The Ugly Truth of Larry Bird's Downfall

[@Mrdonjuliothewicked]

Imagine averaging 24, 9, and 7 on 47% after foot surgery and that being considered a bad year.

[@benxenos9875]

And then having people say you arent the best SF of all time because of a dude with the same amount of championships who took an additional decade with zero injury concerns and better teammates to get them 🙄

[@RealCanadaTalk]

i was like lowest career percentage at the time? this man's the GOAT

[@benxenos9875]

@@RealCanadaTalk if hes not top 3 you're sus. If hes not top 4 you're wrong. If he's not top 5 you're biased to the point that your opinion is invalid.

[@splashballer2074]

Bird is the best small forward ever

[@yourboytg5318]

That’s crazy tbh

[@羽山海己]

Bird was the only guy who got MVP, Coach of the year and Executive of the Year award.

[@fcemonster]

He is the overall GOAT.

[@richardkrivik7032]

TRUE LEGEND

[@erichan6985]

You think? I think Bird and Jordan are the goat. The only jersey I have is the 33. But damn. Jordan. Bird 1 Jordan 1 .

[@sammiejuwon]

One of the greatest basketball minds on and off the court

[@daltonfarris]

@Mr. Thomas fr everyone Knows LeBron is the true goat.

[@controversialmann5345]

His last 3 seasons he still averaged 20, 10 , and 7 imagine if he stayed healthy

[@Life_Basketball]

Fax

[@inthepaint2907]

man is one of the best, but if stayed healthy he could have been THE best

[@tgreg9542]

Definitely top 5 all-time

[@timmyharrison9930]

I heard he did his Achilles twice

[@cortr9310]

Without looking it up I think he also shot 93 or 94% from the FT line his last season. His last season numbers, at 35, were still as good or better than Scottie Pippen's best season numbers. Late in that last season of 1991-92 he also authored a 49-14-12 triple-double in a win over eventual Western Conference champion Portland, who had the best record in the NBA that season. Until recently it was the HIGHEST scoring triple-double in NBA history - at age 35.5 with a bad back.

[@noahcricket]

The more Larry Bird gets older the more like a bird he looks

[@theknickfan881]

Miami Sports fan now ur making me think of the “three eyed bird” from game of Zones m.kzbin.info/www/bejne/jZK0gpyLeruYh5I, redrafting the top 10 picks of each 2010’s draft.

[@likcat758]

That’s a good one 🤣🤣

[@The1TheBob]

He's digivolving

[@noahcricket]

The Knick Fan I love game of zones sad it had to end like that

[@khalaidtchagodomou3123]

deadass

[@klu320]

I'd still put Larry Bird in my Mount Rushmore of basketball..

[@derrickbird9676]

Absolutely

[@steveell4523]

This narrator sounds like a Eastern european robot..."TOE-multuous"

[@roncowan5218]

No matter what,Larry Bird was one of the best to ever do it. He was that dude.

[@inthepaint2907]

facts for sure one of the GOATs top 3 Small Forward

[@betsyross2.065]

He was.the best of his generation, and that generation was best the (NBA) had ever been a Golden era.

[@danlower7834]

Bird wasn't shoveling SNOW in his parents driveway in the summer of 1985, as your video implies. It was crushed CONCRETE. That's how he hurt his back initially and it became chronic. Despite this he played until the age of 35. He played 12 seasons (if you leave out the 6 games he played in 1988-89). He was a tough guy, yes. Should he have had it fixed earlier? Maybe. Modern medicine has spoiled us - even in the 1980's certain knee surgeries could end your career. Back and nerve issues were THE END. Bird probably knew this and put it off as long as he could so he could keep playing the game he loved. Who can fault him for that? Look at David Robinson, post back injury. He declined at a much quicker rate than Bird and was really a role player by his last 2 years in the NBA. He had the surgery on his back and it changed him from a dominant center (25/12/3) to a lesser player. Do people fault Robinson for not toughing it out? As for longevity compared to his peers, the average NBA career is 4.5 years. 20 NBA players have played 19 seasons or longer. I think Bird's 12 years is a great number. Magic played 13 seasons. Jordan played 15. The Celtics started 29-5 in 1990-91 after he had issues with the feet and back, and went 27-17 while he was out, hardly 'falling apart'. I'll bet 98% of NBA players would love to have the 'short' career Bird had.

