You missed the best bit where Magic Johnson gave him the ultimate compliment calling Larry the greatest player ever. Interesting fact - Larry was the only player Micheal Jordan couldn’t beat
Larry Bird can be summed up with this Pat Riley quote: "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."
Damn right! I mean where do these young kids think their Kobe's and Curry's got their inspiration from bc I'm gonna tell ya, it was NOT all from Mike! When this kid watches Bird, he will see a Curry pre-play.
That part that you said you didn't need to see? Magic came to his retirement wearing a Celtics number 33 jersey and said, "To Larry Bird, the best basketball player ever. But more important than that, a friend forever." And he wrote the same words on a Lakers' number 32 jersey and presented it to him. People say Bird wasn't athletic. He was athletic enough to posterize larger players. He had no trouble dunking. He had the quickest hands I've ever seen. Maybe he didn't have great lateral quickness. But he more than made up for it with his hands and with his uncanny ability to cut off passing lanes to steal the ball. He knew what was going to happen before it happened... everywhere on the court. He had an engine like no other and he never stopped. He didn't have to be the fastest to gain an advantage against anyone who he caught flat footed. And in the 80s it was defense that dominated. He did all this against players who would be banned from the league today for the way they hammered on everybody. Today you can't touch anybody. Bird would dominate today's NBA, there is no doubt. Luka only dreams that he can be 1/10 the player Bird was. There have been a small number of truly great players and I don't say any one of them was the single greatest. But none of them were better than Bird.
@@targetservicer2221 Might as well be. They've totally messed up the definition of (sick, disgusting, even bad as in bad ass)? See society getting dumber by the decade?
*Look at his stats....and remember, he only played for 13 years... Now match Birds 13 year stats to anyones 13 year stats.... You will see why Larry Bird is The Goat!*
As good as the mixtape is, it still is missing tons of classic Bird moments, most notably the Duel with Dominique Wilkins in the 1988 playoffs. That game, particularly the fourth quarter, was nothing less than basketball of the gods. Bird and Nique were playing on such an elevated level that practically everyone on both teams were just standing around, watching the two of them go at it like gunslingers.
The advantage older guys like me have over you is that we have watched the NBA in the old days AND now in the modern era, so we can judge things with more objectivity. And a reminder to all- the 3 point line used to be 1.5 feet further out back in Larry's day, the league moved it closer to the basket in the mid 90s, a big difference in distance Just another way the NBA dummied the game down for the modern era.
this is incorrect. The 3 point line was only shorter for 3 seasons in the mid 90s. It was then moved back to the original distance of 22' in the corners and 23'9" on the wings and from straight away.
When Bird was 60 and an executive for the Pacers he showed up at practice one day and without warming up just sank ten threes in a row, then sat down like it was nothing. That's Larry Legend.
Is Larry Bird better than Scottie Pippen? ARE. YOU. KIDDING. ME?!!! Wow, ask ANYbody who knows basketball, I'm talkin HOF top 10 EVER players and a lot of them will be completely torn in their answer of who the greatest small forward ever was....they'd probably be a tossup between Larry Bird or MAYBE LeBron James. Period. 'Nuff said! I appreciate you keepin it 100 on your vids though bro!!
Great reaction. You definitely have a lot to learn about Larry Legend. He was the first member of the 50-40-90 club (doing it twice). He won the first three 3-point shooting contests (the last one wearing his warm-up jacket). He won the MVP award 3 years in row, after coming in 2nd place the 3 years before that. For his career, he averaged 24.3 PPG, 6.3 APG, 10 rebounds per game, 51% 2 point shooting and 38% 3 point shooting. At a 6'9" small forward. And he was, without a doubt, the best trash-talker in NBA history. The videos out here of his trash talking are great. One of the all-time greats. But definitely watch some more videos. He's amazing.
He also is the 2nd most winning player in NBA history, like a quarter of a percent behind Magic, but honestly the teams Bird had to go against were MUCH harder then what the lakers had, so to me he beats out Magic just cuz it’s easy to get wins when most of your competition is trash
Magic & Larry, resurrected the game of basketball......My dad loved basketball, but stopped watching, until the competition between Johnson & Bird was highlighted......What my Dad used to say, Larry's game reminded him of someone, who was not only playing basketball, but also, volleyball, dodgeball, hockey, baseball, track & Field, soccer, poker, & strategic chess in his head, and that's what made him so great 😊He certainly was one of the most unique and gifted players, I have ever watched!
Larry Bird was an incredible shooter, but just imagine how much better he would have been had he not injured the knuckles in his shooting hand so bad he was told he wouldn't be able to play in the NBA. But usual Larry, he did anyway.
When a well done mix like this cuts to someone speaking, it's because they have something to say. Better to pause or rewind the video and say what you say than to miss something major.
man, they muck up what they're here for. When I see this, They're not here for the review, their mind is set on *CLICKS* only, I shut it off & no thumb or sub.
Yeah, larry bird didn't do to much. He just dominated everybody he played. Won three mvps in a row. Was the most complete player to ever play. And on yeah, ask Michael jordan who dominated him in the playoffs, 6 and 0 both sweeps. Larry is the Goat. And it's not even close.
