Just wanted to point something out. The reason he didn’t get the quad was because he didn’t care about stuff like that. His coach offered to put him back in early in the 4th quarter but Bird refused, said he’d done enough damage.
@@aramhamparian9641 There was one exception..the day he went for 60. That was because McHale had gotten 56 nine days earlier and Bird gave him a bad time about not staying in and going for 60..telling McHale that if he got the opportunity that's what he'd do. Then he did. Legend. 🙂
Winning 3 straight league MVP honors in an era against guys like Magic, Kareem, Jordan, Hakeem , Worthy, Doc J. That is just insane if you think about it.
One more thing about Magic at Bird's retirement is rarely shown. He said he had one more surprise for Larry, and when Magic took off his Lakers jacket, he was wearing Larry Birds Celtics jersey underneath. #respect
I am really glad younger folks are learning just how great Larry Legend was. I grew up watching him in the 80s. He really did spoil me against watching the NBA today. He only played 13 years because he held nothing back.... EVER. Every game was important to him. He never took nights off. He wanted win and it didn't matter. Regular season or playoffs, a win was a win to Larry Bird. I really miss that kind of intensity and it is really missing in the NBA today.
The difference between Bird and the other goats is that Bird did everything. He could score at will, pass, rebound, steal, set picks...he was a nightmare to guard.
-- Agree. Improves BOS by 32 wins (from 29 to 61) as a rookie, wins Rookies of Year, Chip by the 2nd year, 3x consecutive MVP winner. MJ, Kareem, Hakeem, Jokic, Curry are all great. But for me? I'm taking Bird.
Bird and Stockton were the two hardest players to guard. Stockton never stopped moving. Bird was impossible to guard around the paint. His midrange shot it seemed he never missed. At the end of the game you looked up and Stockton had 25 points on 9 of 11 shooting, and 7 of 7 at the free throw line. 14 Assist, 6 Rebounds said 4 steals. Bird and Stockton were always at the right place at the right time.
to really understand how great he was you need to watch 5 times larry bird was injured and refused to quit, 4 crazy stories to prove larry bird was the toughest in the nba. larry legend is truly on a diffrent level.
Can't believe you didn't know about his shooting. That's what he's known for above all else. He's arguably the most efficient true shooter ever. Not only was he the founder of the 50/40/90 club, not only did he do it twice, but he averaged 50/40/90 shooting over a five season stretch. Bird was a beast. No weaknesses other than his running speed, and he even managed to turn that into an advantage.
He is easily get quadruple double in the third quarter of the game, but he don’t need to escalate. He seat out the hold 4th. He a team’s player and care about winning…
Bird was nicknamed Larry Legend while he was still playing.He is my favorite player. Isiah said when Bird caught the ball you knew he was going to score. If he missed you could hardly believe it because he made the clutch shots so often.
Bird. Top-tier rebounder. Top-tier hustle. Top-tier free throw shooter. Top-tier IQ. Top-Tier passer. Top-Tier jump shooter. Top-tier clutch. Top-tier 3 point shooter. Led the league in defensive win shares 4 times. Had 67% of ALL of the MVP votes of the entire 1980s decade combined.
Larry Legend's four time Defensive Win Share stat is so impressive! A Stat dominated by the NBA's most legendary big men, Larry Bird was the only small forward, for a long long time to lead in this defensive statistics, shout out to JT! BTW, Birdman also came in second in DWS, twice!
After Bird won the 3pt contest with his warm-up jacket still on. Michael Jordan famously said.. "I hate to see what he does when he takes the jacket off." There is a video clip of him saying this backstage just after it happened. I've also heard Jordan credit Bird for helping him learn how to trash talk.
Yeah Jordan was already intimidating with his ability to score noo matter what, and embarass defenders while doing so, but adding that quality of Bird that you simply weren't going to win from the start, really pushed him to be the unstoppable force that he is known for.
Bird was the founding member of the 50/40/90 club. Bird was the only player of his generation that beat all his opponents, no one else beat everyone not even Magic or Jordon. Bird was the best shooter in the league.
let me put it this way. I'm , was, a HUGE Seattle Super Sonics fan. When Larry Bird retired, I told a few friends I was going to have a BBQ with a keg of beer. I was expecting 10-14 people. The entire backyard was packed. We got a second keg. I'd say over a 100 people showed up to celebrate Larry Bird's retirement. I was surprised at the all Celtic jersey's that showed up too.
Between 1980-1989, Larry Bird Received 67 Percent Of MVP Votes. He never finished MVP race lower than 4th place. He was in the race in his rookie season and 3-received 66.97 % possible votes. MVP voting 1980 Larry 's rookie year 1979-80 - 15 Points (MVP Race Finish: 4th) Season Statistics: 21.3 PPG, 10.4 RPG, 4.5 APG, 1.7 SPG, 0.6 BPG 1980-81: 423 Points (MVP Race Finish: 2nd) Season Statistics: 21.2 PPG, 10.9 RPG, 5.5 APG, 2.0 SPG, 0.8 BPG 1981-82: 406 Points (MVP Race Finish: 2nd) Season Statistics: 22.9 PPG, 10.9 RPG, 5.8 APG, 1.9 SPG, 0.9 BPG 1982-83: 364 Points (MVP Race Finish: 2nd) Season Statistics: 23.6 PPG, 11.0 RPG, 5.8 APG, 1.9 SPG, 0.9 BPG 1983-84: 652 Points (MVP Race Finish: 1st) Season Statistics: 24.2 PPG, 10.1 RPG, 6.6 APG, 1.8 SPG, 0.9 BPG 1984-85: 763 Points (MVP Race Finish: 1st)Season Statistics: 28.7 PPG, 10.5 RPG, 6.6 APG, 1.6 SPG, 1.2 BPG 1985-86: 765 Points (MVP Race Finish: 1st)Season Statistics: 25.8 PPG, 9.8 RPG, 6.8 APG, 2.0 SPG, 0.6 BPG 1986-87: 271 Points (MVP Race Finish: 3rd)Season Statistics: 28.1 PPG, 9.2 RPG, 7.6 APG, 1.8 SPG, 0.9 BPG 1987-88: 527 Points (MVP Race Finish: 2nd)Season Statistics: 29.9 PPG, 9.3 RPG, 6.1 APG, 1.6 SPG, 0.8 BPG 1988-89: (MVP Race Finish: N/A) Season Statistics: 19.3 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 4.8 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.8 BPG 1989-90: 5 Points (MVP Race Finish: 10th) Season Statistics: 24.3 PPG, 9.5 RPG, 7.5 APG, 1.4 SPG, 0.8 BPG 1990-91: 25 Points (MVP Race Finish: 9th)Season Statistics: 19.4 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 7.2 APG, 1.8 SPG, 1.0 BPG 1991-92: 3 Points (MVP Race Finish: 14th)Season Statistics: 20.2 PPG, 9.6 RPG, 6.8 APG, 0.9 SPG, 0.7 BPG 1987-1989 only played 6 games with double achillies tendon surgery, and broke his back, In addition to a bad elbow, shattered knuckles on his dominate hand and half a dozen injuries that aren't as well known, "Larry body betrayed him" is what is repeated, what isn't as well known is just how busted up Larry was. Most of Larry's rivals knew he had some injuries, but they had no idea HOW BADLY until they shared a locker room on the Dream Team, they are all, "Damn" and every one of those players have Larry in their personal top 5, That says a awful lot. LARRY LEGEND TIMELINE to look at the career of NBA’s greatest small forward: 1974 - Larry played high school basketball at Valley High School in French Lick, Indiana. 1975 - Enrolls at Indiana University to play for coach Bobby Knight but quits school after a few weeks and works as a garbage man. 1976 - Enrolls at Indiana State, sitting out the season as a transfer student. 1978 - ISU goes 23-9 and Bird named to All-America first team. Selected 6th overall by the Boston Celtics. 1979 - Bird wins AP player of the year, first-team All-America and led his team to NCAA Championship game. 1980 - Bird named NBA rookie of the year. 1981 - The Celtics wins the NBA championship. 1982 - The Celtics improves his record 63-19, lost Philly in East Finals. 1984 - Bird is MVP and the Finals MVP 1985 - Bird is the MVP again despite nagging elbow injury, leads his team to the NBA Finals. 1986 - Bird is the MVP again, three years in a row, Finals MVP and ’86 Celtics are the arguably the best team ever. 1987 - Celtics advanced to the Finals again but injuries set a blockade to win over Lakers. 1988 - Celtics fails to advance to the finals, losing Pistons in a 6 game series. 1989 & 1990 - Bird plays the first 6 games before deciding to undergo surgery to remove bone spurs in both heels. 1991 - Celtics ended season 56-23 and injured Bird shows some of the flashes of vintage himself. 1992 - Bird misses 37 games, most of them are the second half of the season, play for the Dream Team in the 1992 Barcelona Summer Olympics and retires from the game of basketball.
