NBA Legends Speak On Why Larry Bird Would Dominate The League Today

[@cinrok1]

Hearing Gary Payton, one of the most athletic, greatest defenders in the history of the league, talk about Larry like that, should tell people how cold Larry was

[@RemoWilliams1227]

No question

[@ericklardie4808]

Not only that Gary Payton I'm in the league I think in 91 or 92 so he was there right at the end of Larry Bird's career when Larry Bird was in 100% And he was still is Amazed by him the coldest man he ever seen

[@MightGuy-dp7lo]

​@ericklardie4808 yea people don't get how good bird was. Even when a shell of himself, his teams dropped to 50% record win/lose when he was back they are at 70% win rate. His impact on his teams ability to win games is very understated. Mchale/parish lead Celtics went 42/40 in there primes. That team was only contenders becuaseo of bird ability to elevate his teams

[@ricardovazquez1840]

Crazy stat: Throughout his career, the Celtics never had a month with a losing record when Larry Bird was in the lineup.

[@davidbowles4457]

Gary said bird was the shit give it to any way he wanted and nothing you could do about it 😂

[@theoffgridtravelers7316]

I use to get to the games in Boston garden early. I was on the floor one Sunday watching LA and the Celtics getting ready to play. I was watching Bird and DJ mostly and up behind me came Parish. He stopped and said how you doing today? I was a skinny 20 year old white kid who was so shocked he said hi to me. We talked for about 45 seconds, as he was walking on to the court I said kick their ass, he said you got it. Will never forget that as long as I live. One of the all time greats. He has no idea how much that one hello meant to me. He's awesome!

[@johnfasciana9505]

I was fortunate enough to have seen him play 1 game in Hartford and 1 game in Boston I shook my head both games in disbelief bird was a bad man

[@paul-u2y9y]

being an old quasi hippy i love that chief was / is a pot head.

[@jasonhunt7121]

CHIEF

[@dowth3]

What a great story about Chief!

[@johnnymossville]

I feel lucky to have been around glued to my tv watching Dr J, Magic, Bird, Jordan, Jabbar, The Dream Team, and everyone else as a kid. It was a glorious time to be a basketball fan.

[@888jimm]

And we thought it was just normal 😂

[@johnnymossville]

hahaha, so true!!!!

[@nathanstrickland6508]

It's just not the same after watching them back in the day.

[@toddcunningham3213]

Olajuwon, Worthy, Kemp, Mullins, Isiah, McHale, Ainge, Kareem, Rambis...

[@Sldumas1983]

Don’t be surprised if they say he could put up 35 or more a game in this era, Larry Legend is his name for a reason

[@paul-u2y9y]

if larry was playing today?, nah, i 'd say only about 24-26, he is in his 60.s after all

[@CharlesBukowski-m1o]

As a long time suffering Washington Bullets fan (they didn't matter by the time I got into watching basketball in 1983 at 10-yrs old), the way he would dive into the out of bounds area for the ball was legendary

[@CharlesBukowski-m1o]

PS--I I thought my Washington Bullets got a deal when we got Moses Malone for Jeff Ruland. The next great white boy! (Named "McNasty" by the Boston Celtics legendary announcer... But they had to break up the team for some reason, he went to Philadelphia and do the injuries his career died, and Rick McHorn (THE BRUISE BROTHERS) was getting championships for the Detroit Pistons. (When he got drafted in the expansion draft, he told detroit, "don't worry, Dennis Rodman will take over for me." (He was the "6th Man of the Year" at that point.. no one knew if he had it full-time to play starter.. but Rick was right!)

[@charlesking4780]

Bird would dominate in the NBA today.

[@dawnbehen2780]

I’m so glad I lived in the time I was able to go to the Garden to watch Bird and the Celtics play. I wasn’t a big basketball fan until then. OMG it was fun as hell to watch him play.

[@deloisphillips831]

People need to understand that Magic and Bird Saved the NBA. When they came on the scene only 14 NBA teams were making a profit. Bird and Magic brought the crowd and fans back to the game!

