1991 NBA Playoffs: Larry Bird Comeback

1991 nba playoffs larry bird makes a huge comeback

[@DoubleVisionandco]

The most amazing thing of all about Larry Legend is even injured he was still better than most. If Bird was entering the NBA today as a new player fresh out of college and played the way he did in his glory days he would destroy and dominate.

[@kunkushun1]

this is the definition of a real man and a real good basketball player

[@alec9tap]

I hate when people say he wasn't a great athlete or wasn't as talented as others because that discredits his talent to shoot the ball which he is arguably the greatest shooter,and his ability to pass and see the floor.That's all athletic ability, i'd argue he was as naturally-gifted as they come he just couldn't jump or run but still had a feel and gift for the game

[@donniehenderson1916]

alec tapia he is the best all around player ever.......which is a GOAT

[@ebrown0071]

Notice Bird in a three point stance out of the locker room after busting his head, as if he was getting ready for tackle football. This was one tough dude.

[@PorkTips]

That's how he had to sit so his back didn't hurt

[@thehawk177]

He would be laying down on his stomach on the sideline to alleviate his back pain, too.

[@TonyinMBSC8669]

Another chapter for Larry Legend. I was at the Celtics game on March 12, 85 when Bird TORCHED the Hawks, scoring 60 of the Celtics 125. At the end EVERYONE cheered for 15 mins as we knew we had witnessed something special. In my humble opinion he was one of the greatest players ever. DEFINITELY the best at HIS position. As MJ was at his, Magic at his. There are so many great NBA players. The Bird/Magic era was best because it resurrected this great game. And I saw the best game of Bird's career!

[@michaelshultz1590]

Eh, I have Magic as the 2nd best PG after Stockton.

[@DH-ij9pe]

You lucky bastard.

[@tomwolak3362]

The true measure of greatness.Beaten up and hurt but comes back in major pain to lead his team to victory.Hands down the GOAT.

[@staceyhorton228]

Remember watching this!!! Bird is the GOAT!!!! Watch the videos & read about his dedication to basketball! Overcame so much to get to the NBA & gave it his ALL!!!!! ONLY player to win most valuable player, coach & executive. Larry did it all & did it with grace & class!!! Should've been an award for best passing & trash talking!!😄😄

[@tobaliciousholland12]

This would never happen with many of today's stars... not just because they wouldn't come back from a facial fracture mid game (that goes without saying), but because they wouldn't even suit up to play with a sore back in the first place. Larry Legend

[@anthonyzarate9807]

Great point!

[@nathanalbright4116]

he's my favorite player

[@benjaminlappin2711]

"and here comes Larry Bird...' Game five against the Pacers in '91

[@j34xalphaking87]

Larry LEGEND!! 🏀🏀🔥🔥🔥🐐

[@GrimmsPendulum]

ha pretty crazy when even the other team is hugging him at the end!

[@sxwrulz]

I remember watching game 5 in 1991 when Bird got hurt and I was thinking that's it he is probably gonna retire, and then he came back and led the Celtics to the win. Bird was amazing. This was probably his last great moment but it was great.

[@DeathBuzz]

2:52 Greatest basketball play I've ever seen.

[@123fourfive5]

This is the story that convinced me that Bird is the GOAT. Apparently, it fractured an eye socket so for the rest of the game, he was seeing double and he had to choose which one was the real hoop.

[@jimvo]

I had the honor of meeting Larry Bird once, around 1995. The most strikig thing about Larry was that he looked so ordinary, physically he does not look at all like someone who does sports, and then you think all the stuff he did and how great he was, and youre like, wow, just wow.

[@BJMcB92]

Any person who puts Lebron above Bird: just look at this video. Larry Bird played the start of the game injured, got even more hurt on a bad fall, and STILL came back to play some more. Why? HE WANTED TO WIN, NOT TO LET HIS TEAM DOWN. Lebron cramps up last night during game 1 of the finals and has to be carried off by two people. Fucking baby. Give me Larry Bird over Lebron James ANY day. Lebron may be faster, and more athletic, but Larry Bird was a fucking warrior.

