Luca and Joker have elements of Bird’s game. But neither one of them have the most important trait! Larry Bird was a cold blooded killer when his team needed it the most! Best example of this was in the 88 Easter Conf Div game 7 against the Hawks. Both of his Achilles were killing him, but he found a way to go out there and carry his team on his back in the 4th quarter to win!
Yes, there are players with elements of Bird's game. I've seen Jokic live and the influence is obvious. But there will never be the same combination of Bird's intellect, personality, humor and hubris, toughness, skills, size, upbringing, work ethic, Indiana basketball culture, and the affect of his father's life and suicide. There will probably never be another skinny white, poor kid who grown black men taught to talk trash and play street ball. Who else could face the humiliation of leaving IU (you blew it, Bobby), then bounce back from pushing a broom and hauling trash to the cover of Sports Illustrated, an NCAA final, and a storied career with the Celtics? Earvin isn't talking about Larry Joe Bird, the Legend. He's talking about his friend, the man. Magic was right. There will never be another Larry Bird.
@@jonathan031795 The guys you mentioned to being Larry Bird are not as good as Larry they have Larry traits but they are not all around great players Larry did it all they don't do it all and they don't have the basketball IQ that Larry has there was no cap in Magic's statement
There will never be another Larry Bird because none of the current players will ever have to deal with the physicality of that era. Watch a few minutes of “The Bad Boy Pistons” to get a feel of what Bird and Jordan had to deal with, no comparison.
I can respect that everyone have their right to root for who they want to root for. As of late, I've become a big fan of Larry Bird. I've always liked him, but after hearing his story I can relate to him
Not only was Bird the third player (and the only forward) to make MVP 3 times in a row but In a 9-year run from 1980 to 1989, Larry Bird got 67% of all MVP votes that were cast. All other players combined only received 33% of the votes. in an era that included the players who eventually made up the dream team and a large list of HOF players.
@@jonathan031795has any of them won 3 MVPs in a row? Bird is the third and last person to accomplish this. Took a team with a horrible win/loss record to the playoffs his rookie year and that is why he won Rookie of the Year. LeBron James has as his top 3: Michael Jordan, Wilt Chamberlin and Larry Bird
@@andrewft31OR, "ONE" steal away from a QUADRUPLE DOUBLE, in the THIRD QUARTER, but took his own self out the game! Very short list of quadruple doubles EVER. Lol
Here is a statistic most people don't realize about Larry Bird Bird averaged more defensive rebounds per game than (and this is just a small sample): Shaquille O'Neal Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Moses Malone Karl Malone Charles Barkley David Robinson Hakeem Olajuwon Ralph Sampson Patrick Ewing Kevin Durant Dikembe Mutumbo
For perspective, a lot of those players actually played until they were shells of themselves, leading to poor stats at the end of their careers. To be fair you must look at the peaks. You're not about to tell me that Larry Bird is a better defender than Moses Malone
@@jonathan031795 For perspective - the same thing can be said of Bird. IF you look at his rebounding stats before and after he injured his back. As for Moses Malone vs Bird and who is the better defender - let me ask you a question - why is Malone a better defender than Bird?
Bird said Moses Malone had a second jump when he rebounded that he didn't have. Bird always gave props for his competitors and told it like it was. Another reason Bird is my favorite player of all time.
@@jonathan031795after 1985 Bird had destroyed his back fixing his mothers driveway, he didn’t trust anyone else to do it correctly. With a broken back he proceeded to torch everyone in the league for another 7 years. He won the three three point contests after he injured his back and won his third ring.
@@jonathan031795Larry injured his back, and played for another 7 years. Let that sink in. Do you think LBJ, KD, Steph, or any other players today would continue to play for 7 years with a back that was like Larry Birds. Bird had 6 healthy seasons.
Never be another Larry Bird. It's not just his skill sets. You can't compare another to Larry when it comes to trash talking, attitude, work ethic, hustle, team oriented play, toughness, and leadership. Joker and Luka don't have all that. That's why my top 3 players are MJ, Bird, Kobe. They were all tough, straight killers, heart of a Lion, and competitive psychopaths.
@@jonathan031795 yes but you would have to combine both of their skills and kobe's heart to equal bird. Watching Luka I believe bird would probably average 5 more points a game in today's NBA
@@jonathan031795with players like Bird and Magic you can’t go by stats, they were about winning not scoring, if someone else was able to score Bird and Magic made sure they got the ball. Notice when Bird plays he doesn’t hesitate to pass to Parish or McHale or Johnson to Kareem or Byron Scott. If Bird and Magic were ball hogs they would have higher number of points but that isn’t how they approached the game.