Bird played half his career after suffering what would normally be a career-ending back injury. He severely injured his back shoveling rocks to build his mother a driveway. He was in major pain almost every day. He had surgery in 1991 to (I believe) remove a disk in his back and in 1993 after he retired he underwent spinal fusion surgery. Who knows how long he could have played or how even more amazing he could have been if he had hired someone to shovel those rocks. Less severe but also debilitating, he missed most of the 1988-1989 season after having bone spurs removed from both feet.
@@jeffreyross71 the Celtics swept the Bulls my guy and if you know hoop if you put MJ on the Celtics team they win chips well beyond 85/86 and the Bulls ain’t shit. Listen to legend talk about MJ…MJ is the best hooper ever hands down but you can keep fanning
@@mannyneva1760 jordan was a ball hog. If he was on the celtics it wouldn't have made a difference. The celtics weren't shit till bird got there. Look up there record before bird got there.
@@jeffreyross71 bulls were 💩 and MJ turned them into a dynasty and Pippen into a hall of famer..Bob Cousy-“I said Larry bird was the greatest player until MJ and although you can put Bird in the same breath as MJ and Magic…MJ is the best player ever” you saying MJ was a ball hog let’s me know you’re a fan boy
Can't go wrong watching 80s basketball. Dr. J , Kareem, Magic, Dominque, King, MJ, Isaiah, Worthy, Sampson. Olijuwan....the list goes on and on. And Bird was easily the best player in the 80s, with the guys I meantioned being incredible too.
He played 13 seasons and was on 12 All-Star Teams. He only played something like 6 games the 13th season because he had achilles tendon surgery on both feet. He was selected Player of The Year for three consecutive years in a league with studs like Magic, Kareem, Worthy, Jordan, Wilkens, and more. The only other players to have done this before him were Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell. Two time MVP of the championship series. He won three consecutive 3-pont shootouts. And half of his career was played with a back so bad that he had to say on a heating pad during time outs or he couldn't get back up to return to the floor. It was not un heard of for him to have to be put into traction at times because his spine would lock up.During the game with the Pacers in this video where he was injured, he sustained a fracture to his right cheekbone up into the eye socket and sustained a pretty severe concussion that resulted in a kind of double vision. The team doctor told him he was done but rumor has it he had someone distract the doctor and went back out to score 17 more points and grab 7 rebounds. If that wasn't enough, he went on to coach the Pacers for three years, taking them to the finals for their only time. This won him a Coach of the Year award. He then moved to the front office and was later awarded NBA Executive of the Year. Not bad for a slow, chubby white kid
I got Bird at #3 all time. There are SOOOOO many great Larry Bird RUclips. Next up... please react to his 60 point game or his 4th quarter duel with Dominique Wilkins. The greatest 4th quarter in NBA basketball history. You shoulda played this one to the end, but I still subbed...
Bird owned Pistol Pete, Dr J, Dominique, Thomas, Jordan and battled Magic and Kareem on the same team. Against those legends he was unstoppable. He was so good that he would do other things while dropping buckets in your face. Barkley said he was guarding Bird who was in the air shooting a jumper and he was chewing out a teammate for a bad screen while releasing the shot and hitting nothing but net. Another player said he was trying to foul Bird and Bird was in the air shooting a jumper and yell MONEY! as he released it. Dude said the ball hit the bottom of the net and sounded like a dunk. Bird played left handed to challenge himself because beating the best players in the world was too easy. Barkley said that Bird couldn't run fast or jump and that was God's way of keeping it fair.
You said: "He don't do too much" You need more Bird videos. This reaction is a year plus old with 380 comments. I'm sure at least 300 of them directed you to some of Birds best highlights. Now I'm wondering if you've waken up from your nap..
The BEST small forward EVER. If I were drafting a team of the ages, Larry Legend would be my first pick. Great stats (first 50-40-90 club), never quit attitude and team motivator. Clutch shooter supreme. Most importantly, he would do new things all the time to keep his focus and his teammates sharp. You had to be focused to be on his team or be embarrassed. Look at his assists re-edit films better down court passes than a quarterback. If you look closely, you will see he has eyes in the back of his head, puts spin on bounce passes to go around opponents, and generally shreds defenses, even Scotty, MJ, and the worm. There are no holes in his game
Larry broke a knuckle before his first season in the NBA playing softball with his brother and said he never had the same feel for the ball after that. And he still is one of the best shooters of all time. Considering what he still accomplished makes him one of the GOAT’s if not the GOAT in my book.
You stopped it before Magic came out and declared Bird the greatest player of all time. DEFINITELY BETTER THAN LeBron or Steph. I'm 61 I seen em all. Michael 1 Bird 2 Magic 3 LeBron 4
Once, Bird got elbowed in the head. He was seeing double vision and still played as usual. This double vision went on to the next game where he was wearing specialized goggles. There is another great series out on RUclips called Making the Case. It features (I believe) the eight top contenders for the GOAT. Well there’s a great one titled “Making the Case Larry Bird.” It breaks down his stats and really makes the case why Larry Bird should be in the discussion for being the GOAT. Really a great series. Magic Johnson has one too. Jordan of course. But you should see the series at least, if you haven’t already.
