," the 3-point legend told Sports Illustrated in 2014.

Maybe one day, the NBA will organize an inter-generational 3-point shootout contest. While Curry is widely recognized as the GOAT shooter, former players like Ellis believe otherwise. Dale may sound crazy, but he's used to calling out NBA superstars and challenging them. That's just his persona.