Defense was definitely tougher in Bird's era. Larry is the only person in NBA history to be named Rookie of the Year, Most Valuable Player, Finals MVP, All-Star MVP, Coach of the Year, and Executive of the Year.
Larry Bird is the ONLY HUMAN IN PRO SPORTS HISTORY to have ever won League MVP, Coach of the Year, and Executive of the Year in the highest-level league of ANY respective sport.
Larry played during the most talent-rich era in the history of the game, period. The list of players he bested during his career reads like a Hall of Fame who's who. Here's a partial list off the top of my head: Julius Erving Moses Malone Sidney Moncrief Michael Jordan Hakeem Olajuwon Ralph Samson Isaiah Thomas Bill Laimbeer Dennis Rodman Joe Dumars Chuck Person Charles Barkley Magic Kareem James Worthy Dominique Wilkins Karl Malone John Stockton His career was shortened by chronic injury, some of which plagued him since before he played his first professional game. His era was also exceptionally physical. There were no touch fouls. In today's game, which is designed to favor shooters, he would destroy. If he had had access to today's medical advancements during his career, he would have played until he was nearly 40 - and accumulated far more statistics than he did. But even more than statistics, he simply did everything necessary to win... off ball movement, taking fouls, NOT turning the ball over, intangible leadership, vastly underrated as a defender, hustling for loose balls, playing hurt, etc, etc, etc. He didn't care about his "brand". He didn't care about endorsement deals (although he had more than a few). He didn't care how he looked, or how big his house was, or what kind of car he drove. He was, in a nutshell, nearly as perfect and complete as a basketball player can possibly be.
I’ve heard Jordan saying that he learned a lot his trash talking from Bird as well. You could say Jordan added Bird’s mind game. Jordan became the ultimate by observing and learning from Bird.
Have guess ever thought that the young bucks who today have walked the shoulders of the older generation. Much respect guys. Please don't be judgey mcjudgies. Thank you. I love you guys. Just sayin'.
@@konohagakurejonin4461 he was one steal away after 3 quarters in Portland one game. He checked himself out of the game. KC Jones offered to put him back in to try for the quad but he declined. Said he’d done enough damage.
Hands down..Magic and Larry Legend brought the NBA back to life in the 70's..those games involving the Celtics , Pistons and Lakers were waaaay more physical and required immense stamina and acuity..Audience was riveted on the entertainment these athletes provided..Larry Bird's skillset was the template for absolutely great basketball..Hands down , the GOAT..🏀🙌👏
Yes, he did~ people would always say "he had eyes on the back of his head". In reality he had a preternatural ability to always know exactly where every other player was at all times, and where they'd be on the court several seconds ahead of time to get the ball to a teammate. He was definitely a team player and trusted his teammates to a degree not seen in today's game. He elevated the game to an art form.
You need to watch the "making the case" Larry bird. It explains how he single handedly saved and resurrected the NBA when the viewership was at an all time low. The GOATS don't call Larry the GOAT for no reason. Plus, he played hurt or injured for alot of his career... something today's stars wouldn't even fathom.
In the past 50 years, here are the highest Total Career Avg Stat Points (PTS + REB + AST + STL + BLK) #1) Jordan = 44.7 #2) LeBron = 44.4 #3) Bird = 43.1 Curry is #31 with 37.5 That's just to put things into to perspective
@@StoicManJustin true, true. I would actually say 50/50 actually... might have over stepped with "single handedly" Their rivalry sparked the revival of the NBA 💯
@KenD67 After one literal bar brawl Larry had injured his right hand and had it taped. A reporter asked him if he was going to play the following night like that. Larry responded, "If I had my entire hand taped up I'd still shoot better than you". So they made a bet on 100 free throws. The reporter would shoot, and Larry would have his trainer tape up his entire hand into a balled fist to shoot. Larry won the bet by hitting 86 of the free throws. 80... fucking... six. He had an 86% free throw percentage while basically fisting the ball into the hoop. So... yeah, best bar brawler too.
In the past 50 years, here are the highest Total Career Avg Stat Points (PTS + REB + AST + STL + BLK) #1) Jordan = 44.7 #2) LeBron = 44.4 #3) Bird = 43.1 Curry is #31 with 37.5 That's just to put things into to perspective
Michael Jordan said in a playoff game that "no one man can stop Larry Bird"...Jordan tried, but he never beat Bird. Bird brought cohesion and excellence out of ALL his teammates on the court. He enhanced them to another level. One man can't beat, you need a team.
