Michael Jordan on Larry Bird: "He was way above the game, way above everybody else" |

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[@GameTime-yj6qv]

Greatness recognizes greatness. Love the mutual love and respect between Bird, Jordan, and Magic.

[@jingqi9106]

The thing about Larry Bird was that he was not only clutch, he was a great all-around player. Bird is the only player ever to average over 20 points a game, more than 5 assists, and at least 10 boards per game for his career (24.3, 6.3, 10).

[@rorydougherty]

Jokic will be joining that list

[@jingqi9106]

@@rorydougherty Jokic is a helluva player

[@bbg4us]

Actually his career states are 21.3 10.4 4.5. I just did my research. Either way, Bird was still a beast. I remember watching him as a kid and thinking to myself there will never be another Larry Bird. Yes, Luka has the potential to be better than Bird, but as of now Luka has no NBA Championships, Season MVP Awards, Or Finals MVP awards to his name. Until he achieve some of those accolades he is just a walking triple double. Just because you have great stats does not mean your worthy to be on the Mount Rushmore of basketball. Larry Bird has all the accolades to be considered one of the all time greats.

[@dalepostell8751]

24,10,n 6.....59 career triple doubles!

[@dalepostell8751]

​@@bbg4usWrong

[@maggaman1603]

The big 3 of the league, Bird, Johnson and Jordan. They saved the NBA.

[@broaddusmarines]

Well, Bird and Magic saved the NBA. MJ was still in high school when Bird and Magic were rookies.

[@wendyshipp1718]

Remember ...the Doc! Both were Masters of their craft!

[@eddiehaskell1957]

Julius was the guy who had me watching basketball in the 70's.

[@Atlantafied]

I always say Jordan, Bird and Magic were the 3 best players of all time.

[@RickStone-pn1ib]

Not even!!😂​@@Atlantafied

[@rudegi2]

White black blue or green he was the best in the game at that time ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@jbkmjl]

Bird #1 with back to back to back MVPs during both MJ & MJ eras.

[@DouglasSedaya]

simply because greatness appreciates greatness.....

[@beachplumb]

I like MJ’s quote about Bird: “Larry Bird was a f&#king problem”.

[@jeste4187]

It’s a compliment :)

[@mckill32]

White player? BAHAHAHA!! There hasn’t been another player that has been as good all around as bird. The real GOAT.

[@Garrettsamuel98]

Lol, as a white dude I thought that was funny too! But I'm sorry I'll put Steve Nash after Larry Bird ...lol

[@charliekennedy2545]

Bingo

[@jaymailloux976]

Everyone knows Larry's the GOAT, but (some fellas) just can't admit it......I wonder why😂😂😂

[@chriskuhn6130]

Bird was incredibly great, but don't act as if MJ, Kareem, Hakeem, Magic, Kobe, or Jokic aren't around or above his level.

[@Retaliater352]

@@chriskuhn6130don’t compare jokic ot Larry legend until he gets a bigger resume

[@emojimr4427]

Greatest Small Foward of all time ....Mr Clutch excellent Rebounder and passer ....Magic Johnson Rival ...

[@KrispyKleenex365]

I like when Legends get appreciated and praised as they deserve Its sad how they get disrespected so often I wonder if its better to be forgotten completely or Disrespected by new generations Much Respect to ALL the NBA Legends

[@davidmorin6667]

Coach Riley once said to win a game he'd chose MJ but to Save his life he'd pick Larry Legend Bird

[@konstantinkoverchenko9587]

Bird’s hustle and court vision practically made him a basketball god.

[@donmorton7282]

Larry Legend

[@DeeDee-y9n]

Larry Bird was Legendary and thats why they called him Larry Legend. GOAT

[@АндрейКондратьев-д4л]

Larry-the GOAT

[@anthonyfowler2623]

Bird is the goat

[@shanedenny5234]

That's a fact. Did it all!

[@BradfordBennefield-u7f]

Larry Bird was a great player and a legend

[@Plattenschatten]

Bird.....the best true man ever touching a Ball. No one can say anyone is better.

