To me, the Magic/Bird era was the most competitive era in basketball history. Awesome team ball.

I miss the Bird/Johnson and before era. Dr J., George Gervin, David Thompson

@@dang1861 some of my fondest memories were attending the Playboy Jazz Festival during the Celtics/Lakers playoffs and getting those updates throughout the day.

Im one of those people

Facts! I’m about to be 44 and I know exactly how good he was growing up a Bulls fan😆

REAL!

Facts

Funnily, I imagine his ridicolous shots with the old film done now but just with the modern lenses. His shots would be absolutely the same, swishing no matter the era. Luka with the modern cameras is the one great and almost seamless comparison with Bird's moments.

People confuse athleticism with "grace" neither him nor Magic looked graceful at times but athleticism is far more than that

@@deanfirnatine7814 agreed!

Athletic is not showboating it’s getting the job done!

I feel like he used the wrong word for what he actually meant. I think he was trying* to say more or less that he wasn't a freak athlete who's got huge advantages physically. I'm pretty sure he meant it as a compliment.

I thought by athletic he meant muscular, "ripped" like he's on steroids.... that's the norm these days... men can have lots of strength without having bulging muscles. I remember realizing that the first time I watched a ninja warrior documentary filmed in japan. those athletes were performing super human feats.... but they looked like computer programmers. They had the athleticism they needed for the sport they were playing. Larry Bird obviously fit that description as well

Y'all all on here repeating the same thing, lil quotes like this means absolutely nothing and the reason why is because if Magic or isiah Thomas name was in this quote NOBODY WOULD CARE, but simply cause it's Jordan's name is attach to this quote y'all are on here repeating the same quote.

@@traslenpatterson3478 ur missing the point buddy

@@matthewchrist9082 no I'm not, i get it. But like i said, if Magic Or Isiah name was in this quote nobody would care but simply cause Jordan's name is attach to this quote it sounds so much better.

@@traslenpatterson3478 well yeah, as great as those guys are they’re not considered the same level of clutch shot maker as bird or Jordan. Naturally he used Jordan in that quote, because Jordan is known as a late game assassin who made numerous buzzer beater/game winning plays. I don’t see why it even needs to be mentioned about “if you used magic it wouldn’t have the same impact” of course it wouldn’t lol

@@matthewchrist9082 chief i think you missin the point, i totally get what the quote meant. it's not even about Magic or Isiah. It's simply bout people constantly repeating the same thing that's all and the reason they're all repeating the same thing cause Jordan's name is attached to the quote.

Lmao Charles has some of the greatest one liners!!

Charles said that?

FACTS

Can you imagine bird with hops? Omg 😂

@@bus6292 Thanks

lOVING what You Do' COME on its NOT just Larry that was working they WERE in GREAT Shape (Larry LOVED I mean he LOVED playing) he knew ALL You can give is Your ALL and his Fan's EXPECT nothing Else - Losing was NOT 4 him . I LIKE the N-3 but I love the N-33 . LL gave his ALL it was Who he was a Winner HIS FaTher's Pride in DeaTh.

The guys who make it look easy always put in the work to make it look that way.

Word!

@Brian taylor he got the back injury off the court. He hurt it working at his parents house

But with the nutrition, therapeutic techniques and medical technology available to these guys, he would be much more physically durable as well.

Absolutely, plus today's game fits him so perfectly. He would be practicing, shooting, and making way more three's in today's game. He would be able to stay healthier in today's game, and the spacing would allow him to be an even more effective passer than he already was. Bird could shoot like Durant, pass like Lebron, and was a better rebounder than both. His individual defense wasn't nearly as good as those two players, but his team defense was excellent. Put him in any era and he's a perennial MVP candidate so long as he stays healthy.

@@shawnkitzman2775 True. He could have hired someone to do the job but he wasn't built like that. They say that Bird mowed his own lawn. I'm pretty sure he did it because that's how he grew up.

Same with Rick Barry, Jerry West and Pistol Pete.

@@mikelair9144 Jerry West could have thirty in a big game and shut down the man he was guarding and you would barely notice either, just not flashy in doing it unlike Pete who loved showing you how flashy he could be while still dominating

@@deanfirnatine7814 Truth

I mean, we SAY his style wasn't flashy. Dude put up some of the flashiest passes and shots in the game, though.