Larry won the dunk contest 3 years in a row, mvp player 3 years in a row. There was no game the night of his retirement, the stadium sold out for him. He also was a great coach after his retirement
Larry may have been slow and less athletic in comparison to other players but he played rings around some of the most athletic players in the NBA - Basketball was tougher then and more aggressive and fun to watch, many still feel it was one of if not THE best era in NBA history
Kd is a great player, but he don't want any of Bird. Bird was slow and couldn't jump but he had the most important things an athlete could have. Especially basketball players and that's high IQ, mental toughness, court vision and he was the most clutch player I've ever seen. Jordan is right up there with him as far clutch.
Larry Bird gets disrespected constantly because he wasn't flashy that much and he wasn't jumping out of the building. People forget that there's more to basketball than athleticism. People can say what they want but it doesn't change the fact that Larry Bird was lighting up everyone. He's still one of the top 5 players ever but people don't want to put him there because they don't think he's athletic enough or fast enough or whatever else but he was doing his thing against some of the most athletic basketball players in the history of the NBA. If people think that players today are more athletic, all I can say is go look at some Clyde Drexler or Dominique Wilkins or any number of other players back then. Oh and Michael Jordan was 0-6 against the Celtics when Bird was still playing. I honestly think being white hurts him too. People want to say that they say he's better than he was because he was white, I think the opposite is true. I think when people think of Bird (especially younger fans) they just don't believe that an "unathletic" white guy could be that good. I go by what the people who played against him say, and they all say the same thing. Whatever you want to say about Larry, he was unstoppable.
Imagine that it was ONLY Larry Bird or Magic Johnson in the NBA at the same time. How many more titles would Bird and the Celtics or Magic and the Lakers have won if they weren't splitting them?
"You aint gotta watch all that" -- You missed one of the greatest players in the world (Magic Johnson) say in front of the world that Larry Bird is the greatest player in the world.
Watch the 1987 Chicago Bulls versus Boston Celtics, and see how many consecutive shots Larry Bird hit in a row on the Bulls. A you know who all was on the court then. When Larry Bird gets it going it doesn't matter who was playing on him they were toast. For the record Larry Bird is the best small forward to ever play the game oh, it doesn't matter if he is not the most athletic, overall skill passing rebounding shooting assisting and defense. The problem with the people of today is that they are conditioned to think because you have great offenses that's it makes you a great player. Back in those days you had to be a great defensive player in order to be able for your team to put you on the court. Ask Dell Curry he was a three-point Marksman, but his defensive skills kept him off of the Court. Whereas in today's game or lack of defensive skills does not keep you off of court, in fact lack of defensive skills will bring You Praises in today's game if your office is adequate enough. If your office is great then you will be compared to the greatest players of all-time Evan though your defensive skills Lac.
@ Kcurry30, I'm glad you're finally on the journey to discover the greats. However, you still have a lot to learn. I think the last person I would consider putting in the GOAT conversation would be Kobe. I can't think of anyone from 2000 on who is even in the GOAT conversation. Today's League lacks heart. Now you might think that this is just the ravings of an Ol Vet who had his chin strap on just a little too tight in the hot dessert, but like everyone else my age (and I am old, but I ain't telling you how old) we have watched how soft our country has become and it is directly seen in the NBA today. Watch some more Bird videos, but don't skip out on Jordan and Magic. On my list of GOAT candidates they are tied for first, but for different reasons.
Lol,I say the same thing. The GOAT list is short,Wilt,Russell,Kareem,Bird,MJ,and Magic. With all due respect to Stockton and Duncan,there's no one else in the conversation.
"Ain't gotta watch that" welp you missed Earvin "Magic" Johnson calling him the GOAT in front of a sold out crowd. Ohh also that sold out crowd was on an off night so no games being played in the Boston Garden. Let me repeat. Larry Bird retiring Sold out an NBA arena on a night where nothing else was scheduled there.
There was nothing bird didnt do,oh and bird dunked when he wanted to,passing, stealing, 3pt ,clutch is a understatement, he talked the whole game ,you cant compare nobody to him ,cause many players after him took parts of his ways,but bird had it all his court IQ was unreal, he studied his teammates said that ppl were creatures of habits,so he knew where to get to his teammates, he was a cold killer on that court and a cut up and funny asf off the court i was 9 yrs old when he came into the NBA watching him in rl was amazing ❤🐦 #LB33 💚never be another bird 🐦, MR OG 50-40-90, yeah he was the first ,everybody think hes just a shooter, plzz ,steals,passing, clutch omg the clutchness
He is the all around goat that saved basketball.. you have no idea what a player Larry” the Legend” was.. do some research man.. you’ll be surprised how great he was..
I have watched numerous people (knuckleheads) now not finish the video and miss a fantastic moment between Bird and Magic and their the same ones that talk over the whole video and miss what the players are saying
Thank you for the reaction and for keeping an open mind. Like you said - he was getting buckets. Flash is entertaining, but if you can not get it done what good is it? Thanks again and peace be with you.