Don't forget to add that mj was young, leading a lottery team. Bird was in his prime surrounded by all-stars. Bird didn't make kevin McHale better. MChale was a beast with his post up game
It's pretty simple without Larry Bird the Celtics would have been a good team with Larry Bird they were a great team. Difference between day and night. Take the best Chicago team that Jordan played with and remove Jordan from The Game. Then what kind of team does Chicago have without Michael Jordan. I don't remember them winning any championships without him. The same can be said for bird
Larry Legend, man. Dude's kinesthetic sense was off the CHARTS. He knew where everybody on the court was, where they were going, and exactly what kind of spin to put on the ball to get it to his target.
@@georgelong7153 .. Eventually,.. perhaps, but Luka still has a little ways to go. Of he can keep himself healthy and injury free for a good, long while? Yeah, I think he COULD be the first to have a serious run at Larry Legend. For the time being? Not quite there yet. Rock on. 🙂🙂
Think about this, Larry Bird won 3 NBA MVP awards in a row with the “Dream Team” playing at the same time in the league, 2 NBA finals MVP’s and won the 3 Point contest 3 times once he never took his warm ups off
Larry wasn't fast and he wasn't airborne. He wasn't flashy. He was methodical. He studied every player and watches them while playing. Larry played basketball like other people play chess. Arguably the most well rounded player ever. He passed as well or better than he shot.
Bird's talent was in his brain. He was just smarter than everyone else and had ice water in his veins. He didn't need to run as fast or move as quickly or jump as high, to compensate for anything.
Larry Bird won three straight three point competitions and if he wasn't feeding the ball to his teammates to make sure they ate then his numbers would be even higher than they are and his numbers are ridiculous as they stand.
Bird had next level swag and was just a savage. In your face trash talker that could back it up. But for his passing. It’s because he was a savant. The dude just knew where everyone on the court was at all times in his head. So he knew who was where and what lanes were opening. Even behind him.
Larry Bird is truly a legend! Elevated his teammates and opponents, he played thru countless injuries, and always challenged himself to be better! LARRY LEGEND FOREVER!
Nice reaction...hope you all do more Larry Bird clips. Larry could have made so many of those baskets himself...but he was a not a selfish man in that regard. He let others on the team get in on the action, which in turn, boosted the team's bond with each other and gave others on the team better stats as far as points. I think too, in doing this, Larry's opponents were never sure if he would sink an almost guaranteed basket, or hand off the ball and allow a team mate to do it. It kept the opponents guessing and a bit off guard on who to watch...him, or his team-mates. lol. James Worthy once said this when talking about Larry: "When you played Michael Jordan, he makes you looked slow, and when you played Larry Bird, he makes you looked stupid."
Larry shot 38% on 2 att, LBJ ,,35% on 4.5 att. So numbers don't exactly support that argument. If he shot more it's reasonable to expect his percentage to dip a little. So numbers would suggest Bird as a slightly above average shooter. Numbers can be deceiving
Larry should have had crazy points- but he didn't,he retired way earlier than others, and because unlike so many newer players, he was not selfish- He loved sharing that spotlight- Shout out to his team mates, who think he will be scoring and suddenly- caught these insane passes! Larry is still the GOAT to me, for his everything- playing hurt- passing-3-points- points and his love of the game and not of the FAME! BTW, GREAT reaction video- you guys are close to being the GOAT for me on RU-vid!