Larry Joe is the one iykyk. Dude came into the league with a finger injury that needed surgery but refused to get it because it would have ended his career, soldiered through a back injury that ended up cutting his career short and shook off injuries that would have the soft cats in the league these days out for months. What's wild about him being so good at 3s is the fact they didn't even have them in the league until his rookie year (and not in college for another 7 years so it wasn't as if he had been practicing them there).
Remember: He put up these MVP-50/40/90 stats without giving the slightest sh*t about it. In a time without flagrant foul and where travelling was still actually called. He beat every single opponent he faced in this loaded era.
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 had formed a super team. Their thought process was I want to Beat the best not join them. Bird and MJ are my co-GOATS
Very well said and 100% TRUE. The level of competition that you have to go through to lift that trophy MATTERS. There is NO WAY Lebron is a goat. Whats tougher, winning a trophy in the 80’s against the bad boy pistons, Dr J and the sixers, MJ and the Bulls, and Kareem/Magic/Worthy………..or beating Jimmy Butler in Disneyland in a neutral gym in front of video screens? Honestly, give me a break.
I lived through that era. Bird/Magic was so fun and was must watch every year for me. Everyone who followed basketball knew how good Bird was. It was just part of the zeitgeist. We knew it from early on, all through his career. It is only time that diminishes his legacy because as fewer people remember his live play, fewer are willing to believe a white dude had that kind of skill. (Bird himself used to feel disrespected when opposing teams put a white guy on him and he'd let them know it ;)
"If I had to choose a player to take a shot to save a game, I’d choose Michael Jordan." "If I had to choose a player to take a shot to save my life, I’d take Larry Bird." - Pat Riley
The more you learn about bird, hear his rivals talk about him, see him play (and yes he was a fantastic shooter too), the more the dust clears and you start to realize that prime to prime Bird is something very very special.
I'm 50 years old and have been a huge Celtics and basketball fan since I was a kid, because of Larry. Every game he played, you knew you would see at least one mind-blowing, jaw-dropping play from him, usually more. He was special. It never felt like the game was over when he was around, he would just go on a tear if the C's needed it, and take over the game in the 4th. I've also got to see Tom Brady's career from start to finish, and he really reminds me of Bird with his determination and ability to come back from any deficit.
Jordan was happy when Bird retired. He even admitted it during Bird’s retirement ceremony in his video. The reason, he never beat Larry on the court. They took their rivalry to the golf course after the court.
The best line I’ve heard when it came between Jordan and Bird was the one by James Worthy, “When you played against Jordan, he made you look slow. When you played against Bird, he made you look stupid.” Here are some other awesome videos on Larry Bird. Larry Bird Greatest Passer - Re-edited ruclips.net/video/wwo4vtaZmsY/видео.html 4 Crazy Stories that Prove Larry Bird Is the Toughest NBA Player in History (… and he still played on) ruclips.net/video/L4vsB2Hskv4/видео.html Larry Bird Trash Talking ruclips.net/video/cbshHcWCIVI/видео.html Magic Johnson and Larry Bird: A Courtship of Rivals (really good documentary on the two of them) ruclips.net/video/axbIoHqFaa8/видео.html 50 best Assist Larry Bird ruclips.net/video/baBdnA7cui0/видео.html
When Bird won the 3 pt contest with his warm up on in Chicago, before it started, he walked into the locker room where the other contestants were and some one asked him what he was doing, he said "I'm just here to see who's coming in second place" Larry Legend
Another great Bird reaction. I think the video "10 Straight Minutes of Larry Bird Facts That Will Change Your Mind on Who's the Goat" gives a more compelling argument.
Of course he shoots real good. He’s one of the best shooters ever. If somebody can have a case to be the GOAT - they better Damn well be a good shooter.
my fav story, bird had a bet with an arena employee one game, said hed bank a 3 for $20. game almost over celts got it in the bag up like 20, bird never banked a 3...remembers the bet, goes back in a game with 2 min left and banks a 3 and comes out LOL
Larry Bird is why I was a Celtic's fan, and I don't live anywhere near Boston. Larry was the BEST all round player the league has ever seen. As for his stats, 50% from the field, 80% of 3-point attempts. 90% from the free throw line, averaged 15 rebounds per game and 12 assists. A lot of lesser players get all the attention. We won't get into why. No, I'll take Bird every time. I watched him from the moment he stepped on the court until he retired. And his friend/competitor Magic Johnson's speech at his retirement ceremony just showed how much respect Magic had for Bird. He was a great player that you had to respect.
As a side note. Magic wore a #33 Celtics jersey under his Lakers warm up jacket at Bird's retirement ceremony. He showed Larry and they had a good laugh. But Magic quietly told Larry he was really going to miss playing him, because NOBODY had the game and challenged him the way Larry did. Larry and Magic had become great friends off the court and great competitors on the court.
Great vid. Bird was one of a kind. NO ONE can compare in today's world. NO ONE. He could pass without thinking, without looking, the field presense and vision was impossible but he did it. Those passes are always jaw dropping.
I hope you take the time to see how Larry Bird AND Magic Johnson saved the NBA by watching Magic vs. Bird: A Courtship of Rivals," which later became a Broadway show. Larry went back for his senior year of college and got his degree because he promised his mother that if he went back to college, he wouldn't leave again until he got his degree. The behind-the-back pass that you marveled over was a tribute to Magic Johnson, as this was the first game Larry played after Magic left the league due to his HIV diagnosis. Pat Riley once said that if he had to pick someone to take a shot to win a game, it would be Michael Jordan, but if he had to pick someone to save his life, it would be Larry Bird.
Someone will need to show me the tapes of MJ diving for loose balls. Show the games he decided to play with his off hand and still dominate. Show me how he was a single steal away from a quadruple douple in just 3 quarters and decided not to play in the forth to get saying, I already did enough damage. Show me when Jordan didn't just play in a game where he fractured his cheek bone and got a concussion, but came back out and hammered the opposing team. Then show me MJs medical records and the game he played in a plastic torso brace and was the games leading scorer. Then show me his record against Bird and how many times Bird swept him in the playoffs. Then show me all the playoff wins MJ had without Pippen. I'll take Bird.
If your GOAT is Jordan, there is a video called "The Best Michael Jordan vs Larry Bird Story Ever Told" that I would recommend watching. That video pretty much sums up why Bird is my personal GOAT and Jordan is my 2nd.