[@HeatherJ.McGonagle]

Been watching Larry Bird since he was in NCAA Finals and his entire career with the Celtics. NO ONE NEAR AS SKILLED AS HE WAS!!

[@staz8999]

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." Also, stop showing your ignorance by calling him the best white player cause he was way beyond that

[@mikemcgrath6150]

Riley knew if the game was on the line, jordan wanting to win bc its important to him and his ego could be trusted to take the shot but he wouldn't trust him if it was just to save riley. Bird was a far superior man ethically morally and would give it his all to save a mans life.

[@MisterCrookedNose]

MJ learned how to win from battling Larry to be apex predator

[@davidgeissler8620]

You are absolutely right watch Larry's game then watch MJ game MJ took the way Larry played and just took it to another level

[@festusaniemeka3350]

Nonsense

[@columbusohio72]

​@davidgeissler8620 change your meds 🤡. Jordan scored 69 on the celtics

[@Minnymooooo]

100%

[@Minnymooooo]

@@festusaniemeka3350 You don't know BB

[@Quinn37]

Bird is one of the few players who equaled Jordan's competitiveness. Kobe rates in the same conversation. For some players winning is the ONLY exceptable outcome in the deepest fiber of their being. If you mix in talent and work ethic you have something special.

[@eastbee103]

Greatest small forward ever!!

[@shanedenny5234]

Larry Bird swept Michael Jordan TWICE in the playoffs. 0-6. Have a nice day. #33 GOAT

[@phillipschuman4307]

Sorta true, sorta false. Larry's CELTICS swept Jordan's BULLS twice. There were 8 other players on the court at all times. And without any doubt, those Cs were the superior teams. With Larry Legend helping them be superior of course, but hardly alone and not some Bird v Jordan matchup (they didn't play each other).

[@mh_golfer]

WNBA players can learn a lot from NBA players, they wanted to kill each other but also recognized greatness. Bird, Magic and MJ are the reason players make so much today. CC can help WNBA players get more fans.

[@daviddejesus5376]

Two great players. They were both fun to watch.

[@sherlockholmez8764]

Larry bird had that haircut that all the girls had in their early 80s yearbook photos.

[@belladonna131]

LARRY WASN'T INTIMIDATED BY ANYONE. HE WORKED HARD AND PLAYED HARD. HE LOVED CHALLENGES. ❤❤❤ AND "BIRD IS THE WORD!"

[@turtle19dad]

They pay you to go to work. You go to work. Larry Bird #LarryLegend

[@jaded9234]

I always like to think of Bird as being like MJ's training-officer. Like yeah, Bird's Cetics were defeating the Bulls, but while all of the other stars were actively trying to ignore Jordan, Bird (Who was the biggest Star of them all, alongside Magic, and couldn't be ignored) was constantly hyping up MJ and telling everyone that he was "the future" of basketball.

[@cindyknudson2715]

"I get so many questions about Larry Bird. The thing is, ‘Was he really that good?’ I say, ‘Yeah! He was really that good. _White, black, green or yellow,_ he was really that good! When you see a player like Luka when you see a player like Dirk, they’re great players, but they’re not Larry Bird [laughs], by no means." _Michael Jordan_ I added the _italics._

[@CharlesHaltom]

You gotta remember the eighties in the nineties Was the most physical era in all of basketball

[@allenedwards8832]

And that’s the truth . Period.

[@dannysullivan8929]

WHITE PLAYER???....I don't think so. ANY PLAYER....ANY PLAYER!!! Bird is the GOAT. Regardless of race. PERIOD.....END OF STORY!!!

[@reallydoe6061]

Luka makes Bird look like PEE WEE Herman, skills wise. Imagine if he had Bird's mental toughness?

[@dannysullivan8929]

​​@@reallydoe6061 Saying that Luca is more skilled than Bird, is like saying that a newly born Baboon is smarter than Einstein.

[@reallydoe6061]

@@dannysullivan8929 SKILLWISE sir, SKILLWISE. Larry couldn't dribble!

