Larry Bird

BOSTON--The Boston Celtics yesterday broke off negotiations for a multi-million dollar contract with their number-one draft choice. Indiana State star Larry Bird.

Bob Woolf, attorney for Bird, said he was not aware negotiations had ended until he received a call from a reporter yesterday afternoon. He plans to meet with the Basketball Players' Association today to complain about what he termed "implied threats and intimidation" during negotiations with the president and general manager of the Celtics, Arnold "Red" Auerbach.

Bird, who led Indiana State to the NCAA final and was named player of the year, reportedly wanted to become the highest paid player in the NBA when talks started two weeks ago.