I can’t believe people are actually debating. If Larry Bird would be great in this era when we have guys like Luka Dončić and The Joker dominating. 🤦🏽♂️🤣
Your Right Because Of Those Names They Were Saying Larry Couldn't Do Good Against, ha ha ha. Larry Had The Highest BB IQ + Wit And Would Embarrass The Todays Players. In Fact I Think Larry Would Have Gotten Bored Playing Against Players To Today Because The Way They Play They Don't Even Have To Think About A Play OR Move. Can't Touch OR Stop Anyone From Making A Shot OR A Dunk. They Shold Just Call Every Game A 3-Point Contes & Dunking Contest. Because The Rules Have Made It So Boring. The More Young People Watch The 80's Games, Maybe They Can Make A Enough Stink That They Want The Real Men BB Back. And Stop Giving Your Money To These Franchises To Go Watch This Boring Non Real Men BB.
The problem is the guys you mentioned had superior athleticism compared to their constituents. 35+ inch verticals are now common place even in seven footers.
@@Robbillstan there is no problem cuz the point is athleticism not only is not limited to jumping high, but is not equal to skill whatsoever. Otherwise the best dunkers in the world whom are pro dunkers would be in the nba but aren’t nearly good enough to make a roster. Same with most athletic guys cross jumping strength track n field etc… in the world today all of whom aren’t remotely good enough to make a roster but are in other sports and areas of life End of the day, copper and worthy are not even near the top jumpers of the era of names mentioned. Domonique, MJ, dunkenstien, etc… are and they are still among the top jumpers today. However that means nothin since they all get dominated by guys like Duncan, bird, jokic always have and always will case closed
@ speaking of big men, the most track n field hybrid players and most high jump champion 7 footers that happen to also be pro ballers came in the 60s and 70s with guys like wilt, Halbrook, dukes, etc…. Nothing today is at its peak unless you count a couple of dimensions like shooting and ignore the easier hoops to shoot on and extremely non existent easier rule defenses
@@Baselinehangtime8stop bruh you sound delusional. Today athletes on average are way more athletic than athletes of the past. Now for your comment of skill vs athleticism to me you need a mix of both. Yes obviously u can’t just be athletic but u can’t just be all skill with now athletic talent either. One doesn’t necessarily beat the other it’s about context.
Everyone thought they could guard Bird, until they had to guard Bird... Crazy how little respect Bird gets, especially from a mid level player like Shump... At least Baron gave the respect
Mid level is being nice, Shumpert was an “ok” bench player and never averaged more than 9 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists lol dude couldn’t even lace Birds converses.
Some would say, they wouldn't be who they're today without Bird. Bird gave everyone the blueprint, the problem is you have to have a high basketball IQ to pull it off. Joker and Luka as close as it gets.
@@pauloliveira KD is great but overrated in my opinion. Never won anything as the Alpha. Had to team up with a dynasty to win a chip. Great scorer no doubt but he's a 6'10" jump shooter. Nowhere near the passer or rebounder Bird was and a case can be made that Bird was also a better defender.
I don't think any of the guys in the NBA today would survive the physicality of any of the eras before 2000. For all their athleticism, the NBA is soft today. I don't see too many guys in todays game coming down the lane against "the nasty boys" or Bird's Celtics, 1990's Knicks, Heat... Those dudes would cut you!
@@simonballister1224 Bird was on multiple All-Defensive teams alongside players like Michael Cooper and Sidney Moncrief. KD has no case. Bird would have been on more had no not ruined his back.
@@jbdignon people forget Dominque Wilkins was a premier wing defender. And Bird spent a decade murdering a damn good Atlanta team. 44-17 regular season record 23.5ppg 9.3rpg 6apg 10-5 in the playoffs 26ppg 9.5rpg 6.9apg Averaging over 9 rebounds on a team with McHale and Parrish is crazy.
Pippen wasn’t pippen yet. Prime Rodman wasn’t for a few more years. Dominique was never known as a defender. These are 3 of my favorite players of all time. But you all in the comments clearly do not know. Bird is the Goat SF and would torch the league today.
Bird first season as starter no kevin michale robert perish so called big three. bird single handedly made 29 win to 61 win team turn around for Boston to which was one of the worst team in NBA. who does that? i think still the NBA turnaround record ,
Bird would be an absolute cheat code in today's league. Bird abused all the best defenders, Gary Payton himself said that Larry was one of the best players he ever had to guard
Joker and Luka playing at elite levels today. Bird competed against Shawn Kemp, Karl Malone, Dominique, MJ, Rodman, all elite athletes with no problems. BIRD would have been just fine.
@@adammatschullat195nba announced what they were doing and why they were doing it and people still argue that those days played superior defense. Today's players would have no idea how to play against that level of defense and actually gave to dribble the ball while doing it . They only see the numbers and think the new age offense is better but there again hiw could it be when it never dealt with superior defense
That was served well I think, they were tough as nails back then. Bird would give Kd work and in turn KD would give bird work. They are both freaks, bird is just more talented in general I think.
I grew up a Hawks fan in the 80's. Bird was just the scariest player around. You just knew he was going to do something to win the game. Not only did the fans knew it you always got the sense that the Hawks players knew it too. I didn't get that sense of hopelessness again until Jordan started really winning in the 90's.
Man, Dominique would have been MVP in '86 if it weren't for Bird. People today don't grasp the extreme difference in competitveness, quality, and brutality in the East and West in the 80's. I'm convince the excellent mid 80's Hawks would have definitely made finals appearances and maybe even have gotten a ring if they'd been in the West. No disrespect to the Showtime Lakers, but they had a cakewalk to the finals every year. (And arrived less battered!)
@@carolehall1000 Dominique is my favorite all time player. Him not making the top 50 or the original dream team was absolutely infuriating for me at the time. Always felt sad he ended his career overseas too.
The 60 he dropped on the Hawks had Hawks bench players laughing and falling on each other celebrating Bird's circus shots. Bird himself fell into a coach on the bench on one of the shots. Believe the celebrating Hawks got fined.
Yeah seriously plus those guys were allowed to hand check back then. And there was tons of hard fouls and no cheap free throws from behind the three-point line. Bird would be ridiculously good
KD is playing center or power forward back then and going against K Malone, Barkley, Mchale. He would not be shooting 3 threes back then. KD don't get 10 rebounds in this era.
@@troyjones5156The power forwards and centers of that era were really the best of any era. Kareem and Moses Malone in the early 80's were still awesome. Then we got Robinson, Olajuwon, Ewing, etc. Barkley and Malone...