@@jonathan031795His stats are the third highest in the NBA 43.7, I believe. Sir, you need to watch some actual Larry Bird games. I can’t understand or agree with any of your opinions and I watched basketball until Kobe was pretty much done. I’m also a Lakers fan, but I recognized Bird was something else, right away. I was mad that he wasn’t on our team! I was six, and didn’t get loyalty or any of that. I just knew he was a spectacular player to watch. He controlled the court like no one else could, then or now. No other player influenced the game without holding the ball. He was everywhere on the court, assisting, stealing, rebounding, and scoring. He was the absolute best clutch player. Badass Kobe played on a sprained ankle, remember? Can you imagine how much that hurt? Bird played with a broken thumb and finger; a two inch cut between his big toe and next one, for an infection to drain; a broken spine; two Achilles’ tendon injuries; and still managed to be as amazing as he was! He’s also a phenomenal passer, which none of the guys you’re mentioning come close to comparing to. Not to mention, everyone of the young bucks that have come after Larry, had the advantage of studying, and learning from him. That’s a major privilege Larry didn’t have. You simply don’t have enough data in front of you to be making such accusations and convictions, IMO.
I forgot this one - during his career Bird led the NBA in defensive win shares 4 times. IF you add together the number of times Jordan and LeBron have done that - you get ZERO
Bird had a better supporting cast. Defensive win shares it, not an individual stat. It will only go to players that's on the best defensive teams. Dennis Johnson, Ainge, Parish and McHale were all solid defenders. Dennis Johnson is one of the best lane defenders in NBA History
@@jonathan031795 Since when is DFS not an individual stat? If it was a team stat then all players on the team would have a similar DFS and that is not true.
I read somewhere that Bird had Bron's passing, KD's midrange shooting touch, Curry's long range and free throw accuracy, Jokers rebounding skills, Kobe and MJ's killer will, and more clutch than any player in history! It should say they have Birds.
Magic is a better passer. All of those players named were arguably better in each of those traits. I would say that Bird is the 2nd greatest " all-around " player of all time behind LeBron, in my opinion
@@jonathan031795 I'm from Cleveland and I'm grateful to Lebron for the Championship he helped bring to the Cavs. I can't give the goat title to him, in my opinion players that jump from team to team like KD and Lebron as well as others to form super teams in order to win titles can't be considered the goat. Can you imagine how many titles would have been won if MJ, Bird and Magic would have formed a super team. Their thought process was I want to Beat the best not join them.
I think the "I get a charge when I tell someone on the opposing team that I'm gonna hit the last second shot then do it. That's what it's all about." clip is the most honest and defining moment of Larry Bird. That is at his heart of his game. It seems genuine and you can see that's his drive and love of the game.
I've watched NBA just on tapes way longer that most. I started watching on reels about the stars of the 60's and 70's at the USIS in our city in the Philippines. I was a basketball player myself and privileged to be able to watch those reels in that building. I remember those players Gail Goodrich, Elvin Hayes, Pistol Pete, Monty Towe, Thompson, etc, long forgotten names. The technology transitioned to Betamax tapes for rent, and then DVD, and parabolic satellite antenna where we now in the third world country can watch NBA championship games live. Finally, we now have cable TV and watch games live for years. I've watched all them during their college days and in the NBA. My idol was Bill Walton of the UCLA Walton gang for awhile until the name Larry Bird stated appearing in some sports magazines. Then i saw him play. He was just awesome. Complete player and always a winner. There are many legends in the game but that is the word legend in a generic sense. Larry owns that title simply because he is the best by far. Larry Legend.
If Jokic wasn't robbed of MVP last year because of voters fatigue, we would be talking about a 4 time MVP winner. I think it's safe to say at this point of his career it's a valid argument. Both Luka and Jokic don't play with the talent that Bird played with
I do not have Kobe in my top five but will not dispute anyone that does. One of my all time favorites as well. He was definitely very special. Wrote a poem about him when he passed
Enjoyed your reaction 😊 For me Larry Bird's trash talking, either broke a player down, or forced an opponent to be a better player, & it was the strength of the player, which way they were affected.......that was just a part of who Bird was 😊 I agree with your comparisons as well......My Dad and I have watched Larry since the 70's, and the only players that came close to his style in our opinions, are also, Jokic & Luka.
"MJ said Luka and Joker are great but they are by no means Larry Bird." Every player that played against Bird says the same thing whether they loved it or hated him. Jordan said it best when he was asked about playing Bird. "He wasn't that athletic, didn't jump that high,run that fast. But his mind for the game was so great it made up for it. Therefore Larry Bird has no flaws."
If all the legends that played against him called him the greatest, who are we to argue? Thats just how I see it, do we really have any authority to say they are wrong? They all universally picked Bird.
@@jonathan031795 Your right, of course they exclude themselves. But we have to ask who do they all name as being the best? They all have one name on their lips, no?
Without Magic Johnson and Larry Bird their would be no NBA, they were dying. Low ratings, low attendance, drugs issues, playoffs would be played after reruns. Bird and Johnson brought attention back to the league and saved it. No Bird and Johnson and you would have no Jordan, LeBron James, Kobe Bryant etc… and those players you named that could be similar to Bird, Bird won Rookie of the Year, took a bottom tier team with the worst win/loss record and took them to the playoffs his first season, won a ring his 2nd years, won 3 MVPs in a row, only the third and last person to do this. 0-6 against Jordan in the playoffs.
I don't want to burst people's bubble, but the defender had his back to Bird when he knelt/fell into the trainers lap. As a Bird fan, it doesn't matter to me. It was a great move to fulfill his promise. I loved it! Well, that's how I saw it anyway.