I’ve watched Curry play. He has a good shot but Bird was totally more of a well rounded bball player. Stats don’t lie. Check them out. There isn’t too many players that did what Bird did in the 12 years he played.
Is Bird better than Scottie pippen?? I just lost respect for you with that stupid Question! Many people believe, Including former Basketball greats, That he is the Best Small forward of all time. That includes Lebron James. Top 10 all day. You also said he doesn't do that much, What video were you watching? Lol He is the most well rounded player I have seen. Mid to long range, Best passer I have seen. Underrated as a defensive player. 90% Free throw percentage. I could make a sound argument for him being the GOAT.
if Larry Bird was in today's league he would easily be the best player
Luka and Larry on the Mavs please : (
@@shahrukh877 Right!
They'd hit him with technicals like crazy for all the feelimgs he'd hurt.
@@slomo1562 😂
He would be so bored, he’d have to use his left hand just to keep himself interested.
You missed the best bit where Magic Johnson gave him the ultimate compliment calling Larry the greatest player ever.
Interesting fact - Larry was the only player Micheal Jordan couldn’t beat
ye wtf?
Larry Bird can be summed up with this Pat Riley quote:
"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."
*MOST* people don't understand that quote.
Greatest quote of all time and true. The man was something else.
Larry would destroy today's soft players with his toughness, competitive game & his brain. He'd be laughing & trash talking while killin everyone.
Your right and so would s ton of other guys like John havlicek
Yessir..well put..
Damn right! I mean where do these young kids think their Kobe's and Curry's got their inspiration from bc I'm gonna tell ya, it was NOT all from Mike! When this kid watches Bird, he will see a Curry pre-play.
business as usual.
Today's SNOWFLAKE NBAs players feelings would melt by LARRY destroying them mentally, and under today's rules Bird would average 35-40/ night.
Larry's retirement was on an off night and he still packed the garden. Without a game being played. Larry legend..
That part that you said you didn't need to see? Magic came to his retirement wearing a Celtics number 33 jersey and said, "To Larry Bird, the best basketball player ever. But more important than that, a friend forever." And he wrote the same words on a Lakers' number 32 jersey and presented it to him. People say Bird wasn't athletic. He was athletic enough to posterize larger players. He had no trouble dunking. He had the quickest hands I've ever seen. Maybe he didn't have great lateral quickness. But he more than made up for it with his hands and with his uncanny ability to cut off passing lanes to steal the ball. He knew what was going to happen before it happened... everywhere on the court. He had an engine like no other and he never stopped. He didn't have to be the fastest to gain an advantage against anyone who he caught flat footed. And in the 80s it was defense that dominated. He did all this against players who would be banned from the league today for the way they hammered on everybody. Today you can't touch anybody. Bird would dominate today's NBA, there is no doubt. Luka only dreams that he can be 1/10 the player Bird was. There have been a small number of truly great players and I don't say any one of them was the single greatest. But none of them were better than Bird.
This ☝️ ☝️ ☝️
Magic wasn't wearing a Bird jersey. He had a Celtics t-shirt on under his warmups.
@@805Bruin Fair enough. The brain sometimes fills in details that help make sense of what we see.
Bird is the clutchiest in NBA history.
Fax
If Lebron had Larry’s clutch gene, he’d have 8 chips
New word?
The most clutch guys in nba history were bird...Jordan...havlicek..west
@@targetservicer2221 Might as well be. They've totally messed up the definition of (sick, disgusting, even bad as in bad ass)? See society getting dumber by the decade?
Michael Jordan said that Larry Bird was the best player that he ever played against. Larry Bird was the perfect storm of defense and offense.
Put a 25yr old Larry in a time machine and bring him to the NBA of today and he would be MVP from his first season until he retired. No question.
He's the only player I know who will tell you what he's going to do and do it in your face
He’s not, it’s all you heard about…that era that was hoopers did
To pick the best shooter, you must look at the ones who hit the most clutch shots. And Bird is double digits over everyone.
You have 33 likes.
@stevenb. 1286 You have 1 like.
You should've finished the video! Larry & Magics rivalry/friendship is important to basketball!
Larry was a bad man for sure. Most people have him in the Top 5 all time. If he's not in your Top 10 you are ignorant of basketball history.
To not be top ten means they never watched him live.
I have him in my top 1
Bird was an assassin and would dominate even more in today’s NBA! I grew up watching Bird vs Magic and the games were always awesome!!
When it was Lakers/Celtics Magic/Bird in the finals it was something special!
*Look at his stats....and remember, he only played for 13 years... Now match Birds 13 year stats to anyones 13 year stats.... You will see why Larry Bird is The Goat!*
If Luca keeps playing at the same level that he is now for the rest of his career, then he’ll be not quite as good as Larry Bird.
As good as the mixtape is, it still is missing tons of classic Bird moments, most notably the Duel with Dominique Wilkins in the 1988 playoffs. That game, particularly the fourth quarter, was nothing less than basketball of the gods. Bird and Nique were playing on such an elevated level that practically everyone on both teams were just standing around, watching the two of them go at it like gunslingers.