Bird abused long defenders, took apart john sally long 6'11" all day. He could play bully inside and post offense, as well as spread the floor from outside. His passing makes you also double, or play off. And he moved great off picks and off ball. Davis is 100% right. Bird was scoring on malone, dr j, rodman, barely, Wilkins, worthy, Cooper, sikma, x man, cliff Robinson, pippen, etc. Stop the nonsense. Baron 💯
@@jlui21 Yeah, but Larry was 6'9" and GP 6'4"...LB has such a massive size advantage that he should dominate someone like Payton, even with a bad back. How often do PG's "stop" long SFs?
Greatness translates, so, LB would be OK now. Larry cooked everyone in the 80s, but, where I will agree with Baron is simply that there are MANY more long, athletic wing defenders now than there were then, which is just a product of how different the game is. Back then, teams were generally built from the inside out, and had like 3-4 centers on their roster, and no one is currently doing that. So, I think it may take a little bit of adjusting for Larry given how much more athletic players are now, but, he'd figure it out. He was also such a good shooter and passer that doubling him would be extremely difficult. Also, a lot of guys you mentioned there didn't guard Larry all that much...Cliff Robinson was a rookie in '91, and LB retired in '92. Not sure how much Karl Malone guarded LB, given they were different positions, and only played twice a year...Same with Jack Sikma...He was really a PF, not a SF and only saw LB twice a year.
Actually Christian’s game is WAY better suited for today than back then. He was a stretch big before it was even a thing. He was a great mid range shooter and could hit 3s, he was athletic, he could put it on the floor, and was a great passer. He’d be a lot better today than he was in the physical slowdown inside/out league he was drafted into.
@@dapper892I agree. He wasn’t a phenomenal pro, but he was solid and his game is much better suited for todays era. He was shooting a lot of long 2’s and was a very good shooter. In todays era, he’d take a couple steps back and be a stretch big. His prime years he was averaging around 17 points and 8 rebounds and actually made an All-Star team. And, he’s got good court vision and awareness. He’d benefit from all the space and movement of today’s NBA game.
Yeah, not to mention had Bird not played his final 6 years with a broken down back....we'd never have to argue who the best of all time is, hands down...Larry Joe
KAT trying to defend Bird would get its own recurring segment on Inside the NBA. He’d pump fake him into oblivion and fouling out by halftime. Chuck would have Shaq rolling in tears.
FACTS. IMAN was no where near as skilled as a Bird. Imagine Bird hearing this BLASPHEMY all the people he schooled he would definitely school u IMAN SHUMPERT
Two of the best players in todays league aren’t the super athlete. For anyone to think Bird wouldn’t dominate as a scorer (with today’s emphasis on the 3ball) while watching Luka abuse dudes is just hating. It’s nonsense. Bird give em 35 a game in todays game.
-- Luka and Jokic can't run or jump but they be getting buckets, easy. I like Iman's confidence, but he never made a defensive team in a 10 year career. So a 6'5 guard trying to rip Bird or MJ? lol. Plus, GP was called the GLOVE and won a DPOY. Even he said he couldn't stop Bird with a bad back.
jokic do what he does bc he's a big body compared to today's centers. he is also skilled to be a big man. luka is for a gaurd is also a big body 240-250 pg that's the difference.
@ bird was 6’9. Not that massive of a difference. And could shoot from anywhere and get wherever he wanted whenever he wanted. Just like Jokic. I’d even say Bird was slightly faster than Jokic.
@@ALLIZMENTAL2 -- Agree. Bird isn't fast but is probably quicker than Luka and Jokic. As for speed, Stockton? Gary Payton (the Glove) and even players 17 years younger than John Stockton like Baron Davis, they could never rush Stockton. He would methodically get to his spots -- whether they played fast or slow -- Stockton would get to his spots. Speed is magically. But what's also magically is...BBIQ.
'What is Bird gonna do with KD?' Man, no one has ever done anything with KD. No one ever did anything with Bird. That's the point - one of them ones? Doesnt matter what era. Some dudes can just play ball. At 35, in his last year, unable to sit down on the bench during games bc his back would freeze up, he averaged 20.2/9.6/6.8 on .500 eFG, and played 37 minutes a game. No one ever did anything with Bird. And in THIS era, he wouldnt have been trying to save money by replacing his mom's driveway by hand, which is where he got the career ending back injury.
Every player in the top 10 all time would be a star in any era and last I checked Bird is a consensus top 10 player. There’s been thousands of players in the NBA but people wonder if a top 10 player all time could be good now? Lol
Bird's game was made for today's NBA. The idea he couldn't play or would be just another dude today is absurd. Bird from the corner is like a layup & he could knock it down from anywhere. One of the greatest passers the games ever seen & yes indeed that is a mean man on top of it
People in general have this false perception that humans evolve in 30,40,50 years. Severely underestimating the MEN of yesterday year were “better and stronger men”… They were tougher and just as good athletes. They just didn’t have the sports medicine and technology that players have access today.
There's actually studies that state that exact point in the sprinting world. Sprinting is much more objective than basketball and pretty straight forward comparing eras. when you account for the new super spikes and the new faster surfaces these studies found that humans have not gotten any faster in the past 30, 40, 50 years. (I'm paraphrasing from what I heard) The 100m WR by Bolt is such an anomaly it might stand for a very long time.
Everybody called Bird non-athletic. He ran 5 miles a day rain or shine. He was in the gym 7 days a week too. He had a lot of stamina. He really cooked after 1/2 time. He played the full 48. (Larry did very well in fights. He was a scrapper.)
Pat Riley's quote "If I need a shot to win a game, I'm picking Michael Jordan. If I need a shot to save my life, I'm picking Larry Bird." Bird was guarded by men like John Salley, Rodman, Xavier McDaniel, and Rick Mahorn. I don't think he'd have any problem with KAT.
Not a Celtics, Bird or KD fan. This is all about respect. KD would go home crying and take a leave of absence if he played against Bird. Bird would have trash talked KD so bad(AND backed it up), KD would need therapy for the rest of his life. Not saying that KD wouldn't easily score oh Bird, but Bird would also probably get a triple double and help his team out much more.
This is an idiotic over the top comment. Bird would get his kd would get his. Nobody is going home crying. DJ probably be the one defending Kd too not bird.
I WISH we could see Bird play today cause I have news for ya. He'd be even more dominant today than he was back then. He was a murderer in an era with tougher rules, tougher players, and terrible shoes.
Exactly. At least Baron recognizes it. Bird was mean. Period. All these guys today running around smiling and hugging and french kissing each other before tip off? Are you fricking kidding me? Larry was never, ever, ever about any of that. Larry was about cutting your heart out and eating it, Aztec style. Same with Jordan.
Larry and Magic had the two most important skills: (1) knowing where to be on the court at all times; and (2) knowing exactly what to do with the ball when you get it. They’d be leading championship teams in any era.
Silly debate. Some cats know the game from a IQ standpoint and there are those that just play. Jordan, Magic, Hakeem, Jerry , Lebron and Bird and many more have the IQ and play beyond our imagination. Prime Bird would set the league on fire today.
