Larry Bird was the most complete basketball player I ever saw play the game...PERIOD! Passing, team leader, shooting, NBA coach / GM ANYTHING HE TOUCHED THAT HAD TO DO WITH BASKETBALL - HE TURNED INTO GOLD.
Larry Bird was not only a great player himself, but he made those around him better as well. He always looked for a better shot, which is why he always had so many assists.
Same here. A rookie Larry Bird would be my absolute #1 pick, Jordan 2nd. I'd just make sure he didn't shovel any driveway gravel and injure his back....
Larry Bird is simply the BEST ALL-AROUND PLAYER EVER!!! I will take LB in his prime(84,85,86,87) over anyone even MJ. Greatest shooting small forward, greatest passing small forward, and greatest rebounding small forward EVER!!! MJ, Magic, Bird, Russell, and Wilt greatest top five all-time!!!
Larry is GOAT, no one comes close because, as you said, he did more things at the highest level than anyone. Then he was a killer in the the clutch. One of a kind.
Larry Bird played basketball like Wayne Gretzky played hockey. Not the most physically gifted per se but the smartest. "Don't skate to where the puck is, skate to where it's going to be. That's how the legend played hoops. 🙌🏼
I’ve got the Sports Illustrated that has Wayne Gretzky and Larry Bird on the cover. I got both their autographs on it. I got it appraised about 10 years ago and they lowballed me and said it was only worth $1,500. Well it’s worth a lot more to me.
What makes Bird, the GREATEST all-around player of all time, even more remarkable and mind blowing is that he was NEVER fully healthy for any of his NBA career!!
The wonder of #33 --- one of many -- was how great he was at getting his shot off. 2-3-4 ball fakes, subtle body shifts, he had the whole toolbox. I really cannot recall Bird ever getting his shot blocked. I'm sure he did, but It's a lot like T Gwynn striking out. You just never saw it.
Many guys talk about wanting the ball at the end of the game and talking about being the man , the difference with Larry is , other players talk about his greatness and what he did while he was playing . It will always be a debate as to who is the greatest but for me it will always be Larry Legend
Larry even said, it's nothing to make a last second shot in a tie game. it only means something if you're down 1 or 2. That's kinda what Rex is talking about here. he needed those challenges. and all people who strive to be great in any endeavor challenge themselves similarly. Teddy Roosevelt write eloquently about that "man in the arena". thats why this idea, that emerged about 20 years ago from liberal know-nothings, that we should not encourage competition and reward accomplishment was and is utter insanity. it's been catastrophic, in fact, to those generations raised with it.
People rarely put Larry in their top 5 all-time and it seems their top 5 is always loaded with big diners. However, Larry Bird proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that there is more to athleticism than jumping and straight ahead speed. Larry had ridiculous hand eye coordination, extremely quick hands, amazing "Kodak" vision all over the court, a touch so soft he's one of the greatest shooters ever, etc... Add in that Larry had incredible all around skills for a man of his size and how could anybody keep Larry off any all-time team?
I think genuinely its a coin flip if you objectively judged their games, but if you value different qualities that would probably make you pick Bird over Johnson.
@@kennethward4985 Actually, it's recency bias. Young people don't consider players from earlier eras to be as good. What they don't realize is that if those players were around today, they would also have access to modern sports medicine, analytics, sophisticated training facilities, nutritionists, and state of the art equipment. They also wouldn't fly commercially, and (in the case of the players from the 1950s-1970s) they could train year-round because they wouldn't have to substitute teach or sell life insurance in the offseason to augment their meager salaries. Talent is talent; it's the technology that changes.
Rex Chapman is real. Love this guy. He appreciates what is there to be appreciated. No B.S. He loves Lamelo's game unlike other former players who criticize just to imply that they are good.
Larry gets overlooked so much these days. Larry was NICE. Very smart. Very skilled. He would cook nowadays just as hard. He got blessed with the height but not the durability. Larry is a legend. One of the best ever
I'm prejudice, admittedly. But the Celts should have a least 3 of the top 5 to ever play. COUSY - he changed the game like no one before or since. BILL RUSSELL - more Championship rings than fingers and he played against Wilt about once every two weeks. And, then BIRD. Change my mind. Make it 4 and add HAVLICEK.