[@dannysullivan8929]

​​@@reallydoe6061I never heard ANYBODY say that Bird couldn't dribble. Bird could shoot better than Luka, Bird could pass better than Luka, Bird could rebound better than Luka, Bird could make players around him MUCH better than Luka, Bird was more clutch than Luka, Bird was a better foul line shooter than Luka, Bird was more of a winner than Luka, Bird played in an era which was 100 times more physical than Luka's, Bird played in an era where they actually played defense, as opposed to Luka's era where you can't even breathe on someone without having a foul called on you, Bird played in an era where traveling, double dribbling, walking, discontinuing, carrying, and palming, were NOT allowed, etc, etc, etc. Luke I said, comparing Luka to Bird, is like comparing a newly born Baboon to Einstein. If Larry Bird played today, he would win 6 MVPs minimum, average 35 points per game, and win about seven championships. I couldn't possibly be more serious.

[@Dakotahlikesboxing]

Saying this idiotic stuff while Hakeem, LeBron and Wilt existed is crazy. Larry isn't even top 5

[@stevenkennedy6870]

Black Jesus The captain and Larry Legend are the only three players who should be included in the goat conversation honorable mentions being Magic and Tim Duncan everybody else you could argue are the better individual player but no one has had a better career than these 3 players

[@emmanuelenyinwa1443]

Magic Johnson is better than all those dudes stacked together. Larry Bird, the great white hope, was the very first person the media began this "greatest of all time" NONSENSE with back in 1985. After Magic reminded everyone who the man was in 1985, then came back and destroyed Bird again in 1987, then went back to back, the media dropped him like a skunk and hitched their wagon to Jordan, who at that time not only had no rings, but had never even had a .500 season yet. ALL the rules that was established to call Bird "goat" were all just flipped upside down to fit Jordan. Winning didn't MATTER anymore.

[@docmoon68]

​@@emmanuelenyinwa1443in MY perspective...if you were to assemble a 'GOAT' team, you center it around MAGIC JOHNSON!!! Any...ANY great team assembled MUST start by having MAGIC at POINT GUARD...then you fill the other positions!!! Magic could play ALL FIVE positions, and he was clutch AND versatile!!! I've seen players MATCH him...but I've NEVER seen anyone SHUT HIM DOWN!!! To ME...he's the greatest to EVER play!!!

[@mrbean3470]

Bill Russell. 11/13. That's not nothing.

[@willejones1918]

Bill with Cousy, Hondo, Heinsohn, Sam Jones, Sanders who was all star level a few years, Hodges, Bill was the 3rd best offensive player in his own team but dudes always bring his 11 rings up.

[@scottharm3932]

@@docmoon68 Thank you! I've always said Magic is the 2nd best of all time behind Jordan. Magic was the ultimate team player and he won at every level of the game from JV to the NBA to the Olympics. Magic simply got the very best out of every single player on the team. From superstars like James Worthy, to bench players like Kurt Rambis. Magic was unbelievable!

[@kevinbramlett5396]

MJ was the man when he had the ball and could jump. Larry was the man even if he didn’t have the ball. Watch Celtics v Bulls. Old ass Larry owned MJ and Pippen in their prime.

[@leemcb7297]

I had my old English teacher tell me that MJ waited for Larry, Magic, and Zeke to get old before dominating the NBA. He could not challenge them dudes who were competing (even winning) NBA titles in their rookie or sophomore years

[@joelamesbury4551]

Bird cooking him as a rookie built him into an assassin.

[@leoalcaraz6153]

There levels to this game and there are the greats and then there are the legends and Larry bird is on the legends list just like Mike and that’s what Mike means greatness recognizes greatness

[@suzieredfoxfur6982]

Jordan didn’t play against the heavy hitters that Larry did.

[@eastbee103]

Greatest list: PG - Magic SG - Jordan SF - Bird PF - Duncan C - Hakeem

[@eastbee103]

@@skydust1269 i said greatest!! Kareem is better on offense but Olajuwon had good offense and supreme defense!! Olajuwon won the chip with no other all stars in 1994 against a good knicks team!! And Hakeem destroyed Shaq's Magic!! Kareem always had stacked teams with Oscar Robertson and with Magic!! I am going with Hakeem!!

