Magic Johnson vs. Larry Bird: Who should be on the NBA Mount Rushmore? | First Take 

pyrom chhon ludicrous

not really, it's style of play isn't unique in the sense that he wasn't doing exceptional/ spectacular things "ppl never saw before". But he was EXCELLENT, because he was doing it WITHOUT a flaw

PAQ VAL Name another 6’9 prolific shooting SF who could pass before Bird.

@@paquinraino8180 Answer the mans question

Chad I’ll help Pistol Pete and John Havlicek there you go

tim duncan too

Fax

Agreed

I hear the word Larry Bird everyday because my dad is a Boston fan and Im a Lakers fan.

I think Larry Bird gets his props, it’s just that some people want to say he’s better than some other players and others don’t think so. It’s no different than MJ, Kobe, LeBron debate. People’s opinions will differ, but the fact that Bird is mentioned in these convos means he will be always remembered, which why I believe he’s not underrated.

You are right. Me being a Lakers fan growing up in Northest, I always had to hear the Lakers cakewalking through the west playing scrubby teams in 80s. Almost equivalent to Lebron playing and dominating the east with no competition until he played the west.

That Sixers team was one of the best ever.

Lmfao. Boston went to the finals 4 years in a row.

True

Shawn Hass Then the Pistons stopped them from a 5th. If not for the 76ers, they would have reached the finals in at least 3 of the 4 seasons prior to the 4 straight. Milwaukee saved them from getting steam rolled by Moses and the Sixers. If not for the Sixers and Pistons, they could have played in 9 straight.

Always fun to see Bird vs magic and Duncan vs Kobe.

Finally...

A true miracle.

For once smh

LUKA vs ZION in 8 years

False it happened in the summer of 85 when he was building a driveway at his mom crib do your research my son

@Cyrs M did you watch the documentary where the doctor describes how his spine would frequently slip out of place and he would constantly have to readjust it. The doctor describes it as getting your finger jammed in a door and someone would keep trying to close it.

@Cyrs M break your back doesn’t = spine snapped on half

@Cyrs M there ya go bud. Fracture in his back= his back is broken. Ya dickhead

@Cyrs M dude how dumb are you. Your vertebrae are apart of your back. They’re located on your back. Not your sides, not your stomach,not your knees. Your back. I’m guessing you don’t speak much English either.

Jake Cournyer you’re entitled to that opinion, but if your gonna say that Larry had better role players than magic

It's like comparing The Stones To The Beatles? It's meaningless, and just leads to petty arguments. they are both great and impossible to say

Jake Cournyer lets not forget Byron Scott was a 20ppg off the bench

Bird was a better scorer and a better shooter. But Magic was a better passer and a better floor general. They were equal as individual players. But Magic simply was the bigger winner. He beat Bird in college. He won 5 rings to Bird’s 3. Head to head, Magic was 3-2 against Bird in championships.

Bird played better in his prime than magic did in his prime. But I see what you’re saying

Smite Stuff I won’t even argue with that; Bird was incredible in his prime.

Magic was better in the playoffs. It never gets discussed.

honestly, you can flip a coin.

Darius Barkley cuz he white?

