100%. I don't think there's another payer that has all the strengths that Bird had to that degree. MJ didn't have the play making ability or the rebounding ability, LJ doesn't have the clutch or the leadership ability.
Same. I even got to see Larry play live a few times. The minute he step foot on the court, you knew you were going to see something spectacular, and you always did.
I do think bird is the most complete basketball player oat and it's not just skill wise, it's also his clutch play, toughness, heart, winners/leadership mentality and IQ.
Only two people to record this. Bird recorded consecutive 50-40-90 seasons in 1986-87 and 1987-88, while Nash recorded four such seasons between 2005 and 2010
I was a Lakers fan in LA through the Bird years and hated him, only because he was better than any player on my team...:) He was truly incredible and I feared a Lakers/Celtics match up.
He's top tier in everything this guy said and more: free throw shooting, pure outside shooting, clutchness, toughness, trash talk, leadership, basketball IQ
The Greatest Of All Time implies a single person and it isn't Bird. Some guy from Chicago holds that title right now and, unless Larry wants to get back on the court for at least one more productive ring, I think it will stay that way.
@@JayLandon64 rings says more abouit _teams_ than they say about _individual _prowess_ & no, Jordan best guard of all time - but _definitely_ not the GOAT
@@danielandersson7485 Well, you are wrong. Jordan is obviously the GOAT. The Rings are icing, just proving the point. Jordan is #1 All-Time in PER for the regular season and the post-season, #1 All-Time in Box+/- in the Regular season and Post-season, #1 in WIN Shares in both the regular season and the playoffs. In VORP (Value over replacement) Jordan has 6 pf the 9 best seasons in history, and per game is the best at VORP all-time in the regular season and the playoffs. By Game Score Jordan has 19 of the 100 best games 'ever played', so in the 40 years Game Score has been a thing, nearly 1 in 5 of the best games played are by Jordan. I do not know if they have gone back and figured out Wilt's Game Score, to see if he could rival Jordan's number of top100 games. But Wilt is taken into account for the other stats and Jordan tops him. It trips me out that Jordan finished with a higher per game average than Wilt. I can't even put Wilt over Russell, considering how many times Russell's Celtics kicked Wilt's ass. For the record, I have Wilt at 6th behind Jordan, Russell, Bird, Kobe, and Kareem in that order. Jordan has the highest per game scoring average in the regular season and in the playoffs. He also made 6 Finals, won 6 rings, and was MVP 6 times. Jordan had one All-Star teammate, LeBron has had 14, and I'm betting Bird had more as well. And I KNOW Wilt had more. And for anyone to think the Bulls had the overall team skill at every position like those '80s Celtics is absurd. In fact, as soon as Jordan got another teammate or two who could play, the Bulls became a problem. Basically, Jordan was the best offensive player the world has ever known... after all he did average 6.3 assists per game... AND the best defensive guard ever, and the combo makes him the best player ever, or the GOAT. ruclips.net/video/tl3mR6eoEa8/видео.html
@@JayLandon64 But there is one thing that MJ never did. He never beat Larry in the playoffs. And he had six shots at it. Jordan was great, but Larry was the overall GOAT and he's the ONLY Legend.
He was also an elite trash talker with the ability to back it up. And had a finger shaped like a boomerang and a broken back for half of his career. Played hurt. Elite buzzer beater. He was a basketball quarterback. He was incredible.
If you think those 1985-1989 stats were impressive consider this: 1985 is when Bird broke his back. That means he was no longer at his prime physically because he was in so much pain. Can you imagine his career stats if he had never suffered that injury?
@@kingbrutusxxvi He also injured his right hand the summer before his rookie season. He never felt the ball the way he did before that! Imagine if that AND they back never happened?
@@JayHemmsSportshe was injury prone because he worked twice as hard as anyone else on the court. Name one other star/superstar player who consistently dives for loose balls like bird does
@@JayHemmsSports He played all-out, and injuries are more common among athletes that give 110% every game. He played hurt, which also increases your odds of sustaining more injuries. I don't think he was any more injury-prone than any other player.
@JayHemmsSports I don't think you can call him "injury prone". When I think of injury prone, i think of someone like Kawhi Leonard, who sits out if there's a stiff breeze outside. Bird played with a back that was so bad most of us would be crawling on the floor(I've had 3 back surgeries, so I'm talking from experience lol)
Larry actually sat out the 4th quarter when he could have gone back n to get one more steal for the quadruple double. But, when the coach asked him if he wanted to go back in he said " Nah, I've done enough damage " He didn't care about his stats so long as they won...
LeBron’s killer instinct was for free agency and contract negotiations. He shopped around for rings while the greats built solid foundations upon which everyone around them benefited from
@@JayHemmsSports I disagree. A killer instinct is shown constantly. Lebron is anything but constant. And he diminishes in clutch situations, which is the total opposite of having a killer instinct.
Bird and Magic saved the NBA! There is no one I would rather watch than Larry Bird! If I had a number 1 pick in his prime I would pick Larry over anyone!
Bird played hurt and didn't take 10 steps on the way to the basket like LeBron, who needs to be carried off with a leg cramp, Bird played with a broken cheek twice
Considering how generous he was in sharing the ball and making sure everyone was engaged, it's no surprise he made fewer shots than he easily could have. And then, three point shooting was discouraged when Larry came in. It wasn't until Larry proved that his rainbow shots couldn't be blocked or stolen, that three point shots became a thing.
Great job Jay. You're so young. This was ez. Bird is absolutely the greatest AND most clutch player in NBA history. Better than LeBron and as much as I love Jordan, he was 0-6 vs. Larry in the playoffs. They never even mentioned FTs wherein Larry beat em' all. He shot like Curry, passed like Magic, rebounded like Kareem, stole like Stockton and was King of the 40/50/90 Club....LEGEND!!!! 🏀
The greatest thing about that near quadruple double is that K.C. Jones realized right after he pulled Bird from the game what his stats were and immediately told him to get back out there and make history real quick. Bird's response was "Nah. I've done enough damage tonight." That's part of why I love the guy so much and why if you ask me he not only got the quad, but it was the greatest quadruple double ever. That's how little he cared about accolades: he wanted to excel at what he did and he wanted a chance to challenge the best in the world. Having a quadruple double on his record wouldn't have helped him with either of those things, so he didn't care. He's like a freaking anime character.
