Dominique was not only a great player but to hear him talk about one of his peers and such a kind way knowing what a great player Dominique was well let's just say it's impressive and refreshing too.
I remember that game like it was yesterday, Nique was absolutely awesome but Larry just wouldn't let Boston lose, Larry was a straight killer, Bird was a bad bad bad dude
My wife's Dad, Bob King, coached Bird at Indiana State University. Larry came to his funeral at UNM's Pit with Mel Daniels. He spoke and told stories poking fun at himself as a cocky kid who needed schooling and sharing how Bob was a teacher first and foremost. Larry has said was not a nice guy on court. He was the first in the gym and the last to leave. Driven to excel. It is cool to see how respected he is even today. Thanks for posting another.
I'm from Tulsa (Golden Hurricane) MVC, isu came to town w Bird (79), watched it, Bird name was getting out there (no ESPN or media like that) but hoping we'd beat them, they won of course. However, I did get to watch him & one more time as a Celtic
Dominique Wilkins is one of the most humble supertars in NBA history. He always credits the other players, especially his teammates, but also his opponents. He has always shown ultimate respect to Bird.
@@carlb3450 The pure force and power that he dunked the ball with was incredible. What I I’m about to say hurts my heart a bit, but the dunk contest that Jordan beat him with the free throw line dunk, Nique won that with earthquake causing windmill and his lob off the backboard that bounced to far from the goal. He jumped off 2 feet about the dotted line two hands and really fully extended to dunk that. Still with incredible power.
@@BigSimpn_sangs I love Jordan too, and the free throw dunk had distance but it wasn't overly impressive or even one of his better dunks, nique did win that
Yup the game hasn't been the same since around 2010. After lebron went to Miami and started the super team crap where all the loyalty and team pride left the game. Now these guys don't care what team they join as long as there are 3 other stars there to make it easy on them to get to the championship. No pride these days. Jordan never would have joined Larry bird or play for the Celtics or Knicks or pistons because he wanted to beat those guys. Same with Kobe. Those days are sadly over unless the league does something to stop this crap. It's taken all the competition out of the league and has made it boring having 3-4 stacked teams and the rest are trash and not worth watching because the stars all want to play together. It's a shame.
@@normancounts2924 he'd run them over because they can't touch him without fouling🤣 NBA is soft. i'd like LeSwept and other nba stars of today to play in the NBA of the 80/90's they'd be getting whacked all game every game and no foul can you see LeSwept crying because he got hand checked all night?😂
Born (1963) & raised in L.A., I lived for the Lakers & Showtime basketball. Magic was my guy & Larry Legend was the one always standing in the way. I hated the countless daggers he sunk into the hearts of Laker fans, season after season. But secretly, I wished he played for us because the guy was otherworldly on a basketball court. Kareem, Magic, Worthy, Byron, Coop, Rambis for L.A....and then there was The Chief (Robert Parrish) D.J., Larry Bird, Danny Ainge & "Coat Hanger Shoulders" McHale for Boston. You'll never see the likes of those 2 rosters or height of that rivalry, ever again. It was truly a special era to be a basketball fan.
Born 61' We took it for granted that the Celtics would always win....I even had the opportunity to watch Cowens/Havlechich/ Jojo white...as a weee yungin' ...The rivalry between LA and Boston will never occur again....the league and times are different.
"Coat Hanger Shoulders" McHale LOL. Never heard that before, but fitting (pun intended). I can't believe Coat Hanger Shoulders wasn't a starter. Any other team he would have been. I did like seeing the Pistons beating the crap out of Boston. Softened them up for ya'll. I have to say - the Hawks were freaky athletic. Always loved seeing Wilkins play. It's good to find out he's a class act on top of his God-given skills.
To this day that game 7 is still the best game I've ever seen. In the 4th quarter you could cut the tension with a knife. Both Nique and Bird were red hot and every basket was needed. They both hit multiple clutch shots that normally would've secured the win, but when one would score, the other would go down and match it. The crowd was going bananas.
I'm a diehard Hawks fan, but I'd say Game 7 of the 1988 NBA Finals was better. Everything was at stake and you had a gallery of Hall of Famers on the court (and pacing the sidelines).
Those are the type of games that only great players shine in. That game was one of the best games I have ever seen. Just when you thought that Bird hit the shot that would end up being the game changer, Dominique would hit another clutch shot to match it. I never saw LeBron go back and forth in a game that meant everything and hit shot after shot. People who say that LeBron is the goat have to realize that you must be at your best when it counts the most. Players like Jordan, Magic and Bird always seemed to be the best players on the court in crutual situations. They knew what to do and how to succeed. They knew how to make their teammates better and most importantly, they knew how to win. Moments like that is what separates Jordan and LeBron. The last 40 seconds that Jordan played as a Chicago Bull summed up his whole career. He made a highly contested layup then stole the ball from the best player on the JAZZ only to go out with a legendary jumper to win the championship. That, ladies and gentlemen, is what the goat does.
Love hearing NBA guys from the 80s and 90s tell stories. It was a different league back then for sure. Those guys took an absolute beating night in and night out. Miss it.
There you go somebody gets it. I started watching basketball before the NBA and CBA merged into one league. One of the big superstars for the CBA was none other than DR.J
concur...i stopped watching BB after the 80's into the 90's n just don't enjoy watching sports in general anymore to much showboating etc anymore jmo..
One of my favorite Larry Bird stories involved a young player, a rookie or 2nd year guy, I'm sorry I don't remember which guy it was, but he told this story. He said he came at Bird from the blindside helping out on a double team. He was in a perfect position and he snatched the ball away from Bird. As he ran past Bird up the court, he heard Larry say, 'you little piece of shit'. The guy was thrilled that Bird took the time to call him a piece of shit, he said now I'll have something to tell my grandkids.
