Rookie Larry Bird (36pts/7rebs/4asts) vs. Clippers (1980)

Larry Legend's career high at that point of his rookie season. Bird goes for 15 points in the first quarter by making two threes (remember that it's 1980) and finishes the game with an impressive statline for a rookie. A well deserved standing ovation from the Boston Garden. January 27, 1980.

[@Iwillnotbepushed]

We knew Bird would only get better. I miss this era of basketball. Millions of us do.

[@innosanto]

European basketball is better now

[@Iwillnotbepushed]

@@innosanto I don’t see it televised so I’m guessing streaming service?

[@meminustherandomgooglenumbers]

He’s got a career high and an easy layup to pad it with, but he gives it up to a benchwarmer instead. Pure class.

[@soulsearcher3151]

My Favorite Bird play EVER!😮

[@ckobo84]

What about the pass to Robey, got Robey a wide open 8 footer and he shoots it 6 feet 😂

[@timmurphy2383]

Larry Bird is one of the few players, who is just simply timeless, I could watch footage of him playing for hours.

[@danastrong1747]

He is my all-time favorite athlete. Young guys today do not realize just how great he was. A true basketball legend.

[@nkuniverse7856]

same aith Jordan

[@lbowsk]

@M Go away you tool. This Vid is about one of the greatest athletes of all time.

[@donbetser3732]

I totally agree

[@martysomoco]

Wrong. Oh, so wrong. See comment above.

[@atgdcommish608]

I read Bird's book "Bird on Basketball." Short but to the point. It made me a better free throw shooter and rebounder. It also talked about how he would practice, not just his shooting and ball handling, but his mental focus. He would go for a run and then try to remember every detail of everything he saw on the way home. Incredible powers of visualization. I remember the first time playing basketball that the game slowed down for me and I knew what was going to happen next. Bird was like that, only the grandmaster version, seeing several moves ahead.

[@cindyknudson2715]

That is a great book. I love where Bird talks about the goal being to be one's personal best.

[@soulsearcher3151]

Greatest play of Bird's career! My favorite at least. Him giving it up to the sub just before he exited the game. BEAUTIFUL!

[@algonsorowski1971]

Bird: Unselfish. Humble. Confident. And one of the best ... ever.

[@atgdcommish608]

Was he humble though? "Who's going to come in second place?" he asked before the 3-point contest....

[@humble378]

​@@atgdcommish608thats being confident...

[@onewayup5]

@@humble378Yipperz.

[@lanagorgeous9485]

The very thing that made Larry great limited his career. Look how fast he is and his jumping ability as a rookie. But he savaged his body like no other player, diving for loose balls and the damage his body took. It's amazing that he played as long as he did. In the end of his career he could barely walk. But I am sure if he had it all to do over again, he would play exactly that same way. That is why I say he is better than LeBron. LeBron is great but you won't see him diving for loose balls even in this soft NBA with no defense.

[@jerrydodd8563]

I agree 100%

[@larryyoder4861]

Pouring his own concrete driveway screwed his back up is what shortened his career

[@wpl8275]

What I loved about Larry Bird is he got down and dirty. He went into the trenches to rebound on both sides of the court. Today, a whole lot of players just hang around the periphery and wait for long rebounds but Bird went into the scrum and worked hard to get them.

[@meminustherandomgooglenumbers]

He said he was taught by like a high school coach that any loose ball could end up making the difference in the game, and therefore every loose ball should be contested as if the game is on the line. So he built that mindset into his game early on and carried it with him throughout his career.

[@RSTI191]

I was in my 20's living home on Boston then. It was the best of times. Larry was the icing on the cake

[@dallisb1047]

I never tire of watching videos on Larry Legend!!

[@Ironfangzu]

Bird had more court awareness than anyone who played. Watch him on the court and you can easily see how he is a step ahead of those around him as each play develops. Throw in his size, his amazing eye-hand coordination, and under-rated athletic ability, and you have a player who can dominate every phase of the game.

[@kenmcphail1320]

Pistol Pete had the most court awareness I've ever seen but him and Bird was so close it's hard to say which one was better. Pistol had better ball control but overall Bird was the better player from top to bottom. His defense was incredible. His passing was amazing and he was so clutch. I grew up watching Pistol playing and he was so great at creating something out of nothing.

[@Kaddywompous]

@@kenmcphail1320Pistol better court sense than Magic? Come on now.

[@bucsanders7861]

Best player of all time!!