@@metadeth578 right on,I couldn't agree with you more. The kids today don't have any comprehension and couldn't possibly fathom how great basketball was in the 80s and 90s. You literally could assault an opposing player before the referee called a foul. Guys like Bill Laimbeer would pulverise people under the net. And today's game if you breathe on the player they call a foul. If Larry Bird played in today's three-point happy basketball style, he would have average 40 points a game or more. The players from the 80s and 90s would dominate. Anyone that doesn't believe that Bird, McHale, Wilkins, Magic, Thomas or Dr. J. couldn't compete in today's game are insane!!!! Also Wilt Chamberlain, who gets very few votes in the top 10 from the younger guys.Wilt was a world-class athlete, he excelled in track and field, could bench press 500 lb , do 150 lb tricep extensions, run the 40-yard 100-yard dash in record time, he also averaged 46 minutes a game in his career. Not to mention when he was criticized for scoring too much, he decided to pass a lot more and led the league in assists I believe 3 years in a row. Chamberlain was stronger, faster, had more agility, endurance and athletic ability than Shaq. He is the greatest center of all time, with Kareem a close second. Chamberlain would eat Shaq for lunch. People think because he played in the sixties and early 70s that his competition were plumbers and garbage men. Chamberlain was such a physical specimen that he was built to play in today's League. That man can play in any decade and be one of the best players in the league, no doubt about it!!!The Golden age of basketball was without a doubt the 80's and 90's. If it weren't for Magic and Bird the NBA would have folded. Those guys saved the the league. Period !!!!End of the story!!! A Lakers /Celtics game even during the preseason was like a playoff game! There was and hasn't been anything like it since in the NBA!! I know cuz I was there I saw both those guys play live and I'm not even a basketball fan but I watched those guys any time it was on TV and went to the Boston Garden specifically to watch a Celtics/Lakers game. I lived in New York at the time and made the trip. It was like being at a Beatles concert there was so much electricity in the air!!!!
@@metadeth578 absolutely one-hundred-percent. Magic and Larry were like the Beatles of the NBA! Everyone knew who they were. My friends that were basketball fans always wanted to go home early to watch a Celtics/ Laker game. I grew up in New York and they were all DieHard Knicks fans !!; Every Celtics Lakers game was like a playoff game, even the preseason games!!! back then opposing players didn't go out for beers together afterwards, the rivalries were that intense. They respected each other for their skills but they hated each other and nobody would give an inch. When Magic and Larry hit the scene it changed everything, NBA TV ratings were in the toilet. The arena's were half-full, playoff games were on tape delay at 11 at night, no one gave a shit. The NBA commissioner decided to put the league's life and future in Larry Bird and Magic Johnson's hands!!! They made it an East Coast/ West Coast thing, Celtics/ Lakers thing, a black/white thing and a hard-working blue collar, regular guy thing versus a high-profile, flashy, White collar, flamboyant style guy. It became like a cultural thing probably one of the greatest rivalries in sports like the New York Yankees versus the Brooklyn Dodgers . I've never seen anything like it before or since in the NBA.
Shooting 3s was new back then. The 3-pt line was implemented in Larry's first or second year in the league. As for assists, Lebron handled the ball much more than did Larry.
In the era of "isolation" basketball LeBron was either scoring or passing to the guy who scored. There wasn't much more to it than that. Obviously he's still a great player but the team dynamics were much different.
First, Larry was THE first to officially record 50-40-90 .. and recorded that twice. In his prime, '84-'86, he recorded one Triple- double after another. Hell, in '86 alone, he made like 10 of those. You Fellas should watch "Making the Case" by Clayton Crowley who goes into more detail about his career stats, which has 3 rings, 2 Finals MVPs, 12 AS teams, 10 All NBA, 9x 1st Team and three consecutive MVPs and Bird was the 3rd to do that behind Bill Russell and Wilt. 3-pt contest win '86 - '88. Watch Greatest Passer highlights (re edit). WAY more on Larry's passing on that video. OMFG especially his INSANE Outlet passes will be featured in this longer "re edit" video and really Bird could give Brady a run for his money on passing! Also, the 3- pt line was only added to the court the year he and Magic entered the league which resulted in the game being more of a low post play which is why these old games are so crowded down in the paint. The 3-pt line .. well, let's just say it took those fellas a little while to figure out how to add this new element and use it to full advantage. Also, it made upping one's college ball averages more difficult simply because there was NO 3-point line and jacking up the score took lots more effort. In his senior year of HIGHSCHOOL, he averaged like 30 pts and 13 boards per game. I grew up watching him play his entire career from his rookie season right through until the end and it was AWESOME! When those two came in, nobody had seen THEIR style of play! 😀🤘
Need! to watch "making the case" for bird as the goat...breaks all his stats down and everything...I don't have him as my goat but it's beyond educational on his career
In the past 50 years, here are the highest Total Career Avg Stat Points (PTS + REB + AST + STL + BLK) #1) Jordan = 44.7 #2) LeBron = 44.4 #3) Bird = 43.1 Curry is #31 with 37.5 That's just to put things into to perspective
Larry made some of his teammates HOF for the most part. McHale and Parish both give Bird credit. Bird did everything well and it was so much fun to be at the games. You knew you were going to see at least a couple of passes where you were going to say "How did the ball end up there?". It was almost more fun when the Celtics were behind because you would see something crazy as Larry took control of the game. Most games though they were just out there having fun torturing the visiting team.