Man this was the greatest basketball series ever. Everyone in Atlanta was tired after watching The Hawks and The Celtics. I think we witnessed One of the BEST GAMES EVER. THANKS FOR BRINGING BACK THE GLORY. We all became greater bball players after watching these GAMES.❤
What moves me is when other great players talk about Larry. Born in New York, but loved the Celtics. I thank God for letting me be alive to see him play.
Watched this game live. I feel like Dominique doesn't get enough mention when talking about all time greats. He was spectacular this game! This from a Celtics fan.
I agree. I am a big Celtics fan, too. Atlanta was a great team and were so close. They just couldn't quite get around the Celtics, or I believe they would have won a championship, one of those years, at least.
The back was bad and got worse, like you said. However, them bone spurs is what really got him. He never made it to another ECF after them bone spurs He played half of his career injured. If it wasn't for the injuries & Len Bias death, he probably would have won a couple more titles, even keeping Jordan from that first 3-peat. We were robbed of watching Bird vs Jordan, after the Bulls got good.
@@solo7253 Other than Philly in 83, the Lakers or Celtics won the title in Bird and Magic's first 8 years in the league. There was some decent players in the league at that time and it was much more physical.
Bird was in his prime and crippled by injuries. We can only imagine how many more beautiful moments we would have got from Bird if his health was better.
Pat Riley said, "If I had to choose a player to take a shot to save a game, I’d choose Michael Jordan. If I had to choose a player to take a shot to save my life, I’d take Larry Bird."
@@aaronvoynovich1095 if you choose someone to take a shot to save your life, you'd choose that same person to save the game. It's a logical fallacy otherwise.
The respect these men show one another is amazing. Dominique Wilkins one of the best that ever played but all these men were NBA stars. We should all strive to do the same in our everyday life.
Wilkins earned Bird's respect in their first meeting but Bird made EVERYONE respect him. His shooting, passing, reads. I get why people think him slow. Late in his career he was extremely slowed by injuries. But his mind and tenacity never diminished. That's when we realized just how amazing he really was. To still be able to put up the stats he did when he was not even close to 💯 % physically is mind boggling.
Larry was a stone cold assassin. Not only was he one of the most clutch Big moment performers in the history of the game, but he went out of his way to call his own shots time after time after time, Even letting the opposition know where the shot would come from. Karl Malone went as far to say he was like Babe Ruth out there. No one was more feared or respected. There will never be another Larry Legend.
AGREED.I always thought Bird was so bored with the game he did those things to challenge himself.Even Kareem gave Bird his props in an interview,he said: Bird could do-EVERYTHING !!! And he did. LOL.
Larry having superb hand-eye coordination and natural ability is one thing, but his basketball IQ was next-level. It's not just the shots he made, it was the other 1,000 decisions, passes, assists, shots not taken (for good reason). Like a grand chessmaster seeing everything 6 moves ahead of everyone else.
I was watching that game where he shot but it was off and he immediately took off running, not to the basket but toward the baseline and the ball hit the rim and bounced right to where he was going, he caught it in the air going out and shot it and made it...but no one else on the floor or even in the stadium knew that was the bounce it was going to take, except LB.
@@craenor Nothing qualifies this more than possibly the greatest play in NBA history. This is the Eastern Conference Finals, game 5. It was Boston against Detroit. Larry had just missed a potential game winning shot. To be fair, Detroit sent everyone at him and got the block. Good on Detroit for that. The ball was knocked out of bounds and was ruled out on the Celtics, so Detroit got the ball out of bounds. With just five seconds on the clock, Detroit just needs to inbound and throw the ball up in the air to win. Larry spots an open player who will likely get the inbound. Larry admits that his thought was to go for an immediate foul. However, as he is breaking to the player Larry notices he is ahead of the pass and goes for the steal instead. While this is going on Dennis Johnson is worrying about defense up the court. He does a quick scope of the court and sees a guy Larry leaves open to go for the foul that turns into the steal. Dennis is impressive to watch as he initially turns to guard the player Larry left open. As Dennis starts moving toward the unguarded player, he notices that Larry is getting the steal. Almost immediately Dennis changes direction again and breaks to the bucket. You have to watch it in slow motion to appreciate that Dennis Johnson changed directions twice in half a second. Larry is on tip toes because his heel are out of bounds if the make contact with the floor. From his own words, Larry says he saw white (Boston colors that night) steaking to the basket and sent a perfect pass. Dennis Johnson gets the ball in stride and puts in a layup with one second to go for the go ahead basket. Yes, that was the winning basket. The play is so crazy because it demonstrates how in sync the two players were. It also shows the basketball intelligence of both of the players and the ability of both to adapt so quickly as things were actively developing. To drive in home even more. Isaiah Thomas was the guy who inbounded the ball. He freely admits that as the play is happening, everything was in slow motion for him. So, to him Bird was on his toes for five seconds and Isaiah admits thinking to himself, "How he doing that?"
@@devincii314 6'9" stretching it. He had those long arms like McHale. Bird was a great shooter. I seen him play 3x when he was a junior and senior at Indy State. He was a beast back then. He had a bad back from digging up a driveway. You think the present ballers would be doing their own manual labor?
I was fortunate to be able to watch Larry Bird and the 80's Celtics on three occasions. I consider it an honor to have watched those men play practically error free basketball games. By the way, they won those three games and that made it so much better.
To consider he did that, limited by sore achilles on both feet...against Dominique (who was absolutely incredible)...it's just incredible. People just do not realize how great a ball player he really was.
@jackieacheson4928 My Dad (who was a sports nut) didn't have a favorite basketball team, but he never missed an opportunity to watch Larry Bird play. He made fun of everyone except "the hick from French Lick." Loved to watch Larry!!
Nique abd Bird were my two favorite players in the NBA. I live in Atlanta but lived in the Midwest and followed Bird in college even attending some of his games. I was always torn when the Hawk and Celtics played, I never felt like I lost or won. What you had to love about Nique is he NEVER took a game off, the hardest working player you ever saw. NOTHING like today's NBA. Bird was the same, you never got cheated if you got to watch a Bird Nique matchup, both always made plays that made you shake your head.