Larry had 20 last 12 minutes Dominique Was 1 OF THE ALL TIME GreaTs he outdid Bird IN points BUT LOST.
Bird had some damn great battles with Bernard king too
Or his refusal to let Jordan win
The advantage older guys like me have over you is that we have watched the NBA in the old days AND now in the modern era, so we can judge things with more objectivity. And a reminder to all- the 3 point line used to be 1.5 feet further out back in Larry's day, the league moved it closer to the basket in the mid 90s, a big difference in distance Just another way the NBA dummied the game down for the modern era.
If you watched the Lakers and Celts go at it in the 80s, you're spoiled for anything else.
this is incorrect. The 3 point line was only shorter for 3 seasons in the mid 90s. It was then moved back to the original distance of 22' in the corners and 23'9" on the wings and from straight away.
Well said
Yessir great point!!!!fucka Curry. Larry is 6'9 and the best shooter
See the world getting dumber by the decade?
When Bird was 60 and an executive for the Pacers he showed up at practice one day and without warming up just sank ten threes in a row, then sat down like it was nothing. That's Larry Legend.
Is Larry Bird better than Scottie Pippen? ARE. YOU. KIDDING. ME?!!! Wow, ask ANYbody who knows basketball, I'm talkin HOF top 10 EVER players and a lot of them will be completely torn in their answer of who the greatest small forward ever was....they'd probably be a tossup between Larry Bird or MAYBE LeBron James. Period. 'Nuff said! I appreciate you keepin it 100 on your vids though bro!!
Bird Worthy Wilkins etc etc were ALL better than Pippen
Bird is better than LeBron because of his clutch shooting and his killer instinct
@@dickortner3551 bird would destroy lebron mentally. Dude would be blaming teammates before the jump ball
Pippen was my favorite player growing up. He's got nothing for Bird.
Nothing.
Bird wasn't good athletic player, he only knew basketball
Great reaction. You definitely have a lot to learn about Larry Legend. He was the first member of the 50-40-90 club (doing it twice). He won the first three 3-point shooting contests (the last one wearing his warm-up jacket). He won the MVP award 3 years in row, after coming in 2nd place the 3 years before that. For his career, he averaged 24.3 PPG, 6.3 APG, 10 rebounds per game, 51% 2 point shooting and 38% 3 point shooting. At a 6'9" small forward. And he was, without a doubt, the best trash-talker in NBA history. The videos out here of his trash talking are great. One of the all-time greats. But definitely watch some more videos. He's amazing.
He also is the 2nd most winning player in NBA history, like a quarter of a percent behind Magic, but honestly the teams Bird had to go against were MUCH harder then what the lakers had, so to me he beats out Magic just cuz it’s easy to get wins when most of your competition is trash
@@antonvoltchok7794
You beat me to it! That’s a very overlooked FACT!
Bruz you forgot to mention that he was an ice cold killa in the clutch
He's also the only NBA player EVER to win MVP, Coach of the Year, and Executive of the year awards!!
@@antonvoltchok7794 yeah, I think Bird was about .5% above Magic because Magic faultered with the La lime light. That gave way to Birds cutting edge.
Larry Legend. The GOAT. Period.
LEGENDS roamed the NBA in the 80's .. my young friend.
Magic & Larry, resurrected the game of basketball......My dad loved basketball, but stopped watching, until the competition between Johnson & Bird was highlighted......What my Dad used to say, Larry's game reminded him of someone, who was not only playing basketball, but also, volleyball, dodgeball, hockey, baseball, track & Field, soccer, poker, & strategic chess in his head, and that's what made him so great 😊He certainly was one of the most unique and gifted players, I have ever watched!
Most clutch player of all time. No holes in his game. And would punish teams. Whole teams had to try and stop him. And he passed more than most player
You cut the video right before Magic gave him a lakers jersey at his retirement ceremony on a non game night and filled Boston Garden.
What isn't on this mix... is Magic had on a Boston Celtics Tee underneath his warmup jacket.... Lots of respect and love between those two men.
Larry Bird was an incredible shooter, but just imagine how much better he would have been had he not injured the knuckles in his shooting hand so bad he was told he wouldn't be able to play in the NBA.
But usual Larry, he did anyway.
Or if he played today with no hand checking ..and no palming or traveling called and closer three point lines
When a well done mix like this cuts to someone speaking, it's because they have something to say.
Better to pause or rewind the video and say what you say than to miss something major.
man, they muck up what they're here for. When I see this, They're not here for the review, their mind is set on *CLICKS* only, I shut it off & no thumb or sub.
Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem, Magic, they all have Larry in their top 5. Larry was the most clutch player in NBA History.
Good job keeping it real and recognizing
Yeah, larry bird didn't do to much. He just dominated everybody he played. Won three mvps in a row. Was the most complete player to ever play. And on yeah, ask Michael jordan who dominated him in the playoffs, 6 and 0 both sweeps. Larry is the Goat. And it's not even close.