Everything Luca is doing, Larry Bird already did. The scoring at all three levels and from multiple spots on the floor, the rebounding, and most especially, the court vision that enabled him to get his teammates involved. Are the “amazingly athletic” defenders of today putting the clamps on Luca?
Shumpert actually thinking he would be stopping Bird and Jordan. What? Bird would be telling him where he was going to shoot from and then hit that shot right in his eye. Bird would be taking him down low and shooting with either hand. Shumpert way too small. Jordan would be blowing past him and dunking and then saying, you can't guard black Jesus.
Pretty simple: Luka and Jokic dominate, so Bird would also dominate. Not exactly the same games, but lack of athleticism yielding to super-high skill and basketball savvy.
@ exactly. It’s much more about his skills. Hakeem was that rare arhlete who also possessed elite skill at the C position. Robinson, Shaq, Wilt, and Russell all possessed athleticism which would trump pretty much any C in today’s game.
If you say that Bird couldn't play today, then you will have to admit that anyone that he competed against couldn't compete in today's game. Some players and fans may have disliked Bird at the time, but none denied his talent, ability and IQ.
Yeah it's always funny people bring up kd... that dude is an anomaly...but bird was too... bird is also a better defender and better passer... KD probably wins 1v1 though... but I'm taking bird 10/10 in a fantasy draft lol
@@raybohlander5502kd is the better on ball defender and rim protector. Bird is the better help defender. Kd overall is a better defender. Bird is for sure a better passer and rebounder tho.
@@raybohlander5502 you just used biased media awards which are also era based as a barometer. Not a good argument at all. Yes kd is a better on ball defender. He’s got quicker feet and lateral quickness. In the post bird is better. On the perimeter kd is better. Bird thrives off ball laying the lanes and getting strips but is still decent on ball. Kd is very good on ball but also very good off ball especially as a weak side rim protector.
Just imagine how good Larry Legend would have been had he not broken his knuckle on his shooting hand in HS playing softball. He said he never get the same shooting the ball, guy could do everything on the court shoot with both hands and was as unselfish as they get. He would dominate in ANY era you put him in.
It still blows my mind when dudes scoff like it's a joke when someone says that Larry Bird would still be great in this era when Luka and Jokic are dominating in this era with very similar attributes but don't have Larry's IQ. He played against Jordan as a rookie and at his peak and still did his thing and you're saying that he couldn't hang with the athleticism of today? But yet Luka and Jokic do? Ok
The way to think about Bird is simple. Take Luka, make him 3 inches TALLER, and a DRAMATICALLY better shooter from 3 and at the Free Throw Line. Bird would be a monster in todays game. Man was legit 6'10" and had a basketball IQ rivaled only by Lebron, Magic, and maybe Jokic? Beyond that he had ENDURANCE. He did not run fast, but he NEVER got gassed, he ran all damn night long.
You forgot to add Bird's heart and toughness. As for basketball IQ, Bill Russell was the best, but Magic & Larry were pretty damn close....always thinking several plays ahead.
He's not really the same type of player though. Bird worked without the ball much more than Luka -- who always needed the ball in his hands. People like Shump need to realize that Bird is going to run him sideways through ball screens and picks. Then he'll back down Shump too. Bird would score 1-1 too but he did much of his damage off-ball.
Bird was a 3 point specialist in an era where that wasn't a thing. Of course prime Larry Bird would excel today. Larry's basketball mind fed his team mates easy baskets. That game Jordan scored 63 points was a loss to the great Larry Bird. Matter of fact, Jordan never beat Bird in a play off series. I know everyone will say Larry had great help which is true but Larry's great help fell off the map when he retired meanwhile when Jordan 1st retired his old team won 1 less season game without him. That means Jordan had greater help on his run.
Not only that but people seem to forget that Bird took basically the same team that won 29 games the year before and improved them to a team that won 61 games in his rookie season.
This is the easiest era to score in. The athleticism is up and actual playing ability is down. Bird would actually ruin the mental health of some of these players. The only thing I could venture to say was that he played with a great frontline. So a lot of his rebounds came from them occupying bodies in the paint
Larry Bird would easily adjust to and dominate today's game. Were talking three time MVP! Every night the opposing teams beat defender guarded Bird and he still soared......
Bird wouldn't care about averages, even easily going for 35ppg today. He was a field general and a nightmare for everybody. Plenty of the legends said it themselves. I wondered s few months ago what a prime Bird would add to last season Celtics. Just think about that.
You people realize that 95% of the dribbling today was illegal when Larry played? Just imagine if he trained like modern NBA players and got on the court in a league that encouraged 3 point shooting. He averaged 30 shooting only 3 games a game in 86.
Bronny James can't play in any era of the NBA. He didn't even start in College, and can't shoot. No one would know who he is if he wasn't LeBron's son.
Jorden went 0-6 against Bird in the playoffs. In the 80’s Bird went 8 years no lower than 2nd in MVP voting including 3 consecutive MVP’s. He was rookie of the year and 4th in MVP voting that year. I think he adjusts and thrives in today’s game
Keep in mind also, better medical advances and Larry would have a better pair of shoes. He could probably still play and excel even in his Converse shoes
Love hearing players perspectives. I’d say that I never gave a lot of focus to what guys at espn say. Ever since I fell in love with basketball, I only valued the opinions of guys who played or just talked hoop and no narrative which was usually on gametime on nbatv. I watched that religiously growing up. Anyways, I love players like imma and baron soeaking on respect at that level. Who gives af what Stephen a or windy says?
We are talking about a guy who won 3 straight MVPs and was second 3 years in a row before that. Seriously, dudes listen to Baron. Larry would be Larry, and there would be no one better.
This whole premise of top players from “only” 20-40 years not 300 years ago, not being able to play today is absurd. The premise should be that many players today could not play back in the 90s and 80s. You are dealing with 2 big differences - rules and 3s. This idea that guys would be so confused how to shoot threes if needed is so weird. 3s are more prevalent now, guys aren’t magically shooting differently.
Basketball is the ONLY sport that the modern guys feel they need to slight the past players. Football fans and players don’t do this. Baseball fans and players don’t do this. Hockey fans and players don’t do this. It’s an NBA phenomenon, and it’s wild.
Are people forgetting two of the top players 5 players in today's NBA are slow and can barely jump over a phone book? In essence they are both modern day Bird. So to say Larry Bird wouldn't hang today is ridiculous. That guy would be making dudes look silly because his game wasn't predicated on just physical ability, he would outsmart the entire team. He was always two steps ahead of his opponent.
These guys who think Larry couldn’t play in “today’s game” don’t just put a stain on basketball, they put a stain on the whole of humanity and our ability to critically think
Rodman is one of the greatest defenders of all-time and Bird killed him. Rodman, Wilkins, Worthy, Erving, Barkley, and Kemp were super athletic, and Bird ran them all of the floor. He's basically a 6'-10" version of Luka.