I can’t say it’s nearly criminal. Nique undoubtedly was quite a very outstanding player. I sure don’t wanna rile anybody up on RUclips/ that’s not me. I’ll simply say it takes a team. Thanks
The problem with Larry Bird was, he would trash talk and he could take it but that’s where is goes wrong. Yes he talked trash but in reality, he was being honest and meant it even though he knew it was mental warfare. When his opponents talked trash back, he didn’t get upset about it, he made them pay for it. One of the best to ever play the game.
Nique was my favorite player and still is That series was amazing and i watched the series every day it was on. Watching the Hawks on TBS and watching the Bulls on WGN was a ritual. Both so fun to watch. Larry Bird gained my respect later but I always loved watching him too
So glad I was a fan during this era, the game not even close to the players we had to watch, Bird came to town and layed my knicks to waste but it was great to watch him play
I came here to get Spud's story on Bird, and instead I'm sitting here reliving my trauma. Bird's falling forward left-handed prayer off the glass for an And-1 still lives in my nightmares.
The thing that made Larry Bird such a great Trash Talker. Was the fact that he backed up his trash talking by scoring points. How far would Larry Bird have gotten if he could never backed up his Trash Talking. As far as most of the guys that tried Trash Talking him, lol.
I managed to watch 90% to 95% of The Celtics games from about 1982 to 1990, on a satellite dish and TV setup, I bought at a discount, for, mainly that purpose. Some truly great basketball was played during that era. When I watch this and similar footage of Bird and The Celtics, I can't help but tear up, just a little. I sure miss the 80s, and for more than just the great basketball.
I remembered watching that game and I'm a Celtics fan and I was on the edge of my seat every time Dominique scored. That was the most exciting ballgame between two great players and their team.
Living on Cape Cod throughout the '80's I had the luxury of watching every Celtics game when I was home and not to traveling. I also could easily listen to the radio broadcast at the same time. I'm sure there are those on this thread who will agree there was nothing, and I mean nothing, like Johnny Most calling games back then. His call of the game in question was just about as legendary as Nique and Larry's mystical performances.
This was such a great game. I was a huge Bird fan but I lived in Atlanta by then and I was the only person in the place wanting the Celts to win watching the game with friends. Excellent video.
I remember watching that game in '88 and was just amazed. The thing nobody talks about though is that the guy who carried Boston for 3 quarters and had over 30 himself was McHale. Without him the Celtics would have been in big trouble.
Simply the best* ...... Ball handler, passer, shooter, either hand, psych and sass ya ..... while the ball gets nothing but, net. Greatest Player Ever !!!
I've recently read in an article about the game that Bird had bronchial pneumonia in this game. Plus, as Ainge mentioned, Bird was beginning to experience the issues that resulted in his double Achilles/ bone spur surgery the following year.
All of the greatness between Dominique and Larry.. the best part of this video is 'Nique's reaction to the chest poke.. "WHAT are you doing?!" hahaha.. he KNEW.. big mistake
This game, Bird's legacy, could never have been possible without the antagonist. This night Wilkens was that person, and Wilkens was brilliant. An excellent job piecing together a quarter for the ages.
Damn I sometimes forget how good ‘Nique was in his prime… I only ever remember and think about him in the dunk contest every year when I was a kid but looking back I don’t think he gets the respect he really deserves… great video too by the way awesome stuff!
@@TheDwightMamba I'm sure hugely cheaper than they charge nowadays. I paid $15.00 for my ticket to see Elvis Presley, but he passed away just before he was to come to Utica, NY in August of '77! Crushed, of course. The prices for all these games/shows, etc nowadays are disgusting......average people can't afford to go, let alone.bring family, etc. By the way, LARRY BIRD is/was absolutely my most favorite B/B player of all time!! Wish I had seen at least one of his games in person!
That was for me, NBA at it's best !!!! Bird is my all time favorite player !!!! But Dominique was incredible !!! Doc Rivers will always be my favorite coach I've watched. Second only to Red !!!!
A couple of times, they would inbound to Spud. Spud was so fast that he would pass by 4 Celtics players trotting back to defend. Cost to cost for the basket. Amazing!
He's so entertaining to watch. Like, Michael Jordan had crazy athleticism, will to win, and skill for days. He humbles anyone he plays against, and that's entertaining... But watching Bird ...slow, can't jump, but won't stop, and can hit shots and make passes no one should be able to make and that a more athletic player wouldn't have had to make. Non-stop joy to watch him play.
What I truly loved about the Celtics is that they truly played the highest level of TEAM ball, with tremendous ball movement, passing, and court savvy. They absolute had great talent, but they were slow and not nearly as athletic as some of the top teams - but they could pass young legs into exhaustion. Smart and tough. And lot of those last years Bird's body was really beat up - where he played on will and guts.
I rooted for Boston in this game but I was a huge fan of that hawk team. Just unbelievable players. When watching these highlights I know now why I don’t watch todays game!!!
My favorite part of playing ball was greatness happening around me. Ive created some memories for others and I have memories of going up for rebounds and feeling feet touching my shoulders lol. Insane things happen at every level of play. If you love the game its fun to watch greatness even when its your opponents doing it.
This is important for young people to see. When they start thinking Dirk,Jokic or Lebron are on this man's level. As great as they all are, they are not on that level.
People don’t realize, this wasn’t Larry Bird at 100%. His Achilles tendons were shot and he missed most of the ‘89 season after getting surgery that further limited his mobility before the back issue’s plagued him thru ‘92. This man was the greatest all around basketball player the league has ever seen! I defy anyone who thinks Jordan and Lebron could have been as effective as this man was plying the last five years of his career in constant pain. Before the injuries, he won three consecutive MVPs. (84-86) He finished 2nd in MVP voting from 81-83, and again in 88.
Bird is the only player to average over 20 ppg, at least 5 dimes a game, and at least 10 boards a game for his career. Bird was all about playing team basketball and his awareness of what what was going on all over the court and his great passing were evidence of his team first approach.