Yeah he wasn't hyped like other ppl. These people today ignore the builds in the 80s. Jordan was able to score but bulls always lost versus Celtics

I know. These young guys need to get out of their echo chambers. He's rated right where he needs to be.

@@jeffjoyce4509 To be honest, I didn't know much about players from before the '80s, until I started watching YT vids about them. Now, Wilt, Bill Russell and Jerry West are my earliest threshold of awareness; I've only _heard_ of Bob Couzy & his contemporaries. I guess it's normal to start with the stars of your own time, and then work backward. It was the same with music, for me.

It's because he's white...

exactly. Larry Bird underrated? What? Get out of here.

I mean I know who they are just not how amazing they were

Yeah, he's not underrated. He's like top five all time to anyone who knows basketball.

As a lifelong Celtics fan of 67 years, I have to agree with you. Bird, Magic, and Jordan would never try to be on the same team unless it was a national team. Not like these sissies today. The NBA was a man's game.

@@alankjkj1 stfu internet gangster hiding behind the screen calling other people sissy.

Players are definitely soft today compared to the '80s.......LJ (and the rest) flop like they are soccer players

Those were the finals I enjoyed most. Lakers vs Celtics. So many great players on both sides!

@@oshura2506 Yeah, people were a lot more polite back then also,

i cant think of a single small forward not named lebron thats better than him. these young kids out their mind. calling bird underrated

@@IronMikeyT "underrated" and "unathletic" - He basically learned nothing about Larry Bird

If people don't know about something these days they lazily & incorrectly call it underrated.

@@IronMikeyT bird is still greater than LeBron imo

I think he is saying he is underrated by a lot of the new generation who never got to see him play. Who just write Bird off as "an unathletic white guy". Who have bought that narrative.

thats what I remarked about too

He just can't run that fast or jump. But he could make it from anywhere on the court, take a big hit and keep playing. A beast.

@@seanoconnor5730 so much bs talked about this guy. Bird was quick and he could run. He also could jump until he hurt his back and that's when he dialed it back. He was very athletic.

yes of course JUST not as atletic as he could have been = genetic's

Nah, he wasn't athletic. Outside of like track, you can be non-athletic in a lot of sports and still have skills that make up for it. It's like when you see an MLB pitcher with a beer gut, but he has a great fast ball. Athleticism is mostly about how fast (not quick) and strong you are. Tom Brady is very non-athletic (one of the worst NFL combines for a top tier player), but his skill makes up for him being slow and weak (for an NFL player).

Larry said he could shoot better before he broke his finger in college. Fukin legend

Truth. Unathletic? Gtfoh

Well he is clearly agile and has good balance and body control

He runs, shoots, jumps, fakes, jukes, dunks, dives... what in the hell isn't athletic about that? This kid and this whole generation is warped beyond reproach. Calling one of the greatest athletes of all time "un-athletic" is like calling a Dodge Demon a daily driver.

Its because he could also quite often put up the ugliest looking under duress shot time after time after time and it was nothing but net. He didn't have an athletic looking body....he was just skilled and very smart player. He looks slow...but he's not

Definitely top ten at least

Top 10, top 5 is too stacked

@@AT-mu6ov who's your top 10 he's top 5 MJ Lebron Kareem Bird magic

He’s top 5 hands down above Lebron and Kobe Russell wilt Kareem bird Jordan magic dr Robertson Jerry west and Kobe are my top 10

No kidding!

Yea he’s nowhere near Bird at passing. Bird was such a great all around player and with not even half the athletic ability of most of his peers. Insane how he was such a smart and skilled player considering he was not a great athlete.

At this point in his career you couldnt even compare LeBron James to Bill Russell or Wilt Chamberlain much less Larry Bird or Michael Jordan n Oscar Robertson average a triple double points steals rebounds for a whole season

@Reggie White Crack.

The NBA back then was real basketball, today’s NBA is turning into a joke.

If he played today he would have a new nickname "And One"

Maybe " The One"

He would destroy defenses

He would have 20 from the line alone. Never mind if he had actually practiced the 3 point shot.

He was the best even in his era nevermind today.

What? They don't call travelling?

@@VictorOrdu look at Harden with his travel step back

"Not athletic" to today's kids means he didn't do 360 windmill dunks and dance like a fool after making an easy layup like today's players. Larry was so good, he made being the greatest look easy and casual.