[@bturner20]

He scored 32 points in a deciding game in the playoffs...........with a partial concussion. Amazing.

[@omarl8195]

I agree

[@celticbird2398]

And it's funny to because he just rested last night against the Pacers in a game where they really needed him.

[@ethanschoof4953]

BJMcB92 "Fucking warrior" I love it man haha

[@joebriggs6904]

For all of the times I've seen this Larry Bird clip, I never realized he went against doctors orders and went back into the game IN A DECIDING PLAYOFF GAME. What a legend

[@Schmoe552001]

As a big Larry Bird fan, this is one of my favorite memories. A little earlier, when Jack Ramsey was coaching the Pacers, he was asked what his team needed. His answer was 'a forward who would rebound.' In your face Chuck Person.

[@sauron9990]

What they didn't say here was that the Celtics won that game 124-121. Most amazing comeback I've read about.

[@anTsoziaL63]

THE LEGENDARY BEAST IS BACK IN THESE SERIES

[@TheMimetolithman]

theplayers of theother team were in shock that he could even play after that crack' yikes LJB is ONE Tough Legend.

[@vestilblankenship6575]

I watched this game and got goose bumps then and still do today

[@thetruebonds]

He broke half his face on that fall. C's always have the best comebacks.

[@UnionKid15]

One of Larry Bird's most noteable//greatest moments, thanks so much for posting this..!!

[@aaronignacio4652]

This easily beats the flu game of MJ.

[@jamesdesch3201]

Totally! All respect to Jordan, but what Larry Bird did... Well... there are no words...

[@spazz8682]

Why isnt this more known?

[@grottyear7600]

Jay Styles people don’t look and appreciate larry enough. It’s just mj this and mj that

[@Jondsmusic]

Without question! No one was better or tougher than him, then or now!

[@josecarranza7555]

@Jack Meoff You’re an idiot.

[@willc5007]

That was epic and heartfelt watching bird came back to lead his team to victory.

[@souljah868]

this series was a real classic. Bird was injured coming into it and somehow willed himself to make Boston win it.

[@donovinmatthews1827]

That was a cold game...one of my childhood memories and I'm a Laker fanatic. That was an amazing game.

[@mrho4speed]

Just watched Pistol's 68 point game--what a shooter!! and a great ball handler.He was definitely way ahead of his time. My favorite display of great shooting is Bird's 60 point game where the Atlanta Hawks bench players are falling off the bench in disbelief of the shots he was making. The Pistol was great but I feel Bird's total game made him a better player.

[@TheMimetolithman]

LARRY WATCHED HIM PLAY And was amaxed of him u c a lot of Pete in larry ball moving and trick plays oh lol and shooting'

[@PorkFrog]

Larry 'SuperFreak' Bird: 'Cortisone's a helluva drug' Too bad The Great One didn't allow someone else to shovel gravel in his driveway--never the same player after that foolish offcourt injury, but still was able to show flashes of the greatness he always had in him from time to time. One of a very few players I miss[mostly I miss the old league, old rules, old attitude]

[@PorkTips]

He was building a driveway for his mother...hardly foolish

[@Chevy-hw6lw]

I remember that game. It gives me goosebumps literally.

[@globetrotterwien]

The Best Player

[@kenarthur6253]

No one can question Bird's toughness. Amazing competitor and player!

[@NafeesLACC]

so inspirational.

[@mrho4speed]

What a comeback especially after hitting his face on the floor.Chuck Person thought he was bad being the "rifleman" but nobody could outgun Bird. His total game just dwarfed Person's and Bird relished putting the Pacers away!!

[@thetruebonds]

He broke half his face on that fall. Celtics have always had the best comebacks. Rondo's elbow? Holy shit!! Love Boston.

[@stevieg4ever]

Legend has a new name BIRD...

[@allenbass6169]

I remember watching this game.

[@derrishedger3801]

Watching this as a kid was amazing. One of the more iconic moments of Larry Legend.

[@mikegulliver4885]

Very nice sportsmanship on the part of LaSalle Thompson in the end. That Indy team was stacked - unfortunately for them, they kind of peaked with this loss and never achieved the success a lot of people expected.