Kevin McHale is brutally underrated. Ask any Laker fan and they'll tell you what a killer he was. His low-post moves were second-to-one... Hakeem Olajuwon. Outside of that, no one could give you as many odd angles and elbows and pump fakes. He was brilliant down low.
I am a Kentucky Wildcats fan and I remember Dominique at Georgia. The first game i saw him play as a freshman at Rupp Arena, he hit his head on the rim going up for a rebound.
![I.N "HALLUCINATION" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/n5B5q1Hwt_U/mqdefault.jpg)
Dominique was not only a great player but to hear him talk about one of his peers and such a kind way knowing what a great player Dominique was well let's just say it's impressive and refreshing too.
Classy. He walks through life with dignity.
It's easy talking about it 30 years later.
He was a great player you don't know what you talking about
@@rayfordmassey4408 Are you stupid?
@ not very good at reading, are you?
I remember that game like it was yesterday, Nique was absolutely awesome but Larry just wouldn't let Boston lose, Larry was a straight killer, Bird was a bad bad bad dude
Respect to Dominique who played an amazing game himself and has nothing but praise for Larry
Their kind those days WAS SPECIAL SEIZED To exist.....
The only problem for Wilkins is he played when Jordan played including Clyde and many others
MJ is a great player. But how many players would say nice things about him on or OFF the court? Very few is my opinion!!!
Got to love Dominique
Never heard this man say a bad word about his fellow competitors or teammates. Class act.
My wife's Dad, Bob King, coached Bird at Indiana State University. Larry came to his funeral at UNM's Pit with Mel Daniels. He spoke and told stories poking fun at himself as a cocky kid who needed schooling and sharing how Bob was a teacher first and foremost. Larry has said was not a nice guy on court. He was the first in the gym and the last to leave. Driven to excel. It is cool to see how respected he is even today. Thanks for posting another.
Mel Daniels was a beast in the ABA
@@LarsBahr Thank you on the chronicle from Pacer basketball on yesteryear
Very cool!
I'm from Tulsa (Golden Hurricane) MVC, isu came to town w Bird (79), watched it, Bird name was getting out there (no ESPN or media like that) but hoping we'd beat them, they won of course. However, I did get to watch him & one more time as a Celtic
@@jimicmore1895 Saw Larry play in Omaha, 77 & 78 seasons. Tulsa had Sims & Keys. Just before Nolan and Pressey showed up.
Dominique Wilkins is one of the most humble supertars in NBA history. He always credits the other players, especially his teammates, but also his opponents. He has always shown ultimate respect to Bird.
Your'e absolutely correct. Dominique has been a great roll model in sport and humanity.
Wilkins was a bad man
@@carlb3450 The pure force and power that he dunked the ball with was incredible. What I I’m about to say hurts my heart a bit, but the dunk contest that Jordan beat him with the free throw line dunk, Nique won that with earthquake causing windmill and his lob off the backboard that bounced to far from the goal. He jumped off 2 feet about the dotted line two hands and really fully extended to dunk that. Still with incredible power.
@@BigSimpn_sangs I love Jordan too, and the free throw dunk had distance but it wasn't overly impressive or even one of his better dunks, nique did win that
# 21 could flat play. I agree with you that Wilkins always gives others his respect, class act.
It’s amazing to me the respect these players have for each other
All ❤️, loved it. Thank you...
Until they all talk about the Pistons, no one like them to this very day.
I grew up in Atlanta and grew up with that 80's Hawks team, went to hundreds of games. Today I can't even watch basketball, it's just not the same.
Yeah, it seems kinda sterile, doesn't it?
Yup the game hasn't been the same since around 2010. After lebron went to Miami and started the super team crap where all the loyalty and team pride left the game. Now these guys don't care what team they join as long as there are 3 other stars there to make it easy on them to get to the championship. No pride these days. Jordan never would have joined Larry bird or play for the Celtics or Knicks or pistons because he wanted to beat those guys. Same with Kobe. Those days are sadly over unless the league does something to stop this crap. It's taken all the competition out of the league and has made it boring having 3-4 stacked teams and the rest are trash and not worth watching because the stars all want to play together. It's a shame.
As a Detroit Pistons fan Larry Bird was essential to the NBA's legend. There will never be another Larry Bird.
Luka is like a young Bird….we shall see how his career goes!
@@Krazede Luka is not as big and Luka is not playing in a physical NBA
The NBA could use a Bird right now.
@antg007 • Detroit 🏀
@@normancounts2924 he'd run them over because they can't touch him without fouling🤣
NBA is soft. i'd like LeSwept and other nba stars of today to play in the NBA of the 80/90's
they'd be getting whacked all game every game and no foul
can you see LeSwept crying because he got hand checked all night?😂
That's funny as hell, "What the hell are you doing?! Don't make him mad! Don't wake up the sleeping giant, let him sleep!" LOL!
Born (1963) & raised in L.A., I lived for the Lakers & Showtime basketball. Magic was my guy & Larry Legend was the one always standing in the way. I hated the countless daggers he sunk into the hearts of Laker fans, season after season. But secretly, I wished he played for us because the guy was otherworldly on a basketball court. Kareem, Magic, Worthy, Byron, Coop, Rambis for L.A....and then there was The Chief (Robert Parrish) D.J., Larry Bird, Danny Ainge & "Coat Hanger Shoulders" McHale for Boston. You'll never see the likes of those 2 rosters or height of that rivalry, ever again. It was truly a special era to be a basketball fan.
Born 61' We took it for granted that the Celtics would always win....I even had the opportunity to watch Cowens/Havlechich/ Jojo white...as a weee yungin' ...The rivalry between LA and Boston will never occur again....the league and times are different.
Was raised in South Eastern Massachusetts.
"Coat Hanger Shoulders" McHale
LOL. Never heard that before, but fitting (pun intended). I can't believe Coat Hanger Shoulders wasn't a starter. Any other team he would have been.