McHale was great too. He came off the bench the first half of his career because Cedric Maxwell started but in the 85-86 season they traded Maxwell and McHale moved into the starting position. It’s crazy because McHale was way too good to be a sixth man but the Celtics had a lot of depth. McHale is credited as being the greatest low post player of all time along with Hakeem because of his insane footwork. I know this is a Bird video and he’s my favorite player but McHale deserves a lot of credit too. As far as other video suggestions, you should check out the case for the 1986 Celtics as the greatest team of all time and also Larry Bird’s greatest game.
What separates Bird from the pack is that he made everyone around him better. McHale was great, but a lot of the reason was because he played with Bird. It makes it a lot easier to use those post moves when you're generally guarded one on one..and when you have Bird getting you the ball in your spots.
McHale was a beast. Good defender and Great scorer. Love Bird, but guys like McHale made Bird look better, not vice-versa. I would argue McHale is amongst the most under-rated players of all-time.
I honestly think that without Bird, McHale would have been a lesser version of him in terms of trash talk but still one of the best at it. A lot of the stories you hear about Bird's trash talk is now started to lead into how McHale talked a lot of smack too, and I think they probably just motivated each other in practice. Plus to back it up, you had to have something that made you unstoppable, and McHale had that with his post play, where defenders literally just had to get lucky and guess what Kevin was going to do to have a chance at stopping him.
@@toddfrank3344 Tell it to the Hall of Fame and the dudes that had to play him, and his teammates: Charles Barkley: "He's the best player I ever played against. You could not stop him. I've always said you could not stop that guy, and at the other end I had to use ever ounce of energy I had to score on him. ... He was unstoppable offensively and he gave me nightmares defensively." (starts @2:20). After that the panel compare him directly to Hakeem as the only two with that level of footwork in the low-post. Larry Bird: "You talk Olajuwon and the other great ones, they're great, but, ah, Kevin was as good as anybody I've ever seen." (3:47) 1986-87 - Only player in history to be 20.0+ PPG (he hit 26), .600+ FG, .800+ FT in history (8:04) ruclips.net/video/M7PjbdfV1QE/видео.htmlsi=ri-pQQHH5Oww-pAh
For those that think Larry Bird was not as good as he really was and never had the chance to see him play this comment is for you. Remember in this comment I am just highlighting Larry's NBA accomplishments. Little know thing about Larry to those that never saw him play , he could effect the outcome of a game and never take a shot thats how devastating his passing skills were. Here is one thing that most fans (people) either don't know or try to ignore, prior to Larry joining the NBA there was no such thing as a three point line, that came in when Bird was starting his first year of his NBA career. Just think about it, what would todays game be without the three point line or if the line was one foot farther out like it was when it was first introduced. Food for thought. At that time it was not about the individuals stats it was about the win. But if you need some stats here you go: Here are some of Larry Bird's notable career achievements and statistics: Three-time NBA champion (1981, 1984, 1986); Two-time NBA Finals MVP (1984, 1986); Three-time NBA MVP (1984-86); 12-time NBA All-Star (1980-88, 1990-92); Nine-time All-NBA First Team (1980-88); All-NBA Second Team (1990); Three-time All-NBA Defensive Second Team (1982-84); NBA Rookie of the Year (1980); NBA All-Rookie Team (1980); Three-time NBA Three-Point Contest champion (1986-88); Career-high in points: 60 (March 12, 1985) -- tied for franchise record with Jayson Tatum; Named NBA Coach of the Year (1998); and Named NBA Executive of the Year (2012). Larry Bird, was the first player to accomplish the 50-40-90 achievement, and one of two players to achieve the feat in multiple seasons. Career averages: 24.3 points per game 10.0 rebounds per game 6.3 assists per game 88.6% free throw percentage 49.6% field goal percentage 37.6% 3-point percentage Now we can't forget that Bird famously played with two injured ankles and a notoriously cranky back that forced him to lay down on the floor during practice breaks. After season-ending foot surgery just six games into the 1988-89 season James Worthy, who played against both Michael Jordan and Larry Bird, said, I'd much rather play. against Michael Jordan than Larry Bird. Jordan made you look slow, but Bird made you look stupid.
It took Jordan 7 years to win a title with Bird in the league and the east. 84 was MJ's rookie year and was Bird's 2nd title and the start of 3 straight league MVP awards. He also won rookie of the year over Magic with like 62 to 2 voting, even though Magic won the NBA title that year. And when he was healthy, his size(legit 6'10"), IQ and quick hands made him a very good defender on most players. MJ was swept twice by the Celtics in the playoffs and won his 1st title in 91, Bird's last year. The 80's were brutal and Larry Bird was easily the best player in the 80's. George Paul or one of the Pacers said a 60 something year old Bird in loafers and a suite walked into practice, dimed up 16 3's in a row and walked out.
Never saw anyone else like him in my 45 years of watching/playing ! Best overall player ever. He did it all. The highlights you see on RUclips, are just the fringes of his highlights! !!!
18:30 check out isiah thomas's interview where he describes his recollection of that pass. he tells how he remembers it in slow motion and how Bird shifts his weight to his toes and raises his heels as he slams on the brakes and pivots, barely staying in bounds by less than an inch, his heels were above foul territory but he kept the ball in
Bird is absolutely the greatest of all time. No one knew the game like he did. No one had the same on-court awareness. His passing was extraordinary. He played with both hands. He toyed with people. He was the must clutch player ever to play. He was a true team player. He led his team to three championships. His passion level and warrior spirit were unmatched. And, here's the kicker, the number of other all-time great players who have said that Bird was the top player they ever played against is off the charts.
During Larry Bird's professional basketball career, hell officially even before he got to training camp his rookie career Bird suffered injuries that changed his game. In the time off from the end of his college career to the start of his pro career Bird suffered an injury to his shooting hand that changed how he shot the ball and he was and is still known as one of the greatest shooters of all time. Imagine what he could have done had that injury never happened. During the off season in 1985 ( heading into his 6th season ) Larry injured his back physically working to give his mother a brand new driveway and he suffered back pain for the rest of his playing career that eventually lead to him being unable to sit on the bench when he was not in the game, but rather lying down on the side of the court to keep his back stretched so he could perform. In the highlights during the video you saw how he would throw his body around with no regard to himself getting injured just to save a ball from going out of bounds or make a steal or a pass. Larry Bird gave his all every single time he stepped onto the court and he really did just become someone else when the game was being played. He admitted many times during interviews how he would be nervous before a game yet he was 100% cold and ruthless during the games with no sign of any nerves whatsoever.
“Courtship of rivals” react to to it. You can make a 3-4 parter out of it. It’s about Larry and magic. Greatest basketball documentary in existence. You’ll learn everything you don’t know about that time and especially those players and how they saved the game. If it wasn’t for them you’d never know mj or Kobe or anyone since. Great react. One love and be well.
Imagine in today’s NBA, a player being picked number three overall, and returning to college to settle unfinished business. That’s why he is properly noted as a legend.
Larry bird was not just a great shooter, he is the greatest shooter i have ever seen! I can tell you about all the great things bird could do. But it's as simple as this. LARRY BIRD NEVER QUIT! He was the clutchest player, when it mattered the most.