[@jjonah10]

the great bird and the legendary boston celtics,no one comes close...

[@jizzhunt]

He couldn't jump, he wasn't athletic, and he sure as hell wasn't the fastest guy on the court, but he had the basketball IQ of a god. Larry Bird, despite lacking athleticism, sure smoked a lot of bitches on the court back in the day. A true great. Larry Legend 33!

[@donniehenderson1916]

jizzhunt he was athletic!

[@Denis-cr4bs]

For someone who supposedly couldn't jump, he sure came down with a ton of critical rebounds, led many a fast break and could hit from anywhere.

[@taegotkash]

You drunk Larry bird used to dunk on them bois

[@twolak1972]

No one did it better than bird, tough as nails, he played with pain that would make most players consider retirement. I remember that game. Watched it with my dad and when Burd went down Dad just shrugged and said helle be back, no way is Larry letting pain get.in his way.Sure enough back he came and lit a fire under his team while torching the pavers. GOAT. Not even MJ or MAGIC coulda pulled that feat off 100 percent healthy. Larry defied logic.

[@UnionKid15]

This was just amazing.

[@jamesdesch3201]

Steph Curry sprains his pinky toe and he's out for 2 weeks. Curry plays slightly injured and his game is off. Take away Curry's 3 ball and he's a marginal player. It's really all he can do. Perhaps he could lead a team? Oh, that's right, he's not even the leader of his team. And he certainly is nowhere near Bird in terms of leadership skills. Curry just blends in. Bird tookover the Boston Celtics the second he arrived, and it was his team, no bones about, until the day he retired -- see Chris Ford in this video. Can you imagine anyone saying that about Curry? I can't either. Bird plays the last 7 years of his career with a crippling back injury, and many other injuries. He manages to win an MVP in '86... Should've won it in '87 and '88. The last 2 years he's in traction when he's not playing. Bird, somehow, figures a way... Put that shitty back on Curry, and I would love to see his game then. But we wouldn't, because he would retire... like most players. Not Bird! Not ever! Long live Bird! Long live "real basketball"! The basketball played today, sucks total ass!

[@leonwilliams4831]

Steph is the leader of his team. Steph might be the toughest player but he is a tough player. 3 ball is not the only thing Steph can do. He can dribble he can shoot he can pass. He can take you off the dribble. He can catch and shoot. What else you want him to do

[@th3gps223]

Except KD is the clear leader of the Golden State Warriors. Scores in every way possible and continues to score when it matters most, which is something Curry has proven he can’t do.

[@irishgrl]

Nobody holds a candle to Larry Bird. NOBODY.

[@BallCDO]

Chef Curry proved y'all wrong haha

[@Rayven_cat]

He gets hurt and plays harder/better, like Favre did.

[@TheMimetolithman]

HIS FACE WAS BROKEN'

[@RobertWeir]

Don't compare him to fav-re please

[@BooBooDaFoo330]

@@RobertWeir lmao why not? Farve won 3 straight MVPs has a super bowl ring and by his retirement was considered one of the GOATs ever.

[@samualcrocket1405]

Watched this one several times. Larry Bird allowed Celtics fans to experience a magical life during his carreer.

[@martindonato8024]

Bird was already 34 years old during this time. With a nagging back injury that continued to bother him, he still gave it his all even after hitting his face on the floor against Indiana. Larry was a class act.

[@Shaslo]

THE BUZZERBEATER CHAMPION!!

[@mikemontgomery7337]

I watched his whole career. Amazing player. Could you imagine a player today that would play thru that !

[@Msupolo20]

I'm sorry, but what professional athlete have YOU ever personally asked about whether or not they think they inherit their gift? I can only speak from experience, that being said, the professional water polo team I practiced with (mind you only 2 were on the Hungarian Senior 'B' Team, but this is also the 3 consecutive gold medalist hungarian men's water polo team), Anytime I asked them how they got better, it was through lots and lots of PRACTICE!

[@UnionKid15]

Great moment in basketball[NBA] history, great comeback.!