There is no one better than bird
Bird played half his career after suffering what would normally be a career-ending back injury. He severely injured his back shoveling rocks to build his mother a driveway. He was in major pain almost every day. He had surgery in 1991 to (I believe) remove a disk in his back and in 1993 after he retired he underwent spinal fusion surgery. Who knows how long he could have played or how even more amazing he could have been if he had hired someone to shovel those rocks.
Less severe but also debilitating, he missed most of the 1988-1989 season after having bone spurs removed from both feet.
I’ll take Bird over Bron anyday!
Forget lebron... I would even take a prime bird over prime jordan if i was drafting.
@@deancafe4739 Bird would cuzz yo ass out for that cuz by 1988 he called MJ the 🐐
@@deancafe4739 bird was killing Jordan’s dreams before retiring 🤣
So would i
Larry bird is the goat in my opinion. Larry bird would be winning mvps in todays nba every year.
Unless MJ played
@@mannyneva1760 bird swept mj in the playoffs every time he faced him.
@@jeffreyross71 the Celtics swept the Bulls my guy and if you know hoop if you put MJ on the Celtics team they win chips well beyond 85/86 and the Bulls ain’t shit. Listen to legend talk about MJ…MJ is the best hooper ever hands down but you can keep fanning
@@mannyneva1760 jordan was a ball hog. If he was on the celtics it wouldn't have made a difference. The celtics weren't shit till bird got there. Look up there record before bird got there.
@@jeffreyross71 bulls were 💩 and MJ turned them into a dynasty and Pippen into a hall of famer..Bob Cousy-“I said Larry bird was the greatest player until MJ and although you can put Bird in the same breath as MJ and Magic…MJ is the best player ever” you saying MJ was a ball hog let’s me know you’re a fan boy
Can't go wrong watching 80s basketball. Dr. J , Kareem, Magic, Dominque, King, MJ, Isaiah, Worthy, Sampson. Olijuwan....the list goes on and on.
And Bird was easily the best player in the 80s, with the guys I meantioned being incredible too.
He played 13 seasons and was on 12 All-Star Teams. He only played something like 6 games the 13th season because he had achilles tendon surgery on both feet. He was selected Player of The Year for three consecutive years in a league with studs like Magic, Kareem, Worthy, Jordan, Wilkens, and more. The only other players to have done this before him were Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell. Two time MVP of the championship series. He won three consecutive 3-pont shootouts. And half of his career was played with a back so bad that he had to say on a heating pad during time outs or he couldn't get back up to return to the floor. It was not un heard of for him to have to be put into traction at times because his spine would lock up.During the game with the Pacers in this video where he was injured, he sustained a fracture to his right cheekbone up into the eye socket and sustained a pretty severe concussion that resulted in a kind of double vision. The team doctor told him he was done but rumor has it he had someone distract the doctor and went back out to score 17 more points and grab 7 rebounds. If that wasn't enough, he went on to coach the Pacers for three years, taking them to the finals for their only time. This won him a Coach of the Year award. He then moved to the front office and was later awarded NBA Executive of the Year. Not bad for a slow, chubby white kid
Larry was a baller with highest basketball iq ever
I got Bird at #3 all time. There are SOOOOO many great Larry Bird RUclips. Next up... please react to his 60 point game or his 4th quarter duel with Dominique Wilkins. The greatest 4th quarter in NBA basketball history. You shoulda played this one to the end, but I still subbed...
I also have Larry Bird 3rd all-time!
Fractured cheek, concussion and double vision, still dominated
Larry legend 🐐
Larry Bird is the GOAT in my humble opinion. That dude did not miss and he even taunted opposing teams(got away with it too)
Mine too!
In the last 50 years, Career Résumé - Total Achievements: (Titles, MVPs, Finals MVPs, 1st All-NBA, 1st All-DEF, 50-40-90)
1) Jordan = 36
2) LeBron = 30
3) Kareem = 29
4) Kobe = 28
4) Duncan = 28
6) Magic = 20
7) Bird = 19
8) Dr. J = 17
9) Shaq = 16
9) Hakeem = 16
11) Garnett = 15
12) Durrant = 13
12) Giannis = 13
14) Curry = 12
15) Robinson = 11
…
*Minimum is 1 Title and 1 MVP
He played with finesse and played with his team. It is a team sport.
Bird owned Pistol Pete, Dr J, Dominique, Thomas, Jordan and battled Magic and Kareem on the same team.
Against those legends he was unstoppable.
He was so good that he would do other things while dropping buckets in your face.
Barkley said he was guarding Bird who was in the air shooting a jumper and he was chewing out a teammate for a bad screen while releasing the shot and hitting nothing but net.
Another player said he was trying to foul Bird and Bird was in the air shooting a jumper and yell MONEY! as he released it.
Dude said the ball hit the bottom of the net and sounded like a dunk.
Bird played left handed to challenge himself because beating the best players in the world was too easy.
Barkley said that Bird couldn't run fast or jump and that was God's way of keeping it fair.
You said: "He don't do too much" You need more Bird videos. This reaction is a year plus old with 380 comments. I'm sure at least 300 of them directed you to some of Birds best highlights.
Now I'm wondering if you've waken up from your nap..
