How Jonas Jerebko earned the nickname ‘the Swedish Larry Bird'

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The newest member of the Golden State Warriors is known for his shooting stroke.

Jonas Jerebko is a career 36.3 percent 3-point shooter, and the 31-year-old shot 41.4 percent from beyond the arc with the Utah Jazz last season. That ability earned him a very flattering nickname from his former bosses: Boston Celtics president Danny Ainge and owner Steve Pagliuca. 

Ainge acquired the Swedish sharpshooter from the Detroit Pistons in February 2015. When he was asked if Boston would re-sign the Swedish sharpshooter at his end-of-season press conference that year, Ainge compared him to a longtime teammate.

"The Swedish Larry Bird, you mean?" Ainge jokingly replied, according to ESPN's Chris Forsberg. 

Ainge and Bird played together for parts of eight seasons, winning NBA championships together in 1984 and 1986. Bird, of course, is a Basketball Hall of Famer who led the NBA in made 3-pointers in the 1985-86 and 1986-87 seasons, and finished in the top 10 in four other seasons. Bird finished his career as a 37.6 percent shooter from deep. 

Jerebko played with the Celtics for parts of three seasons, and he took the tongue-in-cheek comparisons to a Boston legend in stride. 

“I laugh about it,” Jerebko told the Providence Journal in February 2016, “like everybody else. I don’t dislike, I don’t like it. People can say whatever they want. It’s not like I’m going to go home and tell them I’m the Swedish Larry Bird. If people think it’s funny and they like to say it, go ahead, but it’s not like I’m going to call myself that or use that nickname in any manner.”

On a team that features Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, Jerebko probably won't draw comparisons to any Warriors legends. Plus, DeMarcus Cousins already has the title of third Splash Brother locked up. 

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