[@steve4158]

Bird was actually knocked out on that play. When he went back to the locker room, he watched the game on TV when he recovered. He went back in the game on his own and torched the Pistons!

[@joegarcia3484]

Watching game game in 1991 hyped up laughing saying this guy is heart and legend I was in a group home every black kid couldn't believe how great he was just great timeless moment when u see a legend give it his all and u just watch in amazement because u will never see it again I knew he wasn't going to around much longer kinda sad when I thought about that as a kid probably my favorite Larry bird game I saw on a Saturday or Sunday morning yea how lucky was I to see Larry bird but never went to game in person how I regret that of course I was just a kid back then in Los Angeles rooting 4the celtics I like the 96 97 celtics with dino dre brown Rick fox Brian shaw reggie joe Kline daye and mlcarr losing games to get Duncan instead we get chancy Billups and antoine Walker with the 3rd n sixth pick what a disaster set us back decades

[@vedantkhadye8518]

All due respect to Mr LeBron James, Larry Bird is still the best SF of all time, regardless what ESPN may want us to believe. Though I will say the gap between them is not as much as some think.

[@stevebenton9193]

You know the caliber of the man when the players on the opposing team, who just lost, are patting him on the back after the game.

[@raider8sox]

when you realize pierce tried to pull this off during the 2008 finals!

[@wickedbabayaga]

And all he did was shit his pants and tried to mask it

[@tm75_88]

That should be on History Channell, not only on Nba.tv

[@shinjukool]

bird was not "fast" (low top end) but quick hands, quick feet, quick mind, quick release AND fully ambidextrous ... and 6-10 with a handle and marksman's aim and nerves of steel and ... as the video shows .... True Grit ... pretty tough to match that in any era. Only MJordan comes close. Magic always had a better supporting cast than either of them.

[@pacboy24]

those in the nba now, when they are hurt, their out... because they kno they are getting paid... as for bird, he dont give a shit about the money, nor his bad back and sprained fingers.. he just wants to win!! #1 basketball player

[@albertosalgado3252]

Larry Legend

[@matfdp123]

is a leader,he is a leaders the celtics

[@spenjax1111]

air jordans < air birds

[@FestivalRift]

We said our prayers before bed, we never sexed 'til we wed, we were PROUD YOUNG AMERICANS OOOH YEAAA~

[@MrBamcito]

Best player of all times

[@johnhinkle1138]

I thought they were done. The true drama is Marv Albert saying “and here comes Larry Bird!” And the Pacers saw him and said Owww fuk! What an epic Ruthian comeback against a great young team. THAT was Larry. Beating young GREAT PLAYERS like Jordan, Dominique, Chuck Person, Bernard King on and on and on. Young bucks just really can’t know. Larry’s true equal, and Larry KNEW IT, was Magic.

[@alec9tap]

I'm not saying you brought it up, i'm just saying i think people and yourself see Larry and label him a non-athletic hard-working,over-achieving player because he's white instead of looking at how naturally gifted he was, he was as athletic as anyone to play the game, i guess it just depends on how you define "athlete"?

[@Birdman31942]

The nba needs more players who will lay their heart outs every night, give the skin off their knees and elbows, KG is basically the only current star i cant think of who plays every game like his last, the nba will be even worse when they're all gone, its funner watching shitty teams then it is good teams, at least the shitty teams dive on the floor for loose balls

[@mrudulalele3358]

LeBron cried when the ac went off in Texas. Greatest of all time lol what a joke

[@ultimatebeing2348]

You ever suffered a cramp before?

[@sexobscura]

he has a long one

[@paulefstathiou1819]

The " BIRD MAN " 33 , for you and me !

[@sauron9990]

I remember my father telling me about this game over and over again. We were SHOCKED when in Game 1 of the 2008 Finals those idiots calling the game didn't even mention it when Pierce went down. Pierce's return was more similar to this than Willis Reed. But o boy what a moment when the camera showed him running from the locker room, they put it on the jumbo-tron instead of the game and the place went nuts. does anyone know if Johny most called this game? If so I would of loved to hear it

[@Saisei87]

Could ya turn the volume up a little? Phones on full blast and I can still hear a mouse fart in a church

[@Tor109]

Ain’t no way bird at this stage of his career with his back would’ve survived playing today.