[@LovingTinha]

Yeah medicine has come a long way, the manufactured covid 19 and let people die to it because they don't treat it right because they want forced vaccines. Great times to be alive.

[@Tommy88-]

Shoveling snow in the summer?

[@danlower7834]

@@Tommy88- Watch the video.

[@charlesking678]

I totally agree. Bird had an excellent long prime and a fantastic career. Father time is undefeated and catches all great athletes. You don't judge great players at the tail of their careers.

[@HolocaustDidHappen]

And his father died in 1975!

[@kenlenzy7269]

He’ll always be considered to be one of the greats because of his titles & 3 straight mvp’s

[@inthepaint2907]

man deserves it

[@robertlewis78]

And he could score anytime or anywhere on the court

[@cssjcs7604]

And shoot either hand from anywhere... Was a sniper

[@housesports000]

Fun Fact: Bird is only 1 of 3 players to win the MVP Award 3x in a row along with Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell.

[@SlowStroking]

Could’ve included Giannis but voter fatigue :/ Jokic went crazy though no disrespect

[@usx06240]

Bird had a genetic condition in which his spine was too narrow. It was inevitable,. It's amazing he lasted that long. Driveway incident only exacerbated it .

[@yugainarora6246]

Bird vs magic : the best rivalry ever Period

[@inthepaint2907]

agreed, who's your 2 and 3?

[@booleanbrazer7147]

No the best is flight vs Rudy gobert

[@tonewilson9893]

@@inthepaint2907 bill Russell and wilt Chamberlain Is the second best rivalry

[@roskichan3001]

I agree.

[@javigar133]

Of all Sports, no contest

[@milkyboy4531]

Playing though all of his injuries is what made him such a legend

[@inthepaint2907]

man was tough dude

[@playea123]

He was a basketball god too. Not just a tough guy.

[@junkyarddogreviews9350]

He was building a driveway for his Mom, not shoveling snow.

[@nagboinfi]

Exactly

[@goodfella2400]

I was surprised Andy missed this. Pretty well known story.

[@LegendOfKhaos12]

Hello8 goodbye9 technically Achilles is a foot injury, no?

[@VincentBeville]

He should have hired a contractor to do that. He's Larry Bird for goodness sakes.

[@whosaidthat84]

@@VincentBeville that's just Larry being Larry. The Hick from French Lick. He just didn't believe in letting others do what you could do yourself. I'm sure now he would've hired someone but he just wasn't raised that way

[@MannyMensah94]

If bird haven't been hurt in his last 4 years, he would've scored over 26,000 points and the Celtics would've won couple of titles instead of Pistons and Bulls

[@tbtleem]

U can’t say would of . u saying it was guaranteed

[@boxingdegenerate9077]

Hmm Pistons would have still won in 1989 and 1990. I can’t see them beating the Pistons

[@inthepaint2907]

MJ def would have less rings

[@inthepaint2907]

@@boxingdegenerate9077 tough to say

[@tbtleem]

InThePaint maybe he would of lost but still in a different world and Larry never got hurt and won more rings that mean mj woulda neva been in his situation and probably not his dad so he might of neva retired which means Hakeem would have less rings

[@allanpaoloalingod1863]

That left handed game was epic. He was called Larry Legend for a reason.

[@elijahmcguire751]

Larry legend never had a bad season

[@elchichosantana6410]

I am a Bird fan but he had. 83 where they were swept by the Bucks 3-0. 89 where he played only 6 games. From 90 to 91. He became slow. But still I will choose a washed up Bird to join my team than Gordon Hayward.

[@august6281]

no regrets he gave his all in every game, Regular or Playoffs no load manage

[@inthepaint2907]

man balled out no matter the circumstances

[@mouadrazoki9034]

Having no load management isn't a very smart thing

[@africadondada6555]

Imagine if the Celtics hadnt lost Reggie Lewis and Len Bias. Larry coulda been effective for 5 more seasons

[@volleyballjerry]

I knew Reggie when he was at Northeastern University and got to do the engineering and halftime show at WRBB when Perry Bernard was calling the games on the radio. His final days at Matthews Arena were electric and the crowd loved him. No. He did not have enough of a supporting cast around him to allow the Huskies to make a run at an NCAA title. But he scored half the points for the Huskies in his last year and everyone at the station went crazy when the Celtics drafted him in 1987. The thing I will always remember about him is that he was exceptionally quiet and shy off the court. True gentleman and fanatical worker on his game (like one of his teammates was known for).

