The Day Larry Bird Showed Michael Jordan Who Is The Boss 

WHO WAS THE BETTER SHOOTER, MJ OR LARRY?

Larry made his teammates look like hall of famers. Basketball wasn’t the same after he and magic retired.

If Larry isn’t the greatest player ever. He definitely is the best teammate ever. He makes everyone around him so much better.

I've never been a basketball fan - not my game and the egos. But I was a Celtics fan in the 80s. What impressed me most about Larry Bird was, unlike too many other supposed GOATs, he didn't chase records and he was a true team player. To me, the mark of a true GOAT is when they make the others around them look even better that they are. It's hard to imagine what his stats would be if he was chasing records. Respect, Mr. Bird.

YOUNG PLAYERS OUGHT TO BE FORCED TO WATCH THIS GAME. Bird is so underrated by those who did not experience his total game genius.

Bird played smart as you say, "Basketball IQ."

When I heard Jordan ranked Bird above Lebron I knew exactly why, Jordan remembered that 0-6 run of the Bulls against the Celtics. Young basketball fans today really don't understand how great Bird was, and how competitive 1980s and 1990s were for the NBA. Bird won 3 Championships in the most competitive era in the NBA. Great video! I may be getting up in age now, but I was lucky enough to grow up in the 80s and got to see Bird dominate.

God, great era for basketball. Glad i was there for it 💞

I’d like to preface this by saying that I played basketball in NYC in an all black high school and got my nick name from the brothers playing at The Cage and at Rucker Park. We were all trying to emulate what Larry bird was doing on the playground and it was impossible for us. However, I remember hearing what Pat Riley said, “If I had to choose a player to take a shot to save a game, I’d choose Michael Jordan, but if I had to choose a player to take a shot to save my life, I’d take Larry Bird."

This video reminds me of the times my Houston Rockets played The Celtics and I would get sooo mad! Larry Bird was phenomenal, though I hated it back then. But now that sooo many years have passed, the guy had the "midas touch" and made BB look magical!

Spot on. One of the things( among many others) that makes Larry Bird a Legend was/is the fact that he make it feel so easy to shoot and "Score" from any distance or any side of the floor. He's Awareness of the game was on another level than everyone else.

Diehard laker fan who hated bird. Have to admit and this kills me bird was a BAD man.

Just can't get enough of the Bird✨

Larry Bird a brilliant court thinker great passer.couldnt jump high but he used the skills he had that made him a winner.What ever the mind of a man can believe & conceive he can achieve

The golden age of basketball. Skill, toughness, and heart. Today soft, crying, and selfish.

And Larry Bird was telling Michael Jordan what he was going to do with the ball 🏀 before he did it on Mike. And Michael Jordan was Defensive Player of the Year and he still didn't want to guard Larry Bird because Larry Bird was making Michael Jordan look bad. And I Loved every moment. Larry Bird G.O.A.T. LEGEND!!!

Thanks - never be another Bird or team like 80s Celtics, such chemistry

Memories. Bird= Heart, Hustle, and Hard Work

The greatest era in NBA Basketball history was the Bird/Johnson rivalry. There were others but none more dramatic, visceral and powerful. Those two were the geniuses of the game. And the contests were epic to watch. I loved the Lakers but knew Bird was unstoppable. Magic the point guard played center against Philadelphia in the Championships. He scored 50 points I think. Bunch of ribbies too!

Bird what a PLAYER!!!

You said it the Birdman was "legendary". Heck the whole 80s era of Basketball was Legendary ! 🤣🤣

Great! I loved the Celtics back then. One thing you notice watching these old highlights - today's NBA can't compare to the sheer fundamdental basketball greatness and Bird's miraculous passing ability!

"If I had to choose a player to take a shot to save a game, I’d choose Michael Jordan," Pat said. "If I had to choose a player to take a shot to save my life, I’d take Larry Bird." I agreed with Pat Riley🎉

Undisputed all time best ever. I wish his body would have lasted longer

No player scared me as much as Larry Bird. As a Laker fan, in the 1987 Finals Game 4, I knew for certain Bird would hit that game winning 3 to tie the series at 2. I was ecstatic when it went off the rim.

I would pick prime Bird over prime anybody, ever, as my first draft choice to start a team. Of winners.