[@dt2745]

What is a privilege to watch Larry up in section 2 row h seat 4 from 80 to 90...in the Garden

[@sarasimone8218]

OMG he was so good and yes very athletic. He was amazing!

[@CoreyT127]

Can you imagine a rookie being the best all around player in todays game! By the middle of the 79-80 season larry was!

[@kunkushun1]

Now that is how you play the "game" of "basketball". You get a couple steals/ blocks...4 assists...7 rebounds...36 points and some hard ass hustle. LARRY LEGEND is easily the most fun to watch on a basketball court other than maybe THE PISTOL.

[@art7art19]

Pistol Pete 👌

[@fiddlefolk]

I am thankful that I grew up watching these classy players like Bird. They made the game great!

[@darioabrador9085]

I’m so impressed with his basketball IQ, its like 3 steps ahead of everyone.

[@chocolatetownforever7537]

God, its beautiful to watch, isnt it?

[@michaeldeegan2355]

Watched so much of Larry lately 3 steps ahead. Just love watching him. No 1 for me.

[@_HMCB_]

Little did the crowd know the greatness that awaited them. Larry, to me, will always be my favorite player of all time.

[@Iceman991]

Ur on the d

[@italocacike9208]

Me too , my favorite athlete .👍

[@dalegriffin6768]

This is before Birds back injury,he was more athletic than people give him credit for

[@arthurevans2029]

​@@dalegriffin6768 always had super quick hands and great anticipation. He gives the impression that he's slow and unathletic, but that's deceptive. Fancy dunking is such a meaningless aspect in terms of winning, he couldn't care less about your high-flying finishes. He dunked only for high percentage flushes. He never had a problem running the floor or leading fast breaks. His back eventually took it's toll, but he was still extremely valuable until the end.

[@dalegriffin6768]

@@arthurevans2029 good points,Larry was my favorite player growing up in the 80s,I was called a racist by my White friends,but I didn't care, just because I liked a white player didn't make me a racist,that was when Boston was always in the finals and my friends were Laker fans and I would argue with them about how Bird would kick there ass in the finals, especially the 86 season,,they were so pissed because The Lakers got beat by Houston,I told them it didn't matter who was facing them that year they would win the championship 🏆 and they did,,the greatest Basketball team of all time

[@back2back379]

Watching Bird play, you get the feeling he was a complete player the moment he picked up the basketball. Of course he worked hard and honed his craft, but the total package was there from so early on.

[@joelanning4322]

Larry Joe played every part of the game supremely. 3 point shooting, moving without the ball, passing(his peripheral vision was incredible), offensive rebounding( often overlooked but he was one of the all time best), and he had innate ability to know what and where to be with the game on the line. And lastly, an otherworldly desire to win. If you went to see him play, you got his very best every single night. He never took a night off. But this probably shortened his career because of the toll it took on his back. There was just something about him, you couldn’t quite explain, at how damn good he was!

[@pacard33]

I'm blown away how FAST he gets his shot off and so pinpoint accurate. Such a good shooter. Such a great scorer.

[@BlackSheep701]

Larry was poetry on the court!

[@LT1HILLINGHOE]

Bird is the best player ever in basketball.

[@onlythewise1]

and even in the future

[@LT1HILLINGHOE]

@MANCHESTER UNITED F.C cool story, bro

[@M1GarandPing]

@MANCHESTER UNITED F.C yes but.... Larry Bird. So u lose.

[@randymeyer6482]

I'd give you another like, on that, but you're set at "33" right now...lol..

[@cesargalvan4868]

What made this hard knocks dude so amazing wasn't just that he was smarter and was always a play ahead of everyone else but by just gutting things out was all the difference!! Case in point. 1992 game 5 against pacers the famous fracture of the left cheek game!! When he came back out onto the parquet almost midway in the 3rd quarter"" sonn as he stepped on the floor Robert Parish who looked every bit his age throughout the game all of a sudden hit scoop shot in lane in heavy traffic and on next play hits a turnaround fading jump shot from 17 feet then hauled ass back down court on defensd!!! Instanteously elevated and in some cases took years off his fellow teamates!!! Amazing,,,unbelievable and I envy all you guys who have seen him live !!

[@jzbass72]

Lifelong Laker fan here. If I’m picking a roster for a game where my life is on the line then Larry Legend is my starting three. It’s that simple.

[@buzzard6410]

Yep

[@shivasirons6159]

Jz, i put it this way, lets play a pickup game i give you 1st pick, you take mike, i take magic, you take lebron , i take larry, you take.... Wait! I got magic AND larry? GAME OVER!