[@eduardoquintero8363]

There is a reason he's called Larry Legend regardless of the drama in his final years and whatnot. He played in pain and was still able to do amazing things when on the court, like the 49 points against Portland inhis final season. Not to mention that later in his life he won the Coach of the Year award as well as the Executive of the year award (the only one to have done so and correct me if I'm wrong please), which proves that he has been one of the great basketball geniuses there have been.

[@asdamkrismon9532]

One of the perfect All-Around player

[@inthepaint2907]

bird is def one of the GOATs

[@letsarguebasketball8061]

Larry bird one of the most underrated players ever he would kill in today’s nba 😤

[@kevinbolger3488]

That’s what I’m saying! The argument is always that he wouldn’t be athletic enough to compete now but Jokic is one of the best players in the league while being way less mobile.

[@ethanennis8]

Kevin Bolger Every great in NBA history would be great no matter when they played, because they’re fucking great! I hate people who say oh MJ couldn’t play today or lebron couldn’t play in the 80s or whatever like shut up

[@alibashir3147]

um, no oone ever said bird was underrated

[@J34xalpha_KING]

Those people don’t know Basketball. Bird would be way more effective.

[@lightningjimmyjoejohnson8499]

Imagine if Len Bias was in their team

[@bobbysmoove4796]

Fr he was supposed keep the Celtics as contenders for years to come

[@zachzalvan8213]

He was on the team, for one or two days

[@guyfrommadagascar4566]

Bird said he will retire in 88 if Len Bias didnt Die

[@b.w.8909]

Zach Zalvan no man he died on draft night

[@inthepaint2907]

facts they wouldve won a lot more titles

[@ZachAttackIsBack]

He stepped away from the game at the right time. What's really sad is when you see all-time greats struggling as role players at the end (ie Ewing, Hakeem, Payton, Shaq, Pippen, Iverson). At least Bird was still a star in his last few seasons.

[@at1212b]

Throw in Kobe there too.

[@ZachAttackIsBack]

It was painful to watch those last few seasons of Kobe's career. He should have hung it up after that achilles tear. It was maybe even worse than some of the other players I mentioned because at least the other players were treated as role players on their respective teams after they were washed. Lakers treated Kobe like he was still the MVP rather than reducing his responsibilities to match his diminished skills.

[@aron4117]

Bird is a top 10 player at minimum. You can't imagine the NBA without him.

[@krakenwoodfloorservicemcma5975]

Without him and magic, the league was on the verge of bankruptcy. 78 was a very ugly year for the league..

[@javigar133]

Top 5, just watch him play, and win

[@lukeconverse6632]

Top 3

[@rayallensjumper]

Do a how good was Dennis Johnson video. I feel like he’s a pretty overlooked player on the Celtics and his days on the SuperSonics where he won a Finals MVP

[@inthepaint2907]

the man for sure needs more recognition, maybe we'll do a video on him!

[@adamr6794]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/qoK8pGioqLiompI

[@volleyballjerry]

Without DJ aggressively guarding Magic in Games 4-7 in the 1984 NBA World Championship Series, the Celtics would never have won the series. K.C. Jones told DJ to forget Game 3 (the "sissy game") at the Forum and to recollect and go after Magic (and sometimes Michael Cooper) with some intense defense. By the end of the series, DJ had nothing left in the tank but he *did* end up with his second ring! He completely turned his game (and the series around) starting in Game 4 and Boston won three of the last four games of the series after spotting Los Angeles a 2-1 lead. In 1986, DJ was basically a menace against Robert Reed (and occasionally Lewis Lloyd) and along with Ainge, helped the Celtics backcourt win that critical battle on defense. Not a scoring powerhouse in the series but pulled down a ton of rebounds and with his excellent passing and experienced play helped the Celtics win title #16.

[@inthepaint2907]

Jerry Williamson well said Jerry

[@benxenos9875]

Bird accomplished everything in less than a decade, while facing the toughest gauntlet of opponents possibly in NBA history, during the most violent and competitive era in NBA history. Yet kids on the internet swear he's not the best SF of all time 🙄

[@inthepaint2907]

I got Bird top 3, but not the best

[@benxenos9875]

@@inthepaint2907 For SF's or all time?

[@williamlawlor5969]

he is the best BASKETBALL player of all time. Others are more athletic, LeBron,Michael,Giannis but overall game, the Legend is the best.

[@benxenos9875]

@Course Man Top 10 all time?