Bird took himself out not the coach. The coach wanted him to go back in but bird said he wasn’t “chasing numbers” he had enough of an all around game!!! That’s the legend who called his shots in games against all other great players in the league!!!! That’s not lebron at all!!!!
And put it like this, the league is weak today during lebrons and Steph period. You can’t even touch a player but back then you got your ass whoop on the court and Bird was doing everything against the greats,… Jordan never beat Bird in his career!!!
Bird also is a killer Bird, jordan, and Kobe are the only players I've seen with this kind of killer instinct in which your;e terrified that they're on the floor and you know they're going to win the game in the end
This isn’t even up for debate. A mastery of the fundamentals AND the highest basketball of any player that’s ever lived is the reason why Larry Bird is the greatest all-round player that’s ever lived
I would only add that Bird was one of the toughest players (playing in pain) and that he was maybe the greatest clutch player the league has seen. Nice reaction video!
Defensive rebounding is one of the biggest stats that has over-inflated value. The reality is that most rebounds are not contested. But look at Larry's 84 finals OFFENSIVE rebounds ... 3.7 per game. That is insane level work. That means he was flat getting his team almost 4 possessions a game that the other team failed to get. In games often decided by 4 points or less that means Bird is straight up winning those games with his work on the offensive glass.
Larry didnt play point forward like Lebron. He didnt have the ball every time down the floor. So his overall assists are lower but his quality was maybe number 1
Larry wasn't 6'9". He was 6'10". He was tough. His bb iq is off the charts. His clutch ability is insane. He gave 100% every game. He played to win every possession. He never took a night off.
If Bird is not the greatest all around player ever, he has to be in the top three. At least from what I have seen, because I actually saw Bird play back in the '80's.
I'm 48 and grew up watching Larry bird, I've been saying it a number of times that if you didn't grow up or were alive actually watching him during his career, I don't think you can fully appreciate and understand just how good he actually was. Younger people just don't get the full picture of what he did on a nightly basis that made him so extraordinary.
I've said this many times before on reactions; Larry Bird won three straight MVP awards, before those he was first runner up three times and after the three MVPs he was first runner up twice.
I've been watching the NBA since the 80s and I have yet to see a better passer than Larry Bird. And it's certainly not Lebron James. Or Stockton. Or Kidd. Assists do not equate to great passing. Magic is the closest passer to Bird. But Bird was better.
Bird IS a top 10 passer. What separates him from the other 9 is that he plays small forward and he doesn't dominate the ball. His assists come from the flow of the Celtic offense
One category you did not look at…..clutch. If I were to have any player that ever played in the NBA take a game winning shot, I would want it to be Bird. Dude was Mr. Clutch
I am on my 60s a lifelong NBA fan.here is where Bird excels beyond ANY player ever.. 1 his mental approach to basketball is universally unchallenged. 2, his drive and motor is also tops. He dove for more loose balls in one season than LeBron in his career. He would tire you out, outthink you and out hustle you. 3 he had more heart and will to win and make the physical sacrifice to win 4. He was a natural leader and "winner". From his high school days. LeBron and Jordan had to be taught and learn everything it takes to win. Only Bird was born with it.
You have to remember, Larry's rookie year is when they brought in the 3 point line. Also, Larry played with a broken back from 1985 to 93. So,what do you think would have happened to his career had he been healthy and played more than 13 years?
Two of my favorite quotes about Bird: 1) He can't run, he can't jump, but he can outplay almost everyone on the court. 2) Playing against Jordan will make you look slow. Playing against Bird will make you look stupid. Larry understood his skills and understood the game. He had one of the highest basketball IQs ever and used it to dominate. Lebron and Jordan are more physically talented, but Bird probably did more with the talent he has than any other player ever.
You have to throw this one in. “If I had to choose a player to take a final shot to win a game I’d choose Jordan, but if I could pick one to shoot to save my life I would pick Bird.” - Pat Riley
Only one person in NBA history averaged at least 24 points, 10 rebounds, and 6 assists per game, and that is Larry Legend. Definitely best all around player ever.
The biggest difference between Bird and lebron is that he never staff padded his game. Bron could have won more games if he wasn’t busy padding his stats.
Great video as usual. Larry Bird is the greatest all around player of all time imo. And I’ve watched all the greats in history as I am old lol and saw them all including Wilt Chamberlain who is right up there as the GOAT. Your video of Wilt was the favorite of mine. You had me laughing in stitches.
@@JayHemmsSportswhen it comes to Wilt Chamberlain you almost got to talk the greatest basketball player of all time and the greatest human basketball player of all time. Wilt Chamberlain had some freakish alien super athlete DNA in there.😉
Here's the thing. Jordon, LeBron and Magic are all physically superior to Bird. He wasn't faster, he wasn't stronger nor bigger; he was just smart, talented and driven with incredible court vision. Basically, he did more with less. He worked harder, stayed later, and trash talked more than any other player in NBA history.