Bird a thinker, so only best way to guard Bird, it to also be a thinker. Sounds like a good Chess player.

Truthfully, Bird was easily the best player in the league every year from his rookie season through 87. They can't give it to one guy for that many years in a row. It was basically an antitrust maneuver against a Bird monopoly

WHEN HE WAS WINNING GAMES WITH CLUTCH SHOTS, PASSING, STEALING, GETTING RINGS, PERSONAL AWARDS, STOPPING GREATS, DEFEATING THE LIKES OF M.J. / Magic / others who were greats ..... Larry Legend just blew people's minds .... in prevailing in regular season and Championship play as well. NO ONE LIKE HIM, not then and not now. GBjj

Wow. Bird made the whole Bulls team look bad in 1986.

Bird simply flew at a higher altitude than anyone else: ball control, passing, scoring. He embodied the Celtics with an iconic skill and leadership. Super style, above and beyond stats. Edit. PS: The above comment comes from a diehard Lakers fan since 1964.

And in the end, both MJ and Magic called Bird the GOAT.

I'm from Indiana. I had the pleasure of watching Larry develop. Let me tell you, it was a pleasure.😊

No one better. Birds the Word

Many black RU-vid pundits saying Larry Bird is not even in the top 5 of the G. O. A. T discussion really need to watch his and digest. Today's generation talk about stats, stats, stats.... Nonsense there are many players with STATS due to longevity in the game! Most if not all could not touch Larry Joe Bird as a player. There is alot of bias out there due to Basketball being hailed as a black man's sport. It's not all about athleticism, it helps for sure but ability, vision, ability to see a pass others cannot, clutchness (LeBron has none) ability to make those around you play better, team work all traits a G. O. A. T must have. I would put Larry Birds best season up against any.... 13 years of greatness even in his rookie year he was smashing most. Let's be real, generational ideas about who is best will always play a factor.... But.... Hail, hail, hail Laryy Bird #33 my man 🏀🏀🏆🥇

I've been guilty of under-rating Bird, and I watched him play. His awareness and passing made the entire team better. Definitely all time greatest starting lineup before he was hurt.

Greatest player of all time. LARRY JOE BIRD

Great video - born in '78, I was a kid in school when he was on his tear and remember well saying "I'm Larry Bird" on the schoolyard courts.

I thought James Worthy said it best when asked which he would prefer to play. He said he would rather play Jorden. Because as he put it, Jorden made you look slow, but Bird made you look stupid. Lol

Thank you. I had to replay at least 3 scenes multiple times.

Bird court IQ was quite noticeable. He made passes that were crazy, he saw teammates in place before they got there. He played defense and shot the ball effortlessly. Team player was why Celtics achieved a lot with him.

Mr.Bird probably the best all around player ever. He did everything. I love it today when some fans dare to say labron is better than bird. Not even close and bird had somethinf only a handful of players had the want to take the last shot, the money shot that labron never had. Tas Larrys the goat.

Bird is the GOAT.

When I was a kid I thought Magic was the best player. Basically I like Magic because he looked cooler and I tended to like black players better. Now that I’m older and understand the game better, there’s no doubt In my mind that Bird is better than Magic. People always mention Magic in GOAT conversations but not Bird. I realize the general population just repeats what other people say. Most people are followers.

LARRY LEGEND IS A UNICORN AND THE TRUE GOAT!!! 🐐 ☘️

Bird could never be trapped and his high arcing shot could not be blocked. He would eat up today's NBA.

Bird's rookie contract was not the highest ever. Pete Maravich got almost three times as much as a rookie in 1970, making him not only the highest-paid rookie, but he earned more than ANY player in the NBA at the time.

Larry Bird of the Boston Celtics ❤👑 Los Angeles Lakers Fan. Bird was truly entertaining. 🏀

Very difficult to say who was the greatest of all-time, because players of other era's are either not in the discussion or overlooked because a particular generation doesn't even know anything about them. Bird was definitely one of the greatest. But, what about Chamberlain, Baylor, Russell, West, etc. And remember the rules have changed and "carrying the ball" was strictly enforced years ago. Now, 6'8 guards are common place. Back in Cousy's day, that would have been disastrous.