[@ricardovazquez1840]

Postseason games were broadcasted on tape delay, in favor of sitcoms, game shows, reruns, etc.

[@Obiahjones]

That's a truth that people don't realize they sort of made it rival baseball and football as national sport by cleaning it up, Kareem was awesome but too political, Dr Jay was awesome but didn't have that dichotomy

[@deanholmes1322]

Dude, let me tell you something. I'm a Knicks fan and in I believe it was 85 or 86, I had seats in the 12, and 14th row at Madison Square, and take my word, this guy was A TRASH TALKING KING. After he lit us up for 38, I had to see him again. Now, all of a sudden, I'm a bird fan . This boy lit up a 50 point game and you could hear ALL of the shit he was talking, from 12 rows up. I'm still a die hard Knicks fan, but as a white baller myself in the 80s, I respect bird even more than my Knicks

[@paul-u2y9y]

people forget the great bernard King, he'd ruin these guys !

[@Lord_Legolas_Greenleaf]

I grew up watching BBall way before there was a 3 point line. I watched Wilt The Stilt, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, SkyWalker, Ice Man and soo many others. Growing up in Seattle - the Super Sonics were my team. 1979 was Great! DownTown Freddy Brown! Gus Williams! Jack Sickma! Anyway - the games when these guys played: Magic, Jordan and Bird games where Magical! The 1980's were indeed the Golden Years.

[@reg4321]

I didn't have the privilege of watching Wilt play, but I do remember watching the rest of the players you mentioned play.

[@Lord_Legolas_Greenleaf]

@@reg4321 Skywalker was another man that brought a new dimension to the game!

[@FUBAR1986]

I grew up when there was the ABA and NBA before the merger…. Today’s youth have no idea how the game changed from center domination to forwards to guards and the defense. They don’t play any today…. Back in the day defence was compared to hockey and football. It was that brutal….. anybody going for a layup ended up in the stands, several rows deep into the fans

[@andybilakshow260]

Why would you disrespect Wilt that way. He *hated* "Wilt the Stilt" smh wtf

[@thatmanstumototours2270]

What could possibly cause anyone to doubt that scorers from Bird’s era couldn’t score today? The League today is so much less physical , has very few if any enforcers whose paycheck depends on how many times they knock someone on their ass ,has virtually no rim defenders and allows moving screens. No wonder everyone looks so fast and smooth. Being allowed to freely move around and without fear of getting blasted does wonders for your athleticism.

[@dmappzoom6778]

yep and it's boring to watch.

[@ettibbet5493]

@@dmappzoom6778 I would kill tobhave the bad boys of Detroit get to play a 7 game series using rules of their era vs LeBron, LeBron would run faster then the red army ran from the broadsheet bullies

[@buscem00]

Not to mention there's no such thing as a carry or travel in anymore

[@Femitoodrippy]

I agree completely

[@onyxblack1167]

That era would not rush for flashy play coz they are afraid someone might clothesline them.

[@bmf00]

bird could average what he wanted to average. Seriously.

[@MusicMan1965]

I love John Stockton’s story where Larry told him and the Sun’s bench he feels like 43 tonight…..and that’s what he had. I agree…Larry could average whatever he wanted.

[@BigDan21.]

​@GS mine is Pat Riley, he said... " If the game is on the line, I want MJ taking the last 2nd shot. With my life on the line, I'm taking Larry Joe Bird!!"

[@Denis-cr4bs]

That's true. He wanted to get everyone involved.

[@ricardovazquez1840]

Larry Bird wasn't about individual stats. He was about the Ws.

[@JamesClark-fn2db]

I watched his whole career as a Bulls fan and yes Larry Bird was all that! He wasn’t about stats but yes he could average what he wanted to.

[@tjlpartners8263]

An athlete is someone who knows the game (brain), understands the games (sees things before others do), wants to beat you (heart, focus, effort), and can play the game (skills and athleticism). That is Larry Legend.

[@OldSchoolPatrick]

Well said!