You should have watched the end. It was important to see the respect his competition payed him.
Yessa, been sleepin',...these dudes laid the foundation of what the "greats" are today.
Bird was different. Never seen a player like him since. Jokic and dirk combined is a good comparison.
The BEST small forward EVER. If I were drafting a team of the ages, Larry Legend would be my first pick. Great stats (first 50-40-90 club), never quit attitude and team motivator. Clutch shooter supreme. Most importantly, he would do new things all the time to keep his focus and his teammates sharp. You had to be focused to be on his team or be embarrassed. Look at his assists re-edit films better down court passes than a quarterback. If you look closely, you will see he has eyes in the back of his head, puts spin on bounce passes to go around opponents, and generally shreds defenses, even Scotty, MJ, and the worm. There are no holes in his game
I like how you said bird never dunked on anyone then the first minute of the video is Bird dunking on people. ;)
Larry bird was a complete player.... No one was better than bird
Larry broke a knuckle before his first season in the NBA playing softball with his brother and said he never had the same feel for the ball after that. And he still is one of the best shooters of all time. Considering what he still accomplished makes him one of the GOAT’s if not the GOAT in my book.
You stopped it before Magic came out and declared Bird the greatest player of all time. DEFINITELY BETTER THAN LeBron or Steph. I'm 61 I seen em all.
Michael 1
Bird 2
Magic 3
LeBron 4
I'm 61 too been watching since 1969...magic never could shoot as good as bird or Jordan...they were more dangerous
Once, Bird got elbowed in the head. He was seeing double vision and still played as usual. This double vision went on to the next game where he was wearing specialized goggles.
There is another great series out on RUclips called Making the Case. It features (I believe) the eight top contenders for the GOAT.
Well there’s a great one titled “Making the Case Larry Bird.” It breaks down his stats and really makes the case why Larry Bird should be in the discussion for being the GOAT. Really a great series. Magic Johnson has one too. Jordan of course. But you should see the series at least, if you haven’t already.
Larry won the dunk contest 3 years in a row, mvp player 3 years in a row. There was no game the night of his retirement, the stadium sold out for him. He also was a great coach after his retirement
Dunk contest? LOL
Larry Bird was a joy to watch. Magic was as well then you go from that to Jordan. Proud to say I grew up watching them and trust me it was a treat
Even Lakers coach pat Riley said if he could pick one player to take last shot of game it would be bird..
You have to watch some videos about Larry's savage trash talking. The guy was brutal.
THE G. O. A. T. You had to be there.....
Larry may have been slow and less athletic in comparison to other players but he played rings around some of the most athletic players in the NBA - Basketball was tougher then and more aggressive and fun to watch, many still feel it was one of if not THE best era in NBA history
Before Curry, Bird was the greatest shooter ever!! And I have him at 4th all-time!!
Youre sleeping now dude, ya already missed at least two great moves when you looked away
Larry got open by constantly moving without the ball. That part usually doesn't show up in the highlights.
Kd is a great player, but he don't want any of Bird. Bird was slow and couldn't jump but he had the most important things an athlete could have. Especially basketball players and that's high IQ, mental toughness, court vision and he was the most clutch player I've ever seen. Jordan is right up there with him as far clutch.
Jordan never beat Bird in the playoffs. 0-6. Swept twice by Larry Legend. 🧹😁
You really needed to watch the last few minutes of that video because the guest of honor when Larry Bird retired was Irving magic Johnson.
Earvin
Fractured right cheek and double vision
And a concussion
And he snuck back out on the floor when the doctor wasn't looking
Bird is honestly just an electric last name for a basketball player
Curry fan finds out where the 90/50/40 club came from. Enjoy!
Larry Bird gets disrespected constantly because he wasn't flashy that much and he wasn't jumping out of the building. People forget that there's more to basketball than athleticism. People can say what they want but it doesn't change the fact that Larry Bird was lighting up everyone. He's still one of the top 5 players ever but people don't want to put him there because they don't think he's athletic enough or fast enough or whatever else but he was doing his thing against some of the most athletic basketball players in the history of the NBA. If people think that players today are more athletic, all I can say is go look at some Clyde Drexler or Dominique Wilkins or any number of other players back then. Oh and Michael Jordan was 0-6 against the Celtics when Bird was still playing. I honestly think being white hurts him too. People want to say that they say he's better than he was because he was white, I think the opposite is true. I think when people think of Bird (especially younger fans) they just don't believe that an "unathletic" white guy could be that good. I go by what the people who played against him say, and they all say the same thing. Whatever you want to say about Larry, he was unstoppable.
Amen
Missed the ending with Magic giving his respects to Bird *AT* the retirement ceremony.
Mentioning Luka in the same sentence with Bird is one of the sillier things I have heard today.
there are similarities - mainly in the way both played at their own pace
Imagine that it was ONLY Larry Bird or Magic Johnson in the NBA at the same time. How many more titles would Bird and the Celtics or Magic and the Lakers have won if they weren't splitting them?
"Stephen Curry is the best of all time."
Sorry, but no.