So you’re still saying LeBron is the greatest all around player even though Legend beats or matches LeBron in every aspect of the game! Your bias to LeBron is ridiculous! They don’t even mention how tough Bird was. He never took a game off for load management. At the age of 30, Bird averaged more points, rebounds, blocks and assists than LeBron did at that age. Ridiculous
He got more wins than almost everybody; he never even tried to get stats for himself; he played with broken bones since about 1985; he couldn't run or jump shockingly well; he wasn't the tallest man in the NBA (though very tall, of course); he had zero weakness to any real degree; he could do almost anything to get the job done; his shooting % is about as good as anybody else overall; he played in a very tough era; he had to learn 3-pointers during NBA years, as he never learnt it early on. That is proof, to my mind, that he's not only better than LeBron but everybody. Only MJ has beat him on a strictly one-to-one basis, and even then, Larry beat MJ quite a bit for years, and MJ struggled to actually get a win from him. He beat almost everybody else, young and old, from 1978 to 1990 or so, including MJ in the 1980s. MJ was at his best during the 1990s, when Bird left. That should tell you something. The only serious claim these days is to say that Basketball talent is higher since the 1990s and 2000s, but there is clear evidence that the best players of all time were between 1960 and 1990. In terms of complete players, very few exist since Bird. The stats prove it. To the degree we do see a few top players today, they ensured that by caring about their own stats; they never did as well as Bird whilst also winning so many games each year, with or without broken bones. I've love to see a real case that anybody did better than Bird under harsher conditions, to both do so well for himself and also win games at the highest level, dealing with very physical opponents. I've seen no such case -- the reality is, what I just said doesn't even apply to post-1990 Basketball due to safety regulations, lack of injuries, and hyper-focus on personal records at the cost of wins. The best you can say is a few players can shoot better than Bird, or a few players can beat Bird one-on-one, or a few players can defend better than Bird, or a few players can pass as well as Bird. But you cannot say anybody is better than Bird or actually helps their team win more games. The other factor is, many teams had better players and more top players than Bird's team, other than himself -- and some of his teams had the best coaches, too. They were all in far better positions, overall, but still they couldn't beat Bird, and Bird took his team to greatness, almost single-handedly beginning in 1980, and really in 1981 (though he joined in 1979 -- it was a slow start, of course, and he had to waste some time and wins just learning 3-pointers and so on; all of which he mastered by 1985).
I reacted to that video a while ago. You can check it out here: ruclips.net/video/DvkaQR8SHls/видео.htmlsi=2xAQoewnkPBf1z5j Thanks for the suggestion, though. I hope you enjoy the video. 😁
Larry made you quake in your boots especially as a lakers fan in the 80’s Dude simply would take over and you would be in disbelief as though it was a fluke then he would do it the very next night, scary good.
Larry's coach offered to put him back in the game to get the quadruple double but Larry said, "No, I've done enough, let somebody else go!" That's not verbatim but you get the gist! He was a very humble man as well .... even though he loved his trash talk!
All the players you named are trash.They all have said Bird was better than them. You need to research you comments more, I have. Besides none of the players you mentioned ever saved the NBA
Would you say that anyone who took 3rd place in DPOTY, had a career defensive rating better than LeBron, Jordan and Pippen, was a great defensive player? Cause that's Larry Bird
Think about this for a moment. What we see now with shots and passes, very much resemble Larry's techniques. We must ask ourselves, "Where did they, 'ALL THE PLAYERS THAT CAME AFTER' Larry, get those moves? Does any one of you believe these guys never watched the old game reels? Now we're comparing new players to old and how great they are. If Larry had not brought the NBA back to life, along with his/biggest rival/friend Magic, there would be no league to worry about. Just sayn.
I’ve been saying this since the 80s and all the decades after. There is no player I’ve seen since that time that is better than Bird all around. People pick other players because they love their style like MJ but make no mistake Bird was and is the all around best.
Lebron shoots 36% outside of 3 feet. That alone disqualifies him from best all around or the GOAT. He has quit on teams multiple times, the CAVs, the Heat and currently the Lakers. He is the reason the league is in the toilet now.
Thank you Thank you Thank you. I've been mentioning the Utah game in comments for years, but never seen it referenced in any video. I remember watching that game. Want to say it was one of the "home" games the Celts played in Hartford Ct. (they did that a few times a year for a while). Late season game and Coach K.C. Jones usually rested the starters in the 4th Qtr in situations like that (up by 25, and even 100-75 score at the end of 3 if I remember correctly). K.C. Jones goes up to him and says "you want to go in and get one more steal?" Bird says, "No, I have to rest for the playoffs." He totally could have done it. But he always prioritized championships over stats.
First in DWSs four seasons. 2nd twice. In Top Ten every season until his dbl Achilles surgery. Opponents scored fewer points when Bird was on the court.
Don't forget, Michael only beat Larry in two games. Larry swept him twice in the finals, and won 3 of 4 matchups in season. 2 where with Pippen supporting Jordan and one was AFTER Larry broke his back.
Larry didn't sit out games, flop, and turn the ball over like LeBron. I'm not saying James isn't a great player, but after 65+ years of watching eras come and go, I can't put him in the top ten.
LeBron will never be better than Bird. He joins super teams to win chips. Bird turned his team into champions. Also, Bird made all defense first team 3 years when he was healthy. The greats dont have to chase chips on super teams. They build their team and earn them. The only thing LeBron has on Bird is his athleticism.
You just saw the stats, but I didn't hear them mention the volume of shots per game. Larry built those stats on 18 shots per game average for his career.
Bird & Magic. I mean Magic played all 5 positions in the 80 finals. Bird always did it all. Played with a fractured eye socket in 91 vs Indiana on top of having to be interaction for his back after every game. To quite Pat Reilly, "if I had to pick 1 player to win a game, I pick Jordan. If I had to pick a player to make a shot to save my life, It would be Larry Bird!" Nuff said.
Larry wasn't about padding his stats, like Lebron is. He just wanted the W. Nothing else mattered. I respect him for that. He is and always will be, to me, the best that's ever played. He literally put his body on the line every night, regardless of injury or pain. With his intelligence alone, he would dominate today's league. I don't care how fast they are, Larry makes you play at his pace. Time enough to get in your head to get you flustered and out of your game. As fast as Jordan was, you watch some of those games and see how Larry owned Mike. Mike may have scored more, but Larry got the job done. Everyone says, well Larry had more help. That's false. Larry turned good players into great players because he knew how to utilize their strengths, where Michael had good players, but he chose to try to win the games by himself. He became great, when he started getting his team involved. McHale and Parish scored a lot because they were always around the rim or just around the post for easy buckets, where your big guys should be. Not out shooting 20-25 3's, and maybe making 4 or 5. Today's game has no post game. Nothing but 3s and lazy defense. You can't sneeze without getting fouled. Players in the 80's were hard nosed and during the playoffs, the refs allowed the game to continue as long as they didn't see blood, usually in the last two minutes of the game. Could you imagine today's league going up against the Pistons or the Knicks from the 80's? These players today are worried too much about breaking a nail. After Jordan retired, that's when I stopped watching, but now it's embarrassing to watch. It's too much about highlight dunks, being buddies on court and the ridiculous amounts of 3's being taken. I'm not speaking for everyone, but I do know I'm not the only one saying it. The NBA sucks!