This new era of basketball is like watching WWE, it's for entertainment purposes only. Dudes really be out there complaining about playing 82 games when they hurt for 50 of them
I LOVED the NBA in the 80s, era of the Superstars. Know what? Larry beat em' all. He shot like Curry, passed like Magic, rebounded like Kareem and stole like Stockton. In todays' Soft NBA....HA! Bird would dominate. He transformed Boston from a loser to a 3 time Champion. 3 consecutive MVPs, All-Star MVP, Athlete of the Year and King of the 40/50/90 club. GOAT, maybe? LEGEND!!!! 🏀
![I.N "HALLUCINATION" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/n5B5q1Hwt_U/mqdefault.jpg)
I can’t believe people are actually debating. If Larry Bird would be great in this era when we have guys like Luka Dončić and The Joker dominating. 🤦🏽♂️🤣
Luka, Jokic and Embiid are the most un athletic talented ballers ever. Bird would work it out just fine... he was 6'9" even..
@@nprbizlol Embiid dude??
they are haters,,, the real racist..
Exactly, Joker dominating and is less athletic than Bird lol.
@ Right!! 💯🤣
Baron's respect for Bird here is beautiful.
I think I just fell in love with dude!
Your Right Because Of Those Names They Were Saying Larry Couldn't Do Good Against, ha ha ha. Larry Had The Highest BB IQ + Wit And Would Embarrass The Todays Players. In Fact I Think Larry Would Have Gotten Bored Playing Against Players To Today Because The Way They Play They Don't Even Have To Think About A Play OR Move. Can't Touch OR Stop Anyone From Making A Shot OR A Dunk. They Shold Just Call Every Game A 3-Point Contes & Dunking Contest. Because The Rules Have Made It So Boring. The More Young People Watch The 80's Games, Maybe They Can Make A Enough Stink That They Want The Real Men BB Back. And Stop Giving Your Money To These Franchises To Go Watch This Boring Non Real Men BB.
He’s from LA. . . They saw it! Live
Stump should watch some Larry Bird RUclipss…then he’d rethink his opinion
He knows. He understands. Larry, Michael, were………..IN…cred…i…BLE
Michael cooper, James worthy, Dominique and Jordan were as athletic and fast as anyone today and none of it mattered against Bird.
Comment of the decade
The problem is the guys you mentioned had superior athleticism compared to their constituents. 35+ inch verticals are now common place even in seven footers.
@@Robbillstan there is no problem cuz the point is athleticism not only is not limited to jumping high, but is not equal to skill whatsoever. Otherwise the best dunkers in the world whom are pro dunkers would be in the nba but aren’t nearly good enough to make a roster. Same with most athletic guys cross jumping strength track n field etc… in the world today all of whom aren’t remotely good enough to make a roster but are in other sports and areas of life
End of the day, copper and worthy are not even near the top jumpers of the era of names mentioned. Domonique, MJ, dunkenstien, etc… are and they are still among the top jumpers today. However that means nothin since they all get dominated by guys like Duncan, bird, jokic always have and always will case closed
@ speaking of big men, the most track n field hybrid players and most high jump champion 7 footers that happen to also be pro ballers came in the 60s and 70s with guys like wilt, Halbrook, dukes, etc…. Nothing today is at its peak unless you count a couple of dimensions like shooting and ignore the easier hoops to shoot on and extremely non existent easier rule defenses
@@Baselinehangtime8stop bruh you sound delusional. Today athletes on average are way more athletic than athletes of the past. Now for your comment of skill vs athleticism to me you need a mix of both. Yes obviously u can’t just be athletic but u can’t just be all skill with now athletic talent either. One doesn’t necessarily beat the other it’s about context.
A 6' 10" stretch 4 with genius basketball IQ, passing, rebounding, and scoring.
Nuff said
Tough as nails
Bird would have a feast in today's era.
First one on the floor every time too
Bird was 6'9".
@sportsactuary8574 6'9' as a rookie. He grew another inch in the pros.
Bird would be a monster in todays game. Bird averaged 10 rebounds per game in the 80’s. He would destroy these guys.
Larry averaged 10 rebounds while having to share rebounds with Parrish and Mchale
Some people are delusional. Larry Bird was a top 5 all time player imo. He was an assassin
Bird would EASILY average a Triple Double in today's NBA. He'd be Luka on steroids.
On offense he would definitely dominate, but he would get targeted on D cause he can’t guard in space
@@HCaulfield115Bird was a good and pesky defender.
Everyone thought they could guard Bird, until they had to guard Bird... Crazy how little respect Bird gets, especially from a mid level player like Shump... At least Baron gave the respect
FACTS GUY
Mid level is being nice, Shumpert was an “ok” bench player and never averaged more than 9 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists lol dude couldn’t even lace Birds converses.
Bird would tell defender what he was about to do and they still couldn’t stop him
I've actually heard some younger fans say Bird & Magic couldn't flourish in today's game. Make that make sense.
@@MrBronx61 can’t
Shump: who be guarding Bird?
BD: Karl Anthony Towns
Shump: That's a nightmare...
BD: for Karl Anthony Towns
😂😂😂
💯💯💯💯 No Lies Told!
BD knows. Lol
That is too funny
True, but funny
Bird would make Towns ask to be subbed out before halftime.
@@mctaguer Towns would pull an X-man ('I can't play tonight, my knee is hurting. I'll let the rookie, Shawn Kemp, guard Bird tonight').
Iman's hoop talking card need be revoked if he think Larry Bird wouldn't destroy the league today.
I love how guys who were pedestrian somehow think they'd easily handle guys who were Top-10 all-time.
Shump has proven that’s he’s as sharp as Nerf football
@@Matt_BD Too Funny.
@@simonballister1224 that shows their ignrance
Did they not consider that this players will adapt to the playing style of the era?
Bird was basically Joker+Luka and better than both 🤷♂️
Some would say, they wouldn't be who they're today without Bird. Bird gave everyone the blueprint, the problem is you have to have a high basketball IQ to pull it off. Joker and Luka as close as it gets.
@@goldenbuckets23 How old are you, or are you trying to be sarcastic 🤔
@@goldenbuckets23🤣🤣🤣🤣
💯 🎯 only thing need to be said right here
@@spacepioneer4070 That's a fair statement.
If Kevin Durant's skinny frame can dominate in todays era than Larry Bird would be just fine.
LB would destroy KD … embarrass him
@@pauloliveira KD is great but overrated in my opinion. Never won anything as the Alpha. Had to team up with a dynasty to win a chip. Great scorer no doubt but he's a 6'10" jump shooter. Nowhere near the passer or rebounder Bird was and a case can be made that Bird was also a better defender.