Larry badly hurt his back in the summer of 1985. He played 6-7 more years with a very serious back injury. Watch videos from the early years and you will see what a dominant player he was.
Some context. LB's back was actually absolutely shredded at this point. Just obliterated. He was a dead man walking going into the 87 season; no clue how he carried the CELTS to the finals with Mchale and Parrish destroyed and a missed last second shot in the Finals game 4 could have very well gone the other way for a repeat.
@@MP-tf7cc he injured his back in 85. Building a driveway for his mom. He was deemed damaged goods by Celtics drs after he signed. Because he mangled his finger in a college baseball game. Red had him do some drills. Larry made every shot. Red said he was good to play. Larry said he never had the same feel for the ball after that. Could you imagine him being better than he was without that finger injury? How long he would have lasted without the back & both achilles surgeries??
I agree with Rex. I am a Lakers fan and peeps be bugging not having Larry in top 5. My top 5 is 1. Kareem 2. MJ 3. Wit 4. Magic 5 . Bird 6. Kobe....and rest is subjective.
Just a little plug here for Rex Chapman. I never saw anyone, Black or White, who could jump like him. In spite of all his injuries, he carved out a nice career.
@@cindyknudson2715 my comment was his ranking,there are a lot of things that goes into someone’s ranking, skills, championships, if they were great, how long were they great etc. Like I said Larry & MJ are the best players ever! Look at it like this if a player is great for 5 years can he be the best ever? Larry only played 13 years.
@@PeterMasi_Son_Tile he was great for more than 5 years lol.. 1977-1978 32-50 NO BIRD 1978-1979 2ND WORST TEAM IN THE SEASON 29-53 NO BIRD 1979-1980- ROOKIE BIRD TOP 4 MVP -BOSTON BEST TEAM IN THE SEASON 61-21 ROOKIE YEAR 1980-1981- TOP 2 MVP 1981-1982- TOP 2 MVP 1982-1983- TOP 2 MVP 1983-1984- MVP 1984-1985- MVP BACK INJURY STARTS 1985-1986- MVP 1986-1987- TOP 3 MVP 1987-1988- TOP 2 MVP BACK INJURY WORSEN
@@azgared3587 the 5 yrs I was referring to wasn’t about Larry, it was just, what is the baseline, imo Larry was the best player in the NBA almost every year of his career. If he didn’t get hurt and that career extended to a full career I would argue all day long he’s #1. As it stands I think M.J. & Larry are the best players ever, but with the shortened career it’s hard to argue Larry right next to MJ in top spot.
Larry is the best basketball player of all-time. Which isn't exactly the same as the GOAT - which is MJ, IMO. What I mean is that he played absolutley every aspect of the game exactly as it should be. He had zero flaws as a player. Except a bad back.
This guy was a bitter hateful dude who was largely irrelevant. He hates the legend because he couldn't beat him. It only took him decades to figure out what many of us already knew all along. Larry is and was the best to ever play, period.
Everything white player do is magnified. Bird is said to be an ALL-TIME great BASED ON HIS PRIME (he is not in the top 40 in any of the categories by which greatness is measured, but he is white and white give him 4 points for every 2 points he scores, 4 rebounds for every single one he gets, and 3 assists for everyone he gets) Ditto Bill Walton - HE ONLY PLAYED 400 OR SO GAMES BUT HE ALSO IS SAID TO BE AN ALL-TIME GREAT -
The thing about Larry that makes him so great is that like Michael they could play in any era and be legends. Steph wouldn’t be a legend in an NBA without the 3 point line and Shaq wouldn’t be a legend in today’s NBA with the volume of 3 point shooting.
@@d1heat206 it would be easier to guard Curry back then with the hand checking and the overall physicality of the game. He would still average over 20ppg though.
If Larry didn’t have to play against goats like magic and Kareem and gotten injured . He probably would have had as many titles as mj or maybe even one more
![Kodak Black - Versatile 4 [Official Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/VcP_1Ua__vY/mqdefault.jpg)
Larry Bird was the most complete basketball player I ever saw play the game...PERIOD! Passing, team leader, shooting, NBA coach / GM ANYTHING HE TOUCHED THAT HAD TO DO WITH BASKETBALL - HE TURNED INTO GOLD.