I think it was the first year he coached the pacers. They had a 3-point contest in a practice. Larry bird won. Against a team with Reggie Miller on it. The COACH won a 3-point contest on a team with the most prolific 3-point shooter at that time. At least, that's what I've heard.
the most beautiful thing i seen in sports is larry bird////////////////bird and bobby orr of hockey..are my 2 goats of sports//////////both of them played with injury/////short careers......jordan is your goat bird is my goat...........the joy the emotions u felt when you watched your goat jordan is the same joy i had for my goat bird////////each of us has our own goats//take that to your grave cuz no one can take that away from you////////bird bobby orr i love both of them ... bird magic jordan dominique drexler kobi list goes on and on all super greats........no hate for any player cuz watching all these guys on the nba courts was pure amazing ////////magic and bird how 2 guys saved a sport..................they went at each other like 2 warriors and at the end became good friends........bird and magic the perfect cookie////////////we ate the perfect cookie for 13 years//////////
In an interview, Pat Riley said, "to win a game, give the ball to Magic . To win a championship, give the ball to Jordan. To save my life, I want Bird shooting."
19:19 that was probably the most devastating loss I have ever felt as a fan. It still is a gut punch to this day. If Larry got off a last second shot you were used to the Celtics winning. No matter, I was blessed to watch Larry Bird and the Celtics during the ‘80s in New England. I saw it all!
I grew up in the era, Larry was amazing. When the goats say he’s the goat, the most feared player in his day and the best, you should take notice. He’s on the Mount Rushmore of the NBA, no doubt. He’s top 5 all time. Even LeBron puts him in the top 3 all time greats.
By all accounts from his competitors , Larry was an amazing shooter, unbelievable passer, consistent rebounder ..........and without argument ............the Biggest Trash Talker ever !!! Gotta give the respect.
You wanna see Larry Joe get some serious buckets, you should react to the 85-86 season highlights (the video is titled "Larry Bird Was LEGENDARY During His Prime! 1985-86 Highlights | GOAT SZN").
I watched Larry Bird's entire career. There has never been, nor will there ever be, another player like Larry Bird. It's not just about stats. Larry Bird is hands-down the greatest all-around basketball player in history. As a shooter. As a passer. As a rebounder. As a hustle player. Toughness. Determination. Leadership. Trash talking. Playing through injury. He will never be equaled. It's disappointing to me that most modern basketball fans will never understand how great he actually was, because today's stat-driven era doesn't understand.
He is white. It's the ENIMEN effect. I'm exposing this fact on 2RAW. He only has the longevity argument which he says isn't valid against Jordan vs Lebron but uses it when it comes to Bird. Lol
lol you dint know he could shoot that good , he's the founding member of the 50/40/90 club and did it in back to back years of 1986 &1987 , infact he vary nearly had a 4 year stretch of 50/40/90 season's 1984 52.2/42.7/88.2 , 1985 49.6/42.3/89.6 , 1986 52.5/40.0/91.0 , 1987 52.7/41.4/91.6 ............. it was so close to a 4 year stretch that if you average over those 4 years it is infact a 50/40/90 average
Kevin McHale, if you want to look into his career, was just consistently strong. If he averaged 26 ppg, it seemed like his season high and low would be 27 and 25. He just didn't stop. Post moves and footwork like Olajuwon, an unnatural wingspan of about half a mile, 86% FT shooter, guarded on the perimeter, blocked shots inside, solid rebounder, and knew to keep his hands up and eyes open for Bird's passes. Also, I swear the guy could get 4 fouls in the first quarter and play 41 minutes and still have only 4 fouls, it was weird how he could do that. Completely unselfish, came off the bench for years, played on a broken foot through the '87 playoffs.
Bird was so far beyond other players. After a succession of games where Larry 'miraculously ' wins AT THE LAST SECOND...on turn around trick shots that it was as if he set the whole thing up. Celtics in peril....no time....Bird passes inside to go ahead.....Bird shoots the 3 BANG! Bird makes a steal. He was and still is, my idol. A quiet spoken underdog with a big fkn stick. Just amazing
He was great at hitting the basket off balance as well. I cant pick a great. A say hes among the greats. Because the 80s and 90s was a different basketball then we know today. I think he understood the game the best. Hes one of the greats. Top three for me.
McHale had a tone of low post tricks. His Insanely long arms and lineman sized shoulders made him a rebounding machine. He played right underneath the basket and gave as much as he got.
Not a lot of people knew that He and Magic played in the Olympics before they started the NBA and the few clips i saw, wow. imagine if they played on the same team.
On my channel I have a video listing 21 clutch shots by Larry Legend. Buzzer beaters or crucial shots that potentially changed the outcome of the game….of those 21 clutch shots, 18 were game winners. I don’t know about you but to me, that’s damn impressive. In the video, it says that there may even be more but these were the ones that could be verified with video evidence. To me LARRY LEGEND WILL FOREVER BE THE TRUE GOAT!!! 🐐 ☘️
My favorite video of his, is the Legendary Stories of Toughness. This dude literally put his body on the line every night, and played until he physically couldn't. He's from another planet, and would dominate in any Era, though none of today's stars would be able to hang in his. They'd honestly have to relearn how to play the game all over again. I hated him as a kid watching him on another team, because he was so impossibly good, but I have nothing but respect for him, now, as a man.
Just wanted to point something out. The reason he didn’t get the quad was because he didn’t care about stuff like that. His coach offered to put him back in early in the 4th quarter but Bird refused, said he’d done enough damage.
Yep. It was a blowout.
Yeah, Bird was not a stat padder. He just wanted the Win.
@@aramhamparian9641 There was one exception..the day he went for 60. That was because McHale had gotten 56 nine days earlier and Bird gave him a bad time about not staying in and going for 60..telling McHale that if he got the opportunity that's what he'd do. Then he did. Legend. 🙂
@@toddfrank3344That was personal. Getting the quad wasn't personal or business - Larry had finished his shift for the day.
True..
Bird got 67% of ALL MVP VOTES in the most talented NBA era ever (80-89). Players were afraid to play against him.
Winning 3 straight league MVP honors in an era against guys like Magic, Kareem, Jordan, Hakeem , Worthy, Doc J.
That is just insane if you think about it.
One more thing about Magic at Bird's retirement is rarely shown. He said he had one more surprise for Larry, and when Magic took off his Lakers jacket, he was wearing Larry Birds Celtics jersey underneath. #respect
I loved that! So much love and respect between those 2 it's amazing!
Watching this old school footage makes me feel that modern day players are prima Donas with little heart
Magic called Larry the goat in that ceremony
I am really glad younger folks are learning just how great Larry Legend was. I grew up watching him in the 80s. He really did spoil me against watching the NBA today. He only played 13 years because he held nothing back.... EVER. Every game was important to him. He never took nights off. He wanted win and it didn't matter. Regular season or playoffs, a win was a win to Larry Bird. I really miss that kind of intensity and it is really missing in the NBA today.
That's so cool❤❤❤
The difference between Bird and the other goats is that Bird did everything. He could score at will, pass, rebound, steal, set picks...he was a nightmare to guard.
And specially, he made his teamates better!
Jordan made you look slow. Bird made you look stupid.
-- Agree. Improves BOS by 32 wins (from 29 to 61) as a rookie, wins Rookies of Year, Chip by the 2nd year, 3x consecutive MVP winner.
MJ, Kareem, Hakeem, Jokic, Curry are all great. But for me? I'm taking Bird.
Bird and Stockton were the two hardest players to guard. Stockton never stopped moving. Bird was impossible to guard around the paint. His midrange shot it seemed he never missed. At the end of the game you looked up and Stockton had 25 points on 9 of 11 shooting, and 7 of 7 at the free throw line. 14 Assist, 6 Rebounds said 4 steals. Bird and Stockton were always at the right place at the right time.
@@kurtsherrick2066 "Bird was impossible to guard around the paint". Sad thing is most people forget that, and many others never knew that.
to really understand how great he was you need to watch 5 times larry bird was injured and refused to quit, 4 crazy stories to prove larry bird was the toughest in the nba. larry legend is truly on a diffrent level.
