Nikola Jokic PROVES Larry Bird WOULD DESTROY TODAY’S NBA

Larry Legend would cook today's NBA. Hope you enjoy.

[@user-xm6ro1ep5d]

If Larry played in todays NBA, half the league would need a personal mental therapist

[@alansalgado2740]

Haha bullying would be a technical foul.

[@burtreynolds8030]

He would literally get “cancelled” on Twitter for trash talk, we need him back

[@apollyon1]

He is the epitome of adding insult to injury.

[@beamis86]

@@apollyon1 Ha ha ha so true -- in the dictionary under "insult to injury" it says Larry Bird.

[@RDB32]

Larry would own this league. These players today would be off their game because his of trash talk alone.

[@l.a.rodriguez9581]

Saying Bird wouldn’t dominate in today’s NBA is such an L take. He literally started the 50-40-90 club.

[@greggibson33]

100% correct. Dumb dumb fanboy talk to even argue.

[@greggibson33]

100% correct. Only dumb dumb fanboys would argue that. 😆

[@TheLouHam]

People who say that usually have the same criticisms for Bird as they do for Jocik and Doncik; aka they’re too slow, not enough muscles, (too white), etc. It’s like these haters fell in love with the idea of a strong, muscular black man stereotype and now couldn’t understand why someone who doesn’t fit that look can be so good at basketball.

[@philwilson609]

This is a dumb comparison. The Joker is 7 feet and outweighed prime Bird by 60 pounds. If you compare Jokic with centers from the 80's and 90's there is no comparison. A better comparison would be Bird vs KD, Luka or LeBron - modern players are flat out better, more developed handles and bigger bag. Nothing to get worked up over - 40 years from now players will be better than Steph or Luka. That is how things work. Stop living in the past.

[@TheLouHam]

@@philwilson609 I would better at basketball too if nobody’s guarding me every time I shoot a ball. “Modern players are flat out better” as they flop on the ground in hopes of winning through free throws, when they’re not out for yet another six months because of an ouchy muscle pain. LMAO

[@mistwiir4011]

Larry Bird is my number 3 all time. I'll defend that all day. Only injuries cut him short but he still had the mvp's and the rings.

[@andrehill5926]

Who your 2

[@xzombieeffectx2611]

Bird doesn’t belong in the top 5 whatsoever

[@mistwiir4011]

Jordan - Kareem - Bird - Hakeem - Kobe - Magic - Duncan - Robertson - Baylor: I don't believe any of these men could ever be completely shut down or shut down the other and it was glorious to watch when they matched up.@@andrehill5926

[@Adj8llk]

​@@xzombieeffectx2611But Magic does?? Bird was a better scorer, way better shooter and way better defender than Magic. Bird should've won 4 straight MVP'S btw but they gave that pity MVP to Magic in 87

[@mistwiir4011]

Bird got MVPs and rings battling the showtime lakers - the bad boy pistons and the upstart Jordan - did you even watch the NBA? Also his bag is deeper than James' highlight reel of flops - which is long and storied.@@xzombieeffectx2611

[@garretty3802]

Bird would easily average 32/8/5 on 40% from 3 if he were to play today 😂

[@Loqque]

Probably more assists tbh. he would play point forward.

[@LeMeatRider911]

R we using his skill then or if we were to translate skill. Put his skill into the modern era then no, translate it then sure

[@PurpleMonkeyDishwasher88]

He would basically have Luka's stat-line but with higher efficiency, and much better defensively.

[@DADON99]

@@LeMeatRider911even if you used his skill back then it wouldn’t matter😂. Have you seen the passes and shots (especially in the clutch) Bird made especially in a era where dudes were allowed to clothesline you?. Bro would have a field day in todays era where nobody wouldn’t even be allowed to touch him😂

[@15Breal]

He averaged 24pt 10reb 6ast for his career so bump all those up lol, easy triple double.

[@pat5262]

Two or three generations from now the fans will trash Jokic and Luka and claim they couldn’t play in that era

[@1stAmendmentorDie1776]

By that time the nba will be a mostly European brand because of jokic and luka. America will have moved on from the nba and nfl.

[@AXEJAYB]

Why do you think, 50 years from now, they won’t trash every current era player?

[@aaronbarkley539]

​@AXEJAYB honestly why do you think there will even be an NBA then? I don't think there will be.

[@jarlbalgruuf7701]

Yeah but they’ll also trash lebron and his legacy saying “he got cooked by white guys like Jokic, Dirk, Luka, Steph ect. He lost more times against plumbers than he won, he can’t be the goat” lol.

[@fenixchief7]

​@@AXEJAYB they still suck off magic and shaq dont they? Kobe tho... its all a joke.

[@nettlarry]

Larry Legend would dominate any era. Work ethic is the key word. While healthy, he would just adapt and do what's necessary to get that W. And shoot the lights out, of course. Announcing it. You know the stories...

[@sa9245]

Not just work ethic, but he is of the same mold as Jordan and Kobe. He had ice water in his veins. As Pat Reilly said "If I had to choose a player to take a shot to save a game I'd choose Michael Jordan. If I had to choose a player to take a shot to save my life, I'd take Larry Bird."

[@ORagnar]

And talent. Work ethic is great, but you have to be able to execute and he did at the highest levels. o

[@HarbingerOfBattle]

Greatness plays out no matter the era.