Lakers Coach Pat Riley: "If I had to choose a player to take a shot to save a game I'd choose Michael Jordan," Riley said. "If I had to choose a player to take a shot to save my life... I'd take Larry Bird." It's a fact! In his prime no one, and no one, could touch Larry (Legend) Bird with his all around skills, game saving heroics and court awareness! Compare his highlight reel to anyone and it's pure magic to watch! He's the G.O.A.T.

Bird understood that a clever assist is worth 2 points. Jordan did not!

Bird, but after Mike’s broken foot in the 1985-1986 season he developed a clutch mid range jump shot, that expanded his arsenal and made him even more dynamic than just being Air Jordan.

Indeed. Only Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain and Larry Bird were thee Only ones who won the NBA MVP 3 years in a row. A ROW. In addition, Larry Legend is thee only one that won the NBA's 3 point contest 3 years on a Row. A ROW. GOAT,,, perhaps. What is know to be a true statement is that for 3 years, no one could touch him.

Larry Bird has had so many adjectives used by others to explain his game I couldn't possibly list them. This one`s mine...The day after winning the NBA championship he received a call and his Mom said he`s not here he`s running laps at the gym because he is trying to get into shape for the oncoming season?? Then it finally occurred to me because Im a procrastinator and have a history of always being late. DO YOU THINK AS I DO THAT LARRY BIRD WAS THE FIRST AND POSSIBLY ONLY PERSON i`VE SEEN WHO GENUINLY UNDERSTOOD THE ENITITY OF TIME? EVEN THOUGH IT IS IN THE BACKGROUND IN EVERYDAY LIFE AND IT MOVES OH SO UNASSUMINGLY UNTIL IT SNEAKS UP FROM BEHIND. HE SAID FORGET THE PLAY I`LL SHOOT IT, SAVES TIME, ALWAYS MOVING ALWAYS IN A HURRY NO MATTER WHAT UP THE FLOOR OR DOWN THE FLOOR. I`VE WASTED SO MUCH OF MY LIFE I1S NOT FUNNY, HELL, I THOUGHT TIME WAS MY FRIEND UNTIL LAST SUNDAY. YOUR opinion or mine but I don`t think LARRY BIRD has ever been accused of wasting time.

Saw a recent interview with Bird and he said he was proud of his career mainly because he went all out every minute he was on the court. He admitted it's probably the reason his career ended early, but said he felt obligated to bring it every play, because the Celtics were paying him a lot of money (for those days) to help the team win and he was confident he was the best player on the court night in and night out.

The “Hick from French Lick” & the “Big 3” ! Celtics 4eva. Red built an amazing dynasty that was a pleasure to watch, so was MJ, he was a show of his own, as were the showtime Lakers. Future NBA would be fortunate to have anything even come close to their greatness.😊fantastic rivalries.

Jokić is on the path now and gotta lot of seasons ahead. Larry would agree..

I believe it is pronounced Jerry Seech-ting. Nice, informative and entertaining video. Thanks.

At this point only the brainwashed youngsters and OG media hype sponges have failed to realize that Bird has always been the goat.

Larry Bird is the GOAT. Put me on any city court as a captain. Standing there are PRIME Michael, Lebron, Kareem, Magic, Wilt, and Larry (the only players with a legit claim to GOAT). I have first pick. I take Larry Legend. Because I KNOW he will grind us to a chance to win, and I KNOW he will make the winning shot.

Larry, I believe, was the best ALL-AROUND player so far. If he didn't utilize all his skills because he was a TEAM PLAYER, he probably could've led the league in scoring or assists a number of times. According to PHIL JACKSON, Jordan had to score a lot of points, or he wasn't happy. Larry wasn't like that. PHIL also said that if he wasn't the HEAD COACH, the BULLS would NOT have won all those championships. I believe him. He won a lot of games, and he was a very smart coach.

When I hear old opponents of Bird say he wouldn't be on the NBA today I just laugh. Usually it's from "bros" who he punished year in year out. He's the best all around player ever to play the game.

Bird 🐦🕊️ had Jordan by 4 inches so he could easily post Jordan up and he couldn't do nothing anything else with it he couldn't stop birds post up turn around fadeaway jumper which was money 🤑💰 good as gold

Bird's mission was never to be the "goat". His mission was to have the best team (win most championships). Don't get wrong he is a competitor but he said it himself in 87, "Magic was the best".