[@edfewchas3255]

All the GOAT talk is well and good... I just feel blessed to have seen Larry Bird and Bobby Orr play their sports at such an incredibly high level.

[@F1rstWorldNomaD]

Bobby Orr, man... Now were talking my sport. Nicklas Lidstrom is my favorit player of all time. Bobby Orr is the only player he didnt beat as far as defensive player of the year award goes. Bobby was a fakking beast.

[@johnwhitworth9074]

@@F1rstWorldNomaD If there is one person who gets more love in Boston then Larry Bird..Its Bobby Orr. I'm a Detroit Redwings fan my whole life...appreciate your Nick Lidstrom comment. But at his peak Orr was far better Nick...Nick had a cannon from the point and always knew where to be on the Ice...Bobby Orrr just skated far better than anyone had seen before....a Human Hi light film.

[@champs998]

Bird & Jordan could avg what ever they wanted in today's game.

[@stevetallent4637]

Yep. Defense was allowed to be so much more physical then. There are more shooters now so the floor is more spread. Cutting and motion is more of a thing now so more passes. Both would be crazy good.

[@e321-g4q]

There will never be another Larry Bird... period.

[@RP-bx5un]

Larry could've dropped 40 a night back then. He's a team player.

[@ContrarianCorner]

Exactly. These discussions are missing the point. Bird and Magic could basically score any time they wanted to. Big numbers were neither their motivation nor their goal... winning was.

[@jlmusic1469]

it was pretty average for Larry's starting crew to all end in double figures.

[@brianmorien2572]

@@ContrarianCorner I agree. It is too bad players today are more interested in the money than the game.

[@edfewchas3255]

I love Dr J, but the Celtics before Bird in 78-79 won 29 games, and were last in the division. Bird's rookie year they won 61, and finished first.

[@dwartfarquart9590]

Doesn't reflect negatively on The Dr. Celtics vs Sixers was never to be missed. There are no wars like that, today, as you obviously know.

[@jordan9604]

​@@dwartfarquart9590There isn't any rivalries at all, except between the fans. There is no, "Touch the paint, I touch you."

[@TheJohnnywbred]

I think people vastly underestimate Larry’s athleticism. I agree he wasn’t a jumper but he moved just fine and he contorted his body which is athleticism.

[@mizzo9]

As a Knick fan, I hated him but now he’s on my Mt. Rushmore of players

[@jameshines6486]

Watching him pass is insane how good he was. He could see everything.

[@jayeell1253]

Bird's play style = Fundamentals

[@marekmirski7201]

All encompassing comment!

[@dowth3]

EDIT: Fundamentals MASTERED

[@jaydee5447]

Larry was a stone cold killer

[@mikebunner3498]

Keen observation young man. YES, Larry would fit in today's NBA..... I think in today's NBA Larry would be good for 30 per game. EASY!............. Plus his assists would be chart toppers. And he rebounded and his basketball IQ was tops.

[@rickbateman2401]

An NBA court is 94’ by 50’. You don’t have to be fast - you have to be quick and Bird was lightning quick. He played in an era that was way more physical and he made a lot of plays in that physical area of the offensive court. In today’s game with all the phantom fouls, no hand checking, defensive 3 second rule and reliance on outside shooting, Bird would light the league up. Players like Jordan, Bird, Drexler, Barkley and Hakeem would be completely unstoppable today

[@Mary38821]

I always enjoy watching your video’s

[@Femitoodrippy]

🖤

[@JanettaB.]

I watched Bird play his whole career. He slayed... he will always be my GOAT!!

[@ryman7884]

He also would have played longer in this Era due to advances in medicine and physical therapy. He was amazing.

[@bobburris4445]

Bird played an entire game (against Atlanta, I think) only shooting with his left hand. He told them he was saving his right hand for a more important game. . . I think he scored 40+ that game. He went into the locker room before the 3 point competition and told them they were all playing for 2nd place. Then went out and won the competition without even removing his warm up jacket . . .

[@Femitoodrippy]

I heard about that sheesh

[@waynemarvin5661]

It was the first three quarters in Portland. Bird doesn't need your inflated stories.