Pretty sure that in the oldest version of the story that I've seen, he clearly says that "in the trainer's lap" meant on that sideline, not literally falling into his lap. I don't think the fall was necessary to fulfill what he'd said, just a story that got garbled by too many tellings over too many years. But I agree the fall looks awkward. I don't think we have the camera angle to tell if it was real or not.
What everybody doesn’t realize about Larry Bird’s trash talk is, Larry’s trash talk wasn’t obnoxious and flagrant. His trash talk was to get in his opponent’s head. Look at all the other trash talk guys, they are stupid obnoxious and stupid. Larry Bird played every game 150% every game. NOT ONE NBA PLAYER TODAY DOES THAT.
The thing is you have Luka and Joker who can do some of things Bird could do but neither of them can do everything Bird could do. For 4 straight seasons over 300 games 84-88 Bird averaged a 50/40/90 with just over 28 points, 10 rebounds and 7 assists per game. It's a ridiculous stat line that no one can match across the board and even the few that can match some of it, don't even come remotely close to doing it for over 300 games straight. You can't even find players that can play 300 games over 4 straight seasons today let alone maintain anything close to those stats.
1ST CONDOLENCES TO MR. WALTONS LOVED ONES. R.I.P. BILL 2ND THESE PLAYERS ONLY HAVE PIECES OF ASPECTS OF BIRD's GAME. NOWHERE NEAR BIRD. KEEP DIGG'N THO, YOUVE ONLY FELT THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG OF HOW COLD LARRY BIRD, WAS, IS AND ALWAYS WILL BE. LARRY AT A PACERS PRACTICE .. LANCE STEPHENSON SAID: THE TEAM IS STRETCHING AND LARRY WALKS ONTO THE COURT, GRABS A BALL AND STARTS JACKING 3's, SWOOSH, SWOOSH, SWOOSH. ATLEAST 10 IN A ROW, AND SITS BACK DOWN LIKE HE DIDNT DO ANYTHING. MIND YOU LARRY BIRD WAS 60 AT THE TIME ! LEGEND !!!
I can respect your loyalty to the Lakers. Growing up, I was a Celtic fan and loved the rivalry between those two teams. I hated Magic and all the Lakers, but you had to respect them. Now, years later, I actually love Magic and all those Laker greats. The amount of respect that those players had for each other even though it was the most intense rivalry is just something you don't see today. Respect to all those greats. I know Luka, Jokic and many other players today are going to have their legacies and statistically will be better than Bird, but they are all missing one thing that they cannot replicate or be better at than Larry Legend. Supreme trash talking. The ability to tell you what he's gonna do, go do it while he's telling you what he's doing and then say "I told you so."
I think you might realize how truly different Larry Bird was if you would watch a few complete games. He was so entertaining and full of surprising moves. He made it fun to watch basketball. Also, remember the NBA when Larry and Magic came into the League and how they helped elevate it by the time they left. They were great, there were great players before them and after them, and there are great players today. Forget the ranking. Give credit where it is due to all the greats.
Can any of those guys you mentioned tell the other team what play they are gonna do and then proceed to go out and do it? If not, then they are not another Larry Bird...the trash talking is my guess is what Magic was talking about.
Larry Bird would have a been a superstar now matter what team he was on. His ability to force all of his teammates to be better was amazing. I base this off of his passes. Somehow his teammates almost always knew when it was coming to them on a level that shouldn't have been possible. Any top ten NBA player of all time would have been even better with Bird on the team.
I don't see Luka or Jokic repeating Larry's path. 3 time consecutive MVP. (not even Jordan or Lebron could do this). Finished 2nd in MVP voting for 70% of the rest of his career. Neither of them have the clutch factor of Bird.
Gary Payton throws compliments around like manhole covers. If HE says Bird is the shit, you’d best put Bird at #2 where he belongs. As for Luka and Jokic, till they tell the defense what they’re gonna do, then do it, NO COMPARISON!!!
His stats are the third highest in the NBA 43.7, I believe. Sir, you need to watch some actual Larry Bird games. I can’t understand or agree with any of your opinions and I watched basketball until Kobe was pretty much done. I’m also a Lakers fan, but I recognized Bird was something else, right away. I was mad that he wasn’t on our team! I was six, and didn’t get loyalty or any of that. I just knew he was a spectacular player to watch. He controlled the court like no one else could, then or now. No other player influenced the game without holding the ball. He was everywhere on the court, assisting, stealing, rebounding, and scoring. He was the absolute best clutch player. Badass Kobe played on a sprained ankle, remember? Can you imagine how much that hurt? Bird played with a broken thumb and finger; a two inch cut between his big toe and next one, for an infection to drain; a broken spine; two Achilles’ tendon injuries; and still managed to be as amazing as he was! He’s also a phenomenal passer, which none of the guys you’re mentioning come close to comparing to. Not to mention, everyone of the young bucks that have come after Larry, had the advantage of studying, and learning from him. That’s a major privilege Larry didn’t have. You simply don’t have enough data in front of you to be making such accusations and convictions, IMO.
Luka couldn't carry Larry's jock strap. Larry Bird is the only person to be named Rookie of the Year, league MVP (3 years in a row), All Star Game MVP, Fnals MVP (2x), Coach of the Year, and Executive of the Year. Come on. Are you going to compare Luka or Jokic to that? MVP 3 years in a row!