[@SoopaMario]

Larry Bird's rugged, hard nosed style of play was also a big factor. Awesome video.

[@inthepaint2907]

agreed all around my man top 3 Small Forward of all time

[@kawaiiunicorn8992]

How good was Glen Rice a efficient 20 points per game scorer in the 90s

[@eog5217]

Arguably the greatest

[@brucelau2023]

all good things must come to an end, one of the all time greats in NBA history, i can't believe he averaged 20 PPG in his final season in 1991-92 , truly was a impressive feat

[@donguapo5381]

Give me Larry over lebron any day 💯 lebron might have the better accolades. But Larry will forever be the better all around player💯 a killer

[@haroldsmith4056]

Larry like kobe kept playing hurt u dont make your test better bird's defense doesn't come close to bron's

[@desitterspace2127]

Harold Smith Yes, Lebron is a better defender, when he wants to be, which is highlighted by the fact that you could put together a fairly lengthy montage of Lebron sleeping or looking completely disinterested on defense. The same can’t be said of Bird. Even though Bird lacked Lebron’s quickness and agility , he still played very solid team defense, had remarkable anticipation, quick hands and averaged almost 2 steals per game for his carrier. Not bad for a slow white guy!

[@RealAaron317]

His back was his Achilles heel

[@juanjaramillo96]

I'm glad you pointed out this tough shit almost certainly hampered his recovery and longevity. People love to focus on that as a holy net positive.

[@maxrichard2244]

Been a while since I've read it, but in his book "Drive ", doesn't Bird mention during high school he broke his finger playing baseball, and could never shoot the same again. Imagine that: Larry Legend could have been an even better shooter!!

[@thaddeusabreu7688]

He did not hurt his back from shoveling snow for his parents. The injury occurred while paving a cement driveway with his own hands instead of paying a construction company to do it... he could definitely afford to pay for the services since he had been in the NBA for years at this point.

[@bobbyhulll8737]

well I'm sure he didin't think he would injure himself, I mean who does...I respect a guy that likes to work it can be relaxing too, its just a fluke and a shame

[@sludge4125]

Thad, we live in the information age. The guy could have done some simple research. And the “fact” that older players who are suffering from injuries don’t play as well as they used to? Man, I’m glad this guy educated me on that.

[@rossselection1032]

Larry Bird was born December 7, 1956... So he was around 36 when he retired. Bit okay, not bad. The decline was so catastrophic though.

[@timswabb]

Arguably the best three-year peak ever -- in 1984-1986 he won 3 MVPs and 2 Finals MVPs while leading his team to 3 Finals and 2 NBA Championships. Bill Russell is the only other NBA player to win 3 MVPs in a row, as well as 3 championships in 1961-63. But there were only 8 or 9 teams when Russell dominated, while there were 23 teams during Bird's peak.

[@craigd8922]

Bird is still "The Man" in my book.

[@haumph]

Has an "off year" where he's rugged and predictable. Still puts down 24 points, 9.5 boards, 7.5 assists per game. What a legend.

[@calebdouglas7622]

I enjoyed his beef with Bill Laimbere it made for a great rivalry. It’s crazy to think that when Bird and Magic joined the 92’ Dream Team they were both considered to be out of their primes and mainly because of his back problems.

[@freezhollywood]

better passer than bron???

[@james43623]

He use to give it to Jordan and vise versa when he was young that’s saying something Jordan even said bird was were he learned the art of trash talking he also played with out a 3 point line for like half his career birds game is timeless you be good in any era with birds skills he was deadly from 3

[@sbrasel]

The NBA 3 point line was introduced in 1979, the rookie year for Bird and Magic. Larry said he didn't like the introduction of the 3 point line, but he definitely to good advantage.

[@shred5]

Jordan also said Larry gave him the best advice he ever got which was to learn how to get his team more involved.

[@acornsucks2111]

Bird was an MVP candidate as a rookie, And it lasted for 8 years. Not that short of a prime.

[@AidenAndAleiaTV]

Imagine Larry Bird playing in an era where a player shooting 10+ 3 pointers per game isn't considered a bad thing. Dude almost averaged 25 points per game for his career and that was barely shooting 2 three-pointers a game

[@peterangelos4001]

Bird didn't hurt his back shoveling snow, he hurt it digging fence posts.(What was he thinking?) Also, Bird didn't enter the league until he was almost 24 years old. One, or two, years later than he would have, if he had been happy at IU. He didn't have any of the advantages these modern players have. It didn't help that KC Jones never used his bench enough, and played that starting five waaay too many minutes. A lot of guys who played back then had shorter careers... Sidney Moncrief, Andrew Toney, Ralph Sampson etc.