You are absolutely correct. I'm 58 years old and love basketball since the mid 70s. I thought Parish was a very good center before joining the Celtics but no way was he considered a Hall of Famer until he became a Celtics. Mchale was very good as well but on any other team, he would not have been a Hall of Famer either. The great players know that in the game of basketball, it is not about outplaying the guy guarding you but the whole team outplaying the other team. Jordan figured it out in his fourth year that his individual stats are meaningless unless he got the contribution from his teammates as well to win championships. Bird, like Magic, had the vision, skills and ability to elevate their teammates like no two other basketball players I've seen in my life so far.
Taking Bird over LeBron as well because of his drive and his heart. LeBron quits on his teammates when things get tough. Also, Larry was MVP THREE years in a ROW. Only Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain ever did that. (Though admittedly, Jordan got robbed in 97.) Celtics were 660-237 (!!!) all time with Larry Bird and 91-78 without him. 99-65 with Bird and 5-7 without him in the playoffs. If people knew you could seriously exploit the three point line back then, you don’t think Larry would be capitalizing on it?? He was the best shooter in the league.
In the past 50 years, here are the highest Total Career Avg Stat Points (PTS + REB + AST + STL + BLK) #1) Jordan = 44.7 #2) LeBron = 44.4 #3) Bird = 43.1 Curry is #31 with 37.5 That's just to put things into to perspective
You should definitely react to "why Larry Bird is underrated" By Johnny Arnett, I think you all will be really surprised and learn a lot more about Bird and how incredibly he was and some crazy career stats and how good he was in his prime.
Larry Bird had such tough, competitive mind. He was so smart...such a cagey player. Look at his defensive stats. He was a composite of BB skills. I would say this...passing skills mean nothing if the all isn't caught. Respect to Robert Parish. Dude was ALWAYS in the right place at the right time! Even stars play on a team. I love y'alls Larry Bird stuff. Love the debate between the game then and now. Thanks Cartiers!
@14:33 he jumps out of bounds saving it with his left, jumps back inbounds and tip passes with his right behind his head and the ball never touches the floor. Thats what made larry great.
There are people who can play ball, but then there's people who can play *team* ball. Larry was one of the greatest, not just because he was skilled, but because he lifted his whole team up.
Bird just got heart ... he stayed with the Celtics and gave everything for basketball including his health. When it comes to legends you just feel in every fiber of your being that it is more than just money. I saw a video where someone said that Larry broke his fingers or something , before he even played his first NBA match and that he never got the finesse back he had before. Also at the later stage of his career his body was so messed up (especially his back) that he had to go through all kinds of routines, pain and hassle just to play . I would love to see what a 100% physical fit Larry Bird could do. As to who is the goat , I think it is a silly thing, as each generation has different rulesets, to me it is Michael Jordan ...not because of those silly stats, but simply because he made us white kids play basketball in a country where it's not even part of the culture... Le Bron doesn't have that magic for me and without disrespecting him, I really think his main shtick is his longevity ... yes his stats are better , but that's only because he is able to play twice as long as the rest. From what little I have seen of him, he doesn't deliver when it counts ... I mean taking Larry as an example or even Michael or Magic , they delivered in high pressure moments and had this insatiable drive to win and hated losing ... Kobe had the same thing . Le Bron to me is the "stats king". Sure he has skills, but if we would normalize his stats and refactor them into lets say the average length of an NBA career , he would be slightly above average I think
He told the Portland Trailblazers he was going to beat them using only his left hand for 3 quarters and he did scoring 47 points 14 rebounds and 11 assists, after the game he said “you guys are so bad I decided to save my right and for the Los Angeles Lakers
I had to laugh when they were talking about the three-point shooting. The three-point line came into the league at the same time Larry Bird did. It can be argued that if Larry Bird hadn't made the three-point shooting exciting and a possible winning shot, the three-point line would have left the league as an experiment that didn't work. Steph grew up with the three-point line existing and was able to practice that shot his whole life. So Larry's record and ability to shoot three-pointers without years of practice show his natural talent. Larry is the original 90-50-40 member. Players were so afraid to guard Larry. If he didn't kill you with his shot or passing, he would kill you at the free-throw line. Over 90% at the line, over 50% in the field, and over 40% three-pointers. But the biggest thing is Larry played hurt! LeBron has Larry in his top 3 players, and he did watch Larry's highlights.