I think it's a VERY different game from when Bird was playing to today's game. It seems like half the points scored in 2024 are 3 point shots. Many of the NBA coaches actively discouraged the 3 point shot "fad" when it was introduced in Bird's rookie year. BTW Larry Bird was a 50/40/90 shooter for multiple seasons. Luka this season was 48.7/38.2/78.6 so Luka's going to need to improve his shooting to be on Bird's level. The average for 3 point shots made in a game during the 80s was 1.0, in the 2020s the average is now 12.5 shots made per game.
Jokic and rheumatologist the rest of them can’t do what bird could do. Overall!!! Anything you see on Jokic is all offensive nothing defensive. That’s how it is now. You have shooters, dunkers, passers, defenders. Not one can consistently do it all.
Jokic holds his own on defense. I can't name many players who cooked him while being on offense. We have to start to accept that Jokic will be a top 10 basketball player of all time when he hangs it up.
@@jonathan031795so you are saying someone who is 0-6 against Jordan in the playoffs wouldn’t fare well against those guys? Never mind winning rookie of the year and three MVPs in a row.
![Gunna - today i did good [Official Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/ulGLk8TaXcI/mqdefault.jpg)
RIP Bill Walton 🙏🏼😢
The best college player i ever saw. And i'm old af.
Didnt know he died....
😭😭😭
Bill is a legend.
May he rest in peace
DANGIT....I didn't know he passed....such a loss to the NBA community.....
F
There will never ever ever be another Larry Bird...🏀🐐...no truer words ever spoken
With evolution, there will be a better version of Larry Bird one day. He's the original, but the game will continue to grow
Luca and Joker have elements of Bird’s game. But neither one of them have the most important trait! Larry Bird was a cold blooded killer when his team needed it the most! Best example of this was in the 88 Easter Conf Div game 7 against the Hawks. Both of his Achilles were killing him, but he found a way to go out there and carry his team on his back in the 4th quarter to win!
Yes, there are players with elements of Bird's game. I've seen Jokic live and the influence is obvious.
But there will never be the same combination of Bird's intellect, personality, humor and hubris, toughness, skills, size, upbringing, work ethic, Indiana basketball culture, and the affect of his father's life and suicide. There will probably never be another skinny white, poor kid who grown black men taught to talk trash and play street ball.
Who else could face the humiliation of leaving IU (you blew it, Bobby), then bounce back from pushing a broom and hauling trash to the cover of Sports Illustrated, an NCAA final, and a storied career with the Celtics?
Earvin isn't talking about Larry Joe Bird, the Legend. He's talking about his friend, the man.
Magic was right. There will never be another Larry Bird.
@@jonathan031795 The guys you mentioned to being Larry Bird are not as good as Larry they have Larry traits but they are not all around great players Larry did it all they don't do it all and they don't have the basketball IQ that Larry has there was no cap in Magic's statement
There will never be another Larry Bird because none of the current players will ever have to deal with the physicality of that era. Watch a few minutes of “The Bad Boy Pistons” to get a feel of what Bird and Jordan had to deal with, no comparison.
My wife was always a Bird fan. She says she became a fan of Magic, MJ, Kobe, and Labron but Bird will always be her #1.
I can respect that everyone have their right to root for who they want to root for. As of late, I've become a big fan of Larry Bird. I've always liked him, but after hearing his story I can relate to him
Rip Bill Walton. He was absolutely one of my favorites and one of the best!
Forgot. Bill Walton passed away today. One of my favorites back the day. RIP, Big Red.
RIP Bill Walton! 🙏😢
RIP to big red. This video was actually recorded on Sunday, 5/26/24 that's why I didn't mention it in the video
Not only was Bird the third player (and the only forward) to make MVP 3 times in a row but In a 9-year run from 1980 to 1989, Larry Bird got 67% of all MVP votes that were cast. All other players combined only received 33% of the votes. in an era that included the players who eventually made up the dream team and a large list of HOF players.
And one year he didn’t play
Magic and Bird are the winningest 2 players in NBA history, #1 and #2 respectively... essentially tied.
RIP Bill Walton❤❤❤❤
Luka+Jokic+Dirk=Larry Bird. Maybe.
? I believe
You have to watch those guys and appreciate their greatness. They are generational players as well
@@jonathan031795has any of them won 3 MVPs in a row? Bird is the third and last person to accomplish this. Took a team with a horrible win/loss record to the playoffs his rookie year and that is why he won Rookie of the Year. LeBron James has as his top 3: Michael Jordan, Wilt Chamberlin and Larry Bird
@@andrewft31OR, "ONE" steal away from a QUADRUPLE DOUBLE, in the THIRD QUARTER, but took his own self out the game! Very short list of quadruple doubles EVER. Lol
@@jonathan031795 Sure, just not dominant like Larry.
I'll take a prime Larry Bird over a prime LeBron any day. Bird wasn't afraid to take the last shot of the game, he thrived on it.
I'll take a prime Larry Bird over anybody, anytime.