[@Swinbad]

When I was in my 20s I didn’t understand why pro athletes so often took a steep downhill decline as they entered into their mid 30s. Once I turn 35 my attitude entirely changed. Instead of looking at the 35 year old athlete as if they had some abnormal problem when they took a decline, I started looking at amazement at players still playing at that high of level at that age. The fact that someone like Tom Brady is playing Pro football into his 40s is absolutely ridiculous.

[@alex5shaq]

The best small forward in NBA history. Period

[@theleadingbrand]

Great video! Larry Legend was magnificent at basketball.

[@inthepaint2907]

Bird one of the GOATs for sure, top 3 SF

[@lile4life713]

He got hurt then it was a gg . Everyone good must come to a end

[@inthepaint2907]

sadly

[@kingdinodragonite3470]

@@inthepaint2907 lebron not the goat. Unsub

[@ecosby100]

The way these guys played, jumping, running, quick position changing my body would be broken down too

[@ThisScent]

Best small forward all time

[@J34xalpha_KING]

Larry was the best small forward

[@J34xalpha_KING]

Le3-6?

[@donguapo5381]

Agree Larry legend is the best

[@wildcat_savage96-33]

1980- Averaged a .511 TS% in the postseason. In game 5 vs. the Sixers, he shot poorly, 5-19 with just 12 points, as the Celtics lost the game. His man (Dr. J) averaged 25 PPG in this series. His team loses in 5 games despite having HCA and winning 61 games. Had a 18.3 PER in the postseason. 1981- Has a .532 TS% in the postseason. He had a bad finals where he averaged just 15 PPG on .419 shooting and .460 TS%. 1982- PPG average dropped from 22.9 PPG to 17.8 PPG. He has an embarrassing .474 TS% in the playoffs. He averaged a pedestrian 18.3 PPG against the Sixers. Averages 17 PPG in the final 2 games of the series. The Celtics lose again with HCA. The Celtics won 63 games and had the #1 SRS in the league. Has a 17.9 PER in the postseason. 1983- The Celtics get swept by the Bucks. The Celtics win 56 games and had the #2 SRS in the league and lose again with HCA. Bird plays awful again. .478 TS%. His PPG average drops 2 PPG in the playoffs. Bird missed a game in the series but that game happened to be the closest one (Celtics lose by 4). In the 3 other games, the Celtics lose by 14.3 PPG with Bird on the court. 1984- Great playoffs. Averaged 27-14-4 in the Finals and had a .607 TS% in the playoffs. First great playoff of his career. Celtics win the title over the Lakers. 1985- Celtics make the finals, but Bird's numbers drop in the playoffs. His PPG drops by 2.8 PPG, Reb by 1.2 Reb, and AST by 0.7 AST. Had an average .536 TS% in the postseason. Bird plays even worse in the finals. His PPG dropped 4.9 PPG, his Reb 1.7 Reb, and AST by 1.6 AST in the finals compared to his regular season average. His Finals TS% is just .527. Not only that, but Celtics finish with 63 wins and lose once again with HCA a constant theme in Bird's career. This is the first time in Celtics history they lost in the finals with HCA. 1986- Great year. His best year ever. Wins the title. .615 TS% in the postseason and amazing finals. 1987- I think this is his most admirable playoffs up until the finals. The Celtics were quite banged up this year. Averaged 27-10-7 in the postseason with .577 TS%. Though his numbers in the finals dropped off once again. His PPG was 3.9 PPG down from the regular season, AST down by 2.1 AST and his TS% was just .534. In game 6, Bird scored just 16 points on 6-16 (.375) shooting. In the final 3 games of this series, Bird averaged just 20 PPG on .377 shooting and .492 TS% with 3.7 TOV. This is the first time Bird has played without HCA in the playoffs and his team loses. 1988- Bird's PPG drops by 5.4 PPG, Reb by 0.5 Reb. Bird shoots an awful 40-114 (.351) against the Pistons. Has a mediocre .538 TS% and 20.2 PER in the playoffs. The Celtics had HCA and the #1 SRS in the league and you probably guessed what happened next, Larry Bird loses with HCA once again. 1989- Injured doesn't play in the postseason. 1990- Bird shoots .539 TS% and has 3.6 TOV as the Celtics once again you guessed it, lose with HCA. 1991- In the first round, his team needs to go 5 vs. the 41 win Pacers. His PPG drop by 2.3 PPG and his Rebounds and Assists also drop quite a bit. Has a .490 TS% 15.8 PER in the playoffs. Against the Pistons Bird averages 13.4 PPG on .446 TS%. His 56 win team played with you guessed it HCA and loses with it. 1992- Doesn't play in the first round as the Celtics sweep the Pacers. In round 2, his team goes 7 against the Cavs, but Bird plays in 4 games and his team was 1-3 in those games. Averages a pathetic 11.3 PPG and 4.5 Reb which are 8.4 PPG and 5.2 Reb down from his regular season average. He has a .514 TS% and 16.4 PER in the postseason. So out of 12 years, you get 9 years under .540 TS%, 5 under .520 TS%, and 3 under .500 TS%. From 80-83, he had a 19.9 playoff PER. In that span, Johnny Moore, Franklin Edwards, Gus Williams, and Bob Lanier all had better playoff PER and WS/48. Teammates Parish, McHale, Tiny Archibald, and Cedric Maxwell had better TS% in that span. From 88-92, he had a 18.8 PER which is 25th among players with 10 playoff games played. Players who had better playoff PER's in that span include Fat Lever, Terry Cummings, Roy Tarpley, Cedric Ceballos, and Sarunas Marciulionis. His teammates Reggie Lewis and Kevin McHale had better playoff PER's in that span. With Bird you get a nice 4 year run that had 4 straight finals appearances but outside of that you get a 4 year span of .505 TS% (80-83) and a .525 TS% span (88-92). In 12 years, you get 7 losses with HCA. Basically out of Bird's 13 year career, you have 1 injury season and 3 non-descript postseasons at the end of his plus some playoff disappointments early in his career. Having watched Bird’s entire career Lebron James has passed Larry Bird a long time ago. Bird has too many HCA losses and too many poor playoff performance to be compared to an Elite GOAT Tier player like Lebron James.