[@eastbee103]

@@skydust1269 Hakeem got two Defensive Player of the Year awards!! Olajuwon's footwork and quickness were supreme!!

[@larry-zw4mh]

Bird my favorite and I am pro black Bird was a beast

[@James-e8l7f]

There were some Detroit players that did not like Bird .they just could not compete with Bird.

[@jbjoeychic]

Notice MJ mentions the work ethic and that is the difference between a good player and a great player/Legend. All the greats had that incredible work ethic. One could not out work them. Pistol Pete was a child working on all of those skills his dad told him he would need to be great. Amazing work ethic by MJ, Bird, Magic, Dr. J., all of 'em.

[@reallife0728]

I'VE SEEN LARRY BIRD IN HIS PRIME,,,,NOT JUST WHITE PLAYER,,,,LARRY WAS A HIGHLY SKILLED DAWG FOR REAL,,,,FOR REAL!!!!!🏀🏀🏀💯💯💯

[@matthentges3255]

Top 5 for sure

[@kurtsherrick2066]

Jordan is a closet Bird Fan. He respected Bird for sure. Bird has always complimented Jordan. Two of the Greatest to ever lace them up.

[@carebear2272]

Bird was the end of the greatest team player, Jordan was the being of the greatest one man team.

[@martysomoco]

Bill Russell - greatest sports champion of all-time. Bill Russell is unsurpassed in his achievements and greatness as a college athlete (two NCAA National Titles) and as an NBA player - 11 NBA Championships in 13 years. (Including 8 NBA Titles in a row). A few very talented NBA players have achieved six NBA titles. Some gifted, successful NBA players have achieved five, or four NBA titles, respectively. A very few great NBA players, Oscar Robertson, Jerry West, Wilt Chamberlin, Charles Barkley, Julius Erving, and Larry Bird, won fewer titles. I believe that, although these highly-skilled players had outstanding individual capabilities and achievements, they did not possess all the requisite talents, skills, and capabilities necessary to achieve the franchise-level successes of Bill Russell. Tom Brady played 20+ years and achieved 7 NFL titles. An average of about 1 title every 3 years. Bill Russell played for 13 years and won 11 titles. 8 in a row. All college and professional players' accomplishments pale when compared to the achievements of Bill Russell. Bill Russell displayed a degree of athleticism, coupled with basketball intelligence, which is unequalled. His excellence in rebounding, blocking shots, tipping blocked shots to his teammates, intimidating offensive players, successfully defending against the greatest offensive opponents of his era, running the court, jumping over players ( he was able to touch the top of the backboard), scoring as many points as necessary to win on a given day, passing, and making every player on his team the best that they could be. These abilities, and the resulting achievements - 11 NBA Titles in 13 years (8 in a row), substantiate Bill Russell as the greatest basketball player.

[@shanegooding4839]

Rodman saying Bird wasn't that good is like saying MJ doesn't know what he's talking about.

[@broaddusmarines]

Rodman should be taken seriously….about anything. Bird pulled Rodman’s heart out and ate it in front of him every game they played. On the other hand, Rodman’s teammate in Detroit (John Salley) actually says that Larry Bird is the greatest player to ever live.

[@peteroakes4874]

Larry Bird was the greatest to ever do it! Just ask Jordan why he couldn't beat Bird in the playoffs!!!!!!!

[@danbratten3103]

"Michael made you look slow. Bird made you look stupid!" -HOF James Worthy

[@martinhonan9588]

Jokic? Better than anyone in the NBA currently.

[@KillaKali777]

I Miss watching Larry Bird he was always fun to watch. I loved all the Shit talking he did as well

[@KhoaNgo-sr4zq]

Bird is a legend .