[@cindyknudson2715]

​@shivasirons6159 I'd always pick Larry first because he'd make everyone I picked after him better. And for that very reason, I'd never risk letting the other team get him.

[@jingqi9106]

They say Bird was slow but he was looking pretty fast with the ball here. Of course, Bird was always extremely quick for somebody of his size. Add to that his incredible all-around skill set and bball IQ and you have one of the greatest if not the GOAT.

[@wutisay]

Yup, and I do think, all things considered, that he is the GOAT.

[@jasonkassa4130]

He was definitely slow, but a great player in spite of that. He'd be a great offensive player even in today's NBA. Considering that he'd probably threaten or shoot about three times as many 3-Pointer's, he could step straight out of a time machine without any modern fitness evolution, and be a dominant offensive player. You'd have to have a team that could compensate for him defensively, although he had great spatial awareness, and high IQ on defense.

[@oldfrend]

before his back injury he was a much better athlete than people today remember. he was 6'10" but had the foot speed and ball skills of a guard. not many 6'10" guys even today could match that. he couldn't jump out the gym, but with his height it didn't matter.

[@jingqi9106]

@@oldfrend Bird had a 28" vertical which is average and the same as Karl Malone. He definitely had the ball skills of a guard but was a great low post scorer and averaged 10 rebounds a game for his career which is more than Magic and Lebron. His timing for everything and anything that needed to be done on the basketball court was unmatched. Bird was a basketball genius.

[@dannyroybal7394]

Boy He Was Good, No He Was Unstoppable!!! Top Five All Time.

[@MikeyD22]

One of the greatest one year turnarounds by a team in NBA history - driven by a rookie! That alone puts Bird in the top 5 to ever play the game.

[@jscottrockford]

Yeah, look at that team on the court with him.......except for Tiny Archibald, mostly a bunch of scrubs lol Shows how great he was 👍

[@euroamerican5189]

It is the greatest single season turn around of all time. By the numbers anyway and all they added was Bird that year.

[@josephvitielo1693]

Cowens was still capable

[@Mrd9960]

@@euroamerican5189 No it's not, it was at the time, but since then it's been surpassed, San Antonio broke it, I think a 45 game turnaround, also the Celtics of 07-08, 42 game improvement.

[@roqueiii645]

@@Mrd9960 the cELTICS of Rivers added more players,Garnett and Allen.Duncan broke Larrys record by 3 or 4 games I think.More 32 for Larry and 35 or so for Duncan

[@clifflawrence7479]

One of if not the best rookie to ever play and doesn't get any recognition for it at all. Most of the top 5 rookie list will have Magic and not Bird. Can anyone remember who got rookie of the year that year? Has there ever been another rookie take a team from dead last to first? Has there ever been another rookie improve a team by 32 games single handed?

[@sludge4125]

“Doesn’t get any recognition for it at all.” Nut Hugger, how ignorant do you have to be to write something that...ignorant?

[@clifflawrence7479]

@@sludge4125 don't know what you find so ignorant about it, it's a fact. Never mind I've read some of the things you've written and understand why you don't understand. Lmao

[@sludge4125]

@@clifflawrence7479 You have to be the world’s biggest nut hugger to say he doesn’t get any recognition at all for his rookie season. You didn’t have an intelligent response, but, like an infant, you still had to make some noise. smh 🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️

[@ronfleischhacker8469]

He was the best made his Team strong by how he played. A Guru a Gunner and a Gamer. He was fantastic

[@SteveGellerMusic]

Bird basically already has all of the skills he would be known for. Lefty layups, fighting for rebounds and putbacks, the quick 3-pointer release, no-look passes, quick hustle on poke-away plays, the "headfake drive," several mid-range rainbow jumpers. We came to expect these things over time. Imagine seeing this package of skills for the first time as a fan in 1980. Bird didn't have to "work on" his skills during every offseason (though he did). He was already a complete player. He was pretty much already one of the 5 greatest players of all time as a rookie--he just needed longevity and championships to validate this.

[@ShunyamNiketana]

+Steve G Great points (no pun intended). Yes, he already had the skills and moves we'd come to see from him in the years to come. Not too many 6-9 guys even now can react to an attempted steal with a LEFT-handed reverse dribble at mid court and then continue on to make a scoring play. I'm blown away by his steals--just plucks the ball from a guy who's holding it overhead three feet away--and no foul.

[@jjs777fzr]

+Steve G Watching some of his college games is incredible. He was doing it all, offensive-defensive boards - clogging the middle at just the right time to steal a pass, pos up jumper from 15-18ft, and the uncanny knack for quick outlets for a quick 2 points.