Larry literally played with 4 Hall of Famers. He isn't close to beating out Jordan. I have him third, but it isn't a close race. You are delusional if you think Bird was better than Michael. If you watch most of those games, you'd see that Jordan had Bird's number, Bird couldn't come close to guarding him, nor did any other Celtic. And Bird's teammates were much better than Jordan's. Much better. It wasn't Larry that made them Hall of Famers. They were Hall of Famers that Larry was lucky enough to play with. So put that false BS about Bird's teammates to bed. Its tired and nonsense. Jordan won more MVPs and more rings because he was the better player.
@@JayLandon64 and that's your opinion. I don't agree with it, but that's okay. I'm not on here to insult anyone's opinion. I gave my opinion and you gave yours. I'm not saying I'm right and I'm not saying you're right. I didn't insult anyone so I don't expect to be insulted back and if you came on here to insult me, I honestly don't care.
@@johndavis9432 Thank you. Get ready to catch some flack for having an opinion. Even if is facts. When will people realize that Bird's help didn't come in as Hall of Famers. Bird made them Hall of Famers by knowing how to utilize each players strengths.
This guy is the goat, that guy is the goat, LeBozo declared himself the goat, blah, blah, blah. But there is only one "Legend." Larry Legend. That says it all.
I give it to bird bc there are far too many bits of evidence where Lebron has literally evaporated in the playoffs. Shys away from the heat at end of games, takes plays off and tried to manufacture being the greatest. He doesn't make his team mates better and he sucks the life out of every team Hes on. His stats are compuled bc Hes trying make sure his stats help his case. Larry didnt care he just layed bc of the game and honored the game. Lebron does not. Lebron plays for his stastus and how history sees him. The longer he plays the more he damaged said status and the the more people uncover historical footage from this era the more he falls. Bird will continue to grow in legacy and factual proof as time goes bc the NbA is a joke these days.
Listen, there’s no question that LeBron has had the best career and longevity. That doesn’t make him the best player. Especially when you were talking about all around players. He’s good at exactly 2 things, scoring and passing. He’s not a good shooter, not a good rebounder, and not a consistently good defender. He shouldn’t even be considered for best all-around player to be honest with you if you look at it objectively.
You are comparing Larry with Kobe. Kobe played for 20 years in the NBA. Larry had 13 and would have gone longer if his body hadn't given out. His body started giving out about 6 or 7 years into his career. Imagine if he had been healthy what he could have accomplished.
If you watched him play. He is a top 5 passer. Number of assists don't capture how "good" a passer people are. Many assists are super easy. He made crazy creative passes that made people looks stupid REGULARLY. Like every night.
I watched the NBA from !969 to 2015. Hes the greatest all around player I saw. The greatest.
I was about 8 in 1978. I hated MJ until Larry was gone. Then I loved that basrtrad!
100%. I don't think there's another payer that has all the strengths that Bird had to that degree. MJ didn't have the play making ability or the rebounding ability, LJ doesn't have the clutch or the leadership ability.
Same. I even got to see Larry play live a few times. The minute he step foot on the court, you knew you were going to see something spectacular, and you always did.
@@nanook8721 Same here~ he was magical to watch. 🍀
I do think bird is the most complete basketball player oat and it's not just skill wise, it's also his clutch play, toughness, heart, winners/leadership mentality and IQ.
Lebron is disqualified from GOAT talk by his abhorrent clutch-time shooting.
Only two people to record this.
Bird recorded consecutive 50-40-90 seasons in 1986-87 and 1987-88, while Nash recorded four such seasons between 2005 and 2010
@@mchedrick69 But Bird unlike Nash was also the main offensive threat and played SF while Nash was a PG who typically gets more touches.
I was a Lakers fan in LA through the Bird years and hated him, only because he was better than any player on my team...:) He was truly incredible and I feared a Lakers/Celtics match up.
Larry Bird was a special player 🔥🔥
He's top tier in everything this guy said and more: free throw shooting, pure outside shooting, clutchness, toughness, trash talk, leadership, basketball IQ
LeBron is not in Larry Bird's league.
Amen
LeBron's only claim IMO is his longevity. Bird was only the "Legend" for about 8-10 years before his back injuries robbed him
Top 10 all time passer? I think you can make an argument that he’s actually #1 but certainly top 5.
I think he's in there with Stockton and Kidd and yeah probably top 5 if not 3.
Weird why he keeps saying 'top 10' and then clearly mentions how he's easily top 3 or even #1...
100%
bird is the best. you are correct.
I say there are many GOATs, but only ONE legend!!
Wilt is alone on the throne - then we got MJ & Bird - it is what it is
The Greatest Of All Time implies a single person and it isn't Bird. Some guy from Chicago holds that title right now and, unless Larry wants to get back on the court for at least one more productive ring, I think it will stay that way.
@@JayLandon64 rings says more abouit _teams_ than they say about _individual _prowess_ & no, Jordan best guard of all time - but _definitely_ not the GOAT
@@danielandersson7485 Well, you are wrong. Jordan is obviously the GOAT. The Rings are icing, just proving the point.
Jordan is #1 All-Time in PER for the regular season and the post-season, #1 All-Time in Box+/- in the Regular season and Post-season, #1 in WIN Shares in both the regular season and the playoffs. In VORP (Value over replacement) Jordan has 6 pf the 9 best seasons in history, and per game is the best at VORP all-time in the regular season and the playoffs. By Game Score Jordan has 19 of the 100 best games 'ever played', so in the 40 years Game Score has been a thing, nearly 1 in 5 of the best games played are by Jordan. I do not know if they have gone back and figured out Wilt's Game Score, to see if he could rival Jordan's number of top100 games. But Wilt is taken into account for the other stats and Jordan tops him. It trips me out that Jordan finished with a higher per game average than Wilt. I can't even put Wilt over Russell, considering how many times Russell's Celtics kicked Wilt's ass. For the record, I have Wilt at 6th behind Jordan, Russell, Bird, Kobe, and Kareem in that order.