@Darius Barkley Larry Bird Accolades 3 TIME NBA CHAMPION 2 TIME NBA MVP 3 TIME NBA MVP 12 TIME NBA ALL STAR NBA ALL STAR GAME MVP 9 TIME ALL NBA FIRST TEAM ALL NBA SECOND TEAM 3 TIME NBA ALL DEFENSIVE 2ND TEAM NBA ROOKIE OF THE YEAR 3 TIME NBA 3 POINT CONTEST CHAMPION 2 TIME 50-40-90 CLUB Larry Bird Career Statistics 24.3 PPG 49.6 FG% 10 RPG 6.3 APG 1.7 SPG 0.8 BPG The Boston Celtics Ever Since Larry Bird Got Drafted From 1979-1992 1980: 61-21(Lost In The Eastern Conference Finals Against The 76ers) 1981: 62-20 (Won The NBA Finals Against The Rockets) 1982: 63-19 (Lost In The Eastern Conference Finals Against The 76ers) 1983: 56-26 (Lost In The Eastern Conference Semifinals Against The Bucks) 1984: 62-20 (Won The NBA Finals Against the Lakers) 1985: 63-19 (Lost In The NBA Finals Against The Lakers) 1986: 67-15 (Won In The NBA Finals Against The Rockets) 1987: 59-23 (Lost In The NBA Finals Against The Lakers) 1988: 57-25 (Lost In The Eastern Conference Finals Against The Pistons) 1989: 42-40 (Lost In The 1st Round Against The Pistons) 1990: 52-30 (Lost In The 1st Round Against The Knicks) 1991: 56-26 (Lost In The Eastern Conference Semifinals Against The Pistons) 1992: 51-31 (Lost In The Eastern Conference Semifinals Against The Cavaliers) 1 year before Larry Bird's arrival to the Boston Celtics, they went 32-50. This man made the Boston Celtics a championship contender every since he played in the league and had huge impact on the NBA alongside with Magic Johnson. MVP Voting 1980: 4th 1981: 2nd 1982: 2nd 1983: 2nd 1984: 1st (Won the MVP) 1985: 1st (Won the MVP) 1986: 1st (Won the MVP) 1987: 3rd 1988: 2nd 1989: N/A 1990: 10th 1991: 9th 1992: 14th For most of his career he finished in the top 10 or higher in the MVP Voting, finished 4 years as the runner up, and won the MVP 3 times in a row. Larry Bird will always be remembered as one of the greatest players to have ever played the game, one of the greatest shooters in NBA history, one of the clutchest performers NBA history, he was a good passer, and a good defender.

John Gedric Tudio Lmfaooooooo

Lol KP always cracks me up on these shows

Skip bayless does the same thing

Perk just put Bird above Magic in his all-time top 10 list yesterday lmao ol boy can't make up his mind

When Larry Bird and Magic Johnson was playing Stephen A Smith wasn't really covering the NBA

But you are right about bird bring better than magic

This is similar to my opinion that magic is extremely disrespected in his scoring ability. He treat him as just a passer. Such a over simplification of what he can and has done

if Magic were a better shooter he'd be as good as Larry

@oh yes Lebron is always primary ballhandler and you're not going to get as many rebounds in that role.

Tony V I’m a lakers guy and I think Larry bird was better than magic

Exactly all together it was 7 straight years of finishing top 2 in MVP voting and was robbed in 88 of an MVP where he averaged 30 points, 10 rebounds, and 6 assists per game

@@masonripton2574he was not robbed in 88 MJ had the greatest season of all time and was DPOY

@@Nickgonelie robbed was the wrong word looking back and seeing MJs numbers more of a shame that his best season was over shadowed by MJ having a historic season

@Darius Barkley No Larry Bird is better

GOAT White player of all time

thelegendsqb1 exactly

baddest white boy to play ball!

@@Terror832 Black, white, brown, who cares? Bird is top 4 of all time!!!

Basically u have to say Bird or every white man will get triggered at you 😂😂🤣🤣🤣🤣

It was never close, Bird was a far superior player. Magic was a far superior showboater.

Nah that’s MJ. Bird had his best statistical season in 1988, which was when MJ won the mvp, not magic. Magic won his first mvp the year before.

Russell and Wilt are a close second after Magic and Bird. All Lakers vs Celtics rivals.

You have a good point here but Mount Rushmore only has 4 faces. can't have all these guys up there

Louie Paolo Lumanglas MJ, Lebron, Magic, Bird

NonyaBusiness! That’s the perfect 4

NonyaBusiness! *Mhmm the meltdown. *I mean it’s Cleveland and he came back and delivered. *Lebron had no business even being in the finals with that team he dragged. Idk how you can knock him for facing the Spurs in their primes. *Cramp game...Lebron doesn’t know how to take care of his body...someone slap this man. Blasphemous

NonyaBusiness! Why wilt? Bill Russell would be more deserving than him

Lmao

it was annoying, I'm not going to lie😒

I mean it is everything he says that contain real words is usually garbage

True. But that does not functionally give you much over what McHale gave the Celtics. Look at highlight vids. McHale, in the middle of the game, keeping the Cs in the lead with impossible to guard inside play. Until he hurt his foot, he was unstoppable down there. He did not pass much, so he was always getting double teamed. And it did not matter.

@@richardmather1906 It doesn't changed the fact that Magic played with Kareem. McHale is a great player, but we're talking about Kareem here, a top 3 player of all time.

Kareem #1 in my book

@@HakeemTheDream616 That's an astute observation. Old school guys who saw Kareem in his prime would agree with you.