[@nienpayne9820]

Boston was on a west coast trip playing Portland. He told them he was saving his right hand for the Lakers

[@chiphargis2419]

@@waynemarvin5661 who hurt you?

[@andybilakshow260]

@@waynemarvin5661 It happens. Did you skip grade school?

[@epicycles700]

What always stood out to me about Bird were his lightning-quick reflexes -- and his mind was even quicker than his hands.

[@andybilakshow260]

The "snap" passes have never been replicated. At least what I've seen.

[@puppethound]

With all the talk about Bird being one of the best, imagine that front court, Mchale, Parrish and Bird, arguably the best or one of the best ever.

[@drummer8by2]

Larry could do just what they said... He would dominate today, and yes, he wasn't a sprinter but he could move around quickly and out think them, out pass, rebound, one or 2 moves ahead, etc and, he had some handles for sure and pass', rebound, shoot FTs, 3s when needed and, just all around great shooter and, amazing intelligence and playmaker and, especially toughness... Playing with broken bones, etc... Easily a dominant player today... No question...

[@Autumn8564]

The kids today couldn’t take his trash talking and psyching them out.

[@kamaeq]

His peers among the superstars named him LEGEND for a reason. They knew people would argue about various "goat" players and this put Larry Bird beyond all such triviality. Many "goats" and only one Legend! The funniest prediction was Bird would get ejected quickly for his trash talk causing modern NBA players mental damage.

[@anthonyashwood1438]

He was a great passer and clutch player. He could do all things.

[@danacarter4793]

Tysm for your vids and your response made me laugh ,cause I watched this live,but watching a new generation getting how good he was ❤❤

[@Femitoodrippy]

No problem 🙏🏾

[@bassdaddy6548]

This is my favorite LB video so far. Great job, man!

[@Femitoodrippy]

🙏🏾

[@shawnglass108]

If you don’t believe that the NBA is much different now then go watch an old game from back then. They didn’t give the offense every single advantage like they do now. If a defender had position you couldn’t move him or run him over. It was a charge or offensive foul. Defense was an art. If Shak had used his butt to back a defender out of position, like he did every single time he got the ball, it would’ve been called an offensive foul ever single time. Players had to learn finesse. If Wilt Chamberlain had been allowed to simply muscle defensive players out of the way, like they can now, he would’ve averaged 75 points a game.

[@lindseyhouse5282]

True shit

[@bulemakanyuk]

I liked the fact they made it clear Bird would be getting technicals left and right, simply cause he was trash talking the other players. Imagine KD getting on one of his million Twitter accounts and crying about how Bird was talking smack to him the whole game, and that’s why he couldn’t do anything.

[@carlnilssonyoung8961]

Well I’m sure many todays players have to see psychiatrist after playing against bird

[@Femitoodrippy]

😂 u not wrong

[@dawnbehen2780]

They’d need boxes if Kleenex at the opposing team’s bench for every game. Lol

[@danacarter4793]

I grew up watching him ,trust me ,he'd thrive, greatness is greatness no matter how you slice ,🐦💯❤‼️

[@pookie717]

I think you were absolutely dead on, as a man who watched bird play and that league, he'd definitely be averaging 40. He also never missed free throws so with the soft league today where fouls are called left right and center, you might be lucky if he didn't average 50. The league was violent back then. You, sometimes literally, had to fight for every point you got. I know the rule changes aren't the fault of these new stars, but if you teleported them back to the 80s & 90s, they'd have to sit on the bench for 2 years while they adjusted. I'm sure they'd still be great players but sorry, bird put every great in their place time and again. Jordan couldn't even make the finals until Larry's body was basically broken and 2 years from retirement. Oh and back then, you couldn't shop teams for championships. Either you were great enough to win with what you got or you're shit out of luck. Bird took a 31 win team the year before he was drafted to a championship ring in two years. TWO YEARS! Can't never say LeBron is better. Hell look at all the talent James has had on the Lakers and the didn't make the playoffs. Bird would've swept every round with that much talent on his team.