I did like seeing the Pistons beating the crap out of Boston. Softened them up for ya'll.
I have to say - the Hawks were freaky athletic. Always loved seeing Wilkins play. It's good to find out he's a class act on top of his God-given skills.
You said it plain and simple. That’s exactly why I’ll say no more. Thanks
No, you won't, because today, Magic would find a way to get Bird and McHale on his team a la Lebron.
An injured Larry Bird can still carry his team. GOAT
I enjoy when Dominique Wilkins tells stories. He was such a great player and is so humble. He seems to be enjoying his life.
They talk about MJ as His Airness. Dominique was from another planet. There were do many skywalkers from that era. It was the NBA at its finest.
Great player Dominique and a class act ! Lot of dignity there !👍🏀
To this day that game 7 is still the best game I've ever seen. In the 4th quarter you could cut the tension with a knife. Both Nique and Bird were red hot and every basket was needed. They both hit multiple clutch shots that normally would've secured the win, but when one would score, the other would go down and match it. The crowd was going bananas.
I'm a diehard Hawks fan, but I'd say Game 7 of the 1988 NBA Finals was better. Everything was at stake and you had a gallery of Hall of Famers on the court (and pacing the sidelines).
Agree it is the only game that sticks with me
It was a great series. One of many back then.
Those are the type of games that only great players shine in. That game was one of the best games I have ever seen. Just when you thought that Bird hit the shot that would end up being the game changer, Dominique would hit another clutch shot to match it. I never saw LeBron go back and forth in a game that meant everything and hit shot after shot. People who say that LeBron is the goat have to realize that you must be at your best when it counts the most. Players like Jordan, Magic and Bird always seemed to be the best players on the court in crutual situations. They knew what to do and how to succeed. They knew how to make their teammates better and most importantly, they knew how to win. Moments like that is what separates Jordan and LeBron. The last 40 seconds that Jordan played as a Chicago Bull summed up his whole career. He made a highly contested layup then stole the ball from the best player on the JAZZ only to go out with a legendary jumper to win the championship. That, ladies and gentlemen, is what the goat does.
@@josephcanales-pb3ip 13:24 13:24 13:24 13:24 13:24 13:24 13:24 13:24 gun cabinets
I can't believe how athletic Nique was. One of the all time greats, and a great man as well.
Nique would absolutely destroy in todays league. So would Larry
Love hearing NBA guys from the 80s and 90s tell stories. It was a different league back then for sure. Those guys took an absolute beating night in and night out. Miss it.
There you go somebody gets it. I started watching basketball before the NBA and CBA merged into one league. One of the big superstars for the CBA was none other than DR.J
concur...i stopped watching BB after the 80's into the 90's n just don't enjoy watching sports in general anymore to much showboating etc anymore jmo..
I’m 67, my problem with showboating is when guys down by double digits late in the fourth quarter out there showboating
@@woody_2245 Mostly kids trying to sell millions of dollars of sneakers these days - not really interested in playing basketball.
I particularly like the background suspense music of the 80's
"Larry can't run or jump cause that was God's way of making things fair." - Sir Charles Barkley
But he can
@@MeeeLEe its a joke fool
funny
He had the experience, that 's how the world work.
😂
One of my favorite Larry Bird stories involved a young player, a rookie or 2nd year guy, I'm sorry I don't remember which guy it was, but he told this story. He said he came at Bird from the blindside helping out on a double team. He was in a perfect position and he snatched the ball away from Bird. As he ran past Bird up the court, he heard Larry say, 'you little piece of shit'. The guy was thrilled that Bird took the time to call him a piece of shit, he said now I'll have something to tell my grandkids.
That was Rod Strickland, great story.
@@cubski
Rod Strickland was a good player.
lol
Man, it's hard to think what would've happened if he didn't have back issues and cut his career short!! Such a beast!!
Oh, my
And if Len Bias didn’t OD.
The way he played the game is what gave him the back problems. He gave everything.
@@idont888 you don't see that anymore. I remember watching him as a kid.
@@idont888He hurt his back working on his mom's driveway.
The left hand game is the greatest story i've ever heard about Larry !!
Man this was the greatest basketball series ever. Everyone in Atlanta was tired after watching The Hawks and The Celtics. I think we witnessed One of the BEST GAMES EVER. THANKS FOR BRINGING BACK THE GLORY. We all became greater bball players after watching these GAMES.❤
What moves me is when other great players talk about Larry. Born in New York, but loved the Celtics. I thank God for letting me be alive to see him play.
Watched this game live. I feel like Dominique doesn't get enough mention when talking about all time greats. He was spectacular this game! This from a Celtics fan.
I agree. I am a big Celtics fan, too. Atlanta was a great team and were so close. They just couldn't quite get around the Celtics, or I believe they would have won a championship, one of those years, at least.
To think about the pain he played through since 86 and on; getting worse by the year is crazy. The will to win is what seperates greats from the good
He also gave back his last contract.
I'm from Terre Haute, Indiana and Larry Bird will always be my favorite player.
Larry Bird hurt his back building a driveway for his Mom.
@@Romans219 Yep
The back was bad and got worse, like you said. However, them bone spurs is what really got him. He never made it to another ECF after them bone spurs
He played half of his career injured. If it wasn't for the injuries & Len Bias death, he probably would have won a couple more titles, even keeping Jordan from that first 3-peat. We were robbed of watching Bird vs Jordan, after the Bulls got good.
@@solo7253 Other than Philly in 83, the Lakers or Celtics won the title in Bird and Magic's first 8 years in the league. There was some decent players in the league at that time and it was much more physical.
Bird was in his prime and crippled by injuries. We can only imagine how many more beautiful moments we would have got from Bird if his health was better.
Pat Riley said, "If I had to choose a player to take a shot to save a game, I’d choose Michael Jordan. If I had to choose a player to take a shot to save my life, I’d take Larry Bird."
Good thing that was not put to the test. He would be 6 feet under.
By that logic, why would you not choose Bird everytime?