[@MrDevtun]

As a teenager, Bird disfigured the index finger of his right hand during a baseball game. In today's NBA w/ huge guaranteed contracts, Larry would never be allowed to 'tough it out'. Unless it's the playoffs, Steph Curry tweaks his ankle, he probably goes on reduced minutes or sits out games.

[@smdickinson8316]

If Larry also entered the league earlier he would have been able to rack up more accolades and been higher on the all time list. He was already 23 when he started, now a days that would be a huge red flag.

[@Omni_polymath]

There is no debate on LeBron vs Bird in the passing category.

[@wesleytenacity_]

10:10 This pump fake is sick 👌🏼

[@prlysis]

I've always enjoyed your content Andy; excellent work.

[@howudoingjonathan]

Larry Legend averaged 24-10-6 when the league was physical af. Imagine his statsline without the hand checking. 😱😱😱

[@eamparbeng]

If Larry had been a more responsible and professional basketball player in regards to his back injury, the Celtics might have their 18th title by now

[@AirRusher1992]

We all know how great of a player Larry Bird is during the course of his career. It's really a shame that his back gave up on him which is why the later part of this career hasn't been talked about much.

[@ashwincheekala1566]

5th on my all time list ever

[@J34xalpha_KING]

Same

[@2383Scorpio]

Larry Bird wasn't 34 when he retired, but he retired at 35 and he was born on December 7, 1956. His last game of his NBA career was in the 1992 Eastern Conference Semifinals series against the Cleveland somewhere in May when he was 7 months away from turning 36.

[@Truth_Make_You_Free]

The only Ugly Truth is that some KZbinrs disrespect The Legend with poor choice of words. Hope it doesn't become their dawnfall. He was just too hurt to play. Period.

[@elroz1675]

Pistons had little to do with "shutting Bird down" in 1991...he kicked their arse in 1987 ECF - look at the numbers, shooting, points, rebounds. Even in 1988 when he was basically playing 45-46 minutes a game in the playoffs, he averaged 12.2 rebs and 19 points and 6 assists. In 1991 he could not practice and spent time between games resting his back...and he was somewhat immobile on the court.