[@mlrd2687]

@@HarbingerOfBattle It's true. The author of the video unknowingly or deliberately underestimated Jokic in order to elevate Bird. He literally said that Bird dominated in an era when good defense was played, and that Jokic dominated in an era when defense did not exist at all. People are divided into two sides, and the truth is somewhere in the middle.

[@alphonsecatan2]

Larry Bird's career vs Lebron's career is a classic example of 'Quality over Quantity'

[@cloudwalker9572]

100% Bird is more the goat than LeBron. My all time team at small forward has Bird starting and LeBron of the bench and not the other way around.

[@submissivelover]

Yeah I still have Bird ahead of LeBron as a GOAT SF.

[@kvltizt]

you don’t have to clown LeBron to support Larry lol they’re both goated

[@RDB32]

Absolutely Right.

[@RDB32]

@@kvltizt Lebron clowned himself when he said he was the goat. It comes with the territory.

[@jaredbracci3529]

Actually, BIRD did pass the eye test if you really understand the game. Was blessed to see him 85 times as a young kid with my Dad’s seasons tickets from the floor. Some of his brilliance happened during warm ups & shoot arounds. For example, I recall him giving an interview while shooting free throws before a game. He was shooting lefty. He hit 37 in a row before the interview stopped. While he was doing it, he would look over at the group of young kids and their parents smiling, knowing he was putting on a show. As for shooting, overall ? I saw him hit many logo 3’s if you went in early for shoot around. Simply put, he would Smoke the league today 😊

[@MaximusR93]

They put up that stupid stat of LeBron having more points in his career than magic and bird combined as if that’s supposed to mean something, he played way more seasons. Didn’t Bird and Magic stop playing at 12 seasons? And magic wasn’t even scoring 20 points a game usually! What’s really important is the winning that Magic and Bird did while they played. They had a much bigger impact on the game in my opinion.

[@PurpleMonkeyDishwasher88]

They gotta keep glazing Lebron, with the "LONGEVITY" line. To "fluff-up" the GOAT debate in his favor.

[@thebenc1537]

Look at how many times Lebron played a complete 82 game season. He is a bum.

[@gggyy7104]

It’s an objectively meaningful stat buddy. Sorry you don’t like it because it doesn’t favour your guy

[@thebenc1537]

@@gggyy7104 The career scoring title means absolutely nothing. Nobody cared when Malone broke the record and nobody should care now. Its a meaningless stat that says more about how many games someone played than how good they were. I dont know if Lebron ever completed a full season of 82 games. Hows that a stat for you?

[@gggyy7104]

@@thebenc1537 It means nothing to you because you started watching basketball yesterday and don’t actually understand the significance behind it. It’s like saying the passing yards or home runs record means nothing. 🤣

[@joemarshall4226]

When they asked Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell who they would pick to start an all-time team, each of them said the other, then both said they'd pick Larry Bird next, because he played the game the "right way", and made all his teammates better.

[@sonofsarek]

Larry Bird and Magic Johnson would DESTROY players today.

[@DADON99]

Gen Z NBA Twitter say NBA players back then wouldn’t be able to play today because their slow and unathletic yet you got players like Jokic bussin everybody ass😂😂

[@CWhyNot75]

Bird before the back injuries was more athletic and quicker than Jokic. Bird would do just fine in this era especially considering the advances in medical care and training.

[@TheLouHam]

Gen Z NBA Twitter calling previous era players slow when today’s NBA players don’t even want to run back to play defense

[@levidezern3190]

Bird certainly wouldn't

[@chadwellington2524]

And Luka... Luka is averaging 35/9/10 LOL... If Bird was playing this season he would be averaging something like 40/11/10

[@realtrinx8185]

As a part of the gen Z club, I apologise for my generations delusion

[@HolyPire]

Jokic can play, understands the game and has the will to win as a team player. Like bird.

[@forestgump8357]

Jokic is a great unathletic player.

[@DanTarrant1]

And James.

[@DanTarrant1]

@@forestgump8357 I think it's folly to say that anybody who succeeds in the NBA is "unathletic". Being able to shoot and pass at such a high level are athletic skills.

[@forestgump8357]

@@DanTarrant1 Ok, that is skill, he is still slow, he can't jump, he's not quick. He doesn't hit any of the markers of being an explosive athlete. I think you know what I meant. He is an incredibly skilled basketball player, with excellent eye hand coordination. Prime Bird at least was pretty fast, very quick, especially his first step and for a few years even a decent jumper even. He just had a funny build and looked 50 by the time he was 30.

[@Realmarketwolf]

Slower than Larry too. He literally stopped and looked at his feet before shooting. The D is garbage now. Larry would destroy the modern NBA.

[@ahnguyen1]

Larry would DESTROY TODAY NBA. Larry dived for basketballs. Thats is why he was injured. You NEVER see any top players today diving for basketballs.

[@TheVlad1616]

Todays players don’t even move to play defense

[@matthewbartke4424]

I think a major reason his back was injured is because he put in his Mom's driveway by himself because he didn't want to spend the money and pay someone else to do it and injured his back in doing so.

[@PurpleMonkeyDishwasher88]

Embiid dove for a ball and got injured this year. Although tbh, he would've likely gotten injured sooner or later with the way he flops to the ground after driving to the rim.