@@vladv2291 It's a commentary on Michael Jordan being clutch and Larry being consistent.
@@aaronvoynovich1095 if you choose someone to take a shot to save your life, you'd choose that same person to save the game. It's a logical fallacy otherwise.
He said that? Goosebumps
I will always remember that game. Dom and Bird put on what has to be one of the best, if not the best performance ever in basketball..
I've watched hundreds of Larry Bird videos...I think this was the best and the production was excellent! Thanks so much for bringing this forward...
The respect these men show one another is amazing. Dominique Wilkins one of the best that ever played but all these men were NBA stars. We should all strive to do the same in our everyday life.
Wilkins earned Bird's respect in their first meeting but Bird made EVERYONE respect him. His shooting, passing, reads. I get why people think him slow. Late in his career he was extremely slowed by injuries. But his mind and tenacity never diminished. That's when we realized just how amazing he really was. To still be able to put up the stats he did when he was not even close to 💯 % physically is mind boggling.
He worked his ass off. His success was not luck
After watching all the videos and getting feedback from all the supers that played against Bird ,he must be the greatest! Best clutch player ever!😅
@@meloldiesunchained4246 I seen him play 3x in college. He was pretty good then
Wilkins is such a humble, honest, said it how he saw it legend. Larry is THE Legend obviously but Nique so much credit
Larry was a stone cold assassin. Not only was he one of the most clutch Big moment performers in the history of the game, but he went out of his way to call his own shots time after time after time, Even letting the opposition know where the shot would come from. Karl Malone went as far to say he was like Babe Ruth out there. No one was more feared or respected. There will never be another Larry Legend.
AGREED.I always thought Bird was so bored with the game he did those things to challenge himself.Even Kareem gave Bird his props in an interview,he said: Bird could do-EVERYTHING !!! And he did. LOL.
I would have loved to see Bird and Pistol Pete play horse
@@mightymikeamps9317 Pistol was for show, Bird was for winning.
@@floatsting20 That’s why I said I would have liked to see them play Horse
@@mightymikeamps9317 Ai? Allen Iverson?
Dominique “the human highlight” was an amazing player but no one, absolutely no one in NBA history can top Larry Legend. He is truly the GOAT.
What?
@@MF-Rell that.
Larry having superb hand-eye coordination and natural ability is one thing, but his basketball IQ was next-level. It's not just the shots he made, it was the other 1,000 decisions, passes, assists, shots not taken (for good reason). Like a grand chessmaster seeing everything 6 moves ahead of everyone else.
I couldn't imagine being his teammate; you'd have to be ready at all times for a pass from Bird that no one could imagine. Talk about pressure.
I was watching that game where he shot but it was off and he immediately took off running, not to the basket but toward the baseline and the ball hit the rim and bounced right to where he was going, he caught it in the air going out and shot it and made it...but no one else on the floor or even in the stadium knew that was the bounce it was going to take, except LB.
@@craenor Nothing qualifies this more than possibly the greatest play in NBA history. This is the Eastern Conference Finals, game 5. It was Boston against Detroit. Larry had just missed a potential game winning shot. To be fair, Detroit sent everyone at him and got the block. Good on Detroit for that. The ball was knocked out of bounds and was ruled out on the Celtics, so Detroit got the ball out of bounds. With just five seconds on the clock, Detroit just needs to inbound and throw the ball up in the air to win. Larry spots an open player who will likely get the inbound. Larry admits that his thought was to go for an immediate foul. However, as he is breaking to the player Larry notices he is ahead of the pass and goes for the steal instead. While this is going on Dennis Johnson is worrying about defense up the court. He does a quick scope of the court and sees a guy Larry leaves open to go for the foul that turns into the steal. Dennis is impressive to watch as he initially turns to guard the player Larry left open. As Dennis starts moving toward the unguarded player, he notices that Larry is getting the steal. Almost immediately Dennis changes direction again and breaks to the bucket. You have to watch it in slow motion to appreciate that Dennis Johnson changed directions twice in half a second. Larry is on tip toes because his heel are out of bounds if the make contact with the floor. From his own words, Larry says he saw white (Boston colors that night) steaking to the basket and sent a perfect pass. Dennis Johnson gets the ball in stride and puts in a layup with one second to go for the go ahead basket. Yes, that was the winning basket.
The play is so crazy because it demonstrates how in sync the two players were. It also shows the basketball intelligence of both of the players and the ability of both to adapt so quickly as things were actively developing. To drive in home even more. Isaiah Thomas was the guy who inbounded the ball. He freely admits that as the play is happening, everything was in slow motion for him. So, to him Bird was on his toes for five seconds and Isaiah admits thinking to himself, "How he doing that?"
He was also a freak athlete too with great players and a great coach. Larry was really 6'10!!!! Shoot threes, trick passes....he was a freak.
@@devincii314 6'9" stretching it. He had those long arms like McHale. Bird was a great shooter. I seen him play 3x when he was a junior and senior at Indy State. He was a beast back then. He had a bad back from digging up a driveway. You think the present ballers would be doing their own manual labor?
I was fortunate to be able to watch Larry Bird and the 80's Celtics on three occasions. I consider it an honor to have watched those men play practically error free basketball games. By the way, they won those three games and that made it so much better.
Wow. I'm kind of envious. What a beautiful memory.
To consider he did that, limited by sore achilles on both feet...against Dominique (who was absolutely incredible)...it's just incredible. People just do not realize how great a ball player he really was.
@Dutch Tea "Trouble shooting Larry Goat"
Larry had bone spurs growing through both his Achilles tendons, and to overcome the pain and play like he did is legendary!
I do. My dad was a big basketball fan. He was a diehard Blazer fan. Except when it came to Larry Bird. He loved Larry.
@jackieacheson4928 My Dad (who was a sports nut) didn't have a favorite basketball team, but he never missed an opportunity to watch Larry Bird play. He made fun of everyone except "the hick from French Lick." Loved to watch Larry!!