[@camoss3724]

The Achilles tendons aside, Bird didn't take particularly good care of his body earlier in his career. Like a lot of athletes of that time, he'd go home for the offseason, eat more than he probably should have (and he was also a legendary beer drinker), put on weight and not worry about getting into shape until training camp rolled around. And if he did need to shed a few pounds during the season, he simply wouldn't eat, which isn't the best way to accomplish that goal. Trouble is, the older you get, the more difficult it becomes to get that excess weight off. He did begin a conditioning program prior to the 87-88 season, and had one of his best years statistically, but the Achilles tendon and back issues severely hampered him and he was never the same player afterward. Today, professional athletes not only have personal trainers, but personal chefs and nutritionists who not only tell them what to eat, but when to eat it. Most of the guys of Bird's era didn't have those types of people around them; it was just something that wasn't very widely practiced.

[@andrewbaroch2141]

Unbeknownst to the public, in '91, '92, Larry's twin Bo subbed for Larry when Larry's back, feet, foot, ribs, ankle, elbow, and nostrils acted up. Sichting also had a body double. LeBron, too.

[@hardwire101]

the only ugly truth is he got too old and injured too many time to go on...he was great and that 's all there is to it

[@nathaniellevesque2782]

It really is a shame his body gave out on him. He had plenty of great basketball left in him, but his body had enough. If it weren't for the injuries and Len Bias and Reggie Lewis dying, he could have easily transferred into a shooter/facilitator role and helped the Celtics stay competitive in the 90's.

[@kadenc27]

He didn’t FALL off. He just wasn’t putting up monster numbers. He was still a superstar, just not as healthy.

[@chriswarrick6538]

Larry said had Len Bias lived he would have retired after the 88 season, and he would have likely won the title that year. I still think he would have returned in 91 or 92 to help Bias overcome Jordan. The time off would have helped his standing in the conversation of GOAT.

[@CoasterTurbo]

He's still a legend

[@jadprinz482]

Thanks. Always was interested in his story.

[@LegendaryGamesPodcast]

Let me say this first: I like the Bad Boys Pistons BUT I think without running into them for half of a decade, I think it would have helped his body a lot come Postseason time - injurywise. He would rank Top 5 for everyone being healthy in his second half of his career, for now he's "just" in the top 10 for many Basketball fans (not for me, he's my starting SF if I had to make an alltime team).

[@joelmarte7059]

Who the hell is jim Paxton?i heard of john Paxton that won 3 rings with jordan😂😂😂

[@lawrenceestabillo1754]

Jim Paxson was a 2 time all-star, mostly playing for Portland. He was no scrub.

[@joelmarte7059]

@@lawrenceestabillo1754 damn i just checked his stats how come he doesn't get much notice in the nba like mark price from the cavs he was another good player who doesnt get mention

[@wazzup233]

I think they're both brothers?

[@mookeychase0907]

Had Len Bias not passed between the older guys amd Len Bias and Reggie Lewis they woulda been a serious contender

[@ramirorodriguez857]

Birds problem was that the nba didnt think to do full body training during the off season. His back went bad because his body wasn't in total shape. Guys back then did think to do squats or much other exercises

[@turtleislandlac1490]

Bird retired at age 35 not 34. He still played with the Dream Team after the end of the 1991-92 season.

[@stevenhines5550]

He was the greatest. Just check the comments. If you didn't live to see it then you have no idea how transcendent he was. The skill alone was otherworldly but his toughness had every kid in Boston pausing to acknowledge we were living through something legendary. It was like watching Pedro or Randy Johnson or Nolan Ryan pitch: every time they took the mound you stopped what you were doing and watched in awe. Well, Larry Bird did that four times a week for thirteen years. My dad saw every game Russel and Cousey and Heinsohn played. There was a time when nobody cares about the NBA and you could walk ap to the old Garden on game day and get right in for cheap. He told me that Larry was the greatest basketball player ever. I never saw those guys play. Bill Russel is a legend in Boston, a legend period. Well, my dad saw him play and he told me Larry Bird was the greatest. There is the great Bob Ryan take on one of the local sports radio stations where he is saying that Elgin Baylor was a prophet and Larry Bird is the Messiah. I have to agree. Please, no disrespect meant to MJ. Also, pls understand: LeBron James couldn't carry Larry Birds gym bag. It's like comparing some hack to Ginger Baker or Mike's Davis. The bar is just different. Larry Bird was the greatest.

[@akirakurusu4215]

Bird was amazing, the GOAT forward.

[@BoogieBoyMetalMouth]

And let’s not forget maybe one of the most legendary playoff performances against the pacers in ‘91. Legend!