Just an FYI - Jerry Sichting (pronounced \CEASE-sting\)

Bird signing the cobtract with his left hand and shoots with his right... Crazy😮😮

He was also a monumental trash talker.

I always said of Bird in his prime.... "The second best team in the league is Larry Bird and four other guys". And I meant that as a compliment. His passing was legendary. When I watch these clips, it reminds me of why I don't watch the NBA these days.

Even ML Carr and Greg Kite got buckets when they played with Larry!

KInd of funny to say Larry made his teammates better in this instance. Larry had Robert Parish and Kevin McHale while Michael had Dave Corzine and Brad Sellers.

Larry Bird is the GOAT.

Might not have been the greatest player ever, but his leadership MADE him the best.

In there every single match up, MJ was no match to Larry legend. Thus, Bird is the GOAT🎉

Great video❤

2:32 ... correct. Larry Legend CLEARLY had the edge. No question about that.

Bird did not care about being known as the best basketball player, that would not be something that he concerned himself with. He just wanted to come to work, give the fans a show every night and most importantly, win.

"Larry was always in the right place at the right time doing the right thing" DR. J.

Yes, Bird was a monster on offense and a great defender. But Bird was always 1.5 moves ahead in a split second. That was his biggest asset. His work ethic was his second. Jordan hadnt got that possesed “win at all cost, there is no second place. Only one winning team and the rest are losers” attitude. And that was Larrys third biggest asset. His “we will not lose this game” every night. Jordan didnt have that just yet. Would have been interesting to see the 1986 Celtics vs the early 90s Bulls. Now that would be a game.

I believe that Mr.Bill Russel taught Larry Bird to be an inglorious bastard on the court. It’s true theres no I in team, but there is in leadership… and win.

Look at that left hand!

nice show, thanks...

Best of all time. He did everything not just scored

Larry was the greatest of all time.

Larry Bird was to the 1980's Celtics what Bobby Orr was to the 1970's Bruins. The wind that sailed the team.

Greatest poster every created when the NBA actually mattered and people would actually watch, before it went down the sewer to lead ALL professional sports down the same path. Bird, sitting up in a giant nest on the hoop... Probably one of the greatest posters of all times. When sports mattered.

bird and magic changed the league , jordan raised it from there.

I’ll watch all your old-school basketball, but please know that none of us old heads are going to watch today’s game it’s garbage…. Watching kids play on a Sunday afternoon is a much better game of basketball.

Larry makes friends and foes proud to have been there.

Bird is adroitly ambidextrous. Quite the advantage over normal humans to go left and right with astonishing ease...

By the end of MJ's career, he'd certainly risen to Larry's level and maybe exceeded it. And sure, MJ has more rings.....but if Larry could have played into the mid/late 1990's, he might have had 6 rings too....think of this too, he never got to play with Len Bias...who was the "next MJ" supposedly in the 1986 NBA draft. One more thing to think about...Reggie Lewis's career/life was cut way too short too. These guys would have been on the same team....and of course we all saw the USA Dream team in the 1992 Olympics. If I needed a full game performance....I'd go with Larry. If I just needed the last shot? MJ might get it, but Larry would be screaming "Get me the damn ball". haha

Imagine him not hurting his back. Ugh. Supposedly working on his mom's driveway.. 😢

If Larry Bird didn't have a back injury, he'd be a GOAT candidate.

The games played in Chicago was not played at the United Center since it wasnt around until the mid 90s. Games were played at Chicago Stadium aka the Madhouse on Madison. Much love to Larry Legend.

Larry Bird was amazing. A true Joy to watch him play.

Larry Bird is The goat if you didn't have really severe injuries he would have wrote the records on everything

Larry Bird was one of the most skilled players to play the game. He had more than just skill but used it to make himself and his team better.

Awesome presentation

Larry Bird, the original ankle breaker.

One time my dad and I seen magic on the plane and my dad asked him for his autograph and he said wait until the plane lands and he disappears.Thats why I was laughing at him when he got AIDS😂

Bird's mind was the GOAT.