@@pauloliveira will make him think if he was for the NBA
I don't think any of the guys in the NBA today would survive the physicality of any of the eras before 2000. For all their athleticism, the NBA is soft today. I don't see too many guys in todays game coming down the lane against "the nasty boys" or Bird's Celtics, 1990's Knicks, Heat... Those dudes would cut you!
@@simonballister1224 Bird was on multiple All-Defensive teams alongside players like Michael Cooper and Sidney Moncrief. KD has no case. Bird would have been on more had no not ruined his back.
The destruction Jordan would put on Shump would be nasty work....and Bird gave Prime Rodman that work and Pippen, too...
And let’s not forget the ultra athletic, Shawn Kemp
@@jbdignon people forget Dominque Wilkins was a premier wing defender.
And Bird spent a decade murdering a damn good Atlanta team.
44-17 regular season record
23.5ppg 9.3rpg 6apg
10-5 in the playoffs
26ppg 9.5rpg 6.9apg
Averaging over 9 rebounds on a team with McHale and Parrish is crazy.
Pippen wasn’t pippen yet. Prime Rodman wasn’t for a few more years. Dominique was never known as a defender. These are 3 of my favorite players of all time. But you all in the comments clearly do not know. Bird is the Goat SF and would torch the league today.
@ “Dominique was never known as a defender”
Congrats on outing yourself as someone who doesn’t know what they’re talking about.
Pure casual.
Rodman and Pip were not Prime when Bird was declining in health. they were backups on each team.
Bird: 3x MVP, 3 Rings, 2x Finals MVP, 13 Seasons
KD: 1x MVP, 2 Rings, 2x Finals MVP, 16 Seasons
Bird>KD
Bird first season as starter no kevin michale robert perish so called big three. bird single handedly made 29 win to 61 win team turn around for Boston to which was one of the worst team in NBA. who does that? i think still the NBA turnaround record ,
I always say this bro. Good to see some sense in the ethos
I'm not knocking Bird those are 2 of my all time favorites but KD has some bad luck and made some bad decisions they're close
@@scottbabien4395Bird was better passer, defender and just as good a shot as KD. Also has a much higher basketball IQ than KD.
@othgmark1 To be fair I would give Bird the slight edge but at some point you're splitting hairs, they both belong among the top of the all-time lists
Bird would be an absolute cheat code in today's league. Bird abused all the best defenders, Gary Payton himself said that Larry was one of the best players he ever had to guard
Joker and Luka playing at elite levels today. Bird competed against Shawn Kemp, Karl Malone, Dominique, MJ, Rodman, all elite athletes with no problems. BIRD would have been just fine.
And rules that didnt favor offense
Kareem magic worthy....
@@adammatschullat195nba announced what they were doing and why they were doing it and people still argue that those days played superior defense. Today's players would have no idea how to play against that level of defense and actually gave to dribble the ball while doing it . They only see the numbers and think the new age offense is better but there again hiw could it be when it never dealt with superior defense
@brandondrew4914 100% agree u can tell by the scores of games now back then 88-80 95-93 etc were normal
@@adammatschullat195 Exactly.
I love how Baron kept it real hahaha
That was served well I think, they were tough as nails back then. Bird would give Kd work and in turn KD would give bird work. They are both freaks, bird is just more talented in general I think.
I grew up a Hawks fan in the 80's. Bird was just the scariest player around. You just knew he was going to do something to win the game. Not only did the fans knew it you always got the sense that the Hawks players knew it too. I didn't get that sense of hopelessness again until Jordan started really winning in the 90's.
@@AkiraYuki5150 I got to witness live some of the drummings Larry used to give our poor Hawks 😢
💯💯💯 Knicks fan. Bird would destroy these players today. It’s not even close. Prime Lebron would be a great matchup but bird would destroy the rest imo
Man, Dominique would have been MVP in '86 if it weren't for Bird. People today don't grasp the extreme difference in competitveness, quality, and brutality in the East and West in the 80's. I'm convince the excellent mid 80's Hawks would have definitely made finals appearances and maybe even have gotten a ring if they'd been in the West. No disrespect to the Showtime Lakers, but they had a cakewalk to the finals every year. (And arrived less battered!)
@@carolehall1000 Dominique is my favorite all time player. Him not making the top 50 or the original dream team was absolutely infuriating for me at the time. Always felt sad he ended his career overseas too.
The 60 he dropped on the Hawks had Hawks bench players laughing and falling on each other celebrating Bird's circus shots. Bird himself fell into a coach on the bench on one of the shots. Believe the celebrating Hawks got fined.
Shump really saying he's better than the guys that guarded Bird? He's better than DPOY Rodman? Better than Worthy? Better than Scottie? Crazy talk
Yeah seriously plus those guys were allowed to hand check back then. And there was tons of hard fouls and no cheap free throws from behind the three-point line. Bird would be ridiculously good
Bird and Jordan would go crazy in today's game.
Shawn Kemp would dominate today
true and stars of today would go crazy back then too...
Anyone top 10 all time can play in any era
KD is playing center or power forward back then and going against K Malone, Barkley, Mchale. He would not be shooting 3 threes back then. KD don't get 10 rebounds in this era.
@@troyjones5156The power forwards and centers of that era were really the best of any era. Kareem and Moses Malone in the early 80's were still awesome. Then we got Robinson, Olajuwon, Ewing, etc. Barkley and Malone...
Bird abused long defenders, took apart john sally long 6'11" all day. He could play bully inside and post offense, as well as spread the floor from outside. His passing makes you also double, or play off. And he moved great off picks and off ball. Davis is 100% right. Bird was scoring on malone, dr j, rodman, barely, Wilkins, worthy, Cooper, sikma, x man, cliff Robinson, pippen, etc. Stop the nonsense. Baron 💯
Plus, GP was called the GLOVE and won a DPOY. Even he said he couldn't stop Bird with a BAD BACK.
FACTS
@@jlui21 Yeah, but Larry was 6'9" and GP 6'4"...LB has such a massive size advantage that he should dominate someone like Payton, even with a bad back. How often do PG's "stop" long SFs?
Greatness translates, so, LB would be OK now. Larry cooked everyone in the 80s, but, where I will agree with Baron is simply that there are MANY more long, athletic wing defenders now than there were then, which is just a product of how different the game is. Back then, teams were generally built from the inside out, and had like 3-4 centers on their roster, and no one is currently doing that. So, I think it may take a little bit of adjusting for Larry given how much more athletic players are now, but, he'd figure it out. He was also such a good shooter and passer that doubling him would be extremely difficult. Also, a lot of guys you mentioned there didn't guard Larry all that much...Cliff Robinson was a rookie in '91, and LB retired in '92. Not sure how much Karl Malone guarded LB, given they were different positions, and only played twice a year...Same with Jack Sikma...He was really a PF, not a SF and only saw LB twice a year.