Can't believe you didn't know about his shooting. That's what he's known for above all else. He's arguably the most efficient true shooter ever. Not only was he the founder of the 50/40/90 club, not only did he do it twice, but he averaged 50/40/90 shooting over a five season stretch. Bird was a beast. No weaknesses other than his running speed, and he even managed to turn that into an advantage.
He is easily get quadruple double in the third quarter of the game, but he don’t need to escalate. He seat out the hold 4th. He a team’s player and care about winning…
Bird was nicknamed Larry Legend while he was still playing.He is my favorite player. Isiah said when Bird caught the ball you knew he was going to score. If he missed you could hardly believe it because he made the clutch shots so often.
Bird. Top-tier rebounder. Top-tier hustle. Top-tier free throw shooter. Top-tier IQ. Top-Tier passer. Top-Tier jump shooter. Top-tier clutch. Top-tier 3 point shooter. Led the league in defensive win shares 4 times. Had 67% of ALL of the MVP votes of the entire 1980s decade combined.
Don't forget the FOUNDER of the 50/40/90 club, AND the last person to win 3 MVP in a row
Larry Legend's four time Defensive Win Share stat is so impressive!
A Stat dominated by the NBA's most legendary big men, Larry Bird was the only small forward, for a long long time to lead in this defensive statistics, shout out to JT!
BTW, Birdman also came in second in DWS, twice!
Not to mention, #1 trash talker of all time
My favorite part! 😂😂😂
@@lll9416 He actually started his career playing PF with Maxwell playing the 3. He went to an All-Star game at both the 3 & 4.
After Bird won the 3pt contest with his warm-up jacket still on. Michael Jordan famously said.. "I hate to see what he does when he takes the jacket off." There is a video clip of him saying this backstage just after it happened. I've also heard Jordan credit Bird for helping him learn how to trash talk.
And he put the finger up before it went in
Yeah Jordan was already intimidating with his ability to score noo matter what, and embarass defenders while doing so, but adding that quality of Bird that you simply weren't going to win from the start, really pushed him to be the unstoppable force that he is known for.
I have a feeling a lot of players learned to trash talk from Larry Bird
10:20 The first 8 Hall of Famers listed, were ALL in the Beastern Conference with Bird!
Bird was the founding member of the 50/40/90 club. Bird was the only player of his generation that beat all his opponents, no one else beat everyone not even Magic or Jordon. Bird was the best shooter in the league.
Isaiah Thomas and the Pistons beat Bird, Magic, and MJ.
let me put it this way. I'm , was, a HUGE Seattle Super Sonics fan.
When Larry Bird retired, I told a few friends I was going to have a BBQ with a keg of beer. I was expecting 10-14 people. The entire backyard was packed. We got a second keg. I'd say over a 100 people showed up to celebrate Larry Bird's retirement. I was surprised at the all Celtic jersey's that showed up too.
Between 1980-1989, Larry Bird Received 67 Percent Of MVP Votes. He never finished MVP race lower than 4th place. He was in the race in his rookie season and 3-received 66.97 % possible votes.
MVP voting 1980 Larry 's rookie year
1979-80 - 15 Points (MVP Race Finish: 4th) Season Statistics: 21.3 PPG, 10.4 RPG, 4.5 APG, 1.7 SPG, 0.6 BPG
1980-81: 423 Points (MVP Race Finish: 2nd) Season Statistics: 21.2 PPG, 10.9 RPG, 5.5 APG, 2.0 SPG, 0.8 BPG
1981-82: 406 Points (MVP Race Finish: 2nd) Season Statistics: 22.9 PPG, 10.9 RPG, 5.8 APG, 1.9 SPG, 0.9 BPG
1982-83: 364 Points (MVP Race Finish: 2nd) Season Statistics: 23.6 PPG, 11.0 RPG, 5.8 APG, 1.9 SPG, 0.9 BPG
1983-84: 652 Points (MVP Race Finish: 1st) Season Statistics: 24.2 PPG, 10.1 RPG, 6.6 APG, 1.8 SPG, 0.9 BPG
1984-85: 763 Points (MVP Race Finish: 1st)Season Statistics: 28.7 PPG, 10.5 RPG, 6.6 APG, 1.6 SPG, 1.2 BPG
1985-86: 765 Points (MVP Race Finish: 1st)Season Statistics: 25.8 PPG, 9.8 RPG, 6.8 APG, 2.0 SPG, 0.6 BPG
1986-87: 271 Points (MVP Race Finish: 3rd)Season Statistics: 28.1 PPG, 9.2 RPG, 7.6 APG, 1.8 SPG, 0.9 BPG
1987-88: 527 Points (MVP Race Finish: 2nd)Season Statistics: 29.9 PPG, 9.3 RPG, 6.1 APG, 1.6 SPG, 0.8 BPG
1988-89: (MVP Race Finish: N/A) Season Statistics: 19.3 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 4.8 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.8 BPG
1989-90: 5 Points (MVP Race Finish: 10th) Season Statistics: 24.3 PPG, 9.5 RPG, 7.5 APG, 1.4 SPG, 0.8 BPG
1990-91: 25 Points (MVP Race Finish: 9th)Season Statistics: 19.4 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 7.2 APG, 1.8 SPG, 1.0 BPG
1991-92: 3 Points (MVP Race Finish: 14th)Season Statistics: 20.2 PPG, 9.6 RPG, 6.8 APG, 0.9 SPG, 0.7 BPG
1987-1989 only played 6 games with double achillies tendon surgery, and broke his back, In addition to a bad elbow, shattered knuckles on his dominate hand and half a dozen injuries that aren't as well known, "Larry body betrayed him" is what is repeated, what isn't as well known is just how busted up Larry was. Most of Larry's rivals knew he had some injuries, but they had no idea HOW BADLY until they shared a locker room on the Dream Team, they are all, "Damn" and every one of those players have Larry in their personal top 5, That says a awful lot.
LARRY LEGEND TIMELINE to look at the career of NBA’s greatest small forward:
1974 - Larry played high school basketball at Valley High School in French Lick, Indiana.
1975 - Enrolls at Indiana University to play for coach Bobby Knight but quits school after a few weeks and works as a garbage man.
1976 - Enrolls at Indiana State, sitting out the season as a transfer student.
1978 - ISU goes 23-9 and Bird named to All-America first team. Selected 6th overall by the Boston Celtics.
1979 - Bird wins AP player of the year, first-team All-America and led his team to NCAA Championship game.
1980 - Bird named NBA rookie of the year.
1981 - The Celtics wins the NBA championship.
1982 - The Celtics improves his record 63-19, lost Philly in East Finals.
1984 - Bird is MVP and the Finals MVP
1985 - Bird is the MVP again despite nagging elbow injury, leads his team to the NBA Finals.
1986 - Bird is the MVP again, three years in a row, Finals MVP and ’86 Celtics are the arguably the best team ever.
1987 - Celtics advanced to the Finals again but injuries set a blockade to win over Lakers.
1988 - Celtics fails to advance to the finals, losing Pistons in a 6 game series.
1989 & 1990 - Bird plays the first 6 games before deciding to undergo surgery to remove bone spurs in both heels.
1991 - Celtics ended season 56-23 and injured Bird shows some of the flashes of vintage himself.
1992 - Bird misses 37 games, most of them are the second half of the season, play for the Dream Team in the 1992 Barcelona Summer Olympics and retires from the game of basketball.
Larry Joe is the one iykyk.
Dude came into the league with a finger injury that needed surgery but refused to get it because it would have ended his career, soldiered through a back injury that ended up cutting his career short and shook off injuries that would have the soft cats in the league these days out for months.