Bird is a legend
Here is a statistic most people don't realize about Larry Bird
Bird averaged more defensive rebounds per game than (and this is just a small sample):
Shaquille O'Neal
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Moses Malone
Karl Malone
Charles Barkley
David Robinson
Hakeem Olajuwon
Ralph Sampson
Patrick Ewing
Kevin Durant
Dikembe Mutumbo
For perspective, a lot of those players actually played until they were shells of themselves, leading to poor stats at the end of their careers. To be fair you must look at the peaks. You're not about to tell me that Larry Bird is a better defender than Moses Malone
@@jonathan031795 For perspective - the same thing can be said of Bird. IF you look at his rebounding stats before and after he injured his back. As for Moses Malone vs Bird and who is the better defender - let me ask you a question - why is Malone a better defender than Bird?
Bird said Moses Malone had a second jump when he rebounded that he didn't have. Bird always gave props for his competitors and told it like it was. Another reason Bird is my favorite player of all time.
@@jonathan031795after 1985 Bird had destroyed his back fixing his mothers driveway, he didn’t trust anyone else to do it correctly. With a broken back he proceeded to torch everyone in the league for another 7 years. He won the three three point contests after he injured his back and won his third ring.
@@jonathan031795Larry injured his back, and played for another 7 years. Let that sink in. Do you think LBJ, KD, Steph, or any other players today would continue to play for 7 years with a back that was like Larry Birds. Bird had 6 healthy seasons.
Some people may play a little like Larry but no one is the full package like larry
Never be another Larry Bird. It's not just his skill sets. You can't compare another to Larry when it comes to trash talking, attitude, work ethic, hustle, team oriented play, toughness, and leadership. Joker and Luka don't have all that. That's why my top 3 players are MJ, Bird, Kobe. They were all tough, straight killers, heart of a Lion, and competitive psychopaths.
I can respect that take. But I love me some Luka and Jokic. They'll trash talk you in another language and in English. Like Drazen Petrovic used to do
@@jonathan031795 yes but you would have to combine both of their skills and kobe's heart to equal bird. Watching Luka I believe bird would probably average 5 more points a game in today's NBA
"I fear no one but Larry Bird, because if you keep it close he's gonna win that game." Magic Johnson
I expect nothing less from Magic, who is Bird's biggest fan
Bird is a top 3 player ever. Period. If you look at it objectively you can’t name more than 2-3 guys that affected their team as much as he did
Magic was right in saying that they're would "never ever be' another Larry Bird. It was real and contextual.
Don't care who you're top five is son! I lived to witness birds greatness! If he isn't in the top 3 of all time then you just know!!!
To each his own. The only thing I have to go off of is his highlights and stats.
@@jonathan031795with players like Bird and Magic you can’t go by stats, they were about winning not scoring, if someone else was able to score Bird and Magic made sure they got the ball.
Notice when Bird plays he doesn’t hesitate to pass to Parish or McHale or Johnson to Kareem or Byron Scott. If Bird and Magic were ball hogs they would have higher number of points but that isn’t how they approached the game.
@@jonathan031795His stats are the third highest in the NBA 43.7, I believe. Sir, you need to watch some actual Larry Bird games. I can’t understand or agree with any of your opinions and I watched basketball until Kobe was pretty much done. I’m also a Lakers fan, but I recognized Bird was something else, right away. I was mad that he wasn’t on our team! I was six, and didn’t get loyalty or any of that. I just knew he was a spectacular player to watch. He controlled the court like no one else could, then or now. No other player influenced the game without holding the ball. He was everywhere on the court, assisting, stealing, rebounding, and scoring. He was the absolute best clutch player. Badass Kobe played on a sprained ankle, remember? Can you imagine how much that hurt? Bird played with a broken thumb and finger; a two inch cut between his big toe and next one, for an infection to drain; a broken spine; two Achilles’ tendon injuries; and still managed to be as amazing as he was! He’s also a phenomenal passer, which none of the guys you’re mentioning come close to comparing to. Not to mention, everyone of the young bucks that have come after Larry, had the advantage of studying, and learning from him. That’s a major privilege Larry didn’t have. You simply don’t have enough data in front of you to be making such accusations and convictions, IMO.
Rip mvp OG Bill Walton
RIP Bill Walton
There’s a 4 part series called The Complete Collection of Larry Bird Stories that I think supplied some of this footage
I'll have to look into that 4 part series
Dude when you are playing the top 1% of players and tell them what you are going to do and still do it …. Goat
Bird, MJ, Magic, Kobe, Wilt - My starting lineup
Only I would take Dominic over kobe
Yes, I agree that this was well worth watching. Good to see you back.
It's great to be back! I missed engaging with y'all. Thank you for sticking around
It's all about timing. Magic and Larry Literally saved the NBA
If you know, you know. A basketball genius. He isn't called a Legend for no reason.
Watch Bird is the word- 15 minutes of Larry Legend. You'll see footage that you won't find anywhere else.
I'm definitely gonna check it out. I'm just concerned with Copyright claims
I forgot this one - during his career Bird led the NBA in defensive win shares 4 times.