[@izzy031096]

Steven Adams dives for balls all the time at his size. But he is one of the few that does it any more.

[@larky368]

Well, Lebron will dive for ice cubes.

[@kurtsherrick2066]

Bird was the greatest all around player to ever play. He is #1 to me a millions of other's. All people see today are the same clips over and over. Watching Bird play the games is when you understand his greatness. He had all the intangibles that don't show up in the Stat Book, except the win Stat. His fakes where a thing of beauty. Bird is one of maybe with John Stockton the only player that could beat you without having the ball. He constantly moved and his stamina was uncanny. Today's player just runs to the 3 point line and you have four players sitting still waiting on the one guy to pass the ball. Bird played i injured and he was still remarkable. When you hear what he went through he was the toughest player to ever play. His Will was unmatched until Jordan got a couple of years under his belt. Those player's in the Eighties played to win and they played with blood on their uniforms. The game today is like another Sport compared to the NBA in the Eighties. It is boring.

[@matthewbartke4424]

0:34 Nate Robinson who is 5'9 blocked Lebron James' shot, so I don't want to hear how great he is.

[@1stAmendmentorDie1776]

JJ Barea.

[@sosaraycharles358]

And Gary Payton blocked wemby; it’s happens

[@StoneGone]

@@sosaraycharles358you mean, Junior?

[@kingaqua908]

​​@@sosaraycharles358 JJ Barra locked down LeBron in the finals. No excuse for that. Fraudulent "goat"

[@sosaraycharles358]

@@StoneGone yea him

[@apollyon1]

What people don’t take into account is… Bird (and MJ and Kobe et.c) if dropped into a new era IF they found people were better than them they would GRIND until their average was on par with the best. The elite just don’t quit. That’s why they’re called legends.

[@rado3880]

Hear hear 👍🏻

[@buddyforbes7157]

Well said. Legends would adjust with their Superior Bball IQ and killer drive!

[@darylrichardson8567]

Longevity is overrated, because these new players take 10 years to accomplish anything. LEGENDS WIN CHAMPIONSHIPS IMMEDIATELY!

[@sosaraycharles358]

Who won immediately???

[@Shawn.Mathew]

@@mkbzamDaryl played himself with that 😂

[@joebuss8835]

​@@sosaraycharles358

[@knicksknoggin]

Is your favorite player Jordan Poole ? Lmao

[@deihorus7927]

@@joebuss8835 Yes but on anteam full of HOFs, rookie fo the year by far (83 vs 3) was the Legend Bird. And then won on the second year. He dominated the golden era of the NBA from the beguining.

[@mountainskys]

Larry was a ruthless assassin. He and Magic had the greatest rivalry in sports. MAGIC jOHNSON AND LARRY BIRD: A COURTSHIP OF RIVALS. A 2010 documentary on their rivalry is brilliant. It's here on YT. Highly recommended. 👍

[@RDB32]

He was also a player who was tough and had heart. Imagine prime Bird playing today

[@mountainskys]

@@RDB32 He would probably average 40 points, 14 rebounds and 12 assists a game today. ✌

[@madisonbordenave4869]

Skill, IQ, and desire are what make a player great, athleticism is a part of it, but its smaller than how far those three things can get you. Larry bird had them in spades.

[@DanTarrant1]

He did, but James does as well. That's why his career has been better than Bird's.

[@madisonbordenave4869]

@@DanTarrant1 The fact that you thought about a Lebron comparison after reading this comment is alarming lol

[@marceloasensiofilho3833]

This generation has no respect for Larry Bird. The guys is easily one of the greatest of all time.

[@johnprager662]

It's pretty obvious why fans would say Bird doesn't pass the "eye test," and it's not because of his playing style....

[@victorwong6976]

Why?

[@jammylee9840]

@@victorwong6976 skin color. Because black people in US is one of the most racist community you will ever meet.

[@alexhennigh5242]

​@victorwong6976 Don't play dumb, you know white.

[@LeetraviusMcKay-q6m]

@@victorwong6976Because he’s white and doesn’t fit the mold

[@frogeggsyeah5138]

@@victorwong6976 it's to do with a certain pigment.

[@submissivelover]

Of course, Bird was winning MVP's averaging 30/10/6 shooting 50/40/90 before flagrant fouls and before they got rid of hand checking ... The toughest most physical era of the NBA and he's as productive as some of the top dudes today...... On top of that underrated defender, finished 3rd in DPOY in 82-83 , 3x all defense, lead the league in defensive win shares 4x, top 10 in defensive box+/- 5x, top 11 in Defensive rating 7x .... He deserved way more All-Defenses than he got

[@JonSmith-hk1bq]

Defense in the 1980s is pretty overrated. The dozen years between the 1978-79 through 1989-90 seasons actually mark the twelve highest FG% in NBA history. It wasn't until the mid-90s that defense started dominating and slowing down the game.

[@submissivelover]

@@JonSmith-hk1bq that doesn't mean it was easier, just the selected shots that actually sought and executed were higher percentage.... Whereas the 90's on took riskier shots because defense was less harsh..... namely according to stat muse the decade average for 3's in the 80's was 3.5 a game... That jumped to 11.4 in the 90's....nice try though bro, valient effort

[@JonSmith-hk1bq]

​@@submissivelover You have some some point in that three-pointers make a difference, but it was also more points scored in transition and teams being more willing to concede long jumpers. Despite the reputation, the 1980s defense really wasn't anything to write home about. I'd actually take today's defense over the 1980s. At least teams know how to guard a fast break these days.