Larry Bird was not only a great player himself, but he made those around him better as well. He always looked for a better shot, which is why he always had so many assists.
“…not only the GOAT player..””
I fixed it for you.
Don't worry, Rex...he's in my Top 5, and he's never leaving
If I had to pick a team from all of NBA history with everybody in their prime, Larry Bird will be my #1 pick every time.
This 1000%, and guess what, so would most NBA legends, INCLUDING MJ. MJ knows.
Larry Bird was incredible. People who got to watch him KNOW.
Pick Larry first, then whatever four you pick afterwards you’ve got a competitive team!
Same here. A rookie Larry Bird would be my absolute #1 pick, Jordan 2nd. I'd just make sure he didn't shovel any driveway gravel and injure his back....
Great player but not a good guy & I have a story to prove it...he's a toxic dude with anal circuit issues...
Larry Bird is simply the BEST ALL-AROUND PLAYER EVER!!! I will take LB in his prime(84,85,86,87) over anyone even MJ. Greatest shooting small forward, greatest passing small forward, and greatest rebounding small forward EVER!!! MJ, Magic, Bird, Russell, and Wilt greatest top five all-time!!!
Greatest loose ball
hustler of all time as well.
Larry is GOAT, no one comes close because, as you said, he did more things at the highest level than anyone. Then he was a killer in the the clutch. One of a kind.
does defense matter or nah?
@@kingtrawal he made the all defensive 2nd team twice in his career.
If I had an all-time NBA starting 5. It would be Bird, Magic, Jordan, Olajuwon, and Chamberlain.
“He’s as big as a doorway.” I’ve heard other players talk about being surprised about Larry’s size. Dude was legit 6’10”
Those were the days. I’m a Piston’s fan and the Celtics games were legendary
Intense to a level that had to be seen. It lasted for years, too.
Larry Bird played basketball like Wayne Gretzky played hockey.
Not the most physically gifted per se but the smartest.
"Don't skate to where the puck is, skate to where it's going to be.
That's how the legend played hoops. 🙌🏼
I’ve got the Sports Illustrated that has Wayne Gretzky and Larry Bird on the cover. I got both their autographs on it. I got it appraised about 10 years ago and they lowballed me and said it was only worth $1,500. Well it’s worth a lot more to me.
@@KevinRogers-c4r
Dood...that is priceless.
And...serious bragging rights!
Congratulations.
No, Wayne Gretzky played hockey like Larry Bird played basketball.
Every opponent has great Larry Bird stories…
What makes Bird, the GREATEST all-around player of all time, even more remarkable and mind blowing is that he was NEVER fully healthy for any of his NBA career!!
Yeah not many people know he mangled his shooting hand in college.
If Magic & Bird aren’t in your top 5 don’t know what heck you’re talking about.
Maybe as scorer or dunkers or defender but not as players top 5 easy.
Both of them are top easy cause they both knew how to impact the game to get the win without needing to be the big scorer
I agree, Magic too. In Today's game, both would clean house.
The wonder of #33 --- one of many -- was how great he was at getting his shot off. 2-3-4 ball fakes, subtle body shifts, he had the whole toolbox. I really cannot recall Bird ever getting his shot blocked. I'm sure he did, but It's a lot like T Gwynn striking out. You just never saw it.
Larry got blocked by TWO Piston's the play before his famous game 5 steal at the Garden in 87'. I think he made up for it
@@buckchile614 That was a layup attempt. Much different than blocking his jump shot.
@@KMITB He didn't qualify it like you did. Layup's are shots attempt's too, by the way. And the one I mentioned is probably his most prominent one
@@buckchile614 The point he's making is it was extremely rare.
Many guys talk about wanting the ball at the end of the game and talking about being the man , the difference with Larry is , other players talk about his greatness and what he did while he was playing . It will always be a debate as to who is the greatest but for me it will always be Larry Legend
Larry even said, it's nothing to make a last second shot in a tie game. it only means something if you're down 1 or 2. That's kinda what Rex is talking about here. he needed those challenges. and all people who strive to be great in any endeavor challenge themselves similarly. Teddy Roosevelt write eloquently about that "man in the arena". thats why this idea, that emerged about 20 years ago from liberal know-nothings, that we should not encourage competition and reward accomplishment was and is utter insanity. it's been catastrophic, in fact, to those generations raised with it.