They deserve their own mountain!!

Exactly. They deserve their own

Agreed 100%

I mean there can only be 4 and if you ask me I’m putting mj, lebron, Kobe and magic.

MF Aphex Heads and that was due to injuries

In Their Prime MAGIC, overall careers, MAGIC.

pretty much

ETX Sports that’s laughable. Bird was far superior in his prime. Bird finished no worse than 2nd in the mvp vote for 7 straight years. Gtfo you don’t have a clue

@@markmccreadie6549 MAGIC's owned BIRD in 2 outta 3 FINALS and in the college championship, then the PISTONS dominated the East while BIRD couldn't get it done... MAGIC's a greater player and BIRD even said Magic is better, after losing to him...DIRK is good but Duncan owned him like MAGIC owned BIRD except for in 1986, Isaiah owned BIRD too except for the turnover pass in game 7, 1988...Magic >Bird

JTrillZ BooFed very true

@MikaShiota no just magic

@@giannisantetokounmposalt1647 that's not true. MJ was in the voting in Birds last MVP. So was Kareem and Moses.

thelegendsqb1 Lagic Bohnson

Lol Larry Johnson is a real player. You can just put him on there and Bill Chamberlain is an old suns player you can add him too

Both. And also Jordan, kareem, and Chamberlain

Magic Bird sounds like a psychedelic

Grandmama

FOH white boy, Magic was better.

jim jones casual

Magic wasn't exactly easy to guard either!! Both would've succeed in either team!! Magic played in 8 finals, Larry beat a so so Houston team twice in the finals..

Man. Bird and kareem. Literally unstopable. Imposible task

LionsTigersBearsOhMy Animals fax 📠

Hustla Robbie so we holding Magic back for Bird getting injured ?

Try again. In that season Bird played 74 games at 40 mins per game. Magic played 80 games at 36 mins per game.

Magic beat Bird in the NCAA championship game. Magic wins the NBA championship in his rookie year, after their center, the great Kareen Abdul Jabbar goes down with injury. Then Bird becomes the better player for a few years. Then Magic becomes the better player again after that. I'd say they're pretty even.

@@thanemlesstrue-arrow5724 I would say to that ur right, but a more simplistic viewpoint is that Bird was better in their primes, but Magic had the better career

@@mjsburneraccount5591 Larry only missed out on em bc they weren’t gonna give him 5 MVPs lol, individually he’s the better player and it’s not super close.

Bird was right behind Magic in passing... barely. Check the footage.

@@gsadventures678 Bird was an elite passer but Magic was on another level. Magic is by far the greatest & best passer ever. Bird is around a top 6 or so passer of All-Time. Bird was a SF after all so All-Time great traditional PGs will have an edge over Bird when it comes to passing.

Bird also a real good passer, but Magic not a real good shooter. so say what u will.

@@HaveFunLosingBro You're completely wrong. If Magic was 1a, Bird was 1b. He was the best all around player. Check the footage.

@Xre B Shooting isn't only 3s. Bird was an all around shooter. Not a 1 dimentional shooter like Curry or Korver.

Ask people that played against Bird if he was athletic.. that is the oldest pile of bs ,excuses ever! How much did Lebron's athleticism help him his first decade in the NBA? Bird won his SECOND year in the league in the stacked 80s! Ffs

bird not athletic? LOL, and im black

Peter Solar channel Bird has better career dunks than Magic.

Bird was a great athlete for his size. Of course if we taking about pre-fucked up back Bird.

Magic wasn't atheltic either

Nah Magic’s career beats Birds career easy

He had the better career but bird was better

You must be white

jim jones shouldn’t be a difference. Look at the numbers bird was better

No he wasn’t

@Zack Tom LeBron isn't 2. Jordan, Kareem are top 2. Then its debatable.

Maor Mama Lebron

Are you dumb

Xre B So was MJ but they were completely different players. Larry changed the NBA with him being like curry before curry. LeBron has the same game as Magic but better, so if anyone should be replaced it’s Magic.

@Cyrs M accomplished far more?? Both have 3 rings and lebron won just one more mvp I don't know if that is accomplished '' far more''. And by the way Bird is wayyyyy better shooter and better rebounder than lebron.

@Cyrs M Lebron have played more seasons because Larry entered the league with 23 years old so he played only 13 seasons that's why lebron had more everything because he entered the league with 18 years old and have played 17 season and counting so its just don't make any sense comparing his total points assisst etc the important thing is comparing his career stats, and bird average 3 more rebounds and basically the same points per game and almost same assisst per game too buddy.