[@submissivelover]

@@JonSmith-hk1bq but they can't defend a 3, or a drive as effectively... Hand checking, flagrant fouls, and also no 3 second rule...which the best scorers today will tell you is a far greater impedance to their scoring than anything else, and that was something 80's and 90's guys dealt with heavily

[@JonSmith-hk1bq]

@@submissivelover The 3-second rule making a difference is a myth. The much more stringent illegal defense back in the 1980s prevented big men from camping. A 3-second rule would have been largely redundant. Videos like this one spread ignorance whenever they bring it up. They defend the 3 a LOT, LOT, LOT better today than in the 1980s. Players back then were routinely left open until they got 20 feet from the rim. They just didn't take the shot. And, yes, they're not as good at guarding the rim these days, but that's because the game is played from the perimeter and the OFFENSE creates the space to drive the lane. Something defenses in the 1980s didn't have to worry about because offenses back then obstinately refused to do the math because that's just how the game was played. The 1980s half-court offenses largely played close to the basket. Lanes were often clogged by six or eight players. Today that's offensive malpractice. You do that and the other team is going to have an easy night. See the Lakers a couple years ago when they had Lebron, Davis, and Westbrook on the same team. On paper, that's three guys that can attack the rim at an elite level by any era's standards, but It didn't work because other teams guarded them like they were from the 1980s. They packed the paint, and it was easy mode. Today's defenses CAN guard that type of limited half-court offense, even with mega-skilled players. And that's the type of looks that the offenses of 1980s were giving defenses, and they were putting the ball in the basket at a higher rate than anytime in history. Conversely, I don't think a 1980s defense would have any idea how to deal with a modern NBA offense where at any given time, 3 or 4 guys on the court at any given time will cook you from deep if you leave them open for half a second, while simultaneously trying to guard the paint and a lot of the offense was based around picks meant to give players that half second. Bird is actually a perfect example of this as he was demonstrating how vulnerable 1980s defenses were to a forward who could shoot the ball and stretch the defense while being a great passer on a nightly basis. No one knew how to handle Bird, and he didn't even have the advantage of a particularly sophisticated offense to take advantage of those skills.

[@rafaelgomez9298]

Larry and Magic won a combined 9 NBA titles. In one decade. Why didn't ESPN post that Stat?

[@kevinho5838]

8 only. EIGHT!😂🤣

[@kaybigg]

It's 8 actually.. Twice than Le Fraud's superteam rings

[@Buttington_Headerson]

76ers and Pistons won

[@TheMakumakumaku]

Nba is such a diffecult job, only firemen and plumbers can play 82 games

[@northaldine5116]

Say you're a 15 yr old moron that knows nothing except what you heard other people tell you without saying it💀😂😂

[@stevesmith2171]

Sounds like crickets in here 🤔

[@bradleyparks812]

Comparing these pampered kids to guys that had no dieticians, private team flights, shoe deals, trainers and the other annuities is a joke.

[@wompastompa3692]

Larry broke his back. His back was broken. Spinal.

[@Westlyn80]

Bird will always be on my top 5 list

[@MimieThalie]

In my Top 3..❤❤❤

[@Matt_237]

Larry would have not only dominated more now, but would have stayed healthy (if you could beg him not to dive for everything). Three most insanely competitive players I have watched with my own two eyes were Jordan, Bird and Kobe. Anyone calling Bird "garbage" is someone I'd immediately just walk away from in conversation.

[@jameshill2450]

5:50 is my favorite clip ever. It's 4-on-1 guarding him, he makes ONE fake move and they all go off in four different directions away from him like he just blinded them or something.

[@markmeloni2388]

When Bird came to the NBA the 3 Point line was introduced. He was the First Player who had 50 40 90 Seasons. That context is crazy.

[@dog4mike]

One of the many great things about growing up in the 1980s was watching guys like Larry Bird play live. I modelled my own game off him as best I could, because I had a similar physique and couldn’t out-muscle the stronger guys. And it worked, too. I never played near this level, but in my circles I had the respect of many who were bigger and more athletic. The body has physical limits, but if you learn to play smart, you can run with almost anyone.

[@nasmaxfit]

Bird would be soooooo good in todays game

[@wizmanballin8498]

I spit my food out my mouth when that guy said Bird was garbage! 🤣🤣🤣

[@1stAmendmentorDie1776]

JJ BAREA... JJ BAREA... JJ BAREA... That's all i have to say.

[@LeetraviusMcKay-q6m]

Even D Wade said that they didn’t have an answer for him in the 2011 Finals

[@pmcclaren1]

He was a great player--

[@1stAmendmentorDie1776]

@@LeetraviusMcKay-q6m yeah because the heat had lbj and dwade on their squad. Bums. Michael Jordan would have sent barea back to Puerto Rico.

[@thegoodfight8316]

Pat Riley’s quote about Bird summed him up the best…”if I need someone to take the last shot to win the game I’ll take Jordan… If I have to choose someone to take a shot to save my life I’d choose Larry Bird!”