Jordan has the highest per game scoring average in the regular season and in the playoffs. He also made 6 Finals, won 6 rings, and was MVP 6 times. Jordan had one All-Star teammate, LeBron has had 14, and I'm betting Bird had more as well. And I KNOW Wilt had more. And for anyone to think the Bulls had the overall team skill at every position like those '80s Celtics is absurd. In fact, as soon as Jordan got another teammate or two who could play, the Bulls became a problem.
Basically, Jordan was the best offensive player the world has ever known... after all he did average 6.3 assists per game... AND the best defensive guard ever, and the combo makes him the best player ever, or the GOAT.
ruclips.net/video/tl3mR6eoEa8/видео.html
@@JayLandon64 But there is one thing that MJ never did. He never beat Larry in the playoffs. And he had six shots at it.
Jordan was great, but Larry was the overall GOAT and he's the ONLY Legend.
All around? Absolutely! And his leadership skills and killer instinct were phenomenal But the best thing of all is he was a fun guy to watch.
He was also an elite trash talker with the ability to back it up. And had a finger shaped like a boomerang and a broken back for half of his career. Played hurt. Elite buzzer beater. He was a basketball quarterback. He was incredible.
If you think those 1985-1989 stats were impressive consider this: 1985 is when Bird broke his back. That means he was no longer at his prime physically because he was in so much pain. Can you imagine his career stats if he had never suffered that injury?
@@kingbrutusxxvi He also injured his right hand the summer before his rookie season. He never felt the ball the way he did before that! Imagine if that AND they back never happened?
@@danielmcgraw7908Larry Bird most definitely would've accomplished more. Sadly, he was injury-prone 😔
@@JayHemmsSportshe was injury prone because he worked twice as hard as anyone else on the court. Name one other star/superstar player who consistently dives for loose balls like bird does
@@JayHemmsSports He played all-out, and injuries are more common among athletes that give 110% every game. He played hurt, which also increases your odds of sustaining more injuries. I don't think he was any more injury-prone than any other player.
@JayHemmsSports I don't think you can call him "injury prone". When I think of injury prone, i think of someone like Kawhi Leonard, who sits out if there's a stiff breeze outside. Bird played with a back that was so bad most of us would be crawling on the floor(I've had 3 back surgeries, so I'm talking from experience lol)
Larry Legend was the most fun to watch ever!
To top it off. Larry Legend may be the greatest nickname.
That is a 🔥nickname
Theres only one legend.
Larry actually sat out the 4th quarter when he could have gone back n to get one more steal for the quadruple double. But, when the coach asked him if he wanted to go back in he said " Nah, I've done enough damage " He didn't care about his stats so long as they won...
I respect Larry Bird for that. I'm returning to the game to get that steal, though. 😂😂
@@JayHemmsSports oh, for sure, I would too!
I can't stand Lebron, so I am biased. I think it's because he does not have the elite killer instinct like Larry, Kobe or MJ and Magic.
I think LeBron has a killer instinct. He has a different way of showing it.
@@JayHemmsSportsyour joking right????😂 what a stupid thing to say
LeBron’s killer instinct was for free agency and contract negotiations. He shopped around for rings while the greats built solid foundations upon which everyone around them benefited from
@@JayHemmsSports I disagree. A killer instinct is shown constantly. Lebron is anything but constant. And he diminishes in clutch situations, which is the total opposite of having a killer instinct.
@@JayHemmsSportswhat way would that be? He chokes under pressure!
Bird and Magic saved the NBA! There is no one I would rather watch than Larry Bird! If I had a number 1 pick in his prime I would pick Larry over anyone!
Bird played hurt and didn't take 10 steps on the way to the basket like LeBron, who needs to be carried off with a leg cramp, Bird played with a broken cheek twice
Plus a he brok his back and bone spurs in both feet
Considering how generous he was in sharing the ball and making sure everyone was engaged, it's no surprise he made fewer shots than he easily could have. And then, three point shooting was discouraged when Larry came in. It wasn't until Larry proved that his rainbow shots couldn't be blocked or stolen, that three point shots became a thing.
There wasn’t a 3-point shot until he hit the pros, so players in his day didn’t grow up shooting 3’s.
Great job Jay. You're so young. This was ez. Bird is absolutely the greatest AND most clutch player in NBA history. Better than LeBron and as much as I love Jordan, he was 0-6 vs. Larry in the playoffs. They never even mentioned FTs wherein Larry beat em' all. He shot like Curry, passed like Magic, rebounded like Kareem, stole like Stockton and was King of the 40/50/90 Club....LEGEND!!!! 🏀
Bird has a passing highlight video that's over half-hour long.
And all those passes came from just about 20 game videos and a few highlight videos. I wish all the games were restored and made public domain.
@@ToddandRaquiForrest I watched his entire career as it happened games, this was not just 20 games.
When it comes to the toughest player as well as being a killer - Larry Legend all day
The greatest thing about that near quadruple double is that K.C. Jones realized right after he pulled Bird from the game what his stats were and immediately told him to get back out there and make history real quick. Bird's response was "Nah. I've done enough damage tonight." That's part of why I love the guy so much and why if you ask me he not only got the quad, but it was the greatest quadruple double ever. That's how little he cared about accolades: he wanted to excel at what he did and he wanted a chance to challenge the best in the world. Having a quadruple double on his record wouldn't have helped him with either of those things, so he didn't care. He's like a freaking anime character.
That's a franchise player. NBA Unicorn
Bird took himself out not the coach. The coach wanted him to go back in but bird said he wasn’t “chasing numbers” he had enough of an all around game!!! That’s the legend who called his shots in games against all other great players in the league!!!! That’s not lebron at all!!!!
And put it like this, the league is weak today during lebrons and Steph period. You can’t even touch a player but back then you got your ass whoop on the court and Bird was doing everything against the greats,… Jordan never beat Bird in his career!!!