What's wild about him being so good at 3s is the fact they didn't even have them in the league until his rookie year (and not in college for another 7 years so it wasn't as if he had been practicing them there).
Remember: He put up these MVP-50/40/90 stats without giving the slightest sh*t about it.
In a time without flagrant foul and where travelling was still actually called.
He beat every single opponent he faced in this loaded era.
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 had formed a super team. Their thought process was I want to Beat the best not join them. Bird and MJ are my co-GOATS
That was very well put
Thank you@@briangraham768
It is hard for anyone old enough to remember some of the true greats to call Lebron the goat.
Lebron barely cracks the top 5.
Very well said and 100% TRUE. The level of competition that you have to go through to lift that trophy MATTERS. There is NO WAY Lebron is a goat. Whats tougher, winning a trophy in the 80’s against the bad boy pistons, Dr J and the sixers, MJ and the Bulls, and Kareem/Magic/Worthy………..or beating Jimmy Butler in Disneyland in a neutral gym in front of video screens? Honestly, give me a break.
@@williamdavis9562 Lebron might make my Top 10……..MIGHT.
I lived through that era. Bird/Magic was so fun and was must watch every year for me. Everyone who followed basketball knew how good Bird was. It was just part of the zeitgeist. We knew it from early on, all through his career. It is only time that diminishes his legacy because as fewer people remember his live play, fewer are willing to believe a white dude had that kind of skill. (Bird himself used to feel disrespected when opposing teams put a white guy on him and he'd let them know it ;)
"If I had to choose a player to take a shot to save a game, I’d choose Michael Jordan." "If I had to choose a player to take a shot to save my life, I’d take Larry Bird." - Pat Riley
That’s a great quote!! Gonna save save this one💯
just posted the same thing (without knowing of this post first).
Well, Pat... ya got it HALF RIGHT.
That quote simply says it all.
The more you learn about bird, hear his rivals talk about him, see him play (and yes he was a fantastic shooter too), the more the dust clears and you start to realize that prime to prime Bird is something very very special.
I'm 50 years old and have been a huge Celtics and basketball fan since I was a kid, because of Larry. Every game he played, you knew you would see at least one mind-blowing, jaw-dropping play from him, usually more. He was special. It never felt like the game was over when he was around, he would just go on a tear if the C's needed it, and take over the game in the 4th. I've also got to see Tom Brady's career from start to finish, and he really reminds me of Bird with his determination and ability to come back from any deficit.
Jordan was happy when Bird retired. He even admitted it during Bird’s retirement ceremony in his video. The reason, he never beat Larry on the court. They took their rivalry to the golf course after the court.
The best line I’ve heard when it came between Jordan and Bird was the one by James Worthy, “When you played against Jordan, he made you look slow. When you played against Bird, he made you look stupid.”
Here are some other awesome videos on Larry Bird.
Larry Bird Greatest Passer - Re-edited
ruclips.net/video/wwo4vtaZmsY/видео.html
4 Crazy Stories that Prove Larry Bird Is the Toughest NBA Player in History (… and he still played on)
ruclips.net/video/L4vsB2Hskv4/видео.html
Larry Bird Trash Talking
ruclips.net/video/cbshHcWCIVI/видео.html
Magic Johnson and Larry Bird: A Courtship of Rivals (really good documentary on the two of them)
ruclips.net/video/axbIoHqFaa8/видео.html
50 best Assist Larry Bird
ruclips.net/video/baBdnA7cui0/видео.html
If Bird got the ball with 3 seconds left down by 2 he would hit the game winner 75% of the time.
Lots of goats, only one legend!
When Bird won the 3 pt contest with his warm up on in Chicago, before it started, he walked into the locker room where the other contestants were and some one asked him what he was doing, he said "I'm just here to see who's coming in second place" Larry Legend
Jordan said, "Just wait until he takes his top off!"
…and leaves his DNA all over you
It's the opposite for most people that don't know Bird, they all know he was one of the best shooters but that's all they think.
BIRD IS G.O.A.T. I am glad I got to see that in the 80s.I was in the Navy.
Another great Bird reaction. I think the video "10 Straight Minutes of Larry Bird Facts That Will Change Your Mind on Who's the Goat" gives a more compelling argument.
Of course he shoots real good. He’s one of the best shooters ever. If somebody can have a case to be the GOAT - they better Damn well be a good shooter.
my fav story, bird had a bet with an arena employee one game, said hed bank a 3 for $20. game almost over celts got it in the bag up like 20, bird never banked a 3...remembers the bet, goes back in a game with 2 min left and banks a 3 and comes out LOL
Alot of people dont know this but larrys last back injury was from paving his moms driveway. He wouldn't pay another man to do a job he could do
Larry Legend = the GOAT
Larry Bird is why I was a Celtic's fan, and I don't live anywhere near Boston. Larry was the BEST all round player the league has ever seen. As for his stats, 50% from the field, 80% of 3-point attempts. 90% from the free throw line, averaged 15 rebounds per game and 12 assists. A lot of lesser players get all the attention. We won't get into why. No, I'll take Bird every time. I watched him from the moment he stepped on the court until he retired. And his friend/competitor Magic Johnson's speech at his retirement ceremony just showed how much respect Magic had for Bird. He was a great player that you had to respect.
As a side note. Magic wore a #33 Celtics jersey under his Lakers warm up jacket at Bird's retirement ceremony. He showed Larry and they had a good laugh. But Magic quietly told Larry he was really going to miss playing him, because NOBODY had the game and challenged him the way Larry did. Larry and Magic had become great friends off the court and great competitors on the court.
My dad was not a sports fan at all. But i remember him watching that ncaa final game.the ONLY televised basketball gamw he èver watched
I happened to live in Massachusetts when Larry was in his prime. Yeah, we had a team.
Great vid. Bird was one of a kind. NO ONE can compare in today's world. NO ONE. He could pass without thinking, without looking, the field presense and vision was impossible but he did it. Those passes are always jaw dropping.
I hope you take the time to see how Larry Bird AND Magic Johnson saved the NBA by watching Magic vs. Bird: A Courtship of Rivals," which later became a Broadway show.
Larry went back for his senior year of college and got his degree because he promised his mother that if he went back to college, he wouldn't leave again until he got his degree.
The behind-the-back pass that you marveled over was a tribute to Magic Johnson, as this was the first game Larry played after Magic left the league due to his HIV diagnosis.
Pat Riley once said that if he had to pick someone to take a shot to win a game, it would be Michael Jordan, but if he had to pick someone to save his life, it would be Larry Bird.
Gotcha it’s been added 🎯🎯
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Excellent documentary!
Someone will need to show me the tapes of MJ diving for loose balls. Show the games he decided to play with his off hand and still dominate. Show me how he was a single steal away from a quadruple douple in just 3 quarters and decided not to play in the forth to get saying, I already did enough damage. Show me when Jordan didn't just play in a game where he fractured his cheek bone and got a concussion, but came back out and hammered the opposing team. Then show me MJs medical records and the game he played in a plastic torso brace and was the games leading scorer. Then show me his record against Bird and how many times Bird swept him in the playoffs. Then show me all the playoff wins MJ had without Pippen. I'll take Bird.
If your GOAT is Jordan, there is a video called "The Best Michael Jordan vs Larry Bird Story Ever Told" that I would recommend watching. That video pretty much sums up why Bird is my personal GOAT and Jordan is my 2nd.
McHale was a PHENOMONAL post player. You should find a video on McHale
McHale was great too. He came off the bench the first half of his career because Cedric Maxwell started but in the 85-86 season they traded Maxwell and McHale moved into the starting position. It’s crazy because McHale was way too good to be a sixth man but the Celtics had a lot of depth. McHale is credited as being the greatest low post player of all time along with Hakeem because of his insane footwork. I know this is a Bird video and he’s my favorite player but McHale deserves a lot of credit too.