[@smokedbrisket3033]

Even better, look at how injured Bird played for more than half his career. And LeChina had to get carried off the court because of a leg cramp.

[@VegasAlien1]

I would have loved to see Lebron play against the Pistons of old. He would set a record for most time on the floor. I mean ON the floor.

[@cboyblue6168]

I was in Dallas in early 80s, had season tickets, 7th row behind the hoop. Boston came to town. Bird dropped 50 that night, Dallas won in OT. It was amazing to watch, it was like 83…he was hot.

[@puppethound]

The thing about Bird that would be true, is that he is a scorer, passer, and very crafty player, an offensive juggarnaut on the offensive side of the game. So in today's game he would average 30+for sure, and probably a triple double a few years depending on his team mates. He would be in the MvP conversation every year, so all in all, nothing would change.

[@cdubs9918]

I saw Bird play in the old Garden and I'll remember it forever. It was amazing. Bird was amazing. He dropped shots like it was nothing.

[@johnjacobjingle7177]

Larry Legend. Top5 all time for real..40 put avg today easy

[@calzman]

Bird definitely dont get enough credit. He should be in the top 5. He did everything. One of the few total packages to ever play.

[@randyhuke3773]

To say watching Bird play is like him watching a movie is the best description of him I have ever heard. He played like he was following a script but no one else read the script. The guy was always 2 or 3 steps ahead of everyone ! And it would be no different in today's NBA

[@timelesscoaching]

Great point, Tommy heinsohn used to say Larry was playing chess and everyone else is playing checkers.

[@phillipscott585]

Bird is my all time favorite player. I am admittedly biased, as I am a Hoosier who has lived my whole life 30 minutes from where Bird grew up. The answer to “How many points would these guys average today?” And not just Bird, but Magic, as well. Is as many as they want. And 2 things, that I don’t think really gets the consideration that they should, is that this was an era of basketball that you could literally clothesline a guy who tried to come inside. And there were no flagrant fouls. You might, might get a tech, but you weren’t getting ejected. And they took those beatings from the likes of Moses Malone, Bill Lambier, and Charles Oakley, just to name a few. NO ONE today is tougher or hits harder than those guys. Make NO mistake. Those 2 particularly, get literally however many they want. And really, you can’t put Jordan in that group in the 80’s. Because they did beat that man up and eliminated him every year until 90-91. The 80’s belonged to Magic and Bird. And secondly, all respect and props to Magic. But the East in the 80s was MILES better than the West. Larry and the Celtics had to run a gauntlet every year to get to the Finals. The Lakers had very little in their way. They got to walk to the finals really every year, the Celtics got there beaten and bloodied and then had to play an all time great squad in those Lakers. And so I always argue that Larry’s 3 are every bit as impressive as Magic’s 5. Sorry for the long rant, lol.. great video and keep it up!!

[@alfredh3071]

LB played before the three point line was instituted. There was a study done of the locations of his shots, then they drew the three point lines into the diagram. LB averaged 60 points a game. In college he averaged 70 ppg. If anyone else had averaged 60 ppg and 3 MVP, and three rings, they would have retired his number from the league. As it is, he was three assists and 4 rebounds short of a triple double for his CAREER.

[@jayeell1253]

Yes he would because now 😀you can't play defense as tough as they did back then. And I know people now would say it doesn't matter, but it does. Something as simple as hand checking you can't do now.

[@patriciahenderson2096]

Watch how Michael Cooper or James Worthy always had Bird's jersey just holding on to him. Because if they didn't, they couldn't keep track of him. The guy was constant movement on the court. Whether he had the ball in his hand or not.

[@flyboymcgee8059]

When people talk about “the greats”, and conveniently leave out Bird, they’re either afraid of his dominance, or they know nothing about ball

[@guyhenry8575]

I’m sure Bird could average more today, but he could have back then too. He was a team player. Much more interested in the W than stats. Like Bill Russell before him. All about the Win!