[@thomasloper1205]

Have had no desire to watch any pro basketball at all until Jokic and Doncic showed up. They have IQs like Bird

[@MimieThalie]

Idem for me, I stoped watching NBA because of guys like Lebron, Chaq and all this bigs muscles without IQ.. It's so nice to see beautiful game and creativity again

[@pasigiri]

1:15 Kobe ask Magic about Bird saying the same kind of stuff. I can almost see Magic shake his head saying, "Come here boy. Sit down. Let me tell something ..."

[@mrho4speed]

Still amazed that Bird averaged 50-40-90 over 4 consecutive seasons!! Look at the list of the top 10 "goats" and none of them even have one 50-40-90 season. And Bird never practiced the 3 point shot and never had it in high school or in college. Bird if he grew up today ( I believe ) would be even better than Jokic. Thanks for sharing this video.

[@trhansen3244]

Jokic might be a top 50 player all time. Maybe. Bird is at least top 10. For me, he is top 2.

[@mr.sinjin-smyth]

Bird only had 2 legit 50-40-90 seasons... 1986-87 and 1987-88 seasons. In 1984-85, he shot just 88.2 FT%, while 1985-86, he was just 49.6 FG% and 89.6 FT%.

[@mrho4speed]

@@mr.sinjin-smyth Yes, I know = Bird just missed in the 85 and in the 86 season. If you take Bird's cumulative stats over those 4 seasons , he actually averaged 50-40-90 as the 87 and 88 numbers were high enough to pull up the 85 and 86 numbers to average 50-40-90.

[@mr.sinjin-smyth]

@@mrho4speed Oh, okay that makes perfect sense. That 4 year stretch quality wise is far superior compared to most players in today's NBA. There's a reason why Bird is consistently in any Top 5 rankings and GOAT conversations. He is just that great and legendary.

[@jaredbracci3529]

Yup- & if he played today, he would start another club. He would be practicing rhe 3 ball all the time, & therefore would be the first player ever to average 40% or higherr from the ARC with his left & right hand 😀

[@whitebelt2905]

Another VERY important fact that is often left out when comparing eras. The 3 point line didn’t exist in when Jordan and Bird played in college. It was introduced in the NBA when Bird was a rookie. They never practiced 3 pointers growing up.

[@daddyrare]

😌 Bird would cook this era, same as he did in his era!

[@JET1970]

Larry Legend Bird is the one true GOAT and one of the two Saviors of the nba

[@AmericanMoneyyy]

Not the goat. Sorry.

[@greggibson33]

Bird would dominate any era, especially now. He can score from anywhere. Better shooter and passer than MJ or Bron.

[@rt-lj5lr]

Birds mental toughness and iq is unmatched. Only mj had that same unbreakable mindset. Bird also the only top 10 baller who is all time great passer,shooter and hustled like rodman. Peak bird is a goat contender, as good as anyone ever played

[@juanjocastellano2206]

Larry the legend, the real GOAT for me. Hails from Madrid, Spain.

[@JoshuaHopkins-j9o]

This is actually a really great take for a video... Bird would just be a slightly smaller version with a higher motor... he would be epic

[@johncambridge7181]

Bird and jokic proved that high IQ with killer mentality is more important than just super athletic

[@rhodickhiggs2260]

Bird was a beast.

[@fabiocolletto3236]

Larry was the most athletic player ever because the most important muscle on the basketball court is the one between the ears and he had the best ever.

[@mdav30]

Bird was incredible. But the weirdest thing is the idea that he played against non-athletic talent. What the hell are people talking about? The league back then was filled with huge dudes with muscles (p.s. yes, guys also used roids). Yeah, maybe the training advances make today's guys a little more athletic, but playing 82 games a year plus practices is going get anyone's athletic skills buffed up. There's no that much room to grow. Dominique, Jordan, Hakeem, Cooper, Malone, Barkley, Pippen, Rodman = the list of crazy athletes could go on for ever and Bird lit them all up.

[@breauxcewayne1971]

All players back then would be bigger, faster and stronger if they played in the NBA today.

[@sirmi9868]

Larry Bird without handshaking is scarier than a coco in the closset

[@peteinthedesert7082]

This is a very good video. What is dominating today's NBA? Skill level. Doncic, AD, KD, Curry, Jokic, SGA. Markkanen coming on strong. If you combine it with freaky athleticism, you have Giannis. Bird would flat out dominate the game today. Post game combined with a deadly midrange and outside game. Smarts and toughness second to none. People forget that Bird played his entire NBA career on a permanently bent index finger on his shooting hand. Kobe dislocated his finger, got it popped back in, and continued to play. LeFlop left a game because he got an owie on his pinky!

[@Sf75178]

Had a guy on instagram say he csn name 20 players better than Larry. The cluelessness and disrespect is beyond belief

[@0007tad]

typo, he must of meant 2..

[@Sf75178]

@0007tad nope he listed players like Westbrook Giannis Dirk

[@Xenon-h9z]

@@Sf75178 loooooooooooooooooool

[@southwest1988]

Bird will always be in my top 5 Wilt Chamberlain Bill Russell Kareem Magic Bird !