[@SteveGellerMusic]

You can very much make a case for LeBron James at this point, given the amount of things he can do. And Michael is Michael. But Bird is probably still the most shocking talent to watch, in terms of basketbal IQ for his body type. The 1992 game against Portland, when Bird had 49, 14 ad 12 while barely being able to jog up and down the court due to back pain, is probably the most underrated performance in NBA history.

[@DanOne1513]

+Steve G Agreed...that was a "Secretariat" performence at Belmont kind of a game...no one may ever see a game like that again in terms of pure determination and talent.

[@pretorious700]

It helps here that the Clippers were abysmal defensively.

[@moomoo9203]

Larry looked like a veteran as a rookie. He was just smooth. My favorite player.

[@rgarrison1819]

He Was Simply Amazing!

[@atlsarmond]

His jumpshot is so pure.

[@lejoe48]

Best basketball technique of all time

[@martindeewan686]

At 1:00, He airballs a tough 3 pointer, goes for the rebound and gets the 2 and 1. AWESOME.

[@harrypenhall3722]

Never seen him this fast he could of been even better without injuries later in his career and i consider him top 3 all time

[@williammorrison6311]

He´s number 4, behind Magic, Kareem and MJ. Collectively, basketball´s Mount Rushmore.

[@deborahporter9731]

@@williammorrison6311 magic johnson was NOT and i repeat NOT better than larry bird PERIOD!!!!!!

[@irishgrl]

@@williammorrison6311 Wrong. Bird is #1

[@consciousbeing1188]

@@williammorrison6311 - What's really funny about that statement is you say it as if it's a fact instead of just YOUR opinion ... If it were a fact you would be able to prove it but you can't prove it and you know it 😂

[@victorquintana4018]

Oscar Schmidt and Me considered Bird as the GOAT.

[@kennethward4985]

That rookie came into the NBA knowing he was the very best player.

[@andybilakshow260]

He never stopped working to become the very best. Nobody since has that kind of work ethic on this planet.

[@cindyknudson2715]

​@andybilakshow260 Bird was always working to improve his game. From year 1 thru 13. Bird never rested on his laurels.

[@willyco2920]

So much respect for this guy.

[@patarcher9199]

I feel like Larry was one of the most polished rookies we still have ever seen looks like he’s been playing for years in these clips

[@iamlsusam]

The good old days when I cared about the NBA!

[@euroamerican5189]

More proof that pre injured Bird was extremely athletic with hand eye coordination off the charts.

[@europeanamerican379]

"Best hand eye coordination ever" - Bobby Knight

[@jameslawson7383]

He actually said " The best hand eye coordination, maybe, of anyone to ever play the game." That is a great video.

[@ackmino]

He had very fast hands and quick reaction time. People make such a big deal about jumping ability but fast hands are so crucial.

[@ronsmith3099]

Was a freshman in high school. This was a special time. 🏀

[@jingqi9106]

Can you imagine being a college coach and losing maybe the greatest all-around player in history? Coach Knight would have loved coaching Larry Bird given his high basketball IQ, toughness, determination, all out hustle, and high level of skill. Indiana probably would've gone undefeated because they would've had Bird, Mike Woodson, Ray Tolbert, Randy Wittman, Landon Turner, Butch Carter, and Glen Grunwald - a MUCH better supporting cast compared to Indiana St in '78 -79. Knowing that must have kept Knight up at nights.

[@fernmann7]

Um, he had a chance. Bird went to IU out of French Lick but was overwhelmed by the bigness of everything and left school as a freshman. Knight has said he didn’t do enough to find out how small-town Bird was and try to help him acclimate to that huge campus and school. Said it’s one of his biggest regrets. Lol You think? He might have won another national title or two. Bird, meanwhile, went back home to French Lick and even worked for a time for the local garbage company. But he gave Indiana State a try and he fit right in at that smaller school. The rest is history

[@Stormtrooper-fv7dr]

He played a beautiful game. And you can see how contagious it was, he would be perfect fit for every team.

[@bigdaddywbl]

You watch this, and you see that Larry was plenty fast. More importantly, he hustled his ass off, and recognized when it was time to run. He reacted a fraction of second before anyone else to start busting ass to the other end of the court, which is all it takes....

[@culls33]

good call

[@SniffyPoo]

yeah he definitely slowed down toward the end of his career

[@davidcallaham60]

Awesome greatest player ever In NBA history.. his numbers just watching him play all those years college pros many great player were there but he is in a class of his on

[@elgriego331]

32 game turnaround when he came to Boston as a ROOK! Amazing

[@drbobperkins]

Greatest player of all time by my metrics. The guy was rarely healthy after 86’.