[@davidbowles4457]

Bird would make todays players cry like babies

[@debbymccormick7761]

I am from Boston. And my family was fortunate enough to have seasons tickets to the Boston celtics. There was never an empty seat in the Boston Garden, when Larry Bird was playing. He would put all the other NBA players to shame. He was outstanding. And he was tough as hell, and he never backed down.

[@johnsheehan5109]

Larry Bird will go down as the Einstein of basketball. His court awareness, encyclopedic knowledge of players and their habits, when added to his physical skills made for one of the greatest players of all time.

[@johnsheehan5109]

Maybe your dad or grandfather saw the Detroit/Celtic championship game where Bird makes the steal off Isiah's in-bound pass, then passes to DJ for the gaming-winning points. Earlier in the game I watched Bird pass on stealing a sloppy inbound pass, but you could see he put that in his pocket for later. And that's why he's one of the greatest.

[@fatovamingus]

Man when you were laughing at that Gary Payton comment I couldn't stop laughing with you! That was hilarious

[@AdrienneMonestere]

Larry would be a human triple double today because he was a tremendous rebounder even with all the trees he played against in the day. Honestly, people don't fight for rebounds anymore. And his passing was some of the best in history, especially getting out on the break. I believe he would average a triple double and about 35 points a game. Remember, the league did not play zone defense in his day, so not much switching. Can you imagine all the switching to little guys he'd do. Doncic and Joker just are way slower than Larry in his prime. He made three all defensive teams too. And you're getting his competitiveness and trash talking, It wouldn't even be fair with the soft wimps out there today. He'd torture them.

[@Denis-cr4bs]

And remember, in Larry's day to say the game was physical would be an understatement.

[@lionjwd]

Bird’s stats if playing now, and he was in his prime. 42.5 PPG 12.4 APG 10.5. RPG 4.0. BPG

[@lindseyhouse5282]

add 2.3 steals/game

[@markcirelli5360]

I remember watching Larry Bird, he was simply amazing dominate player. I rank him top three.

[@stephanetrembley6180]

Like Magic said " there will never ever be another Larry Bird".

[@Ville-u8g]

I thought about what Magic said. I realized he is absolutely right. Impossible that someone like Bird could exist again.

[@ervinhowell928]

#33 Bird is the G.O.A.T

[@mickylawless1941]

Larry Legend would probably average 35 pts, 12-14 assists, 15+ rebounds and 8-10 steals. (Yes, he might very well have averaged a quad double.) He probably wouldn't shoot as much as one would think because he was a TEAM player. The reason he was such a legend back then was because he made everyone around him better. It forced defenses to focus on each player, rather than collapse onto Larry the way Magic and the MSU players did in the NCAA final. If he was more like MJ, he'd probably jump his points average up to 45. Having said that, MJ would probably average 45-55 points in today's NBA.

[@Sldumas1983]

And remember Lebron has Bird as one of his all time starting 5

[@apexshaver7301]

3... Starting 3 or he said he was one of his top 3 players along with Michael and dr. J

[@randallcox6573]

Too bad Lebron doesn't have himself as 1 of 5

[@waynemarvin5661]

Only children brag on themselves.

[@901pics]

NBA fans today do not realize how brutal the league was in the 80s, high-performance players back then would dominate. Bird was the best of the all-purpose shooters....he would absolutely kill it....plus he would be healthy. He played 5 seasons in unbearable pain against some of the toughest most brutal players.

[@eidetecker]

I say Bird makes 30 to 35 avg today, BUT the stats of the teammates goes up exponentially.

[@RemoWilliams1227]

Yup, on 50/40/90 splits

[@tonyrobinson8050]

Larry Bird is one of the most dominate players in NBA history, and the most dominate white basketball player ever.. Just ask Magic Johnson or any player that played against this superstar.

[@brianbarnett1004]

How many point would Larry Bird score a night? A: as many as it takes to win. Without Larry Bird on the Celtics, no way you could compare Robert Parrish to Kareem. McHale was good, but he wasn't James Worthy. Dennis Johnson and Danny Ainge were good, but playing with Bird made them stars. He made everyone around him better, and he made them winners.