@@elliemyers6435Jokic can do it, what stops Bird from doing the same??
Bird would average a 30 point triple double while hitting 5 threes a game in today's NBA.
Easy triple double. Not exaggerating I'm thinking 35 ppg, 12 Rbs, and 10 Assists.
Everyone on the Dream Team except Christian Laetner would be unstoppable in today's era
Actually Christian’s game is WAY better suited for today than back then. He was a stretch big before it was even a thing. He was a great mid range shooter and could hit 3s, he was athletic, he could put it on the floor, and was a great passer.
He’d be a lot better today than he was in the physical slowdown inside/out league he was drafted into.
Hate dook, but Laettner wasn't a bad pro.
@@dapper892I agree. He wasn’t a phenomenal pro, but he was solid and his game is much better suited for todays era. He was shooting a lot of long 2’s and was a very good shooter. In todays era, he’d take a couple steps back and be a stretch big. His prime years he was averaging around 17 points and 8 rebounds and actually made an All-Star team. And, he’s got good court vision and awareness. He’d benefit from all the space and movement of today’s NBA game.
@@dapper892 Agreed. Think Kevin Love.
The Laet Show had game that would probably fit today's era better. Go stand in the corner! Lol
Great players transcend eras.
#THIS
Bird is unguardable, and with the 3 point era, he might be even more scarier.
Plus he wouldn’t be as injured, probably would have a longer career
@@ryanwiseman9141he hurt his back off the court
Yeah, not to mention had Bird not played his final 6 years with a broken down back....we'd never have to argue who the best of all time is, hands down...Larry Joe
@@Mr.Dobalina113True. Putting in his Mom's driveway by himself, right?
@@chadinfinitum1411 yeah. Ripping it up I think.
Larry was a 3x all-defense second team, kd got 0
All before his back was injured, too. He probably would have been on twice as many at least if not for that injury that slowed him down.
KAT trying to defend Bird would get its own recurring segment on Inside the NBA. He’d pump fake him into oblivion and fouling out by halftime.
Chuck would have Shaq rolling in tears.
FACTS. IMAN was no where near as skilled as a Bird. Imagine Bird hearing this BLASPHEMY all the people he schooled he would definitely school u IMAN SHUMPERT
And vice versa. KAT just gave Bam 44. Hes not stopping Kat either. Larry not guarding him.
@@godsunknicks2832😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
@godsunknicks2832 i encourage you to watch film... bam isn't bird...
@@raybohlander5502 defensively? I encourage you to stop trying to encourage me. Kat would drop buckets on Larry Legend he wasn’t a DOP lol
Two of the best players in todays league aren’t the super athlete. For anyone to think Bird wouldn’t dominate as a scorer (with today’s emphasis on the 3ball) while watching Luka abuse dudes is just hating. It’s nonsense. Bird give em 35 a game in todays game.
They would destroy Shump
The way Baron said…”for Karl Anthony Towns” 😂😂😂
Larry's Bird biggest problem in this era, he would not be allowed to trash talk
He'd be fine. Can't see his mouth moving.
If joker is doing it why can’t Larry ?
-- Luka and Jokic can't run or jump but they be getting buckets, easy.
I like Iman's confidence, but he never made a defensive team in a 10 year career. So a 6'5 guard trying to rip Bird or MJ? lol. Plus, GP was called the GLOVE and won a DPOY. Even he said he couldn't stop Bird with a bad back.
jokic do what he does bc he's a big body compared to today's centers. he is also skilled to be a big man. luka is for a gaurd is also a big body 240-250 pg that's the difference.
Bird wasn’t 7ft
@ bird was 6’9. Not that massive of a difference. And could shoot from anywhere and get wherever he wanted whenever he wanted. Just like Jokic. I’d even say Bird was slightly faster than Jokic.
@@ALLIZMENTAL2 -- Agree. Bird isn't fast but is probably quicker than Luka and Jokic.
As for speed, Stockton? Gary Payton (the Glove) and even players 17 years younger than John Stockton like Baron Davis, they could never rush Stockton. He would methodically get to his spots -- whether they played fast or slow -- Stockton would get to his spots.
Speed is magically. But what's also magically is...BBIQ.
Larry Bird was actually far more athletic than Luka and Dirk Nowitski and 3x more athletic than Joker and more skilled than all of them
'What is Bird gonna do with KD?'
Man, no one has ever done anything with KD. No one ever did anything with Bird. That's the point - one of them ones? Doesnt matter what era. Some dudes can just play ball.
At 35, in his last year, unable to sit down on the bench during games bc his back would freeze up, he averaged 20.2/9.6/6.8 on .500 eFG, and played 37 minutes a game. No one ever did anything with Bird. And in THIS era, he wouldnt have been trying to save money by replacing his mom's driveway by hand, which is where he got the career ending back injury.
Can't believe this is an actual Debate topic
it's an eyeball topic...
Every player in the top 10 all time would be a star in any era and last I checked Bird is a consensus top 10 player. There’s been thousands of players in the NBA but people wonder if a top 10 player all time could be good now? Lol
Bird's game was made for today's NBA. The idea he couldn't play or would be just another dude today is absurd. Bird from the corner is like a layup & he could knock it down from anywhere. One of the greatest passers the games ever seen & yes indeed that is a mean man on top of it
Larry would go crazy in this era
Facts. He would be viral almost every game.
People in general have this false perception that humans evolve in 30,40,50 years.
Severely underestimating the MEN of yesterday year were “better and stronger men”…
They were tougher and just as good athletes. They just didn’t have the sports medicine and technology that players have access today.
There's actually studies that state that exact point in the sprinting world. Sprinting is much more objective than basketball and pretty straight forward comparing eras. when you account for the new super spikes and the new faster surfaces these studies found that humans have not gotten any faster in the past 30, 40, 50 years. (I'm paraphrasing from what I heard) The 100m WR by Bolt is such an anomaly it might stand for a very long time.
Larry Legend is UNGUARDABLE in ANY ERA, period. Hard stop.
If Luka & Jokic can dominate In this Era without being athletic what make yall think Larry can’t especially with his shooting ability
Everybody called Bird non-athletic. He ran 5 miles a day rain or shine. He was in the gym 7 days a week too.
He had a lot of stamina. He really cooked after 1/2 time.
He played the full 48.
(Larry did very well in fights. He was a scrapper.)
Bird was still giving it to MJ with a bad back the same year MJ had his best statistical year and first MVP.
LARRY LEGEND#33 WOULD BE NBA 🏀 🐐 STATUS .. REGARDLESS OF ERA .. HE'S 1 OF 1 ..
He was basically 6’9 with Kevin Durant shooting and Manu Ginobili creativity and competitiveness 😊
Great comparison. Always thought Manu played a lil similar to Bird, ball handling wise. They do great 'WOW' things w the ball.