[@davidgeissler8620]

How come we never hear MJ in the media talk about bird

[@kilroywashere772]

I never liked Larry Bird when he was playing, probably because he always beat my favorite teams. But after going back and watching all his old games on KZbin, he's my favorite player to watch.

[@coldskoolbeatz]

Top 5 All Time. Best SF to play the game.

[@byronvanhook3467]

There has never been another black guy as skilled as Michael Jordan.

[@bikeman9419]

Larry Bird was to basketball like what Babe Ruth was to baseball. The game was in their souls.

[@mikemanner9811]

When you talk about Larry igniting that rivalry with the Lakers, please don’t forget that without Magic it’s all moot.

[@TheLostTarget]

Magic and Bird turned out to be good friends.

[@davidmartin7163]

Bird wasn’t very athletic, but being as tall as he was you don’t have to be. He was smart and quick witted on the court. He could shoot from anywhere and had excellent spacial awareness. One hell of a trash talker too lol

[@matimanya]

White, black, brown, yellow, doesn't matter. Bird is the real Goat. Jokic remind me of Bird, because they know they are better that everybody else, and don't mind the stats, or individual trophies, only win, and be champion.

[@lukemorganbball5621]

All time top 5 Hakeem, Bird, Mj, Magic , Shaq..

[@bradleyboyer9979]

Bird didn't play as long as many superstars, but you could argue that, during a ten-year window, he was the GOAT. I wouldn't personally make that argument, but it is not an unreasonable argument to make.

[@MikeyD22]

I'd personally make that argument.

[@atx4fun]

@@MikeyD22 I would too. The thing people who only look at stats will never understand is this. There was not a worse feeling than your team being up 1-2 points with under 10 seconds left and Bird getting the ball. Not Jordan, not Lebron, not anyone that I can think of has that same "oh shit, were screwed" feeling that Bird gave you.

[@MikeyD22]

​@@atx4funVery true!

[@Primus54]

These shorts would be a lot better if you actually used the clips of what players said instead of reading them yourself. Just my two cents.

[@DavidTenhundfeld]

Larry Bird is my all time favorite player. You next Mr. Jordan. & MJ has the stats. So for GOAT? its a coin toss...or why cant there be 2two GOATS?

[@AsteroidsDeluxe]

Bird not quite the goat due to his ailments cutting his dominance a bit short but he was the best during his healthy prime for about a seven year stretch.

[@djcassiusclay3538]

#Legends

[@ernestchildress9461]

If you ask me. I think Bride is in the top 3 of all time. Bride did it all.

[@romano3771]

Bird is the most complete BB-Player you will ever find. He could do it all. Dude could also jump higher than almost every NBA Player in his era although he had white genes. His work ethic on court was also crazy every game. Many *Star-Players from current era would have been injured the whole season if they tried to play one high-intensity game from back in the day.

[@cirrustate8674]

No. Larry's vertical was Exactly the league average at that time.

[@richardrabe7940]

Bird and celtic are tje only one with winning record agaist mj

[@richardpare3538]

The difference between Bird and MJ is that Bird knew how to get his guys to play at a higher level than their opponents, whereas MJ had no clue how to do that.

[@zachmartin1458]

I hate these greatest arguments, they're so subjective, and for every argument for I can give you one against. That said, Larry Bird is the only player I ever saw who could make something spectacular happen at any moment of the game. Routine stuff like an inbounded ball, rebounding a missed free throw, saving a ball from going out of bounds, boxing out, it didn't matter, he could make something out of it. You didn't dare take your eyes off of him because you were afraid you would miss something. He was almost exhausting to watch. I can't imagine what it would have been like to play against him.

[@rickbateman2401]

People need to take one thing into account when they look at Bird’s scoring numbers - he was an incredibly unselfish player who played with 2 other guys who were legit number one option scorers in Parish and McKale - and that’s not counting his years with Walton coming off the bench. Jordan was 1 and 1A with the Bulls, with Pippen occasionally going off but the Celtics had 3 guys who could light up the scoreboard every night.

[@Alexp36500]

I think Luka and Dirk both have greatly acknowledged that they were/will never be Larry Bird... what Tyson say "your insane talent means you're favored by God. But it also means you're favored by the devil too". If that don't give you chills.