@@JamesGranderson99 Oh I never knew that detail. That makes the story even better.
Yes , the “ greatest
all around player “
is and always will be
Larry bird ! Lebron
James will always
be known as the
player who killed
the NBA ….
LeBron did not kill the NBA 😂
@
Really ? Down 48 %
viewership and the
most despised player
in NBA history….
Bird also is a killer
Bird, jordan, and Kobe are the only players I've seen with this kind of killer instinct in which your;e terrified that they're on the floor and you know they're going to win the game in the end
Yes, Bird is the best overall player and SF of all time. No question for me
Even Le Bron believes Larry is the GOAT.
It was his BBIQ and Court vision that truly made him Great, a forward thinking like a point guard
This isn’t even up for debate. A mastery of the fundamentals AND the highest basketball of any player that’s ever lived is the reason why Larry Bird is the greatest all-round player that’s ever lived
Did you mean to say highest IQ? If so, agreed!!
I would only add that Bird was one of the toughest players (playing in pain) and that he was maybe the greatest clutch player the league has seen. Nice reaction video!
Defensive rebounding is one of the biggest stats that has over-inflated value. The reality is that most rebounds are not contested. But look at Larry's 84 finals OFFENSIVE rebounds ... 3.7 per game. That is insane level work. That means he was flat getting his team almost 4 possessions a game that the other team failed to get. In games often decided by 4 points or less that means Bird is straight up winning those games with his work on the offensive glass.
Larry didnt play point forward like Lebron. He didnt have the ball every time down the floor. So his overall assists are lower but his quality was maybe number 1
I watched Bird through his career & I am cofident when I tell you that BIRD IS THE GOAT.
Larry wasn't 6'9". He was 6'10". He was tough. His bb iq is off the charts. His clutch ability is insane. He gave 100% every game. He played to win every possession. He never took a night off.
If Bird is not the greatest all around player ever, he has to be in the top three. At least from what I have seen, because I actually saw Bird play back in the '80's.
I'm 48 and grew up watching Larry bird, I've been saying it a number of times that if you didn't grow up or were alive actually watching him during his career, I don't think you can fully appreciate and understand just how good he actually was. Younger people just don't get the full picture of what he did on a nightly basis that made him so extraordinary.
He was one steal away from a 50 - 40- 90 game after 3 quarters one day, and KC asked if he wanted to go back in. He said he had done enough damage.
LARRY LEGEND IS A UNICORN AND THE TRUE GOAT!!! 🐐 ☘️
Nobody takes into consideration Larry Birds ability to effect the outcome of the game with out shooting the ball
I've said this many times before on reactions; Larry Bird won three straight MVP awards, before those he was first runner up three times and after the three MVPs he was first runner up twice.
Pistol Pete passed so good that he tricked his own teammates 😂.
I've been watching the NBA since the 80s and I have yet to see a better passer than Larry Bird. And it's certainly not Lebron James. Or Stockton. Or Kidd. Assists do not equate to great passing. Magic is the closest passer to Bird. But Bird was better.
Bird IS a top 10 passer. What separates him from the other 9 is that he plays small forward and he doesn't dominate the ball. His assists come from the flow of the Celtic offense
One category you did not look at…..clutch. If I were to have any player that ever played in the NBA take a game winning shot, I would want it to be Bird. Dude was Mr. Clutch
I am on my 60s a lifelong NBA fan.here is where Bird excels beyond ANY player ever..
1 his mental approach to basketball is universally unchallenged.
2, his drive and motor is also tops. He dove for more loose balls in one season than LeBron in his career. He would tire you out, outthink you and out hustle you.
3 he had more heart and will to win and make the physical sacrifice to win
4. He was a natural leader and "winner". From his high school days. LeBron and Jordan had to be taught and learn everything it takes to win. Only Bird was born with it.
You have to remember, Larry's rookie year is when they brought in the 3 point line. Also, Larry played with a broken back from 1985 to 93. So,what do you think would have happened to his career had he been healthy and played more than 13 years?
All hail the BIRDman, numbers don’t lie.
Two of my favorite quotes about Bird: 1) He can't run, he can't jump, but he can outplay almost everyone on the court.
2) Playing against Jordan will make you look slow. Playing against Bird will make you look stupid.
Larry understood his skills and understood the game. He had one of the highest basketball IQs ever and used it to dominate. Lebron and Jordan are more physically talented, but Bird probably did more with the talent he has than any other player ever.
You have to throw this one in. “If I had to choose a player to take a final shot to win a game I’d choose Jordan, but if I could pick one to shoot to save my life I would pick Bird.” - Pat Riley
Bird is GOAT period
Only one person in NBA history averaged at least 24 points, 10 rebounds, and 6 assists per game, and that is Larry Legend. Definitely best all around player ever.
larry was the best clutch play maker I ever saw.
The biggest difference between Bird and lebron is that he never staff padded his game.
Bron could have won more games if he wasn’t busy padding his stats.
And flopping all over the place
And James isn't nearly as tough as Bird.He can't take pain like Larry did.
Great video as usual. Larry Bird is the greatest all around player of all time imo. And I’ve watched all the greats in history as I am old lol and saw them all including Wilt Chamberlain who is right up there as the GOAT. Your video of Wilt was the favorite of mine. You had me laughing in stitches.
Thank You for always supporting my channel. I really appreciate it! 💯💯
@@JayHemmsSportswhen it comes to Wilt Chamberlain you almost got to talk the greatest basketball player of all time and the greatest human basketball player of all time. Wilt Chamberlain had some freakish alien super athlete DNA in there.😉
Here's the thing. Jordon, LeBron and Magic are all physically superior to Bird. He wasn't faster, he wasn't stronger nor bigger; he was just smart, talented and driven with incredible court vision. Basically, he did more with less. He worked harder, stayed later, and trash talked more than any other player in NBA history.