So many things that can be said about Larry Bird. But about the shooting%…. It is extraordinary considering the types of shots he took. Truly the goat of shooting.
I think if a guy can still hold his own and be very good 20 years after he retired, then he’s gotta be respected. Larry’s game would translate very well today.
He included his teammates many times when he didn't have to. I can't even imagine how high his numbers would be if he had taken all the shots he shared. React to a video of his full court passes. He was playing quarterback basketball. It's amazing. React to his 60 point game or his triple doubles. People don't always give this man the recognition of greatness he earned. Played through a game with a fractured eye socket, fractured his right cheek bone and came out of the locker room when he saw them falling behind and they won. Destroyed a fore finger playing baseball before college I believe. Said the ball never felt the same again. Surgery on both Achilles tendons. Injured his back to a point he was struggling to put on his uniform. Spent 4 to 5 hours before game stretching his back to be able to get through a game. He ended up hitting the floor and fractured his back but still played and refused any injections or pain medicine. Keep watching his highlights. You'll be blown away.
Young people will never understand. Bird was just different. He was 10 moves ahead of everyone else. If he was playing in this era, he'd average 40. That's of course if he wanted to.
Bird could shoot, he could pass but his compete, his confidence and trash talk was put him on a different level. I think when you listen to what the people that played against him say, you start to understand how much you don't understand.
Please react to that re-edit passing video. I'd love to see/hear you all watching that. Did you notice how often Bird gave up a shot for himself to feed a teammate who was in a higher percentage position on the floor? Or just to keep them completely involved in the offense? He studied game film to know where to get it to them to facilitate their success with the shot they would take. And his passing kept defenders guessing as to what he would do next. Bird didn't chase stats.
@@soramirez5473 one can’t beat 5 lol…or what’s your opinion on that? Would u agree the Celtics had the complete team and mike had the weaker team by ALOT
@@Ephilly-rz2pb Jordan is a better rebounder? better Passer? better shooter? better free throw shooter? better 3 point shooter? Better passer? does he move better than bird did WITHOUT the ball? Jordan was a better scorer, dunker, more athletic. . .
One of you made the comment that taking more shots causes your shooting percentage to go down. That might be true with many players, perhaps even most players, but when Larry took more shots from the field his shooting percentage was higher. When Larry took more threes per game, his three-point percentage was higher in those seasons, also. Larry got better when he took more shots
Larry Bird would have been an all-time great on any team. But he was better on the '80s Celtics, whose point guard (Dennis Johnson), power forward (Kevin McHale), and center (Robert Parish) are also in the Hall of Fame. The only starter from the mid-'80s Celtics not in the Hall of Fame is the shooting guard Danny Ainge. All he did was score 15-17 PPG. In the 1985-86 season the Celtics had a 67-15 record. Their record at home was 40-1, an all-time best tied by San Antonio in 2016. I began watching the Celtics at age 15 during that amazing 1985-86 season. They could beat teams in every way: jump shooting, low-post play, fast break, passing, defense. I watched some of the 2022 NBA finals, the first NBA basketball I had watched in more than a decade, and I found the style of play infuriating. Everybody wants to take 3-pointers (it is impressive how many big men can now shoot them). If they go in, you win; if not, you lose. I saw plays where one guy is taking an 18-footer and his 4 teammates are outside the 3-point-line; no one was even trying for an offensive rebound. Too much one-on-one play and not enough pick-and-roll and pick-and-pop plays. Guys penetrating with the ball and then passing back out for a 3-pointer instead of driving to the basket and getting the other team in foul trouble. Minimal mid-range jumpers, low-post play, and fast breaks. I have zero basketball skills, and yet I found myself yelling at the screen telling the players what to do.
Bird is the only player in NBA history to average 24ppg 10rpg and 6apg for his career. Bird was 50/40/90 twice. He is one of two players in NBA history to have more than one 50/40/90 season. Bird and Maravich are the only players that I remember doing that tap pass off the dribble with so much accuracy. Such a nasty move.
Also, when he missed a 50/40/90 season, he was so close that he actually averaged 50/40/90 over a four or five season span, and 49.6/38.6/88.9 for 12 seasons played in his career.