Nzinn73 Truth.

Only one that "deserves" to be on there without any question is MJ...all 3 other faces can be interchanged with many greats!

I would argue MJ, Bird/Magic are mandatory for what they did for the league. They brought it up to a level that has never been seen before them, and is rarely matched after them. Based on career, skill, legacy, I think you have to have those 3 up there no matter what. Bird and Magic literally saved the NBA and MJ paved the way for what it is today.

No doubt

for me kareem olajabar is 1st best then its shaq 2rd, then lebron, 4st

It's easy just don't have ESPN involved

Thanks for making all White people look bad with that stupid comment.

Pat4Clippers- good point Magic made him look better giving him the ball in key and easier spots to finish. I also thought Kidd made Kenyon Martin better than he was bc of Kidds passing and finding guys in good spots to Finish as Well. Along with Karl Malone. who knows how his career would go without Stockton. Why I put Barlkey over Malone as PF.

That is very true, Bird was more talented and was the better all around player, but magic had a way bigger impact on his team.

@Salvatore Sultana agreed

Stopping Bronsexuals seek help

Wilt is better than bill, Bill was a decent center but wilt did more overall he was more talented and the better player. Bill is just known for his rings. Wilt is just better talent wise.

Wrong! 60s-early70 you have to add the Logo 21st century: Big fundamental/Black Mamba/LBJ is great but too much ring chasing

We kinda skipping the 2000’s. I give that to Kobe or Duncan. Coin flip really.

We The North he’s top 15... I don’t see anything wrong with that

STAY BLACK AND GOLD FOR LIFE Exactly my point he should be a lock for top 10.

Wlit is by far the best 2 way center just not enough film... He had 20 block games

Just as underrated as Oscar Robertson. Olajuwon was the center in the 90’s, absolutely no doubt there. Definitely the second best player overall in the 90’s.

@@wethenorth7849 Unfortunately since Kobe died people are trying to anoint him as top 10 or even Top 5 lmfao. There was virtually nothing Kobe did better than Hakeem except for Shooting. Hakeem was Michael Jordan in a centers body in terms of impact, accolades & statistics, and skill in relation to offensive & defensive dominance.

Venize -he'd be put right behind MJ or around there.

The irony

The reason people love him so much is BECAUSE he is white...

@@mistermidas11 Exactly

@Pat4Clippers Oddly, (and I might be in the minority here), when it came to Jordan, I found younger Jordan from roughly 87-92 (ends with Dream Team) to be the most exciting and fun to watch. I said ‘87 bc he was no longer a newer young player, but was just starting to enter his prime (ie, winning his first dunk contest, etc).

Was being the operative word. Because LeBron IS the best small forward ever.

@@CmPunkRulez45 This isn't a fact. Bird is better than Lebron is many aspects of the game. Leadership, defense, shooting, post game, midrange game, passing, basketball IQ, etc. Lebron is by far a better athlete though.

@@CmPunkRulez45 I have Lebron over Bird All-Time but they aren't astronomically far apart.

Was is the key word here. Bron passed him up awhile back.

Meme O'Julio without question

Put bron in for Kareem and your good

That's who I came up with too

Comment Police Bron is just a better Magic, switch him instead of Kareem

Obviously? How is it obvious It's a very close argument as to who was the better player when they played. That's why 35 years later we still talk about who is better because it wasn't obvious then and it's not obvious now. Personally if I need someone to win me the game I would pick Larry but If I was starting a team that I wanted to contend for many years and I wnated to build around a player I pick Magic and in terms of total greatest Magic is the greater player. The best player and the greatest player are too different things

@jjosephdubya oh he said it many times my friend,magic admitted bird was better :)

Well stephen a is always knocking down the white guys, im not saying hes racist, but he undermines white players all the time

can you goofies stop with this "i am black" statements?

Don't know who's more racist, steven a, or mike wilbon !!!!!

As a black man, I have to put Magic over the white boy lol

And shooter, and simular defense, same stats, less athletic

He definitely was a better passer

What’s your opinion on Russel?

My top 10 is: 1) Jordan 2) Kareem 3) Magic 4) Lebron 5) Russel 6) Bird 7) Duncan 8) Shaq 9) Kobe 10) Hakeem

In that order??? Because if it is you should probably try watching basketball.