So you’re still saying LeBron is the greatest all around player even though Legend beats or matches LeBron in every aspect of the game! Your bias to LeBron is ridiculous! They don’t even mention how tough Bird was. He never took a game off for load management. At the age of 30, Bird averaged more points, rebounds, blocks and assists than LeBron did at that age. Ridiculous
He got more wins than almost everybody; he never even tried to get stats for himself; he played with broken bones since about 1985; he couldn't run or jump shockingly well; he wasn't the tallest man in the NBA (though very tall, of course); he had zero weakness to any real degree; he could do almost anything to get the job done; his shooting % is about as good as anybody else overall; he played in a very tough era; he had to learn 3-pointers during NBA years, as he never learnt it early on.
That is proof, to my mind, that he's not only better than LeBron but everybody. Only MJ has beat him on a strictly one-to-one basis, and even then, Larry beat MJ quite a bit for years, and MJ struggled to actually get a win from him. He beat almost everybody else, young and old, from 1978 to 1990 or so, including MJ in the 1980s. MJ was at his best during the 1990s, when Bird left. That should tell you something.
The only serious claim these days is to say that Basketball talent is higher since the 1990s and 2000s, but there is clear evidence that the best players of all time were between 1960 and 1990. In terms of complete players, very few exist since Bird. The stats prove it. To the degree we do see a few top players today, they ensured that by caring about their own stats; they never did as well as Bird whilst also winning so many games each year, with or without broken bones.
I've love to see a real case that anybody did better than Bird under harsher conditions, to both do so well for himself and also win games at the highest level, dealing with very physical opponents. I've seen no such case -- the reality is, what I just said doesn't even apply to post-1990 Basketball due to safety regulations, lack of injuries, and hyper-focus on personal records at the cost of wins. The best you can say is a few players can shoot better than Bird, or a few players can beat Bird one-on-one, or a few players can defend better than Bird, or a few players can pass as well as Bird. But you cannot say anybody is better than Bird or actually helps their team win more games.
The other factor is, many teams had better players and more top players than Bird's team, other than himself -- and some of his teams had the best coaches, too. They were all in far better positions, overall, but still they couldn't beat Bird, and Bird took his team to greatness, almost single-handedly beginning in 1980, and really in 1981 (though he joined in 1979 -- it was a slow start, of course, and he had to waste some time and wins just learning 3-pointers and so on; all of which he mastered by 1985).
It's been said Larry was an all around player, most dangerous when he DIDN'T have the rock. He never gave up when he was on the court
If ya wanna be wowed watch the re-edit video of Birds passing..... he will jump to your number 2 fast!!!! Thanks for the reaction :)
True that 😅
I reacted to that video a while ago. You can check it out here:
ruclips.net/video/DvkaQR8SHls/видео.htmlsi=2xAQoewnkPBf1z5j
Thanks for the suggestion, though. I hope you enjoy the video. 😁
Larry made you quake in your boots especially as a lakers fan in the 80’s
Dude simply would take over and you would be in disbelief as though it was a fluke then he would do it the very next night, scary good.
People who say he was not a great defender dont realize he average 8 defensive rebounds a game 😮
Larry's coach offered to put him back in the game to get the quadruple double but Larry said, "No, I've done enough, let somebody else go!" That's not verbatim but you get the gist! He was a very humble man as well .... even though he loved his trash talk!
The thing that made Bird so good, was his basketball intelligence. He knew what was going on everywhere on the court
All the players you named are trash.They all have said Bird was better than them. You need to research you comments more, I have. Besides none of the players you mentioned ever saved the NBA
HE'S UNSTOPPABLE
Larry is on that level
Would you say that anyone who took 3rd place in DPOTY, had a career defensive rating better than LeBron, Jordan and Pippen, was a great defensive player? Cause that's Larry Bird
Bird won a jump ball against Olajuwon, so he can jump.
He also dunked on Caldwell Jones.
Think about this for a moment. What we see now with shots and passes, very much resemble Larry's techniques. We must ask ourselves, "Where did they, 'ALL THE PLAYERS THAT CAME AFTER' Larry, get those moves? Does any one of you believe these guys never watched the old game reels? Now we're comparing new players to old and how great they are. If Larry had not brought the NBA back to life, along with his/biggest rival/friend Magic, there would be no league to worry about. Just sayn.
It’s difficult to compare players today and from the ‘80s. The game was a lot rougher in the past. Very few guys playing today could handle it.
I’ve been saying this since the 80s and all the decades after. There is no player I’ve seen since that time that is better than Bird all around. People pick other players because they love their style like MJ but make no mistake Bird was and is the all around best.
Lebron shoots 36% outside of 3 feet. That alone disqualifies him from best all around or the GOAT. He has quit on teams multiple times, the CAVs, the Heat and currently the Lakers. He is the reason the league is in the toilet now.
That quadruple double against Utah…he took himself out of that game.
Thank you Thank you Thank you. I've been mentioning the Utah game in comments for years, but never seen it referenced in any video. I remember watching that game. Want to say it was one of the "home" games the Celts played in Hartford Ct. (they did that a few times a year for a while). Late season game and Coach K.C. Jones usually rested the starters in the 4th Qtr in situations like that (up by 25, and even 100-75 score at the end of 3 if I remember correctly). K.C. Jones goes up to him and says "you want to go in and get one more steal?" Bird says, "No, I have to rest for the playoffs." He totally could have done it. But he always prioritized championships over stats.
Nobody had the winning heart like Larry, he was the best i had ever seen playing with the best NBA players at that time.
Larry Bird gets the Eminem effect. Certain people just wont accept a white guy is the GOAT
I love the way this video breaks it down.
Bron is not and never will be a clutch player. Bron has been really good for a long time. That's his best attribute
Bird, end of discussion.
Larry made three all defense teams and was a better than "decent" defender.
First in DWSs four seasons. 2nd twice. In Top Ten every season until his dbl Achilles surgery.
Opponents scored fewer points when Bird was on the court.
GOAT
Don't forget, Michael only beat Larry in two games. Larry swept him twice in the finals, and won 3 of 4 matchups in season. 2 where with Pippen supporting Jordan and one was AFTER Larry broke his back.
Bird is the greatest all around small forward
All the ttalk. Larry is unstoppable
Larry Bird c'est une légende de ma jeunesse, allez voir son film! Il m'a fait aimé le basket à l'époque.