LARRY BIRD WAS THE BEST ALL-AROUND PLAYER IN NBA.
People rarely put Larry in their top 5 all-time and it seems their top 5 is always loaded with big diners. However, Larry Bird proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that there is more to athleticism than jumping and straight ahead speed. Larry had ridiculous hand eye coordination, extremely quick hands, amazing "Kodak" vision all over the court, a touch so soft he's one of the greatest shooters ever, etc... Add in that Larry had incredible all around skills for a man of his size and how could anybody keep Larry off any all-time team?
Dominique wilkins once said in nba opencourt show..LB is not 6'9 he is 6'10..
Of course, Chapman would remember LB - when you've been torched by the best that ever was, it sticks with you.
Rich Eisen loves Larry Bird trash-talking stories. He lights up like Christmas everytime.
Doesn't everyone!? 😁
Larry Legend 🏀
Larry was better than magic
No
Yes he was better.
@@MichaelSmith-hk2eu no They we’re both great equally
I think genuinely its a coin flip if you objectively judged their games, but if you value different qualities that would probably make you pick Bird over Johnson.
Very debatable. As a Celtics fan, I want to pick Larry, but I can’t. It’s just too close to call
Rex had one of the highest vertical leaps in NBA history!
When Rex first arrived in the NBA, he was a helluva athlete and could jump outa the gym! He also had a beautiful jump shot 👏🔥
No, he didn't.
Excactly my thought, how can a person who knows basketball didn't put Larry Bird in their starting top 5. Still bugging my mind.
Its racism if they dont choose Bird.
@@kennethward4985 Actually, it's recency bias. Young people don't consider players from earlier eras to be as good. What they don't realize is that if those players were around today, they would also have access to modern sports medicine, analytics, sophisticated training facilities, nutritionists, and state of the art equipment. They also wouldn't fly commercially, and (in the case of the players from the 1950s-1970s) they could train year-round because they wouldn't have to substitute teach or sell life insurance in the offseason to augment their meager salaries. Talent is talent; it's the technology that changes.
No NBA team will ever have the chemistry of the ‘86 Celtics. Larry was in his prime and the passing was just a thing of beauty to behold.
Here is my personal Top 5 greatest basketball players of all time. 1. Jordan 2. B. Russell 3. K.A. Jabbar 4. Bird 5. Magic.
I'll take bird & jordan over any players that ever played the game
I'll take LARRY LEGEND and Wilt Chamberlain over everyone else
It is always said that Bird and Magic are 6’9 but if you ever see pics of them together Larry, to me, always looks taller. Larry is for sure 6’10.
Kareem, Magic, Michael, Tim and Legend. My top 5.
Love that you included Tim
Fukk Duncan I'll take Chamberlain and crush Duncan
BINGO! That's my all-time starting five as well 👍
I like it. I have lebron instead of Timmy but your team makes more sense from a team standpoint. Bird can play 3 and 4 and lebron can play anywhere
Rex didn’t like him cause Bird was white. Guarantee that was the reason.
Probably got called Larry bird alot
Take LeChoke out the top 5.... no one with a losing record belongs
Rex Chapman is real. Love this guy. He appreciates what is there to be appreciated. No B.S. He loves Lamelo's game unlike other former players who criticize just to imply that they are good.
“ Michael Jordan makes you look slow, Larry Bird makes you look stupid.”
James Worthy.
"mouse in the house" haha
Growing up Magic was my Man, but given the choice I'd rather watch Larry's highlights.
Magic Michael Larry Wilt Russell….my top 5 and I contest an unbeatable lineup! My team averages almost 60 rebounds with the bigs!
He smashed all the brothers in his time.
AND THEY HATED IT
...pause.
Also, it really wasn't about race at all. They didn't care that he was White.
Larry gets overlooked so much these days.
Larry was NICE. Very smart. Very skilled. He would cook nowadays just as hard.
He got blessed with the height but not the durability. Larry is a legend. One of the best ever
Best baller IQ in nba history .