IF you add together the number of times Jordan and LeBron have done that - you get ZERO
Bird had a better supporting cast. Defensive win shares it, not an individual stat. It will only go to players that's on the best defensive teams. Dennis Johnson, Ainge, Parish and McHale were all solid defenders. Dennis Johnson is one of the best lane defenders in NBA History
@@jonathan031795 Since when is DFS not an individual stat? If it was a team stat then all players on the team would have a similar DFS and that is not true.
RIP BILL.
🙏❤😢
Hiatus then drops a larry bird video. well played
But did you like it?
dude this is another take on a lot of these famous plays .. so cool. thanks for finding this one
I read somewhere that Bird had Bron's passing, KD's midrange shooting touch, Curry's long range and free throw accuracy, Jokers rebounding skills, Kobe and MJ's killer will, and more clutch than any player in history! It should say they have Birds.
Magic is a better passer. All of those players named were arguably better in each of those traits. I would say that Bird is the 2nd greatest " all-around " player of all time behind LeBron, in my opinion
@@jonathan031795 I'm from Cleveland and I'm grateful to Lebron for the Championship he helped bring to the Cavs. I can't give the goat title to him, in my opinion players that jump from team to team like KD and Lebron as well as others to form super teams in order to win titles can't be considered the goat. Can you imagine how many titles would have been won if MJ, Bird and Magic would have formed a super team. Their thought process was I want to Beat the best not join them.
I think the "I get a charge when I tell someone on the opposing team that I'm gonna hit the last second shot then do it. That's what it's all about." clip is the most honest and defining moment of Larry Bird. That is at his heart of his game. It seems genuine and you can see that's his drive and love of the game.
Sad to here unfortunately Larry Legends former Celtic team mate the great Bill Walton passed away RIP.
❤🙏😢
'Bird is the word' is a video that has a lot of video not seen in other clips.
I definitely have to check it out. I'm just concerned about copyright claims
Did you ever do his ultimate mixtape? Had a look and can't find it if you did... if you didn't, you should 🤷♂️
Me and my brother actually reacted to that video. It was a great mixtape
@@jonathan031795 post a link?
Yes, this is one of the better compilations, for sure.
Magic and Bird are very close friends now. Bird, Magic and Jordan became close.
Competition does that. Once you're past it you can appreciate the player that pushed you to new heights
Magic and Bird changed the game and saved it.
Man I love that mutual respect that magic and Byrd have.
Reminds me Volkanovski and Halloway in the UFC. Beautiful to see.
"Don't do that."
😂😂 that part was hilarious. You gotta love Kareem
When Magic got sick Larry was there for him 100%. They are brothers to the bone to this day!
I've watched NBA just on tapes way longer that most. I started watching on reels about the stars of the 60's and 70's at the USIS in our city in the Philippines. I was a basketball player myself and privileged to be able to watch those reels in that building. I remember those players Gail Goodrich, Elvin Hayes, Pistol Pete, Monty Towe, Thompson, etc, long forgotten names. The technology transitioned to Betamax tapes for rent, and then DVD, and parabolic satellite antenna where we now in the third world country can watch NBA championship games live. Finally, we now have cable TV and watch games live for years. I've watched all them during their college days and in the NBA. My idol was Bill Walton of the UCLA Walton gang for awhile until the name Larry Bird stated appearing in some sports magazines. Then i saw him play. He was just awesome. Complete player and always a winner. There are many legends in the game but that is the word legend in a generic sense. Larry owns that title simply because he is the best by far. Larry Legend.
There's some guys out there who learned a lot from Bird's example, definitely.
1000% he set the blueprint for sure
After 78 -79 college season, bird and magic played on same team in wit classic. They say that team won unbelievable.
Greatest overall player ever.
Luka and Jokic both
have a long way to go
before their in LARRY
BIRDs realm …
If Jokic wasn't robbed of MVP last year because of voters fatigue, we would be talking about a 4 time MVP winner. I think it's safe to say at this point of his career it's a valid argument.
Both Luka and Jokic don't play with the talent that Bird played with
this is the best set-up visually i ever seen. thank you!
I do not have Kobe in my top five but will not dispute anyone that does. One of my all time favorites as well. He was definitely very special. Wrote a poem about him when he passed
Enjoyed your reaction 😊 For me Larry Bird's trash talking, either broke a player down, or forced an opponent to be a better player, & it was the strength of the player, which way they were affected.......that was just a part of who Bird was 😊 I agree with your comparisons as well......My Dad and I have watched Larry since the 70's, and the only players that came close to his style in our opinions, are also, Jokic & Luka.
Luka is offensively kinda close to Bird. Defensively it's not a question. Bird is way ahead.
you just dont like him, admit it- he is top 5 and probably the goat
I love Bird. How is being the 6th greatest player of all time an insult
"MJ said Luka and Joker are great but they are by no means Larry Bird." Every player that played against Bird says the same thing whether they loved it or hated him. Jordan said it best when he was asked about playing Bird. "He wasn't that athletic, didn't jump that high,run that fast. But his mind for the game was so great it made up for it. Therefore Larry Bird has no flaws."
Welcome back! Hope you're doing well... Love your reactions
Three consecutive MVPs, Three
consecutive shooting championships.I rest my case.
If all the legends that played against him called him the greatest, who are we to argue?