[@randymcneil4321]

To not put larry in top 10 for all time is ludicrous . If you wanna see a complete game of how larry was watch game 6 nba finals 1986 against rockets. U wont see a more complete game than what larry did . 29 11 and 10 its the all around game he played unbelievable defense passing rebounding .steals . I know 29 points isnt a lot but its everything else he did . That 86 celtics teame was as good as i ever seen . 50 and 1 at home between regular season and playoffs .

[@rjentz]

Did not matter if he was slow or could not jump he smoked the league.

[@lonniec7603]

Larry Legend

[@jordan9604]

Dudes used to get their legs swept out under them on a fast break, only to collide with the post. Small foul. Today? It would be a technical, your coach gets a technical, and they try to find something else after the game is over..

[@rafehr1378]

Sal's tale about Birtd is one of my favorites. Mouse in the, House.🤑

[@mikebunner3498]

The thing about Bird is he told them and then just did it!!!! Talk the talk -- Walk the Walk!!!! A prime & healthy Bird would be good for 30 to 40, easy!!! He was a master of mind games.......

[@fredpapa4928]

I was a teen ager in the 80s. I had no idea I was living in the golden era of sports. What most just don’t get is that the league was packed with superstars. Take a hard look at that Pistons team. Rodman was no joke and Bird torched him. Grown men who did not like each other and would fight to win played the game in those days. The struggle was real in a time when race relations were tense. And men didn’t mind fighting to achieve their goals. There does not seem to be any fire in todays league. Not to say that it doesn’t exist but it is rare. I can’t watch NBA or NFL these days. And boxing just stinks. Bird is going to average what he wants to average. I imagine a talent like Bird / Magic / Jordan would grow tired of todays weak game. But that supposed they would have knowledge of the 80-90s game. I am thinking that an average player of that era would do very well in todays game.

[@sonofsalmon56]

Isiah was getting interviewed once and was asked who the best player in his era was and he said, Well that's a tough question but I know if you lock all those guys in a dark alley Larry birds the one that's getting out alive....he was a bad man and he backed it up

[@bartdrennon1764]

No one really knew what a trash talker he was until he retired. The stories are still coming out.

[@reg4321]

Bird would dominate now, given that he played in an era where players were allowed to play defense, hand check, and make players pay when they drove to the lane. Also, today's game is catered to the offensive player. Bird's numbers would have been even better, if he didn't share the floor with Paris, Mchale, and Dennis Johnson.

[@leeprice2849]

Only Magic had as much court awareness as Bird.

[@jasonchambers1108]

I subscribed your channel don’t let me down kid! Good video

[@Femitoodrippy]

🙏🏾

[@merovechthe1st]

35/12/10...he's the only player in NBA history to finish his career with a 20/10/5 stat line. In this era of cupcake defense, Larry's averaging a triple double pretty easily.

[@docrobinson558]

Gotta correct ya on that. Oscar Robertson averaged a triple-double for his entire career.

[@merovechthe1st]

@@docrobinson558 gotta correct ya: Oscar Robertson averaged 25/7.5/9.5 for his career...stellar numbers for sure...but not 20/10/5 like Bird, who is the only player in NBA history to retire with that line or better (better in his case actually 24.3/10.0/6.3). The Big O did average a 30 point triple double one year though, and came within percentage points of doing it every year for his first 5 or 6 years which, quite honestly, is insane, regardless of the pace of the game. He's definitely under-appreciated and underrated today. Wilt Chamberlain is the closest to Bird's line with his ridiculous 30.1/22.9/4.5

[@lindseyhouse5282]

Well, like Larry not getting the advantages of 3 pt line, Wilt never got real credit for blocks nor steals. Otherwise . . . imagine a QUINTUPLE DOUBLE game! That's right! Wilt Norman Chamberlain scored 53 pts, pulled 32 Reb, dished 14 assists, rejected 24 Blocks, and then to get 12 steals?!?👈 March 18, 1968. Dude was so good . . . just cannot describe how superior. When Wilt was ON, when he might have been disrespected or something, every once in a while he'd remind the world, nobody, I mean NO-BODY EVER, could stop him. PLUS he NEVER fouled out of a game. Ever. Despite being the strongest to ever suit up. That's how "careful" he played, how conservative. If he were allowed to play like Shaq, tut . . .. Google Wilt Strength, see how he broke toes bouncing a ball through the hoop, and separated shoulders merely by choosing to "not back down" and BLOCK a dunk attempt. Google him, watch the footage. A Shame there isn't more video of him. Damn shame.