@@jackieacheson4928 The Blazer joined the Celtics in the mid 80s
As great as Bird was Dominic Wilkins was nothing to sneeze at either. That man was unbelievable as well, one of the best players ever.
There were 2 obstacles this game. Dominique, and Larry's feet. Larry found workarounds for both just before the game.
Larry Goat.
An amazing player. Never get tired of old clips of him
Nique abd Bird were my two favorite players in the NBA. I live in Atlanta but lived in the Midwest and followed Bird in college even attending some of his games. I was always torn when the Hawk and Celtics played, I never felt like I lost or won. What you had to love about Nique is he NEVER took a game off, the hardest working player you ever saw. NOTHING like today's NBA. Bird was the same, you never got cheated if you got to watch a Bird Nique matchup, both always made plays that made you shake your head.
I first started watching the NBA in 1965. There was some great players back then. Only 9 teams back then. Jordan was/is still the best. My opinion
Not a chance, he didn't make his team mates better.@@floatsting20
Love these legends talking old school
Bird was great and deserved all of his success, but it’s nearly criminal that ‘Nique never put on a ring.
I can’t say it’s nearly criminal. Nique undoubtedly was quite a very outstanding player. I sure don’t wanna rile anybody up on RUclips/ that’s not me. I’ll simply say it takes a team. Thanks
He should have pulled a Durant or a Dame.
@@JohnBilling-f3i That wasn’t his way, but I get what you’re saying……
Competition was heavy. Industrial level.
Dominique is a real Gentleman.
The problem with Larry Bird was, he would trash talk and he could take it but that’s where is goes wrong. Yes he talked trash but in reality, he was being honest and meant it even though he knew it was mental warfare. When his opponents talked trash back, he didn’t get upset about it, he made them pay for it. One of the best to ever play the game.
I always respect the hawks from that era.They never say they hated Bird. They always played stronger against Boston.
Nique was my favorite player and still is
That series was amazing and i watched the series every day it was on. Watching the Hawks on TBS and watching the Bulls on WGN was a ritual. Both so fun to watch. Larry Bird gained my respect later but I always loved watching him too
A cold cat! I wish they had him mic’d up to hear the trash talk.
Oh man that would be epic. You figured with technology nowadays they could pick up anything,it would break RUclips if it happened lol
@@brianandchewiegohiking 😂😂😂 They could use the recordings in the military to teach psychological warfare!!
@@bonnieplasha4684 lmao yes
Probably the best 4th quarter of any basketball game I've ever watched.
Thank you. Larry is my favorite to hear about. You're a legend.
So glad I was a fan during this era, the game not even close to the players we had to watch, Bird came to town and layed my knicks to waste but it was great to watch him play
One of the greatest one on one duels in sports history .Both were Awesome
I came here to get Spud's story on Bird, and instead I'm sitting here reliving my trauma. Bird's falling forward left-handed prayer off the glass for an And-1 still lives in my nightmares.
From this native NYer and big fan. Old enough to see him actually play. He just mad me mad. Too many time. Respect for him as a baller however
Bird is great player period ! I am and still Lakers fan ! But Bird is a legend and it was fantastic watching Lakers and Boston play basketball!
The thing that made Larry Bird such a great Trash Talker. Was the fact that he backed up his trash talking by scoring points. How far would Larry Bird have gotten if he could never backed up his Trash Talking. As far as most of the guys that tried Trash Talking him, lol.
I managed to watch 90% to 95% of The Celtics games from about 1982 to 1990, on a satellite dish and TV setup, I bought at a discount, for, mainly that purpose. Some truly great basketball was played during that era. When I watch this and similar footage of Bird and The Celtics, I can't help but tear up, just a little. I sure miss the 80s, and for more than just the great basketball.
I tear up because of how good Bird is. He is the GOAT.
Dominic is a very magnanimous man who was a great and very exciting basketball player.
I remembered watching that game and I'm a Celtics fan and I was on the edge of my seat every time Dominique scored. That was the most exciting ballgame between two great players and their team.
Prime Larry Bird would easily dominate todays NBA
So would Dominique. Either one could average as many points as they wished.
EASILY.And the Celtics would crush Golden-State,take their hearts from them.
Prime Bird? Any era! He will dominate! ., reason he is the complete package, makes Him the real Greatest Of All Time!
In todays game He would be Luka but a hyper version.
Without a doubt!!
Living on Cape Cod throughout the '80's I had the luxury of watching every Celtics game when I was home and not to traveling. I also could easily listen to the radio broadcast at the same time. I'm sure there are those on this thread who will agree there was nothing, and I mean nothing, like Johnny Most calling games back then. His call of the game in question was just about as legendary as Nique and Larry's mystical performances.
This was such a great game. I was a huge Bird fan but I lived in Atlanta by then and I was the only person in the place wanting the Celts to win watching the game with friends. Excellent video.
I remember watching that game in '88 and was just amazed. The thing nobody talks about though is that the guy who carried Boston for 3 quarters and had over 30 himself was McHale. Without him the Celtics would have been in big trouble.
Another great compilation!! These are awesome!
Simply the best* ...... Ball handler, passer, shooter, either hand, psych and sass ya ..... while the ball gets nothing but, net. Greatest Player Ever !!!
man this is so well edited and put together. thank you man
This is another example that Larry Bird is the GOAT of the NBA.
I totally agree. How many superstars that played him have to keep saying it over and over to believe?
👍
Larry BIRD is the MAN and there's NO one like him and never will be. I LOVE THE GUY. Just don't tell my husband.
Larry is the coldest to ever do it…
I watched that game as a kid....was absolutely mind blowing. Definitely ranks as one of the best games I ever saw.
I've recently read in an article about the game that Bird had bronchial pneumonia in this game. Plus, as Ainge mentioned, Bird was beginning to experience the issues that resulted in his double Achilles/ bone spur surgery the following year.
My mom's maiden name. Don't see it often.
@@ZONEPRESSLLC Bone spur?