You can’t even make a modified team unless your athletic. The worst nba players are far more athletic than 99 percent of the world.

Compared to a lot of nba players today he’s not very athletic, compared to the average guy yeah he’s pretty damn athletic lol

They base that off "lack" sky dunks and ESPN top 10.

Bird may look a bit gangly and awkward when he moves, which is most of what ppl think is “athletic.” And he may not have the raw sprint speed or vert leap of someone like Jordan, but that’s a tiny part of athleticism. Just look at how bad he burns dudes, that’s no fluke. He uses his body and mind to do that. His fadeaway jumpers, ball control, shot percentage, feigns and head fakes, vision, information processing and decision-making, instincts, all that is a part of athleticism. I would argue it’s more important than being the fastest, highest jumping, and most graceful.

And rookie of the year

And likely the only one who ever will

And Finals MVP, All Star Game MVP, AND national college player of the year.

They don't call him Larry Legend for nothing.

Stronger Everyday and Olympic gold medalist and 3pt shootout champ times 2

I give the Skyhook as Most Clutch Shot ever. If I needed 2, I'd go Kareem.

@@JamesAllenJr The skyhook was unblockable but I don't think Kareem Puff had the clutch gene

@@JamesAllenJr tell that to Wilt

@@JamesAllenJr Kareem said bird was the goat

Pffft. You're all wrong. Give me Reggie Miller for a clutch shot any day (after Bird as my first choice, of course). And I know about clutch....that was my dad's nickname and he hit TWO consecutive half court shots...one year apart...during halftime at two Seton Hall games. He won free airline tickets in both cases. The crowd went nuts when he was announced as a winner the previous year...and proceeded to hit the half court shot again.

Exactly. He may have looked unathletic, but you watch, he's up and down the court faster than most guys, and until late in his career when his back was bad, he had to be careful dunking the ball to keep from hitting his head on the rim. he could jump, he was fast -- he was an athlete and a brillant player.

He was also a bit nervous about Hakeem, who he called "the Big African." And I have to grant that anyone saw that monster play in the mid 90s would be terrified of him watching him school all-time great centers and athletic freaks like D. Robinson and Shaq.

ask also any NBA player in the 80s

'Underrated' is the most misused word on KZfaq. 🤦🏻‍♂️

He's underrated if you think LeBron is better. He isn't.

@@rtosborne3 I recently had a conversation with a couple Millennials who INSIST LeBron is THE BEST EVER. They mistake his athleticism for being a complete player. They never saw Bill Russell or Wilt Chamberlain, Dr. J, Magic, or Bird, or any of the other greats of earlier generations. I would choose Bird and Tim Duncan (who they also poo-pooed) as my starting forwards over LeBron, all day, every day: players who made their teammates better. Just saying.

That’s why we call him Larry Legend

wonder why this guy gave a such stupid title to his video!

that is ALL Bird WANTED is to be in the CONVERSAtION as to Who was The BesT (I believe I watched Larry Legend say those almost EXACT words SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO'

Chris Paul too. Point god is so underrated

John Stockton IS the greatest PG of all time & it’s not even close

@@MeTakingAStand 6 steals leader and incredible ball handles, gameplay is an insult being underrated as one of the most important point guards.

Agreed!

@Robert Chelsea do yourself a favor and take your anti semitism/racism some place else.

Yeah , + the era. Young bloods always think their generation is better than those before them.

He was never underrated.

skin color has nothing to do with it.... Everyone one who watched him play knows how "gangsta" Bird was.

I wouldn’t call him underrated but his skin color definitely effects his legacy

@@mikexxxmilly you have no clue about what you are talking about. He was a legend back then, just ask Magic, Jordan, Ewing, Worthy or any other player he played with back then.

It is clickbait for ad$ense. And worked

@@ItsBriiiiii it's not clickbait. Nobody knows the meaning of the word these days. If it's not shoved down their throat then they say it's underrated.

Man was it ever!

Thank you I love the history of basketball. Is there any player highlights you think I should check out ?

@@whojmo Kobe's 81 point game. Larry Bird's 60 point game.against the Atlanta Hawks. Pistol Pete Maravich 68 point game in 1976 (no three point line) or Wilt Chamberlain, Any game from is amazing..... All these games are on youtube. Oh.... And the famous dual game between Bird and Dominique Wilkins. The greatest 4th quarter in NBA playoff history, the infamous 1988 Eastern Conference Championship game 7.