[@Iceman991]

Bob do you know who Michael jordan is

[@matts6551]

@@Iceman991 i’m sure he does as do I, and I agree Larry Bird was better than Michael Jordan. All you have to do is watch when bird went up against Michael, was he dominated? No he certainly was not and Jordan was in his prime and bird was about to retire. Imagine if the two of them went up against each other when they were both young. How many of the worlds best players have to admit Larry Bird was the greatest for you to believe? Magic Johnson, Dr. J, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, The list goes on and on and on

[@Weoutg]

Ok buddy

[@Iceman991]

@@matts6551 gotta be racist

[@Iceman991]

@@Weoutgok d baruijel

[@brianarbenz1329]

I grew up 45 miles from Larry in Southern Indiana and we followed lots of excellent high school stars in the ‘70s. But the name Larry Bird was not well known in the region. In the class of ‘74, he finished third in the voting for Mr. Basketball, the top senior male in the state. The most amazing thing about Larry Bird’s career is that he was a sleeper. Obscure in his own area. Dropped out of two colleges. Was working in a resort hotel. And out of this background, he goes on to be one of very greatest players ever.

[@peterfernance2131]

They don't call him Larry Legend for nothing. What a champion ball player he was.

[@toscodav]

This is fascinating to watch. The Clipper players don't know enough about Larry Bird since this is the first time they ever played against him to realize how good he is. As the game progresses, you can see the players are like Dam this guy is good.

[@blork1980]

Good game...let's see how he progresses through his rookie year. Definitely has potential for the future.

[@SniffyPoo]

playing great against the Cluppers doesnt mean anything, I say this kid will never amount to much

[@jameslawson7383]

He's just getting all the hype, because he's white!

[@billmelton5528]

@@SniffyPoo Ha Ha Laughing/Funny

[@billmelton5528]

@@jameslawson7383 BOWSHIT!

[@jameslawson7383]

You need to learn how to tell when someone is joking, or being sarcastic.

[@tomitstube]

not bad for a rookie, nate archibald toward the end of his career, i saw nate in his prime, great player too, he played at a faster pace than everyone on the floor, they didn't call him nate the skate for nothing, very exciting player to watch.

[@DJ-bj8ku]

I remember when he was a rookie. He turned the team around immediately. They won 60 games that year. You can kind of tell that the audience was just starting to get used to him.

[@hotatp]

Larry Bird makes me happy, just looks like such a nice guy and he’s super talented, love when he passed the ball under that guys legs.

[@SteveGellerMusic]

This game was played January 27th, 1980. The reason "we might see a record for 3 pointers today" when Bird was just at 2 is because the 3-point shot was less than 4 months old, having only existed since the start of this season in October (and wouldn't exist in college until the late 80's). It only LOOKS like Bird has been practicing them for 10 years.

[@billygoatbaa3350]

Thank you, there was no incentive to shoot from that far out, it was still just 2pts, you were taught to get closer for higher percentage shot. Then after he's 22yrs of life, hey we're gonna make a 3pt shot, ok now he needs to learn something new and he did, he learned it very well. The guys today curry, Durant, whoever have been practicing 3pt shots since middle school. Always enjoy old footage and points of view, have a great day

[@dirtycee6887]

Lights out! As a die hard Pistons fan, I hated Larry Bird....the hate wasn't against who he was....it was of PURE RESPECT! He was a straight killer and made plenty of fans mad! He's truly one of the best ever!

[@michealpowell1299]

2:15 to 2:25 in this video says it all!...Who does that?... Who the hell else have you ever seen make that play?...Steals the ball...starts the break...passes to an open teammate 40 feet ahead...guy blows the lay up...who gets the rebound?...Larry!...and the put back?....Bird!....Where the HELL did HE come from????... Who else makes THAT play?... Russell maybe?...Wilt?...Michael?.. That's the kind of hustle and determination and sheer will to win you only see in the Great Ones...The Best Of The Best...whatever the sport... It's also, unfortunately, just exactly the kind of play that...."Newer Fans" don't seem to appreciate... Nobody got "posterized"....so it must be lame...right?...

[@jameslawson7383]

Unfortunately, it's also the type of playing that will cause your body to break down much quicker than usual. I wouldn't have had Larry Legend any other way, but I sure could have used a few more seasons with him out there!