Thats just how I see it, do we really have any authority to say they are wrong?
They all universally picked Bird.
There's no argument from my side. That's just my list. A lot of the great players exclude themselves from their Top 10 list.
@@jonathan031795 Your right, of course they exclude themselves. But we have to ask who do they all name as being the best? They all have one name on their lips, no?
True! That’s a very good point you’ve brought up, well said!
Great video. Larry was one of the greatest ever
Dude you comparing Luka and Halliburton to Bird??? You shouldn’t be allowed to talk about basketball anymore
Lol!!!
Stay strong! Prayers from Georgia for you on all fronts!!!
Without Magic Johnson and Larry Bird their would be no NBA, they were dying. Low ratings, low attendance, drugs issues, playoffs would be played after reruns. Bird and Johnson brought attention back to the league and saved it. No Bird and Johnson and you would have no Jordan, LeBron James, Kobe Bryant etc… and those players you named that could be similar to Bird, Bird won Rookie of the Year, took a bottom tier team with the worst win/loss record and took them to the playoffs his first season, won a ring his 2nd years, won 3 MVPs in a row, only the third and last person to do this. 0-6 against Jordan in the playoffs.
To understand modern basketball, the documentary “Magic and Bird: A Courtship of Rivals” is a must-watch.
I don't want to burst people's bubble, but the defender had his back to Bird when he knelt/fell into the trainers lap. As a Bird fan, it doesn't matter to me. It was a great move to fulfill his promise. I loved it!
Well, that's how I saw it anyway.
Pretty sure that in the oldest version of the story that I've seen, he clearly says that "in the trainer's lap" meant on that sideline, not literally falling into his lap. I don't think the fall was necessary to fulfill what he'd said, just a story that got garbled by too many tellings over too many years. But I agree the fall looks awkward. I don't think we have the camera angle to tell if it was real or not.
Gary Payton auditioning for the new Godfather
Larry Legend is the G.O.A.T of trash talkers. 😎
What everybody doesn’t realize about Larry Bird’s trash talk is, Larry’s trash talk wasn’t obnoxious and flagrant. His trash talk was to get in his opponent’s head. Look at all the other trash talk guys, they are stupid obnoxious and stupid. Larry Bird played every game 150% every game. NOT ONE NBA PLAYER TODAY DOES THAT.
Larry Bird top 3 for sure
Best small forward ever. Larry Legend.
The thing is you have Luka and Joker who can do some of things Bird could do but neither of them can do everything Bird could do.
For 4 straight seasons over 300 games 84-88 Bird averaged a 50/40/90 with just over 28 points, 10 rebounds and 7 assists per game. It's a ridiculous stat line that no one can match across the board and even the few that can match some of it, don't even come remotely close to doing it for over 300 games straight.
You can't even find players that can play 300 games over 4 straight seasons today let alone maintain anything close to those stats.
Facts
Bird needs to be in your top 3
1ST CONDOLENCES TO MR. WALTONS LOVED ONES.
R.I.P. BILL
2ND THESE PLAYERS ONLY HAVE PIECES OF ASPECTS OF BIRD's GAME.
NOWHERE NEAR BIRD.
KEEP DIGG'N THO,
YOUVE ONLY FELT THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG OF HOW COLD LARRY BIRD, WAS, IS AND ALWAYS WILL BE.
LARRY AT A PACERS PRACTICE .. LANCE STEPHENSON SAID: THE TEAM IS STRETCHING AND LARRY WALKS ONTO THE COURT, GRABS A BALL AND STARTS JACKING 3's, SWOOSH, SWOOSH, SWOOSH. ATLEAST 10 IN A ROW, AND SITS BACK DOWN LIKE HE DIDNT DO ANYTHING. MIND YOU LARRY BIRD WAS 60 AT THE TIME !
LEGEND !!!
Actually, both Kobe and Jordan put themselves in their own top 5 ever, and they both included Bird in that list
Love seeing Nolan in this video ❤️🐗🏀
You must watch 1987 allstar game..best ever
I'll definitely add that to the list! Thank you for your support
Kareem said in that same interview that Larry Bird is the greatest player he’s ever played against.
Kareem was a force. Always hitting shots.
I can respect your loyalty to the Lakers. Growing up, I was a Celtic fan and loved the rivalry between those two teams. I hated Magic and all the Lakers, but you had to respect them. Now, years later, I actually love Magic and all those Laker greats. The amount of respect that those players had for each other even though it was the most intense rivalry is just something you don't see today. Respect to all those greats. I know Luka, Jokic and many other players today are going to have their legacies and statistically will be better than Bird, but they are all missing one thing that they cannot replicate or be better at than Larry Legend. Supreme trash talking. The ability to tell you what he's gonna do, go do it while he's telling you what he's doing and then say "I told you so."
Realistically, you could put them together. Many people do. Magic and Bird sharing the GOAT slot is acceptable.
But Bird is Better! 🤑
You're pretty smooth I'll be watching
I think you might realize how truly different Larry Bird was if you would watch a few complete games. He was so entertaining and full of surprising moves. He made it fun to watch basketball. Also, remember the NBA when Larry and Magic came into the League and how they helped elevate it by the time they left. They were great, there were great players before them and after them, and there are great players today. Forget the ranking. Give credit where it is due to all the greats.