Larry didn't sit out games, flop, and turn the ball over like LeBron. I'm not saying James isn't a great player, but after 65+ years of watching eras come and go, I can't put him in the top ten.
Growing up in Boston in the ‘80s was fantastic!
LeBron will never be better than Bird. He joins super teams to win chips. Bird turned his team into champions. Also, Bird made all defense first team 3 years when he was healthy. The greats dont have to chase chips on super teams. They build their team and earn them. The only thing LeBron has on Bird is his athleticism.
You just saw the stats, but I didn't hear them mention the volume of shots per game. Larry built those stats on 18 shots per game average for his career.
Just keep in mind that Larry Bird won 3 consecutive MVPs while players like Magic Johnson & Michael Jordan were playing in the NBA!.......
Bird & Magic. I mean Magic played all 5 positions in the 80 finals. Bird always did it all. Played with a fractured eye socket in 91 vs Indiana on top of having to be interaction for his back after every game. To quite Pat Reilly, "if I had to pick 1 player to win a game, I pick Jordan. If I had to pick a player to make a shot to save my life, It would be Larry Bird!" Nuff said.
Larry wasn't about padding his stats, like Lebron is. He just wanted the W. Nothing else mattered. I respect him for that. He is and always will be, to me, the best that's ever played. He literally put his body on the line every night, regardless of injury or pain. With his intelligence alone, he would dominate today's league. I don't care how fast they are, Larry makes you play at his pace. Time enough to get in your head to get you flustered and out of your game. As fast as Jordan was, you watch some of those games and see how Larry owned Mike. Mike may have scored more, but Larry got the job done. Everyone says, well Larry had more help. That's false. Larry turned good players into great players because he knew how to utilize their strengths, where Michael had good players, but he chose to try to win the games by himself. He became great, when he started getting his team involved. McHale and Parish scored a lot because they were always around the rim or just around the post for easy buckets, where your big guys should be. Not out shooting 20-25 3's, and maybe making 4 or 5. Today's game has no post game. Nothing but 3s and lazy defense. You can't sneeze without getting fouled. Players in the 80's were hard nosed and during the playoffs, the refs allowed the game to continue as long as they didn't see blood, usually in the last two minutes of the game. Could you imagine today's league going up against the Pistons or the Knicks from the 80's? These players today are worried too much about breaking a nail. After Jordan retired, that's when I stopped watching, but now it's embarrassing to watch. It's too much about highlight dunks, being buddies on court and the ridiculous amounts of 3's being taken. I'm not speaking for everyone, but I do know I'm not the only one saying it. The NBA sucks!
Testify!!!!
Larry literally played with 4 Hall of Famers. He isn't close to beating out Jordan. I have him third, but it isn't a close race. You are delusional if you think Bird was better than Michael. If you watch most of those games, you'd see that Jordan had Bird's number, Bird couldn't come close to guarding him, nor did any other Celtic. And Bird's teammates were much better than Jordan's. Much better. It wasn't Larry that made them Hall of Famers. They were Hall of Famers that Larry was lucky enough to play with. So put that false BS about Bird's teammates to bed. Its tired and nonsense. Jordan won more MVPs and more rings because he was the better player.
@@JayLandon64 and that's your opinion. I don't agree with it, but that's okay. I'm not on here to insult anyone's opinion. I gave my opinion and you gave yours. I'm not saying I'm right and I'm not saying you're right. I didn't insult anyone so I don't expect to be insulted back and if you came on here to insult me, I honestly don't care.
When Michael Jordan was asked who was better in his opinion,Bird or James,Jordan stated without hesitating "Larry is much better."
@@johndavis9432 Thank you. Get ready to catch some flack for having an opinion. Even if is facts. When will people realize that Bird's help didn't come in as Hall of Famers. Bird made them Hall of Famers by knowing how to utilize each players strengths.
This guy is the goat, that guy is the goat, LeBozo declared himself the goat, blah, blah, blah. But there is only one "Legend." Larry Legend. That says it all.
I have to disagree, respectfully. Larry Bird has no weaknesses only a totally different level basketball player.
There's a reason he's called the "Legend".
Larry was on All-Defensive teams, so I would hardly call that a weakness.
I give it to bird bc there are far too many bits of evidence where Lebron has literally evaporated in the playoffs. Shys away from the heat at end of games, takes plays off and tried to manufacture being the greatest. He doesn't make his team mates better and he sucks the life out of every team Hes on. His stats are compuled bc Hes trying make sure his stats help his case. Larry didnt care he just layed bc of the game and honored the game. Lebron does not. Lebron plays for his stastus and how history sees him. The longer he plays the more he damaged said status and the the more people uncover historical footage from this era the more he falls. Bird will continue to grow in legacy and factual proof as time goes bc the NbA is a joke these days.
Listen, there’s no question that LeBron has had the best career and longevity. That doesn’t make him the best player. Especially when you were talking about all around players. He’s good at exactly 2 things, scoring and passing. He’s not a good shooter, not a good rebounder, and not a consistently good defender. He shouldn’t even be considered for best all-around player to be honest with you if you look at it objectively.
Yes, Larry Legend is the GOAT of all-around players 🍀🍀🍀
Lebron is disqualified from GOAT talk by his abhorrent clutch-time shooting.
Bird was fun to watch?!❤❤
NOT ONLY DOES LERON NOT HAVE THE KILLER INSTINCT, HE IS NOT BETTER THAN BIRD, JORDAN, KOBE, OR DUCAN. PLUS HE IS A DIVA WHO FLOPS.
Larry Bird is so much better than anyone!!!!!
You are comparing Larry with Kobe. Kobe played for 20 years in the NBA. Larry had 13 and would have gone longer if his body hadn't given out. His body started giving out about 6 or 7 years into his career. Imagine if he had been healthy what he could have accomplished.
If you watched him play. He is a top 5 passer. Number of assists don't capture how "good" a passer people are. Many assists are super easy. He made crazy creative passes that made people looks stupid REGULARLY. Like every night.