[@williammorrison6311]

Luka Doncic makes that play

[@deborahporter9731]

@@williammorrison6311 get real!!!!

[@mikejones9961]

Robey the stiff missed the shot

[@oldgreg1184]

young bird was deceptively quick and had an endless motor especially on the offensive glass

[@markmiddaugh9359]

Larry Bird, the beginning and end of my interest in pro basketball.

[@mikejones9961]

amen

[@bigdaddy2123]

I could not agree more. That’s exactly the way I feel

[@bpsactclass2218]

The greatest player in the 80s during the best decade of the NBA.

[@goriotv2023]

He's fast! He is everywhere. He shoots, pass, hussle, rebound etc.

[@ItsBriiiiii]

Larry Bird played like a long-time seasoned vet at 21 up to 24 years old, as well as college to an extent. He was pretty much NBA ready in 1979. He was a "freak" player, just not quite on the athleticism side. incredible game IQ and creativity, plus seasoned playing right out of college, that sets a gold standard

[@robertanderson9375]

I do not know where the " lacking athleticism" comes from. He was first down court. His passes were pinpoint accurate, his shots were quick, after using great moves to be open, or shooting in someone's face, moving sideways on jump shots, off balance. He had great timing and could dunk at full speed. He was extremely athletic.

[@ItsBriiiiii]

@@robertanderson9375 Yeah he was a great athlete but I wouldn't put him up there with say, MJ. Larry was a freak genius of the game though, the mental part. The toughness. Getting in peoples heads. Playing ahead of the game with remarkable forethought. His passing and court vision was among Gods. Most of those intangibles are not so much physically related talents.

[@teddyhaynes9876]

Ofcourse you wouldn’t say he’s mj athletic lol , mj is arguably the most athletic freak ever , I’d say prime Jordan has the best first step ever , biggest hands .

[@ItsBriiiiii]

@@teddyhaynes9876 Yeah I was just responding to what you wrote. I never said Bird wasn't a great athlete, but people do occasionally say that. He of course was a great athlete being a top-call NBA player in the 1980's pretty much required it? haha

[@Wis_Dom]

By today's standards Bird was fouled a lot in this game. If he were playing today, he would have WAY more points based of that alone.

[@clifflawrence7479]

Wis Dom and way more assist also

[@KTF0]

Rookies don't get calls

[@albrownfromtheothersideoft3115]

@slip satch ,you got that right, no hand checking, you breath near a star player today it's a foul. Larry bird was unreal! If he played in this so called game today, he would destroy the league in every facet, and he would be paid 100 million a year, I don't watch that slop they call basketball today, it's a joke

[@albrownfromtheothersideoft3115]

@slip satch absolutely! Further more, aside from the speacial treatment to stars and so called stars that you can't breath on, the game is unwatchable, they shoot from 10 feet beyond the 3point line, sometimes more, on a 3 on one break they shoot 3 pointers, no cohesiveness, no defense, one on one most of the time, it not the game I grew up playing, watching, loving. Bird epitimized how the game was supposed to be played, and did it better then anyone who ever played, that's just a fact! You can stick all the blown up phoney stats you know where. He played with heart, toughness, and smarts, and with the game on the line, CLUTCH! As Pat Riley said, if the game's on the line, I want Michael Jordan taking the shot, but if my life is on the line, I want Bird taking it!

[@albrownfromtheothersideoft3115]

@slip satch by the way, don't know if you watched them, but I loved slip and satch and the Bowery boys, they were great too

[@drewbewho]

Thats how I like to see the game played. Selfless, hustle, no ego, silky skills, I mean skills which are the solution to the problem not just flashy skills for the sake of flashiness. His swishes seem more swishy. His timing is more... timely. Just a joy to watch. Is it just me or does he never look 6'10? Maybe its just because his movement was more like a guard of the time.

[@jcd3869]

Until you said it i thought he was 6 "5"!!! all this time

[@dsfddsgh]

Bird was way more athletic then people give him credit for especially in his early years.

[@SKOOKM]

Yeah, I think people tend to think of the Larry later on with a bad back when they think of his athleticism.

[@michaelhenderson7075]

Exactly

[@deridivisstar884]

He could actually dunk on people Haha. black people at that.

[@elchichosantana6410]

Bird was fast. He looks slow but you cant beat him on a one on one situation. He will kill you

[@MrAitraining]

Before he hurt his back (1985), he was incredible and very athletic.

[@mattysparks]

what a fantastic video. Shows you the transition the game was going through and how Larry really changed the game. No one had seen a guy play like this before.