[@chefgromano5025]

Half the league now just shoots 3s and plays no defense he could’ve done that no problem.

[@zippo_muk9254]

2:13 *That’s the coldest photo in NBA history.*

[@tino0936]

100%

[@superkrex]

Did anybody else find the Do the Tango thing at the end funny? Cuz I cracked up at it's randomness

[@paddypgaming23]

bad ass

[@polyscroll]

Yeah, LaSalle Thompson was genuinely in awe of what Larry did in that game, and Chuck Person had to eat a big plate of crow after his taunt about him "going Bird hunting" prior to the game. Larry was far from being the most athletic person in that game, he was far from having the energy of youth on his side, and he was playing in pain (back pain) from the start, but I would take him in his prime over ANYONE in today's game. Why? Because he had the unshakable will to win and could show why he is basketball's "Legend" despite have so many issues to deal with. My top team of all time (all players) has prime Larry as a starting 5... all day, any day.

[@RobertWeir]

Even the Pacers understood

[@kevinobrien9626]

Let's not forget that, due respect, he hit the deck because an enemy defender was in the process of stealing the ball from him. He took a dive to swat at the ball he, himself, was in the process of turning over. So that was kind of a break-even. I am also deeply suspicious of what kind of 'treatment' he could have received in the locker room for the very short time he was gone. It probably came from out of a needle. What else is someone going to do - wiggle his agonized spine around for a couple of minutes and it's good as new?

[@flawlessmsc]

HOW MANY POINTS HE SCORED IN THIS GAME?

[@kcg5000]

a gym rat if there ever was one

[@arther1045]

@justcruzzinn yeah thats why Pete in rookie year played for a team that had one of the best records in the league the year before, and they sucked with Pete.

[@pellajoe]

Wonder what they shot him up with to kill the pain?

[@cubaz320]

1:45, the sonics were in trouble?

[@mrudulalele3358]

Celtics

[@MrDadumbo1]

It’s called heart.

[@BFFR...]

Agreed

[@alec9tap]

Oh i don't take it personally, i just think we've all gotten caught up in racial stereotyping that we forget that even though a white player can shoot,pass,dribble,rebound etc. because he can't dunk or jump he's not athletic and thus must work even harder than everyone else. Where i disagree is that the game came as naturally to Bird as it did Magic and MJ, they all just had different strengths but great athleticsm. BTW bad analogy comparing fat pitchers to a basketball player

[@Red4350]

" because he can't dunk or jump " white people can't dunk or jump? O.o

[@mikem1509]

person running his mouth and like always bird doing the job.

[@PDizzo]

@emiltsuimunsang Bird scored 32

[@TJ89741]

I’m sorry Steph Curry you’re No Larry Bird

[@alec9tap]

I guess i have a problem with it because it's a way to pat a white player on the back and say well look at what you've accomplished despite your lack of motor skills lol...And it also demeans a black players(or "more athletic"players) work ethic as if to say they don't have to work as hard, God granted them these gifts... It's just a lazy way of judging some of the greatest athletes the world has ever known

[@matfdp123]

gostaria de saber oq eles falam :/

[@trapet9025]

People who put Durant, Lebron>Larry Bird…show me where they would do this…

[@Julian24151]

@jjonah10 Magic and the Lakers comes pretty close

[@sbmang4927]

Larry didn't need a wheelchair and came back to play unlike AD the snowflake.

[@sylrojanoiii6779]

Fool Pierce did one of thos too.. lol

[@finaldestination5847]

And the kids today are telling Lebron is the goat !? Lebron would be out for months if he had hit the floor so hard with is head !! So Lebron isn´t even better (by far) than Larry, MJ, Magic, Kareem, Bill, Kobe and Tim !!

[@trghudson]

Poor quality video of an awesome event.

[@myristicina.]

this vid was uploaded 15 yrs ago

[@Trancymind]

don't forget jordan and bryant are also one of the best clutch shooters of all time.