Can any of those guys you mentioned tell the other team what play they are gonna do and then proceed to go out and do it? If not, then they are not another Larry Bird...the trash talking is my guess is what Magic was talking about.
WAYYYYYYYYYYYYYY TTTOOOOOOOOOOOOO LLOOOOOOONNNGGGGGGGGGGG REACTION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Larry says Mike Cooper was his toughest defender
Bird missed those early shots on purpose.
I wouldn't doubt it. He thrived on degree of difficulty.
Larry got the most out of his skill set than any player ever.
Larry Bird would have a been a superstar now matter what team he was on. His ability to force all of his teammates to be better was amazing. I base this off of his passes. Somehow his teammates almost always knew when it was coming to them on a level that shouldn't have been possible.
Any top ten NBA player of all time would have been even better with Bird on the team.
I don't see Luka or Jokic repeating Larry's path. 3 time consecutive MVP. (not even Jordan or Lebron could do this). Finished 2nd in MVP voting for 70% of the rest of his career. Neither of them have the clutch factor of Bird.
Well done
Luka, Jokic, etc etc - wouldn't have a LEAGUE to play in without Larry and Magic
Gary Payton throws compliments around like manhole covers. If HE says Bird is the shit, you’d best put Bird at #2 where he belongs.
As for Luka and Jokic, till they tell the defense what they’re gonna do, then do it, NO COMPARISON!!!
go ahead, make excuses for them putting larry in the top five- HE WAS , is and always will be
To each it's own
Jordan told his teammates never to respond to Birds trash talking
Thunder Dan Marley!!!
Even if you add them all together they still don't play at Larry's level.
Rip Bill Walton and Pistol Pete!❤
It's totally disrespectful to Larry Legend 😠 those players aren't even on the Legends level.
Bird is the best SF in NBA history. The only thing LeBron has on him is longevity.
His stats are the third highest in the NBA 43.7, I believe. Sir, you need to watch some actual Larry Bird games. I can’t understand or agree with any of your opinions and I watched basketball until Kobe was pretty much done. I’m also a Lakers fan, but I recognized Bird was something else, right away. I was mad that he wasn’t on our team! I was six, and didn’t get loyalty or any of that. I just knew he was a spectacular player to watch. He controlled the court like no one else could, then or now. No other player influenced the game without holding the ball. He was everywhere on the court, assisting, stealing, rebounding, and scoring. He was the absolute best clutch player. Badass Kobe played on a sprained ankle, remember? Can you imagine how much that hurt? Bird played with a broken thumb and finger; a two inch cut between his big toe and next one, for an infection to drain; a broken spine; two Achilles’ tendon injuries; and still managed to be as amazing as he was! He’s also a phenomenal passer, which none of the guys you’re mentioning come close to comparing to. Not to mention, everyone of the young bucks that have come after Larry, had the advantage of studying, and learning from him. That’s a major privilege Larry didn’t have. You simply don’t have enough data in front of you to be making such accusations and convictions, IMO.
I lost a lot of interest in the NBA when Bird retired. Not because of race but it was the level of competition between Magic/Bird(Celtics and Lakets)
Those 2 set a level of competition and rivalry as well as respect/ friendship, I've yet to see ever happening again
You're absolutely right. The closest we got to that was LeBron vs. Curry, but it was too one side. At least with Larry and Magic, they traded blows
Luka couldn't carry Larry's jock strap. Larry Bird is the only person to be named Rookie of the Year, league MVP (3 years in a row), All Star Game MVP, Fnals MVP (2x), Coach of the Year, and Executive of the Year. Come on. Are you going to compare Luka or Jokic to that? MVP 3 years in a row!
I think it's a VERY different game from when Bird was playing to today's game. It seems like half the points scored in 2024 are 3 point shots. Many of the NBA coaches actively discouraged the 3 point shot "fad" when it was introduced in Bird's rookie year. BTW Larry Bird was a 50/40/90 shooter for multiple seasons. Luka this season was 48.7/38.2/78.6 so Luka's going to need to improve his shooting to be on Bird's level. The average for 3 point shots made in a game during the 80s was 1.0, in the 2020s the average is now 12.5 shots made per game.
Jokic and rheumatologist the rest of them can’t do what bird could do. Overall!!! Anything you see on Jokic is all offensive nothing defensive. That’s how it is now. You have shooters, dunkers, passers, defenders. Not one can consistently do it all.
Jokic holds his own on defense. I can't name many players who cooked him while being on offense. We have to start to accept that Jokic will be a top 10 basketball player of all time when he hangs it up.
Rebounds, blocks, and steals aren't defensive moves? I've seen Joker😅 play live a few times. He's great all round.
In today's league Larry in the MVP race every year kinda like he was in the day.
I'm in today's game. Larry would be a great player, but I wouldn't have him over players like Luka, Shai, Jokic, or even Tatum
@@jonathan031795so you are saying someone who is 0-6 against Jordan in the playoffs wouldn’t fare well against those guys? Never mind winning rookie of the year and three MVPs in a row.