[@goldenarmy3802]

This comes down to a double standard, if the game is constantly evolving and so much better why do must players not even play 82 games? And why do most players get allowed to carry the ball and travel? Theirs not one skill in today's game that's so much better guys back in the 80's and 90's we're not allowed to dribble and carry the same way modern players can it's why Bob cousey looks like he doesn't know to dribble because they were only allowed to go on top of the ball, the game has evolved in jump shooting but it lacks effort on defense it's not bad but it's really just effort and very soft foul calls. The biggest thing is imagine in 20 years they say LeBron couldn't play in that era? Like ohh "LeBron doesn't have a left hand, he can't shoot past 5 ft, he only uses bully ball and running to the rim to score" yk how annoying that would be for bron fans? It would be annoying to me as well even if I'm not a bron fan it's disrespectful the literal top ten greatest players ever couldn't survive today is dumb if people can acknowledge the greatest of this current era would be able to adapt and play well in future eras why do they then turn and say 80's and 90's all time greats wouldnt be as good today.

[@JonSmith-hk1bq]

I think the reason that players don't put in 82 games anymore is two-fold. 1. I believe that they're starting too young. It used to be that players were 21 or 22 before they got to the NBA. Before that they played a relatively light schedule in college. This gave their bodies time to finish maturing before they were asked to join the NBA. And that's saying nothing of the AAU meat grinder burning them out in high school. 2. The game is legitimately faster and requires much harsher stops, starts, and cuts. It's generally murder on soft tissue. The human body may not be built for today's game.

[@pablor3138]

Bird was just as smart as joker. Bird was a beast.

[@Xenon-h9z]

better

[@privat3island]

1:51 that was a carry over the shoulder😂...refs suck😂😂

[@r000ty]

I agree with Larry Bird on this one: Every 80/90s player thinking they are way better than todays players is a fool.

[@trick0502]

bigger/stronger/faster ≠ better

[@joebuss8835]

Yeah for the NFL

[@0007tad]

yet dumber....

[@CancelHappiness]

Bigger and stronger usually means better in the nfl. He was saying it doesn't equal better, hence the line through the equals sign ​@@joebuss8835

[@RDB32]

Those don't always add up. Larry had all that. The difference is that he had the heart of a pit bull and was not a person to back down or get rattled by anyone..

[@RDB32]

Look at football, Saquan Barkley and Earl Campbell play/played at the exact same size, but Earl could steam roll over anybody and was not about to get tackled by one person...same principle.

[@donskidarko]

Larry Bird’s basketball IQ is more than your current top nba players’ combined.

[@Xenon-h9z]

Doesn't fit a great basketball player off the eye-test?! Bird absolutely _crushes_ the eye test. His passing, shooting and playmaking were next level. ...also he was a seriously good defender.

[@abbottcole7374]

Bird grew up playing with nothing but blacks. He maximized his gifts by sharpening his swords against more athletic players. HE'S ONE OF THE BEST TRASH TALKERS IN NBA HISTORY! WHERE DO YOU THINK HE GOT THAT FROM?

[@joebuss8835]

Dominique's Holmes story is priceless...😆

[@phamnhat2925]

Larry Bird with this era's defence and the "new juice" from Miami... 30++ ppg. While making the league cry from the trash talk.

[@BlkDiesel]

Larry Legend today would be a HYBRID of Jokic and Luka! He would average a triple double of 30/10/10 if he wanted to and would flirt around averaging a 50/40/90 every season. Remember Larry had those numbers playing with 2 other HOF's and a great Celtics team. Imagine if he played with him as the primary star with other lower class stars now, he would be INSANE.

[@jaredbracci3529]

He would also start another club. If he played today, he would be the first player ever to average 40% plus with his Left & Right hand from behind the ARC.

[@MimieThalie]

And for trashtalking too... 😂😂❤❤❤

[@NewNormalWorldOrder]

I’ve been saying this for years. Prime Larry Bird is better than EVERY player alive today, including LeFraud James.

[@creatorTWin]

Maybe what we’re seeing is some NBA players are true GAMERS while others are just athletes. There’s a difference to those things.

[@mainsourcery]

ESPN always has insignificant stats. I limit my sports consumption to the actual sport, not the media that follows.

[@HarbingerOfBattle]

Larry made some of the greatest 80s players look like they were fresh out of college. He would make many of todays players look like they never picked up a basketball. Even in his prime there were all these players and fans saying “Bird is nothing.” “He’s slow” “He’s not athletic” “He’s got no style” “If he were black he’d just be another half decent player.” But after they played him, or after their heroes played him, you didn’t hear that shit anymore. All you saw were broken men at a time when basketball was played by tough guys. If you put these modern players against the kind of beasts that were playing in the days of those Celtics or those Pistons, they would be crying like little babies.

[@unnaturalselection8330]

Anyone claiming Bird wasn't a boss doesn't know ball

[@malcolmt7883]

Current players couldn't play in the 80's or 90's NBA, just due to travelling calls.

[@eaglewinnings8003]

Larry Bird is basically a better shooting version of Luka. If Luka is going 33-9-8 imagine what Bird would do in today’s NBA. Throughout Bird’s NBA career he only didn’t finish top 5 in MVP voting twice: His rookie year and his final year which was completely plagued by injury. With Bird’s shooting ability, his vision/passing skills, his superior height at 6’10” and his shot and the amount of 3s taken in today’s NBA I wouldn’t put it past him to have multiple seasons of averaging a 35 point triple double. Again; for those who don’t know, Bird is basically a taller Luka who played in the NBA when no one shot triples. If Bird played in today’s NBA taking 7-10 3s a game he would lead the league in scoring.