@@bobbys4327
🤦♀️
@@bobbys4327 kudos. Excellent comment. Lol
@@bobbys4327 No silly, it's bronchial pneumonia! 😂
Dominique was a beast! Respect to him and Larry!
All of the greatness between Dominique and Larry.. the best part of this video is 'Nique's reaction to the chest poke.. "WHAT are you doing?!" hahaha.. he KNEW.. big mistake
This game, Bird's legacy, could never have been possible without the antagonist. This night Wilkens was that person, and Wilkens was brilliant.
An excellent job piecing together a quarter for the ages.
LarryBird Didn't "TrashTalk"...
He Told Ya *TheFuture!*
he trash talk more like belittle you
Thank you _ I never get tired of watching Bird at work. That is a great group of awesome and humble players giving him his due credit.
Damn I sometimes forget how good ‘Nique was in his prime… I only ever remember and think about him in the dunk contest every year when I was a kid but looking back I don’t think he gets the respect he really deserves… great video too by the way awesome stuff!
As a kid growing up outside of Boston.. it was an amazing time. Thx for posting!
Outstanding job! Larry Bird is still my sports hero. No one else comes close.
He will be and is the greatest White American NBA player
@@floatsting20 don't be racist
I watched Bird his whole career and will watch these to my dying day.
I was privileged to be at the game. It was unforgettable. I really did feel bad that 'Nique had to lose.
Just curious... how much were tickets to the eastern semis in 1988?
@@TheDwightMamba no idea. A friend of mine had season tickets so I didn't pay.
@@TheDwightMamba I'm sure hugely cheaper than they charge nowadays. I paid $15.00 for my ticket to see Elvis Presley, but he passed away just before he was to come to Utica, NY in August of '77! Crushed, of course. The prices for all these games/shows, etc nowadays are disgusting......average people can't afford to go, let alone.bring family, etc. By the way, LARRY BIRD is/was absolutely my most favorite B/B player of all time!! Wish I had seen at least one of his games in person!
Great video brother 👍
That was for me, NBA at it's best !!!! Bird is my all time favorite player !!!! But Dominique was incredible !!! Doc Rivers will always be my favorite coach I've watched. Second only to Red !!!!
A couple of times, they would inbound to Spud. Spud was so fast that he would pass by 4 Celtics players trotting back to defend. Cost to cost for the basket. Amazing!
Larry Bird was a great trash talker. Not only was he have best trash talker, he backed it up!
Larry Bird has got to be the most watched nba player on RUclips in history.
You’re not very smart are you…
He IS.
He's so entertaining to watch. Like, Michael Jordan had crazy athleticism, will to win, and skill for days. He humbles anyone he plays against, and that's entertaining...
But watching Bird ...slow, can't jump, but won't stop, and can hit shots and make passes no one should be able to make and that a more athletic player wouldn't have had to make. Non-stop joy to watch him play.
What I truly loved about the Celtics is that they truly played the highest level of TEAM ball, with tremendous ball movement, passing, and court savvy. They absolute had great talent, but they were slow and not nearly as athletic as some of the top teams - but they could pass young legs into exhaustion. Smart and tough. And lot of those last years Bird's body was really beat up - where he played on will and guts.
I rooted for Boston in this game but I was a huge fan of that hawk team. Just unbelievable players. When watching these highlights I know now why I don’t watch todays game!!!
The early St Louis Hawks were pretty good. The other Wilkins was pretty good. He coached on the 92 Dream Team
Nique is so gracious toward Bird when he could have been saying look what I did. Really impressive attitude.
My favorite part of playing ball was greatness happening around me. Ive created some memories for others and I have memories of going up for rebounds and feeling feet touching my shoulders lol. Insane things happen at every level of play. If you love the game its fun to watch greatness even when its your opponents doing it.
Great video!
Wow. I'm not even a basketball fan, but wow. Two great players.
Excellent vid Nick.
This is important for young people to see. When they start thinking Dirk,Jokic or Lebron are on this man's level.
As great as they all are, they are not on that level.
I’ve been watching pro basketball since mid 70’s when I was a kid. Bird is the greatest player I’ve ever seen! Never been anyone as clutch. Ever!
Another banger, great job man, excellent edit as always! Cheers from Venice Italy!
I love the respect that these men have for each other. Incredible watching them play…true sportsmanship.
One of the best Bird videos I've seen, and I've seen a lot of them. He's my g o a t. This is a new one. Thanks
This video is nostalgic! Man those moments don’t come back. All we have now is great storytelling!
I'm sure glad Kevin Willis poked Larry and opened that can of woop ass. Nique is all class.
People don’t realize, this wasn’t Larry Bird at 100%. His Achilles tendons were shot and he missed most of the ‘89 season after getting surgery that further limited his mobility before the back issue’s plagued him thru ‘92. This man was the greatest all around basketball player the league has ever seen! I defy anyone who thinks Jordan and Lebron could have been as effective as this man was plying the last five years of his career in constant pain. Before the injuries, he won three consecutive MVPs. (84-86) He finished 2nd in MVP voting from 81-83, and again in 88.
Bird is the only player to average over 20 ppg, at least 5 dimes a game, and at least 10 boards a game for his career. Bird was all about playing team basketball and his awareness of what what was going on all over the court and his great passing were evidence of his team first approach.
Larry Bird is the man
I love the new commercial with him wearing those 3 beautiful rings.
I am a big Kevin Mc Kale fan first time I've seen him tell a story this well, GOD BLESS. 🖤👽
Kevin McHale is brutally underrated. Ask any Laker fan and they'll tell you what a killer he was. His low-post moves were second-to-one... Hakeem Olajuwon. Outside of that, no one could give you as many odd angles and elbows and pump fakes. He was brilliant down low.
I am a Kentucky Wildcats fan and I remember Dominique at Georgia. The first game i saw him play as a freshman at Rupp Arena, he hit his head on the rim going up for a rebound.
I live in Lexington Kentucky....born and raised.