[@sludge4125]

So let me get this straight; as a player ages and suffers injuries, his play gets worse? I don’t think I ever heard this before.

[@JeffLB]

LL...One of the greatest players, toughest players and unfortunately one of the ugliest ever..still love ya man

[@elvispresley5921]

i AGREE WITH YOU...In that this was a Larry Bird video...the rest is a buncha horse-shit. The man was in severe pain & still played better than most of the league. Ya gotta give credit where credit is due. Speaking of Dues , Larry paid his & is STILL paying for the amazing stuff he did on the court. What your basically say'n in this video , is that Larry wasnt perfect.... well, NO one is! I hated Bird when younger , as i was/am a Laker fan , but now , in retrospect , I have so much respect for this man. Larry, if you ever read this....THANK YOU SO MUCH 4 THE MEMORIES !!!

[@justinnardine8564]

I just with LB didn’t hurt his back in 85.

[@blackmamba2k899]

Who better Bird or Magic?

[@bobbysmoove4796]

Bird for me

[@J34xalpha_KING]

Bird

[@papigrande4378]

He injured his back shoveling snow at his parents house............let that sink in. A multi million dollar athlete that got hurt doing something he should be paying someone else to do. I heard he was regularly seen mowing his own lawn. While that might seem admirable to some people, his time would be better used in the weight room or practicing free throws instead of common household tasks. Maybe if he had done that and was honest with his training staff, his lifetime accomplishments on the court would be as impressive as Kobe, Michael, Magic or LeBron. Instead he is known for a handful of successful seasons.

[@theleadingbrand]

Suggestion: the rise and fall of Richard Dumas

[@LostBoysBasketball]

Now THATS a bucket! Dumas was a promising star for the Phoenix Suns at one point

[@MP-tf7cc]

Larry's 'bad' series against Detroit in '88, was largely the result of the pistons getting away with murder on defense while getting every call on offense.

[@THEQUICKSILVER31]

I love how this guy says his later seasons were terrible but he will still putting up big numbers. I am pretty sure Bird cries himself to sleep with his 3 Larry O'Brian trophies

[@jacobpitsenbarger4763]

I still think Bird > LeBron and even Magic . He's the second greatest player of all time behind MJ.

[@ericveneto1593]

His '89 foot injury was a ruptured Achilles

[@adrct]

"Bird was never the same again". Right. In his final three seasons he was only scoring about 22 ppg at almost 50%, grabbing more than 9 rpg and delivering more than 7 apg. Clearly just a shell of his former self. What a bait!

[@cortr9310]

13 years is not a short career...unlike a lot of stars in the 90s and beyond, he was a 5 year college guy since he transferred from Indiana to Indiana State. Kobe, KG and LeBron had longer NBA careers partly because they skipped college, adding 4 years to their pro careers...Larry was close to 23 when he played his first NBA game. And Jim Paxson was NOT 35 in 1989 (he was 32 and a year younger than Bird), NOR did he play point guard. Dennis Johnson was still the starting PG in 1989-90. Bird still put up numbers better than 85-90% of the league his last 2 seasons.

[@ZiggyMercury]

Nice video. However, I find it funny that you say he had an "early retirement" (1:13) - he was almost 36 when he retired...

[@wonderouscomics3541]

Can you make a video on Clyde the Glide?

[@baldo1570]

Thats why Larry Bird is the tough guy

[@cgraf69]

Downfall? There wasn't one. Certainly Bird and the Celts never got back to 86 form, but they kept on with a winning record every season and were usually contending at the top of their division throughout. How many athletes can say this? When Bird left the Celts, they pretty much immediately went to the bottom dweller position they had held the year before he came to Boston. How many athletes in team sports have a wire-to-wire streak of turning losing teams into perennial winners and championship contenders from high school to the pros? Best player of all time goes to the Birdman!

[@sammy2840]

Basketball died when Bird stopped playing!

[@bobbysmoove4796]

Top 5 player ever

[@richardgraves6656]

I haven't watched the video yet, but Larry the legend had no downfall

[@geoffreystanton7318]

Being a Lakers Fan during those times I loved hating Larry Bird but as far as I'm concerned he's one of the best players to play the game. I don't want to make it a race thing but he's easily the best non African American to play in the NBA.

[@hochha]

The vast majority of NBA players, no matter what era, have a hard time producing the stats that Larry put out at the end of his career. A little perspective would be appropriate.