[@JonSmith-hk1bq]

Bird actually came in 4th in MVP voting his rookie year. He was outside the Top 5 his last three years in the league.

[@Xenon-h9z]

better passer too.. with a higher BB IQ

[@ledevingreen7920]

Larry bird is a bad bad white boy. The kind of player with a killermentality and definitely a skill player

[@mletrout7942]

Doesn’t really matter what people think. I know what I saw and Bird was the best small forward ever.

[@thinkcivil1627]

Please don't get me wrong because there are some great players in the league right now, but it simply is a different game in today's NBA, which calls for different skill sets, so I want to start with that on a civil note. I've watched the NBA since the 1960s and I can't imagine what a healthy, prime Wilt Chamberlain would do in today's league. He averaged 50 points per game FOR THE SEASON, the year he scored 100 in one game. There were some incredible teams during the era of the 1980s. The Lakers of the 80s (with Kareem and Magic), the Boston Celtics of the same era (I was a Bucks fan, so I'm way too familiar with them) was one of the greatest teams ever and the '86 Celtics lineup had 5 (FIVE!) players who are in the Hall of Fame. As noted, Bird would dominate in today's league. Another great from that era, Charles Barkley, was asked who was the toughest player he ever went up against and he said Bird was impossible to guard because he was always thinking 2 steps ahead of you (Kareem said the same thing). Dominique Wilkins from the mid 80s was one of my favorite players to watch and he was one of the most athletic players I've seen play. Which brings us to Jordan, who I saw play several times during that team's greatest years. His skill level and competitive nature was off the charts, and he is in my top 3 when the discussion of the GOAT comes up. He broke more ankles than any other player I've ever seen play, and he would simply be unstoppable in the NBA today. He is why the Bulls dominated after they finally assembled a team around him. As mentioned, Kareem and Magic Johnson were also on another level. Moses Malone was one of the greatest low post players of all time and he was a rebounding machine. The Ice Man from the late 70s into the early 80s was great to watch, as was Dr. J. I could go on, but it was how basketball was designed to play back then, and the ball was worked inside to whoever had the best shot. The physical nature of the inside game from that era made important playoff games so entertaining, and not because it looked like a hockey game. It meant you entered the paint at your own risk, which made players who could penetrate during that time so much more special to appreciate. Jordan scored over 60 in one game against Boston during the 86 playoffs and was unstoppable, but the Celtics swept them because they were the more complete team, but it put the NBA on notice of just how special Jordan was. Again, there are some players who could adjust their game to the way it used to be played, but it is simply a different game. I've left so many great players off this list, because I've already written too long of a post, but I encourage today's fans to watch some of the top playoff games from this era. I still watch some NBA, but not with the same anticipation of back when the players who saved this league dominated. Remember, in the late 70s, the NBA playoffs and even the Championship game were actually tape delayed by the major networks for sitcom reruns during prime time and you had to watch them late at night. That's how low the ratings had become before a lot of the key players and teams I mentioned made the NBA great again, and why it is called "The Golden Age of the NBA". Everyone who enjoys basketball owes a debt of gratitude to the teams, star players, and those who promoted the league, back during a time when it was desperately needed and we were rewarded with some of the most entertaining basketball to ever be played.

[@tuggboat4]

In today’s NBA no one knows what an offensive rebound is.

[@archinsoni1254]

I love this video I've been wondering to myself how Joker plays like Bird for quite some time This man literally said what I was thinking.

[@getacare2735]

When I heard you say top 10 I was thinking about it and I put him in my top five and I thought about it again he's probably top three I'm 60 years old watched all his games and I've never seen anybody as clutches still to this day. And he made his teammates better they were all were better because of him he drove teammates to win and be great.

[@MimieThalie]

60 years old too and in my top 3 too.. ❤

[@MimieThalie]

I Imagine Larry trashtalking Joker and him replaying "I'm 47, my guy" Iconic moment ever😂😂😂 I don't think Larry could have been better than Joker, but the rivalry between this two would have been the most extraordinary of all time, and Joker is the only that Larry said he would have liked to play against. Thats says it all say❤❤.

[@jarlbalgruuf7701]

Bird was a complete player great rebounder, passer shooter, efficient, decent defender. I do think modern players are better on average than back then, but I think modern fans (you know the ones) grossly exaggerate the skill gap, I just think it’s crazy to think those skills wouldn’t translate to todays game. Especially the efficiency, you can’t fake that.

[@drericfritz]

What really strikes me about that image is that LaBron has 4 (3.5?) championships and Bird and Johnson have 8. And those two did it in half the amount of time it's taken LaBron.

[@damianpresha9833]

Then your basketball card should be taken. The Lakers and Celtics had great teams.

[@drericfritz]

@@damianpresha9833 lol what are you talking about? That was my point - the Celtics with Bird and the Lakers with Johnson were so dominant in the 80s. LaBron has never been dominant with any singular team for any period of time.

[@williamalexander9485]

It’s the opposite, it shows how Jokic would have destroyed the 80s and would have been even more dominant in the 90s

[@RDB32]

Too soft, he would have been bullied in the 80s. especially by Bird and others like him.