Larry would average 40 and had 3-5 years added to his career in todays NBA
Pat Riley's quote "If I need a shot to win a game, I'm picking Michael Jordan. If I need a shot to save my life, I'm picking Larry Bird."
Bird was guarded by men like John Salley, Rodman, Xavier McDaniel, and Rick Mahorn. I don't think he'd have any problem with KAT.
Shumpert has lost all credibility talking this way about Larry Legend. Baron tried to save him.
Not a Celtics, Bird or KD fan. This is all about respect. KD would go home crying and take a leave of absence if he played against Bird. Bird would have trash talked KD so bad(AND backed it up), KD would need therapy for the rest of his life. Not saying that KD wouldn't easily score oh Bird, but Bird would also probably get a triple double and help his team out much more.
This is an idiotic over the top comment. Bird would get his kd would get his. Nobody is going home crying. DJ probably be the one defending Kd too not bird.
@@brendanbloom3366 KD is a cupcake. Don't kid yourself.
@@MistaGrim stop being corny and actually talk real ball not that immature garbage. It’s fake af.
@@brendanbloom3366McHale would guard KD.
I WISH we could see Bird play today cause I have news for ya. He'd be even more dominant today than he was back then. He was a murderer in an era with tougher rules, tougher players, and terrible shoes.
Larry would take KD to the post and bully ball the mess out of him. LOL!! He would rebound for days against KD. Easy work.
Too easy
I don't want to be disrespectful because KD is a very good basketball player, especially in today's league; but, I think Larry would make him cry fr.
People never talk about Bird's grit and toughness and competitiveness. Dude was an animal.
Exactly. At least Baron recognizes it. Bird was mean. Period. All these guys today running around smiling and hugging and french kissing each other before tip off? Are you fricking kidding me? Larry was never, ever, ever about any of that. Larry was about cutting your heart out and eating it, Aztec style. Same with Jordan.
Yeah they do. It's one of his defining characteristics.
@@jaywysardlol. Well said.
Bird was actually a 2 way player. His defense is too often forgotten.
One of the biggest codemnations is the modern game is that they hand their hat on the athleticism, but guys like Luka and Joker are dominating.
Shump would get completely humiliated by Bird, Jordan, etc.
Shump got embarrassed by an old Kobe...what do you think Larry and Mike is going to do to him?
Larry and Magic had the two most important skills: (1) knowing where to be on the court at all times; and (2) knowing exactly what to do with the ball when you get it. They’d be leading championship teams in any era.
If Luka or Jokic can dominate today....Larry will dominate too. The Spacing in this Era will benefit him and also less physicality
If Jokic can play in today's NBA obviously Larry Bird could. Stop this Larry Bird hate. The best non athletic player to ever play.
Shout out to BD for the Alex English reference. Dude was a massive bucket at a great shooting percentage way before the 3 was a big part of the game.
English was so smooth. He had that mid range jump shot that was unstoppable.
Silly debate. Some cats know the game from a IQ standpoint and there are those that just play. Jordan, Magic, Hakeem, Jerry , Lebron and Bird and many more have the IQ and play beyond our imagination. Prime Bird would set the league on fire today.
Everything Luca is doing, Larry Bird already did. The scoring at all three levels and from multiple spots on the floor, the rebounding, and most especially, the court vision that enabled him to get his teammates involved.
Are the “amazingly athletic” defenders of today putting the clamps on Luca?
Shumpert actually thinking he would be stopping Bird and Jordan. What? Bird would be telling him where he was going to shoot from and then hit that shot right in his eye. Bird would be taking him down low and shooting with either hand. Shumpert way too small. Jordan would be blowing past him and dunking and then saying, you can't guard black Jesus.
Shumpert was a very good defender but Jordan would average 35 on him.
And Bird would average 27/10/8 in this era.
Bro thinks he could guard Mike🤣🤡💀
Larry got inside people's heads. He owned the mental game. Larry was also more clutch than any player today.
Pretty simple: Luka and Jokic dominate, so Bird would also dominate. Not exactly the same games, but lack of athleticism yielding to super-high skill and basketball savvy.
And Embiid is as slow as any 90s center, much slower than guys like Hakeem and David Robinson
@ exactly. It’s much more about his skills. Hakeem was that rare arhlete who also possessed elite skill at the C position. Robinson, Shaq, Wilt, and Russell all possessed athleticism which would trump pretty much any C in today’s game.
Dirk as well. Dirk had an unstoppable shot, but Bird was a better rebounder and much craftier.
If you say that Bird couldn't play today, then you will have to admit that anyone that he competed against couldn't compete in today's game. Some players and fans may have disliked Bird at the time, but none denied his talent, ability and IQ.
Today youth down play basic fundamentals. Old school perfected basic fundamentals and then added their athleticism
the funny thing is today's players are on average much more skilled with their fundamentals.
Bird would average close to triple double in today's game
BD said Alex English 😂. He knows hoops. English would be a bucket in this era! Shump is so delusional.
“What will Larry Bird do with KD?” What are any players today doing with KD?
Yeah it's always funny people bring up kd... that dude is an anomaly...but bird was too... bird is also a better defender and better passer... KD probably wins 1v1 though... but I'm taking bird 10/10 in a fantasy draft lol
@@raybohlander5502kd is the better on ball defender and rim protector. Bird is the better help defender. Kd overall is a better defender. Bird is for sure a better passer and rebounder tho.
@brendanbloom3366 kd isn't a better on ball defender... zero defensive teams... bird has 3
@@raybohlander5502 you just used biased media awards which are also era based as a barometer. Not a good argument at all. Yes kd is a better on ball defender. He’s got quicker feet and lateral quickness. In the post bird is better. On the perimeter kd is better. Bird thrives off ball laying the lanes and getting strips but is still decent on ball. Kd is very good on ball but also very good off ball especially as a weak side rim protector.
Bird is better than KD all around. Get a little physical with KD and he’s taken off his game. Get physical with bird and he’s like GAMETIME!
Just imagine how good Larry Legend would have been had he not broken his knuckle on his shooting hand in HS playing softball. He said he never get the same shooting the ball, guy could do everything on the court shoot with both hands and was as unselfish as they get. He would dominate in ANY era you put him in.
If Jokic, Kyle Anderson, and JJ Redick can play in the modern NBA so could Bird
It still blows my mind when dudes scoff like it's a joke when someone says that Larry Bird would still be great in this era when Luka and Jokic are dominating in this era with very similar attributes but don't have Larry's IQ.