As far as other video suggestions, you should check out the case for the 1986 Celtics as the greatest team of all time and also Larry Bird’s greatest game.
What separates Bird from the pack is that he made everyone around him better. McHale was great, but a lot of the reason was because he played with Bird. It makes it a lot easier to use those post moves when you're generally guarded one on one..and when you have Bird getting you the ball in your spots.
McHale was a beast. Good defender and Great scorer. Love Bird, but guys like McHale made Bird look better, not vice-versa. I would argue McHale is amongst the most under-rated players of all-time.
@@corvussheperd8046 Absolutely...wrong.
I honestly think that without Bird, McHale would have been a lesser version of him in terms of trash talk but still one of the best at it. A lot of the stories you hear about Bird's trash talk is now started to lead into how McHale talked a lot of smack too, and I think they probably just motivated each other in practice. Plus to back it up, you had to have something that made you unstoppable, and McHale had that with his post play, where defenders literally just had to get lucky and guess what Kevin was going to do to have a chance at stopping him.
@@toddfrank3344 Tell it to the Hall of Fame and the dudes that had to play him, and his teammates:
Charles Barkley: "He's the best player I ever played against. You could not stop him. I've always said you could not stop that guy, and at the other end I had to use ever ounce of energy I had to score on him. ... He was unstoppable offensively and he gave me nightmares defensively." (starts @2:20). After that the panel compare him directly to Hakeem as the only two with that level of footwork in the low-post.
Larry Bird: "You talk Olajuwon and the other great ones, they're great, but, ah, Kevin was as good as anybody I've ever seen." (3:47)
1986-87 - Only player in history to be 20.0+ PPG (he hit 26), .600+ FG, .800+ FT in history (8:04)
ruclips.net/video/M7PjbdfV1QE/видео.htmlsi=ri-pQQHH5Oww-pAh
For those that think Larry Bird was not as good as he really was and never had the chance to see him play this comment is for you. Remember in this comment I am just highlighting Larry's NBA accomplishments.
Little know thing about Larry to those that never saw him play , he could effect the outcome of a game and never take a shot thats how devastating his passing skills were. Here is one thing that most fans (people) either don't know or try to ignore, prior to Larry joining the NBA there was no such thing as a three point line, that came in when Bird was starting his first year of his NBA career. Just think about it, what would todays game be without the three point line or if the line was one foot farther out like it was when it was first introduced. Food for thought.
At that time it was not about the individuals stats it was about the win. But if you need some stats here you go:
Here are some of Larry Bird's notable career achievements and statistics:
Three-time NBA champion (1981, 1984, 1986); Two-time NBA Finals MVP (1984, 1986); Three-time NBA MVP (1984-86); 12-time NBA All-Star (1980-88, 1990-92); Nine-time All-NBA First Team (1980-88);
All-NBA Second Team (1990); Three-time All-NBA Defensive Second Team (1982-84); NBA Rookie of the Year (1980); NBA All-Rookie Team (1980); Three-time NBA Three-Point Contest champion (1986-88);
Career-high in points: 60 (March 12, 1985) -- tied for franchise record with Jayson Tatum; Named NBA Coach of the Year (1998); and Named NBA Executive of the Year (2012).
Larry Bird, was the first player to accomplish the 50-40-90 achievement, and one of two players to achieve the feat in multiple seasons.
Career averages:
24.3 points per game
10.0 rebounds per game
6.3 assists per game
88.6% free throw percentage
49.6% field goal percentage
37.6% 3-point percentage
Now we can't forget that Bird famously played with two injured ankles and a notoriously cranky back that forced him to lay down on the floor during practice breaks. After season-ending foot surgery just six games into the 1988-89 season
James Worthy, who played against both Michael Jordan and Larry Bird, said, I'd much rather play. against Michael Jordan than Larry Bird. Jordan made you look slow, but Bird made you look stupid.
It took Jordan 7 years to win a title with Bird in the league and the east. 84 was MJ's rookie year and was Bird's 2nd title and the start of 3 straight league MVP awards. He also won rookie of the year over Magic with like 62 to 2 voting, even though Magic won the NBA title that year. And when he was healthy, his size(legit 6'10"), IQ and quick hands made him a very good defender on most players. MJ was swept twice by the Celtics in the playoffs and won his 1st title in 91, Bird's last year.
The 80's were brutal and Larry Bird was easily the best player in the 80's. George Paul or one of the Pacers said a 60 something year old Bird in loafers and a suite walked into practice, dimed up 16 3's in a row and walked out.
Im old enough I got to watch this play out. He was nice to the fans. All around great guy😢
Larry LEGEND Bird was the BEST all around player ever to play, would be no NBA without Bird and Magic
In the GOAT conversation is undeniable.
Mike Jordan said Bird was PERFECT.
Never saw anyone else like him in my 45 years of watching/playing ! Best overall player ever. He did it all. The highlights you see on RUclips, are just the fringes of his highlights! !!!
I watched Celtics Lakers in the 80's was lucky to witness it then!
Bird was the first member ever of the 50/40/90 club.
Watch the passing videos on him re- edited amazing!
Some naysayers say that bird was good because of the Hall of Famer‘s he played with. The fact is he made them Hall of Famer‘s
Dude the whole "making the case" series is phenomenal. You should react to all of them. Mike is my goat, but I love the episode on Timmy Duncan
18:30 check out isiah thomas's interview where he describes his recollection of that pass. he tells how he remembers it in slow motion and how Bird shifts his weight to his toes and raises his heels as he slams on the brakes and pivots, barely staying in bounds by less than an inch, his heels were above foul territory but he kept the ball in
Thank you for your reaction. I was an 80s kid...I grew up watching Magic, Larry, Barkley, and all of the greats.
Keep up the great work. One Love
The TRUE GOAT.
Bird WAS the best all around player,no doubt about it,a selfless but also selfish player! THE MAN!!
Bird is absolutely the greatest of all time. No one knew the game like he did. No one had the same on-court awareness. His passing was extraordinary. He played with both hands. He toyed with people. He was the must clutch player ever to play. He was a true team player. He led his team to three championships. His passion level and warrior spirit were unmatched. And, here's the kicker, the number of other all-time great players who have said that Bird was the top player they ever played against is off the charts.
Wilt Chamberlin was asked about Bird was he that good and he said he played the game correctly,like its supposed to be.
During Larry Bird's professional basketball career, hell officially even before he got to training camp his rookie career Bird suffered injuries that changed his game. In the time off from the end of his college career to the start of his pro career Bird suffered an injury to his shooting hand that changed how he shot the ball and he was and is still known as one of the greatest shooters of all time. Imagine what he could have done had that injury never happened. During the off season in 1985 ( heading into his 6th season ) Larry injured his back physically working to give his mother a brand new driveway and he suffered back pain for the rest of his playing career that eventually lead to him being unable to sit on the bench when he was not in the game, but rather lying down on the side of the court to keep his back stretched so he could perform. In the highlights during the video you saw how he would throw his body around with no regard to himself getting injured just to save a ball from going out of bounds or make a steal or a pass. Larry Bird gave his all every single time he stepped onto the court and he really did just become someone else when the game was being played. He admitted many times during interviews how he would be nervous before a game yet he was 100% cold and ruthless during the games with no sign of any nerves whatsoever.
Jordan had the same reaction watching Bird win the three point contest with his warm up jacket on.