[@johnnyblade1276]

Bird was a mismatch nightmare.

[@killerseddie8295]

Jordan couldn't guard him, Rodman couldn't. He was truly indefensible.

[@stevenstranger5688]

I remember these games as if they were yesterday. So many slick moves.

[@SeecretWeapon]

pretty sick watching a healthy Bird

[@candlewick96]

The days when awesome players had solid workman's ethic.

[@mikelliteras397]

It’s amazing that all of his moves he’s famous for are fully on display here. Several coaches on his team also.

[@pshooter5000]

I think that kid has a bright future ahead of him.

[@ggaccentc]

Gotta love that overhead pass.

[@rar1960]

I remember watching Bird's first game with the C's. He scored 14, I think, but what was more impressive was the way HE was directing seasoned veterans around the court. I figured it was beginner's luck, and to prove it to myself, I said I'd keep watching him play until I was proven correct that he's not much of a player and clearly not worth his $650k rookie contract. That's why I had to keep watching until he retired in 1992. Best passing forward ever...

[@bapakhammad]

+Richard Rohan I would love to see footage of Bird's first game. 14 points his first game is not bad!

[@newerafrican]

+leon3 Bad by Bird standards, but understandable. Interesting what RRohan said about the way Bird was directing vets around. His court vision and creative play was apparently instantly recognizable.

[@bapakhammad]

newerafrican Yes, because he was naturally gifted. When you combine that with being a hard worker you have an awesome player. Who cares that he is white, the man could play!

[@mihir702]

Bird is my favorite player of all time but LeBron has really developed into arguably the best passing forward ever

[@markfox3083]

mihir702 if we are being honest ...

[@jgarrison1309]

Imagine him being this fast for his entire career...

[@alanaldpal950]

A rookie who has his Career High 36 points gives up a layup to his team mate rather than push his personal high ? There is a reason Bird is and should be in contention for GOAT

[@leomonster1973]

Damn Larry was quick

[@Eddie62070]

I was at this game....yeah I was pretty damn impressed.......ESPECIALLY by Larry. :)

[@cesargalvan4868]

I'm a die hard Celtics fan and Mr Bird is my idol,,,you wouldn't happen to have pics or memorabilia or stories you could share??

[@Eddie62070]

@@cesargalvan4868 I only wish I had

[@cesargalvan4868]

Well u got the memories only wish my parents had money to watch him but ive got plenty of you tube,,,,consider him the best due to not having blazing speed not muscular could out leap you,,he worked hard to master his skills ...and no one matched his desire to win,,!! Hey when u watched the game did they ever chant !! Larry Larry Larry!!

[@Eddie62070]

@@cesargalvan4868 know what?...I don't remember....I DO however remember he was doing McDonald's commercials that Spring....for the McChicken.....billboards all around Boston with him smiling as he proudly displayed the then-new product. :)

[@cesargalvan4868]

The crowd might not have chanted Larry Larry Larrry yet since he was new!! I did see him when he came to Oakland when he was coach for the pacers !! But to have seen him play ,omg u are very lucky man!!

[@Kendallbi]

Nobody has seen someone play like him since.

[@teddyhaynes9876]

Nope , that 86 Celtic team is the best team ever , people don’t realiE how good Kevin mcchale was inside . Imagine having a frontline of BIRD/MCCHALE/PARRISH ! All was 6 foot 10 and up .

[@CoreyT127]

Jan, with 1980 was my 1st birthday the day this game was played! I was fortunate enough to witness Larry's final 2 seasons my first 2 watching nba. And he could still dominate the games as a shell of himself physically! Because his I.Q. was so much higher than everyone elses

[@atgdcommish608]

There'll never be another Larry Bird.

[@newerafrican]

Man, when Bird was young and healthy he was almost unstoppable.

[@RoChede]

He is just a rookie here.The 84/85/86 Bird was a god.

[@newerafrican]

True statement.

[@billmelton5528]

@@RoChede & in 87 should have WON his 4th MVP if it weren't for RODMAN/THOMAS REMARKS about him being WHITE.

[@clifflawrence7479]

NewerAfrican no he was unstoppable. He played against 5 of the top ten defenders of all time and not one of them came close to stopping him. That's why mj tries to to tell people all the time that they just don't understand just how good bird really was

[@clifflawrence7479]

@@billmelton5528 did you see what bird did to Rodman the next game they played them after that remark?