[@Cogic]

I wasn around in Larry Bird time but wow i been looking at his recaps and definitely on the just about the same caliber as Jordan Jerry west was a good white baller too

[@dasa6224]

Mj didn't win until Bird left

[@Tebbulator]

It really is a shame that Larry Bird had reoccurring injuries at such a young and pivotal moment in his career. Dude was climbing and climbing fast but his injury wouldn't let him get to Michael or Kobys level But I love hearing the stories

[@Wraith3100]

Wish they would have met up when it counted more

[@cecildison6788]

They did in the finals and bird sweep him twice!!

[@dolphsantitho5301]

Larry Bird The GOAT

[@bradynutzman4488]

Mike and Larry. Those are the top two. Not LeFraud and Mike.

[@richardshaker271]

Forget about the color of his skin , Bird is top five all time , period ….

[@geekverve]

"Only a few players could truly challenge Michael Jordan's NBA legacy..." Uh, MJ didn't yet have a legacy, when he was playing Bird.

[@512banana1]

BIRD = GOAT!

[@chadinmich1]

I would love to see the reaction if someone in the NHL for example said something like this about a black player. Whoever said it would be canceled immediately…

[@chemicalboy1084]

Wait for Jokic and Luka to finish their carrers before talking about the "White Goat"

[@orvillemeadows3492]

Imagine what they could do today

[@MelCrosby]

After he learned how to win against the Bad Boy Pistons, he forgot that part but I didn't. It was a chain of events missed. I just corrected it.✌🏽

[@edstockford6682]

If lebron had to play against them pistons . He wouldn't score no 30 plus . Hed be on the floor . An it wouldn't be because of flopping

[@MelCrosby]

@@edstockford6682 he would of been an average big man during the Bad Boys era. It was a lot of big men that would of rocked Lebron. He doesn’t like physicality, different type of game he wouldn’t have liked to play in.

[@jamoa3395]

It the era and that coming from MJ , greatest team bulls 96” years

[@K-xb2qz]

The 80s and 90s were their time. They played in the era they were in and dominated. I understand why people compare eras. Its really a dead argument. Its like watching a original movie from the 80s and remaking it in 2024. Some people might like it. Some might not. Theres nothing like the original. Larry bird is Larry bird. MJ is MJ. I like basketball period. Do i like today's game better than the Jordan and Bird era? Hell no. Basketball was better in my opinion. I do think the players are more athletic and they score more points but the 80s and 90s were my era also so i stick up for the old school. Lol. There are a lot of guys in the 80s and 90s who could easily play in 2024. Jordan would kill today. Bird would too as well. He wasn't crazy athletic but he was smart, could pass, shoot and rebound. He might not look intimidating but ask those hall of famers who had to play against him what he was like. Thats all you need to know. Its not about what you think because you didn't play against him. 😅

[@rocketpigrecords3719]

There isn't a black player that skilled, either. 0-6 in playoffs and 11-17 overall vs Larry Legend, the only man who can control the game without the ball in hand. The Bird flies higher than the GOAT.

[@starn9]

Luka not better than larry bird is some real old shit to say yall be living in a fantasy 😭

[@emmanuelenyinwa1443]

Ah! A 69!! Way to go, fellas...

[@jonmccormick8683]

MJ and the Bulls had no chance against the Celtics and/or stacked Laker teams in the 80's. +Early 80's 76ers. Later 80's Detroit was tough. Detroit had to wait because of the Lakers/Celtics and Michael had to wait for all 3 before his chance.

[@tomdement4607]

Not racist or anything

[@eaglesnest3833]

There haven’t been many black players as good as Bird either.

[@curtismcmillian4457]

Yeah everyone says that about larry bird 😅😊😊😂😂😁💪🏾👊🏾😆😁😆😆😆💪🏾🆒💯🆒🆒💯

[@samkenza1274]

Larry Bird the white jesus

[@eastbee103]

Bird >> Lebron