[@billcoupe4468]

Something most people don't realize about Bird is how quick his 1st step was. That's one of the reasons he'd always get around even great defenders. He'd take that quick step and shoot!

[@michellejackson6679]

I've been watching videos of Larry for about 3 weeks now.. the one thing I've come away with.. the man could talk some trash but he BACKED IT UP. And earned respect as the chubby the white dude on the court.

[@ognarw]

Yeah back then it was a pretty physical game, very physical with a focus on defense. Actually, I think some of the greatest players that came from that time are Michael Jordan, Larry Bird in magic.

[@ijonny25251]

Dr J was wrong in his recall-the Celtics went from 29 reg season wins the year before Bird arrived and then to 61 reg season wins with a rookie Bird and that was without Dennis Johnson, Danny Ainge, Robert Parrish, and Kenin McHale!

[@dwartfarquart9590]

I think it's lost on this generation that Dr J, Bird, and a few other standouts in the 80s were playground ballers extraordinaire. The mind game is a big part of their game. Guys from the 70s like Earl (the Pearl) Monroe were legendary at the park. The ball played in rural Indiana may not be NYC but hoops are serious business, there.

[@steveburtonomaha]

Larry Bird would average whatever Larry Bird would want to average. He only averaged 24, 25,27 points game because he got the rest of his team involved. So I don’t think he would average any more today than he did back then.

[@byroncrump4431]

Every player from the old school could play in this era.

[@stevenpatricknorton458]

Not every player playing today could handle the defense of the 80s.

[@budgarner3522]

If Larry teamed with Luca today, it would drive teams wild. Still enjoy watching highlights of Bird from time to time.

[@bmf00]

The 80s were by far the toughest, most demanding era of the NBA to play in. it was basically full contact basketball. Watch the video of Robert parish open hand tomahawk chop on bill lambeers face. And there was no foul called. Larry Bird would dominate today's NBA. Absolutely dominate. today's players lack mental toughness. They can't even handle someone from the crowd booing them or shit talking them. Today's players are pussies. Larry would crush the league today.

[@aramhamparian9641]

Bird averages an easy 30 point triple double in today's cupcake no-defense league. And guys like Draymond Green and Lebron would tell the ref's to throw Bird out of the game because his trash talking would hurt their sensitive asses. LOL.

[@noodletornado309]

man had 360 vision with 200 IQ plays. He wasnt a man he was a monster. 42 pnts in todays nba

[@5667hall]

Bird didn’t care about stats. He just wanted to win. That being said I still think in today’s game he would average 32

[@mr.smithgnrsmith7808]

Bird’s body may of been “slow”, but his brain was in rapid fire kill mode 1000% of the time he stepped on that court…REAL ALPHA

[@JoeRay7771]

Larry Bird has always been in my top 3.

[@brentholladay3113]

Listening to these great black players telling the bird trash stories had me laughing my ass off! Lol

[@matthewbudzinski8320]

Larry would lead the League in 4-point plays. He was lights out from the free throw line.

[@briananderson3466]

What would he average in today's NBA? Easy.... whatever the team needed from him to win any given night. That might be 10 points but 15 boards and 10 assists one night, it might me a 40-5-5 another night. He would average whatever combination of stats and plays his team needed to give them the best chance to win that night.

[@matthewshea1443]

Larry Bird would be 35 10 9 in todays game EASY

[@irishgrl]

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

[@georgemccormick4786]

30/11/8 for his career if today.