“Courtship of rivals” react to to it. You can make a 3-4 parter out of it. It’s about Larry and magic. Greatest basketball documentary in existence. You’ll learn everything you don’t know about that time and especially those players and how they saved the game. If it wasn’t for them you’d never know mj or Kobe or anyone since. Great react. One love and be well.
Yes! Bird Gang will watch it. It's necessary for any NBA fan.
@@robinmahan8814 he already did it. Check it out.
Larry won:
Player of the year,
Coach of the year, &
Basketball Executive of the year!!!!!😮
G.O.A.T.!!!!!!!❤
Coach Reilly said it best - "If I could choose a player to take the shot to save my life; it would be Larry Bird."
Thanks for the memories and handing Bird your appreciation for what he did for basketball. Nice presentation.
Imagine in today’s NBA, a player being picked number three overall, and returning to college to settle unfinished business. That’s why he is properly noted as a legend.
I think he'd promised his mom that he'd graduate from college....
Man, Magic's words to Larry gets me every time.
In my opinion, his greatness comes from his rivalry with magic. They and their teams were equally amazing which makes them the goats for me.
The magic and bird rivalry saved basketball in 1980. Both high skill, high work rate and a fast paced game that brought in new fans
Dude thank u for making this ....Bird 🕊️ maybe the best I've ever seen
Larry bird was not just a great shooter, he is the greatest shooter i have ever seen! I can tell you about all the great things bird could do. But it's as simple as this. LARRY BIRD NEVER QUIT! He was the clutchest player, when it mattered the most.
I think it was the first year he coached the pacers. They had a 3-point contest in a practice. Larry bird won. Against a team with Reggie Miller on it. The COACH won a 3-point contest on a team with the most prolific 3-point shooter at that time.
At least, that's what I've heard.
Haha that first comment of the narrator - laughs in AFL which has every part of that covered
the most beautiful thing i seen in sports is larry bird////////////////bird and bobby orr of hockey..are my 2 goats of sports//////////both of them played with injury/////short careers......jordan is your goat bird is my goat...........the joy the emotions u felt when you watched your goat jordan is the same joy i had for my goat bird////////each of us has our own goats//take that to your grave cuz no one can take that away from you////////bird bobby orr i love both of them ... bird magic jordan dominique drexler kobi list goes on and on all super greats........no hate for any player cuz watching all these guys on the nba courts was pure amazing ////////magic and bird how 2 guys saved a sport..................they went at each other like 2 warriors and at the end became good friends........bird and magic the perfect cookie////////////we ate the perfect cookie for 13 years//////////
In an interview, Pat Riley said, "to win a game, give the ball to Magic . To win a championship, give the ball to Jordan. To save my life, I want Bird shooting."
Young man, you are absolutely correct, Larry’s hustle was legendary. He never ran out of gas!
19:19 that was probably the most devastating loss I have ever felt as a fan. It still is a gut punch to this day. If Larry got off a last second shot you were used to the Celtics winning. No matter, I was blessed to watch Larry Bird and the Celtics during the ‘80s in New England. I saw it all!
I grew up in the era, Larry was amazing. When the goats say he’s the goat, the most feared player in his day and the best, you should take notice. He’s on the Mount Rushmore of the NBA, no doubt. He’s top 5 all time. Even LeBron puts him in the top 3 all time greats.
By all accounts from his competitors , Larry was an amazing shooter, unbelievable passer, consistent rebounder ..........and without argument ............the Biggest Trash Talker ever !!! Gotta give the respect.
A kid could become a superstar in the NBA right now with 1/2 the talent but twice the hustle and grit. Can't wait to see it.
35• 000 000 • Million.
Baby. Go larry and magic. 🏀🏀🏀🏀.
You wanna see Larry Joe get some serious buckets, you should react to the 85-86 season highlights (the video is titled "Larry Bird Was LEGENDARY During His Prime! 1985-86 Highlights | GOAT SZN").
I watched Larry Bird's entire career. There has never been, nor will there ever be, another player like Larry Bird. It's not just about stats. Larry Bird is hands-down the greatest all-around basketball player in history. As a shooter. As a passer. As a rebounder. As a hustle player. Toughness. Determination. Leadership. Trash talking. Playing through injury. He will never be equaled. It's disappointing to me that most modern basketball fans will never understand how great he actually was, because today's stat-driven era doesn't understand.
He is white. It's the ENIMEN effect. I'm exposing this fact on 2RAW. He only has the longevity argument which he says isn't valid against Jordan vs Lebron but uses it when it comes to Bird.
Lol
Never gets old!
I have Larry at #3 all time. React to his Larry Bird The Greatest Passer re-edit vid.
lol you dint know he could shoot that good , he's the founding member of the 50/40/90 club and did it in back to back years of 1986 &1987 , infact he vary nearly had a 4 year stretch of 50/40/90 season's 1984 52.2/42.7/88.2 , 1985 49.6/42.3/89.6 , 1986 52.5/40.0/91.0 , 1987 52.7/41.4/91.6 ............. it was so close to a 4 year stretch that if you average over those 4 years it is infact a 50/40/90 average
Kevin McHale, if you want to look into his career, was just consistently strong. If he averaged 26 ppg, it seemed like his season high and low would be 27 and 25. He just didn't stop. Post moves and footwork like Olajuwon, an unnatural wingspan of about half a mile, 86% FT shooter, guarded on the perimeter, blocked shots inside, solid rebounder, and knew to keep his hands up and eyes open for Bird's passes. Also, I swear the guy could get 4 fouls in the first quarter and play 41 minutes and still have only 4 fouls, it was weird how he could do that. Completely unselfish, came off the bench for years, played on a broken foot through the '87 playoffs.
Bird is one of my all time. he is on my MRM for sure.
Bird was so far beyond other players. After a succession of games where Larry 'miraculously ' wins AT THE LAST SECOND...on turn around trick shots that it was as if he set the whole thing up. Celtics in peril....no time....Bird passes inside to go ahead.....Bird shoots the 3 BANG! Bird makes a steal. He was and still is, my idol. A quiet spoken underdog with a big fkn stick. Just amazing
He was great at hitting the basket off balance as well. I cant pick a great. A say hes among the greats. Because the 80s and 90s was a different basketball then we know today. I think he understood the game the best. Hes one of the greats. Top three for me.
His injury videos...he did all these things when mere mortals would be wheelchair bound cripples.
You need to find the video of him playing injured. You will give him a lot more respect.
McHale had a tone of low post tricks. His Insanely long arms and lineman sized shoulders made him a rebounding machine. He played right underneath the basket and gave as much as he got.
Marvelous player. What a great time for the NBA, the 80's ans 90's.
Not a lot of people knew that He and Magic played in the Olympics before they started the NBA and the few clips i saw, wow. imagine if they played on the same team.
On my channel I have a video listing 21 clutch shots by Larry Legend. Buzzer beaters or crucial shots that potentially changed the outcome of the game….of those 21 clutch shots, 18 were game winners. I don’t know about you but to me, that’s damn impressive. In the video, it says that there may even be more but these were the ones that could be verified with video evidence. To me LARRY LEGEND WILL FOREVER BE THE TRUE GOAT!!! 🐐 ☘️
GOAT"S GOAT
Still 6-0 vs MJ
Tookba 29 win team his rookie year and won 61 and ge was only added player
Larry is my first pick on my all time dream team
My favorite video of his, is the Legendary Stories of Toughness. This dude literally put his body on the line every night, and played until he physically couldn't. He's from another planet, and would dominate in any Era, though none of today's stars would be able to hang in his. They'd honestly have to relearn how to play the game all over again. I hated him as a kid watching him on another team, because he was so impossibly good, but I have nothing but respect for him, now, as a man.