"You aint gotta watch all that" -- You missed one of the greatest players in the world (Magic Johnson) say in front of the world that Larry Bird is the greatest player in the world.
Watch the 1987 Chicago Bulls versus Boston Celtics, and see how many consecutive shots Larry Bird hit in a row on the Bulls. A you know who all was on the court then. When Larry Bird gets it going it doesn't matter who was playing on him they were toast. For the record Larry Bird is the best small forward to ever play the game oh, it doesn't matter if he is not the most athletic, overall skill passing rebounding shooting assisting and defense. The problem with the people of today is that they are conditioned to think because you have great offenses that's it makes you a great player. Back in those days you had to be a great defensive player in order to be able for your team to put you on the court. Ask Dell Curry he was a three-point Marksman, but his defensive skills kept him off of the Court. Whereas in today's game or lack of defensive skills does not keep you off of court, in fact lack of defensive skills will bring You Praises in today's game if your office is adequate enough. If your office is great then you will be compared to the greatest players of all-time Evan though your defensive skills Lac.
AND Larry Bird did a lot of it with a really bad back and other various injuries
@
Kcurry30, I'm glad you're finally on the journey to discover the greats. However, you still have a lot to learn. I think the last person I would consider putting in the GOAT conversation would be Kobe. I can't think of anyone from 2000 on who is even in the GOAT conversation. Today's League lacks heart.
Now you might think that this is just the ravings of an Ol Vet who had his chin strap on just a little too tight in the hot dessert, but like everyone else my age (and I am old, but I ain't telling you how old) we have watched how soft our country has become and it is directly seen in the NBA today.
Watch some more Bird videos, but don't skip out on Jordan and Magic. On my list of GOAT candidates they are tied for first, but for different reasons.
Lol,I say the same thing. The GOAT list is short,Wilt,Russell,Kareem,Bird,MJ,and Magic. With all due respect to Stockton and Duncan,there's no one else in the conversation.
"Ain't gotta watch that" welp you missed Earvin "Magic" Johnson calling him the GOAT in front of a sold out crowd. Ohh also that sold out crowd was on an off night so no games being played in the Boston Garden. Let me repeat. Larry Bird retiring Sold out an NBA arena on a night where nothing else was scheduled there.
Every time you look up at the camera you miss another great play. LOL.
There was nothing bird didnt do,oh and bird dunked when he wanted to,passing, stealing, 3pt ,clutch is a understatement, he talked the whole game ,you cant compare nobody to him ,cause many players after him took parts of his ways,but bird had it all his court IQ was unreal, he studied his teammates said that ppl were creatures of habits,so he knew where to get to his teammates, he was a cold killer on that court and a cut up and funny asf off the court i was 9 yrs old when he came into the NBA watching him in rl was amazing ❤🐦 #LB33 💚never be another bird 🐦, MR OG 50-40-90, yeah he was the first ,everybody think hes just a shooter, plzz ,steals,passing, clutch omg the clutchness
The end is epic and ya cut it out... finish it on your own time sometime please. It's the best part :)
He is the all around goat that saved basketball.. you have no idea what a player Larry” the Legend” was.. do some research man.. you’ll be surprised how great he was..
10:40 you really do need to go back and watch that...
You missed Magic Johnson telling Bird he was the best player ever.
Curry's still operating at top level greatness 35 years old, baby.
You missed Magic calling Larry the best player ever!
I have watched numerous people (knuckleheads) now not finish the video and miss a fantastic moment between Bird and Magic and their the same ones that talk over the whole video and miss what the players are saying
Bird was also a great passer. Media rarely bring it up.
Thank you for the reaction and for keeping an open mind. Like you said - he was getting buckets. Flash is entertaining, but if you can not get it done what good is it?
Thanks again and peace be with you.
pippen isn't even in the same league as Larry Legend!
Back when the NBA was a real sport. Bird, MJ, and Magic were all better than anybody playing now including LeBron.
You destroyed me when you cut off the last part, bro.
Bird was The Man. He gave the best a very hard time.
You should have watched the last part. Magic comes out!
Can Stephen curry play left handed for 3 quarters?only Larry bird can
Larry also won three consecutive MVPs, ask Steph how hard that is to do.. and how hard it is to win three consecutive three-point shooting contests
You can keep saying he doesn't do much as long as you understand that he does what he says he'll do.
He wasnt fast on the straightaway run, but his first step was always as fast as anyone's and he was never off balance with the rock in his hands.
I’ve watched Curry play. He has a good shot but Bird was totally more of a well rounded bball player. Stats don’t lie. Check them out. There isn’t too many players that did what Bird did in the 12 years he played.
Hey news flash there's more to basketball than just dunking a Curry fan should know this
Is Bird better than Scottie pippen??
I just lost respect for you with that stupid Question!
Many people believe,
Including former Basketball greats,
That he is the Best Small forward of all time.
That includes Lebron James.
Top 10 all day.
You also said he doesn't do that much,
What video were you watching? Lol
He is the most well rounded player I have seen.
Mid to long range,
Best passer I have seen.
Underrated as a defensive player.
90% Free throw percentage.
I could make a sound argument for him being the GOAT.