Anyone who has Lebron over Larry is softer than tissue paper and doesn’t know basketball.
Be hell of a game. Legend would take his candy ur right
Bird GOAT ! LeBron OVERRATED !
Bird would eat lebron up,lebron couldnt guard him
I give Larry the edge over Lebron because of mental toughness.
Just look at Nikola Jokic for all you modern youngsters. Slow, bumbling, can shoot, best passer. That was Larry.
Larry-like,
perhaps.
I'm prejudice, admittedly. But the Celts should have a least 3 of the top 5 to ever play. COUSY - he changed the game like no one before or since. BILL RUSSELL - more Championship rings than fingers and he played against Wilt about once every two weeks. And, then BIRD. Change my mind. Make it 4 and add HAVLICEK.
Larry badly hurt his back in the summer of 1985. He played 6-7 more years with a very serious back injury. Watch videos from the early years and you will see what a dominant player he was.
He was always dominant even when he was a shell
Bird is in my top 3. With MJ and Kobe. Hated Bird when I watched him play when I was a kid but I respect him a whole lot.
Why is this even a question
Larry bird healthy is the goat in my opinion. Another player who i never hear anyone talking about is pistol pete
Some context. LB's back was actually absolutely shredded at this point. Just obliterated. He was a dead man walking going into the 87 season; no clue how he carried the CELTS to the finals with Mchale and Parrish destroyed and a missed last second shot in the Finals game 4 could have very well gone the other way for a repeat.
Going into the '86-87 season, LB looked better than ever. Later that season, the injuries started coming.
@@MP-tf7cc Not having Len Bias taking minutes off of Bird hurt. Also hurting his back doing his mother's driveway.
@@MP-tf7cc Right I was referencing the end of the next season 87-88; when they still made it to the finals and had a chance to repeat.
My starting 5..
Jabbar..
Duncan
Bird
Msgic
Jordan..
@@MP-tf7cc he injured his back in 85. Building a driveway for his mom. He was deemed damaged goods by Celtics drs after he signed. Because he mangled his finger in a college baseball game. Red had him do some drills. Larry made every shot. Red said he was good to play. Larry said he never had the same feel for the ball after that. Could you imagine him being better than he was without that finger injury? How long he would have lasted without the back & both achilles surgeries??
Larry Legend
I agree with Rex 100%.
I agree with Rex. I am a Lakers fan and peeps be bugging not having Larry in top 5. My top 5 is 1. Kareem 2. MJ 3. Wit 4. Magic 5 . Bird 6. Kobe....and rest is subjective.
LL to Salley: "Better ask for a double-team, bruh."
The Hick From French Lick!
Just a little plug here for Rex Chapman. I never saw anyone, Black or White, who could jump like him. In spite of all his injuries, he carved out a nice career.
Larry is a top 5 player in any era...MJ, Bird are on the list, then you you add Oscar, Kobe, Russel, and/or Wilt, Duncan, ..
Rex was a world class athlete
Lol
@@Jimi1027 It's not that funny - he did play in the NBA. That's pretty elite stuff.
If Larry stayed healthy and played a full career I’d have him right next to M.J. as best ever!
How much "career" is necessary to be "full"?
I didn't know that x number of years was mandatory.
@@cindyknudson2715 my comment was his ranking,there are a lot of things that goes into someone’s ranking, skills, championships, if they were great, how long were they great etc. Like I said Larry & MJ are the best players ever! Look at it like this if a player is great for 5 years can he be the best ever? Larry only played 13 years.
@@PeterMasi_Son_Tile he was great for more than 5 years lol..
1977-1978 32-50 NO BIRD
1978-1979 2ND WORST TEAM IN THE SEASON 29-53 NO BIRD
1979-1980- ROOKIE BIRD TOP 4 MVP
-BOSTON BEST TEAM IN THE SEASON 61-21 ROOKIE YEAR
1980-1981- TOP 2 MVP
1981-1982- TOP 2 MVP
1982-1983- TOP 2 MVP
1983-1984- MVP
1984-1985- MVP
BACK INJURY STARTS
1985-1986- MVP
1986-1987- TOP 3 MVP
1987-1988- TOP 2 MVP
BACK INJURY WORSEN
@@azgared3587 the 5 yrs I was referring to wasn’t about Larry, it was just, what is the baseline, imo Larry was the best player in the NBA almost every year of his career. If he didn’t get hurt and that career extended to a full career I would argue all day long he’s #1. As it stands I think M.J. & Larry are the best players ever, but with the shortened career it’s hard to argue Larry right next to MJ in top spot.