He played against Jordan as a rookie and at his peak and still did his thing and you're saying that he couldn't hang with the athleticism of today? But yet Luka and Jokic do? Ok
The way to think about Bird is simple. Take Luka, make him 3 inches TALLER, and a DRAMATICALLY better shooter from 3 and at the Free Throw Line. Bird would be a monster in todays game. Man was legit 6'10" and had a basketball IQ rivaled only by Lebron, Magic, and maybe Jokic? Beyond that he had ENDURANCE. He did not run fast, but he NEVER got gassed, he ran all damn night long.
Way better rebounder as well, and less usage per possession, so he didn't hold the ball for long and always kept the offense moving.
You forgot to add Bird's heart and toughness. As for basketball IQ, Bill Russell was the best, but Magic & Larry were pretty damn close....always thinking several plays ahead.
@@MrBronx61great point, I feel like Russell’s genius is forgotten about often, he was too good and it was too long ago for most
He's not really the same type of player though. Bird worked without the ball much more than Luka -- who always needed the ball in his hands. People like Shump need to realize that Bird is going to run him sideways through ball screens and picks. Then he'll back down Shump too. Bird would score 1-1 too but he did much of his damage off-ball.
I LOVE Alex English getting some love and respect. Man was a 30 pt scoring machine for like a dozen years straight.
Bird was a 3 point specialist in an era where that wasn't a thing. Of course prime Larry Bird would excel today. Larry's basketball mind fed his team mates easy baskets. That game Jordan scored 63 points was a loss to the great Larry Bird. Matter of fact, Jordan never beat Bird in a play off series. I know everyone will say Larry had great help which is true but Larry's great help fell off the map when he retired meanwhile when Jordan 1st retired his old team won 1 less season game without him. That means Jordan had greater help on his run.
Not only that but people seem to forget that Bird took basically the same team that won 29 games the year before and improved them to a team that won 61 games in his rookie season.
Bird would do the same thing to KD that he did to Dominique Wilkins. The league can't stop Luka, and they going to stop Bird?
This is the easiest era to score in. The athleticism is up and actual playing ability is down. Bird would actually ruin the mental health of some of these players. The only thing I could venture to say was that he played with a great frontline. So a lot of his rebounds came from them occupying bodies in the paint
that lanky mfer would get bodied by fringe rotation forwards in this era what u on homie
@ you should question everything you think you know about sports. Maybe life.
Larry Bird would easily adjust to and dominate today's game. Were talking three time MVP! Every night the opposing teams beat defender guarded Bird and he still soared......
Larry Bird convo starts at 6:45 Your Welcome 💯✌🏾
Thank you
Iman just said that he would’ve benefited from the physical nature of 80’s play, but thinks Bird would struggle in todays “freedom of movement” era? 🤔
Bird wouldn't care about averages, even easily going for 35ppg today. He was a field general and a nightmare for everybody. Plenty of the legends said it themselves.
I wondered s few months ago what a prime Bird would add to last season Celtics. Just think about that.
Definitely would challenge Bulls and Warriors for best team ever. At least.
You people realize that 95% of the dribbling today was illegal when Larry played? Just imagine if he trained like modern NBA players and got on the court in a league that encouraged 3 point shooting. He averaged 30 shooting only 3 games a game in 86.
Finally someone mentioned the dribbling! 👍
If Bronny James can play in today's NBA why can't Bird?
Bronny James can't play in any era of the NBA. He didn't even start in College, and can't shoot. No one would know who he is if he wasn't LeBron's son.
Jorden went 0-6 against Bird in the playoffs. In the 80’s Bird went 8 years no lower than 2nd in MVP voting including 3 consecutive MVP’s. He was rookie of the year and 4th in MVP voting that year. I think he adjusts and thrives in today’s game
Keep in mind also, better medical advances and Larry would have a better pair of shoes. He could probably still play and excel even in his Converse shoes
Love hearing players perspectives. I’d say that I never gave a lot of focus to what guys at espn say. Ever since I fell in love with basketball, I only valued the opinions of guys who played or just talked hoop and no narrative which was usually on gametime on nbatv. I watched that religiously growing up. Anyways, I love players like imma and baron soeaking on respect at that level. Who gives af what Stephen a or windy says?
We are talking about a guy who won 3 straight MVPs and was second 3 years in a row before that. Seriously, dudes listen to Baron. Larry would be Larry, and there would be no one better.
Who averaged 7pts, 3reb, 2 assist for career?...oh wait, nuff said. Smh.
What does this have to do with be able to guard ? We wasn’t a scorer. Had a career based off his 3 and D skills
This whole premise of top players from “only” 20-40 years not 300 years ago, not being able to play today is absurd. The premise should be that many players today could not play back in the 90s and 80s. You are dealing with 2 big differences - rules and 3s. This idea that guys would be so confused how to shoot threes if needed is so weird. 3s are more prevalent now, guys aren’t magically shooting differently.
*When he says, “I had Eddie Jones as a rookie” he means he was the rook & Eddie was the vet. He just worded it wrong.*
Stop.
Basketball is the ONLY sport that the modern guys feel they need to slight the past players.
Football fans and players don’t do this.
Baseball fans and players don’t do this.
Hockey fans and players don’t do this.
It’s an NBA phenomenon, and it’s wild.
Where do you think Luka got his game from
HEZI God⛹🏾♂️ & Kyrie 🏀
People also don’t realize Bird dropping 10+ dimes a game today
What is Iman talking about 😂😂he sounds insane
Are people forgetting two of the top players 5 players in today's NBA are slow and can barely jump over a phone book? In essence they are both modern day Bird. So to say Larry Bird wouldn't hang today is ridiculous. That guy would be making dudes look silly because his game wasn't predicated on just physical ability, he would outsmart the entire team. He was always two steps ahead of his opponent.
These guys who think Larry couldn’t play in “today’s game” don’t just put a stain on basketball, they put a stain on the whole of humanity and our ability to critically think
Rodman is one of the greatest defenders of all-time and Bird killed him. Rodman, Wilkins, Worthy, Erving, Barkley, and Kemp were super athletic, and Bird ran them all of the floor. He's basically a 6'-10" version of Luka.
What’s them sneaks on shump feet? Can somebody tell me
This new era of basketball is like watching WWE, it's for entertainment purposes only. Dudes really be out there complaining about playing 82 games when they hurt for 50 of them
Bird would be putting up jokic numbers easily
How is this even a question? Bird is an all time great in any era.
I LOVED the NBA in the 80s, era of the Superstars. Know what? Larry beat em' all. He shot like Curry, passed like Magic, rebounded like Kareem and stole like Stockton. In todays' Soft NBA....HA! Bird would dominate. He transformed Boston from a loser to a 3 time Champion. 3 consecutive MVPs, All-Star MVP, Athlete of the Year and King of the 40/50/90 club. GOAT, maybe? LEGEND!!!! 🏀
Shumpert guarding Bird only lasts until Shumperts coach yanks him for getting lit up.
The bird disrespect is crazy. Ain’t no way you’re guarding bird, Shumpert.