@@gabrielemilio4461 Russel is often disrespected & underrated. Truth of the matter is he won 11 championships & no matter the era this is insane & he was arguably the best defensive player ever. All this being said I'm fine with anyone having Russel in that #2 to #6 range.

@@gabrielemilio4461 He's great too. There's also Duncan Kobe Shaq and others legend. For my five I was looking for a little chemistry that's why I picked magic and kareem .

@Young Blood Very well put - there is a lot of truth to that, and I agree that this is why the perception of both Showtime Lakers and Bird’s Celtics is never that they were ‘stacked’ with an unfair advantage over all other teams. Plus, there were so many all-time greats playing on other teams during that time as well.

@@flapjammie5045 Couldn't have said it better myself.

Young, I respectfully disagree. Here is why - 84 FMVP = Bird, 87 FMVP = Magic, 85 FMVP = Kareem. Why didn't McHale or Parish win FMVP? because they were not as talented. I am not knocking any players, just being honest. Kareem = college player of year 3 times and MVP of NBA 6 times! James Worthy was co-college player of the year shared with Ralph Sampson. Worthy was the 88 FMVP. Did Bird ever have such a player on his roster? Only 1 time with an aging Bill Walton, but Walton was only injury free for 1 year ( the 86 championship). DJ for the Celtics was very good but again toward the end of his career. McHale did not become a starter until the 85-86 season. Parish had a few games where he was better than Kareem, but never outplayed Kareem for a series, in the 3 championship series they faced each other. LA was in a weaker conference , had an easier path to the finals, less injuries than Boston when they played each other and were favored to win.

Kareem is top 2 all-time, maybe 1 maybe 2 depends on who you ask. His timing is just weird because he spent his absolute prime years not winning championships so people just assume he got carried to his championships. His accomplishments are comparable to MJ's and dwarfs the accomplishments of guys like Lebron, Magic, Russell, and Bird. My Mount Rushmore is MJ, Kareem, Russell, Magic/Lebron

This top 25 comes from a lifelong Lakers fan since 1975. 1. Kareem 2.Jordan 3. Wilt 4. Magic 5. Bird 6. Kobe 7. Hakeem the Dream Olajuwan 8. Lebron 9. Duncan 10. James "Big Game" Worthy 11. Isaiah Thomas/Tiny Archibald tied 12. Doctor J. including the ABA 13. Oscar Robertson 14. Shaq 15. David "Skywalker Thompson" 15. Kevin McHale 16. Karl Malone 17. Allen Iverson 18 Moses Malone including the ABA 19. George Iceman Gervin including the ABA 20. Bill Russell 21. Elgin Baylor 22. Connie Hawkins 23. Jerry West 24. Charles Barkley 25. John "Hondo" Havilicek/ Dominique Wilkins tied. Honorable mention is Dwayne Wade.

Anyone that put bird over LeBron is a clown

Neither one is better than LeBron.nothing in either of their careers puts them ahead of LeBron.

@@darrellcox548 Magic = 5x Championships, 3x FMVPs, 3x MVPs. Bird = 3x Championships, 2x Finals MVPs, 3x MVPs LeBron = 3x Championships, 3x FMVPs, 4x MVPs Very close. Magic looks like the best of the 3 legacy wise. LeBron has 1 more mvp than Magic but Magic has 2 more rings which is more important for a top 5 player. LeBron and Bird have same numbers of rings, LeBron has 7x MVPs, Bird has 5x MVPs but had a short career. LeBron is closer to them than he is to Jordan and Kareem. Jordan = 6x Championships, 6x FMVPs, 5x MVPs. Kareem = 6x Championships, 2x FMVPs, 6x MVPs. LeBron = 3x Championships, 3x FMVPs, 4x MVPs. Jordan and Kareem have 11 and 8 MVPs to LeBron 7, while having double his championships.

Bird was 6'9" and Magic was 6'8"

loopiou316 But he is.. he is better than Kobe, bird, Magic, Kareem and maybe even MJ

@Jalen Rose it's the media they over hype him

Lebron is around the #3 to #6 spot All-Time. I have Lebron #4 but if you have Lebron anywhere between #3 to #6 I won't argue with you as I think this is correct & fair.

@Jalen Rose People did that with every top all-time great players, not just lebron so yeah it's normal