[@kaybigg]

What?? Why are Europeans taking over the NBA on Lebron and Curry's watch, and they couldn't sniff top 10 before MJ retired??

[@damianpresha9833]

​@@kaybigg All the best European players stayed home till they got old.

[@kaybigg]

@@damianpresha9833 Luka dominated from day one, why didm't the others dominate too at any point of their careers?? We don't make excuses around here buddy.. If you're good, you're good.. Play your game, and you'll be appreciated, rather than reminding us how good you are, but when you get beat, someone else is to blame

[@damianpresha9833]

@@kaybigg Dominated? The guy haven't won anything yet and who you talking about fans create the narrative?

[@demitriuswilliams4729]

10 years in the 4 major sports: BASKETBALL, FOOTBALL, BASEBALL, AND SOCCER. is a plus. Barring injuries 💯

[@Jimmy-ik2kc]

Draymond was actually talking about himself ....Curry ,Klay and KD have carried him throughout his career. Draymond would be obsolete in any other team's system.

[@trhansen3244]

True. Green filled a role in that team that elevated him to a status within the NBA he would not have otherwise.

[@WolfsDE]

Personally, I wish they would move the 3 second rule to a 5 second rule (I don't think they should be able to camp out for 24 seconds or longer in the paint, but I think it needs to be moved to 5 seconds to allow for better defensive set ups) and bring back hand checking. Give the defense more time and make the offense have to be creative again when it comes to scoring. Nobody is out there doing the kinds of things Bird, Magic, Jordan, Wilkins, Dr.J., Kareem, Duncan, Kobe, Iverson, Olajawon or Shaq were doing during their playing careers. Require 2 years of college ball, and encourage high school coaches and middle school coaches to teach the fundamentals. Also, get rid of the damn AAU if it can't be encouraging teamwork and fundamentals. There is a reason European players studied guys like Bird, Magic and Kareem and could give a damn about what Ja Morant does. Ja is incredibly gifted, but aside from the stupidity he has done, the thing holding him back from ascending to the very top is that his fundamentals aren't that great. He could easily be as athletic as Jordan, but Jordan also had good fundamentals in his play to go with that assassin mentality. Something I don't think most of the modern players have. They take for granted what it took decades to build off of the all time greats. There are plenty of guys who if the NBA held a lockout this summer, they could bring in as replacement players and have a better, more entertaining product. I bet 2 million for those guys each for a year and making the players sit out for a full season would make a difference. Maybe some of these jokers might actually take the game seriously and remember that a legacy and brand is earned. It isn't a given.

[@TheLouHam]

They’re never going to do any of that because the NBA favors the high-scoring games over defense. That way casual fans can go look at the scores and see how high they are, and assume that it must have been a great game, and how great NBA players are today.

[@mlrd2687]

You don't realize that you underestimated Jokic in order to elevate Bird. You literally said that Bird dominated in an era when good defense was played, and that Jokic dominated in an era where defense was not played at all.

[@philtanics1082]

Larry has more grit, drive, and Bball IQ in his jock strap than the entire modern league minus Jokic and Luka

[@10k-Noodles]

If leBron’s the GOAT, then so is Hank Aaron. Nobody has ever accused Hank of even being the best at his own position. Longevity.

[@noperusona3428]

WE DONE WITH DA 90's

[@dominiquewilson]

The eye test isn’t athleticism. The eye test is me watching someone’s game and seeing what they are good at.

[@dansgroi1472]

The spacing alone now. That they allow. Would make Bird even more dangerous.

[@integritymatters5114]

It would be a miracle if NBA officials would call offensive players for 3 seconds in the paint and for traveling.

[@vicentmunoznunez5252]

I also think even for his prime he was underrated. No, he is not the best defensive player ever, but he was a good defender overall. He was on three all-d second teams. He was tall, great rebounder, good at stealing the ball, smart to understand what opponents were doing, etc. Aside from quick smaller players that could sprint away from him, he was a great defensive option. Definitely NOT a liability. So he is an offensive juggernaut with a good (not great) defensive package

[@etw4life970]

People always say Doncic is the modern day Bird. I've always thought Jokic was. Jokic is like a bigger Bird.

[@dantealighieri1265]

Doncic is more like a mix of Bird and Magic

[@Snoop_dubs]

Dremond Green said that Jokic is the most conditioned player on the court. Saying he is “fat” is ignorant.

[@ORagnar]

Bird had it all. He could play the inside game in tight quarters. He could play the outside game. He could pass at the highest of levels, both short brilliant passes and long soaring passes down the court, ala Dan Marino. He was also excellent at rebounding and got his fair share of steals. He was also about the most clutch player you will see. He got better in tougher situations. o

[@randyhuke3773]

Lebron would have been lucky to last 15 years if he played in Bird's era. Kareem's point totals would still reign supreme.

[@solsoul6669]

If they say bird can't play today they don't know basketball.

[@stevenmassey41]

Top 5: MJ, Larry, Kareem, Magic, Wilt. Next 5 in whatever order you want: Kobe, Oscar Robertson, Hakeem, Duncan, Lebron

[@rafaelgomez9298]

All I know is that Larry Bird would have never been shut down by Jason Terry in the NBA finals.