Well, since Rex said he deserves it, it must be true. Who the hell is Rex Chapman???
Rex is the greatest white dunker in NBA history. I say NBA because Jordan Kilganon is the greatest dunker ever, not just white. The GOAT...
I remember seeing Magic and Bird at Apollo watching Rex shoot. Magic was really nice. Never saw Bird.
Funny how people gave him the nickname Larry legend yet Kobe had to give himself a nickname enough said
Can you even imagine The Dream Team if Larry was 28 instead of 35 and with no back problems? My GAWD...
Jordan,Bird,Kobe, Durant, Steph
Rex led the league in stealing I pads in Arizona
Larry Legend 🏀indeed.💪🏼
Bird is Top 5. I.Q.alone...not to mention skills.
LJB best small forward of all time
Larry is the best basketball player of all-time. Which isn't exactly the same as the GOAT - which is MJ, IMO. What I mean is that he played absolutley every aspect of the game exactly as it should be. He had zero flaws as a player. Except a bad back.
Bird sent Tripuka into retirement and obscurity.
Bird played against the top and he was easily top 5
Don't be sorry. You're entitled to think.
If Legend was very athletic and durable, he would have been the greatest, or at least right up there next to the greatest - His Airness...
Larry Bird is in my top 1 ever.
Different time!
Any team I’d start with either Brid or Magic over 23
This guy was a bitter hateful dude who was largely irrelevant. He hates the legend because he couldn't beat him. It only took him decades to figure out what many of us already knew all along. Larry is and was the best to ever play, period.
Everything white player do is magnified. Bird is said to be an ALL-TIME great BASED ON HIS PRIME (he is not in the top 40 in any of the categories by which greatness is measured, but he is white and white give him 4 points for every 2 points he scores, 4 rebounds for every single one he gets, and 3 assists for everyone he gets) Ditto Bill Walton - HE ONLY PLAYED 400 OR SO GAMES BUT HE ALSO IS SAID TO BE AN ALL-TIME GREAT -
All the people that played against him during his time said he was great Ewing pippen jordan magic Isaiah Kareem etc you are way off base
I watched Rex when he was at UK; every game. he was SO good and he could JUMP
The thing about Larry that makes him so great is that like Michael they could play in any era and be legends. Steph wouldn’t be a legend in an NBA without the 3 point line and Shaq wouldn’t be a legend in today’s NBA with the volume of 3 point shooting.
That’s like saying all the great shooters would be trash without the 3 point line
Shaq would dominate way more today. Who is going to guard him?
@@EMo-rx7pm who is guarding curry back then
@@d1heat206 it would be easier to guard Curry back then with the hand checking and the overall physicality of the game. He would still average over 20ppg though.
@@EMo-rx7pm Who is Shaq going to guard?
Larry Bird is the GOAT
Rex was nice
Who else could it be Larry Nance?
If Larry didn’t have to play against goats like magic and Kareem and gotten injured . He probably would have had as many titles as mj or maybe even one more
If Larry hadn't had to play against Magic, there would be no NBA.
GOAT:HOOSIER BORN!!!! LARRY BIRD ❤
Omg
Bird would roll over you like a worm
Hey Rex can you still jump?
Larry bird...Jerry west, Dan marjle
Big ol white guys....
If bird or magic are not in your top 5, u must be young.. or not too bright
Rex has a thing, for black guys. That's why he hated Larry.
dumbest possible comment.
Larry > LBJ
Rex is awful, that's what's important here
😂
Jokic reminds sm of larry
Rex Chapman should think before he tweets
Jordan isn't a goodguy ..I promise..
Larry looked 6'6'' because he ran like an old white guy - hunched over.
Chapman is just a fool.
LoL Rex is a woke joke ..
So overrated
Larry Legend.
Larry Legend