[@mystery777king6]

WITHOUT QUESTION LARRY IS TOP 3 OF ALL TIME, MOST DIDN'T REALIZE LARRY BEING 6"10 BECAUSE HE MOVE MORE FLUENTLY WITH SMOOTHNESS, SO AS WE CAN SEE, CONTRARY TO POPULAR BELIEF LARRY WAS FAST & QUICK, IT JUST DIDN'T SEEM LIKE IT, HE STAYED SERIOUS NO NONSENSE & HE WOULDN'T TOLERATE NO ONE TRYING TO PUSH HIM AROUND AT ALL***

[@M1GarandPing]

Thats what i always say.. michael bird and magic is top 3 all time. And larry bird? LARRY BIRD? people just dont get it. If u look up a michael jordan quote mj even says bird is better than lebron. Larry bird is the greatest shooter of all time. Steph is the vest "3pt Shooter"... but bird is the MOST reliable shooter OVERALL from anywhere on the court. Bird highest basketball iq of all time. And he had the unselfishness of magic. One thing about magic and bird is that since they were so unselfish, they didnt hesitate to pass when they got stuck. Selfishness causes turnovers and bad decisions. But bird and magic were free from that. And michael was just talented that he just couldnt get stuck lol.

[@MrAitraining]

Pre back injury (1980-85') Larry was the best ever.

[@dutchtea8354]

1:09 He not only went through Nater & Wicks, but also showed up Maxwell. Notice how many times he mopped up after his teammates. His 3 pointer at 0:33 that wasn’t credited and his giving up the ball at 5:13 would have given him 39 points. He doesn’t care, though. They won.

[@bb.cute.channel]

Simply amazing!

[@sohaminyoh]

Top 5 player in his first year

[@nanox4]

That kid is gonna be big

[@leomonster1973]

Maybe. Its just one game though. Lets not put him in the hall of fame just yet

[@theotherview1716]

Greatest pure basketball player ever.

[@Iceman991]

Racism

[@jc940]

@@Iceman991 huh?

[@gavinsheridan4680]

That was Jimmy Chitwood.

[@atomicwedgie8176]

@@Iceman991 Yes, we know you're a dumbocrat... quit bragging.

[@SealAngel]

LOL Jimmy Butler is the greatest player I've ever seen, not Larry.

[@anTsoziaL63]

WTF! MR. LARRY BIRD PLAYING LIKE A VETERAN IN HIS ROOKIE SEASON WITH THE BOSTON CELTICS.

[@rap3208]

Befor Bird joined the team, the Celtics, were tired, demotivated and always losing, them being in the lowest rung in the NBA. After Bird joined, they saw Bird diving after any loose balls and passing to the open man so they became energized and began diving for loose balls too. From the bottom of the NBA, they were one-win away from the NBA finals when they lost to a close 5th game in the Eastern championship. Now, thats what you call a turn around.

[@LesiureBoy]

In my humble opinion Larry Bird and Earvin Magic Johnson are the BEST basketball player of ALL TIME.

[@bjordan515]

#23 any other argument is invalid.

[@73Trident]

@@bjordan515 maybe invalid to you, but not me and whole lot of others.

[@bjordan515]

Hell even Larry or Magic would tell you MJ was the best

[@bjordan515]

Jordan averaged over 30 points per game for his entire career and led the league in scoring 10 times! How many times did Larry and Magic lead the the league in scoring? The answer is zero. In fact Larry Bird never led the league in anything except free throw percentage.

[@deborahporter9731]

@@bjordan515 why do jordan fans always feel the need to get on a LARRY BIRD video and defend mikey huh???

[@scottgagnon9451]

Don't care what anyone say, he is the goat

[@BassicVIC]

Boston fans were about to be treated to the BEST basketball games ever played in the next coming years. Unknowingly, they were witnessing the dawn of a legendary era.

[@jjw238]

One of the players I would get in his prime to build the best team in history.

[@arturodelacruz734]

Oo

[@localwear1]

It’s a bummer the NBA won’t release all of his games for the fans to enjoy:(

[@mikejones9961]

it would undermine the current product

[@samualcrocket1405]

@@mikejones9961 That is for sure.

[@shannonrichardson3405]

I feel very fortunate to have been able to grow up during this time! Seen some great NBA games! Way better than the NBA now!

[@BorkenGarage]

@@mikejones9961 April 10 2020 - There is no current product. They should totally do this. Currently we have NBA players playing in NBA 2K to entertain the masses.

[@truthhurts837]

Racist league.

[@okboomer1340]

Bird's last pass. Pure class.

[@peacesearcher4598]

Larry Bird BEST CELTIC WHO EVER PLAYED.