@@whojmo you should check out the Michael jordan career mixtape it has the craziest plays and posters etc. that you have never seen. Also Magic Johnson - much love from a new sub✊

@@HaroonKhan-wd2dz I will absolutely do those videos, thanks for the love

aram I could not agree with you more

I was at that game. My wife, a Portland native, still claims Larry's clutch 3 pointer to tie the game was not a legit three. Regardless, it was a legendary performance.

@@YeOldeGnurd That’s awesome Dave! You definitely got your money’s worth that day!

@@YeOldeGnurd Haha it was such a weird shot there's an argument either way for it

and awareness of where his guys were on the court!

It’s just the stereotype , I’ve heard it spoken of long ago but true ballers know it’s a farce

Kids these days

I think you're thinking of "overrated". Any 80s or 90s player is truly underrated by today's kids nothing wrong with what he said

yea blood was not uncommon back in the day in a bball game.

You forget that HIV risk changed things.

@@conniead5206 wait what? HIV risk? What a joke

@@dvvaughn564 that was a big deal back in those days. They didn't have treatment for it like now and no one knew much about it. I remember it being a huge deal in the NBA when Magic Johnson tested positive, they were all concerned about contact with blood during a game

Real talk. Teams of the late 70s through mid 90s were brutal. The 90s Knicks would foul out during pre-game warmups in this era. The Pistons? Mahorn, Laimbeer and Rodman would be on trial for attempted murder. XD

I generally don't follow basketball but I grew up in MA in the Larry Bird era and remember the excitement and amazement of watching the Celtics play. I've been nostalgically watching some of these Larry Bird reactions and I'm struck by the concept of basketball IQ that lots of people are commenting about. It seems like he was using everything he had to his advantage, and as someone who probably knows more about him than I do, how much do you think his trash-talking and confidence, in even telling his opponents what he was going to do beforehand, etc, was mindless fun, or having a big ego in addition to his talent, and how much of it was a deliberate strategy? I've seen interviews where other players laugh about his telling them exactly how he was going to score on them, etc. and my first impression was that it seemed incredibly cocky, but the more I think of it, it seems really brilliant, like was his psychological game really that advanced? Was he using the power of suggestion as a practical tool? It's not just being physically coordinated and precise, and spatially aware of where his teammates are and where they'll be, having good physical reflexes and instincts, etc. Was the guy a damn hypnotist too?lol Would that be the definition of high basketball IQ? And how many other players out there have a similar IQ, do you think?

@@hollyodell4012 mind games are a crucial part of all sports especially with peak performers

totally agree with you. Bird was the smartest player ever and because he was so smart people suppose he was un-athletic.

@Donald Leider Amen. I was just gonna say the same thing. I get pissed every time I hear someone say Larry Bird is unathletic and not only unathletic but an athletically white guy. The Hick from French Lick was one of the most athletic players I've ever seen, you go back to his college days and the battles him and Magic had and his earlier years in the league until he got hurt that dude straight balled out. I think the more appropriate thing to say would be he looks unathletic, always has but there's not a player in the league today that could beat bird from rim to rim in his prime bird was so damn fast but didnt look like he was but his strides were so damn long he just flew. Some of his highlights it looks like he's being shot out of a cannon how fast he could get down the court. He was also the most creative player ever. Ever Ever the things he could do with the ball were amazing AMAZING he could make anyone look like a fool on the floor trying to guard him, then if you do get him to pick up his dribble the passes he could make his bounce passes his no looks his between your legs behind your head in your face then bucket or his behind the back outlet passes that look like Patrick Mahomes throwing a 20 yard dart to Travis Kelce and they were always right on the money too..And he could pick your pocket so damn fast with his long ass arms and just pure hustle. And talk about strong that's why his career was so short because he gave 100% one hundred percent of the time, diving for balls jumping into the stands you name it and in the 80s you had to be tough in the NBA they didn't blow the whistle much in those days, it was like football on a basketball court at times and everyone was hunting birds and When your the best your the target and the other teams toughest guy would just lay him out on a dirty screen or just grab him out of air when he's going up for a dunk and throw him to the ground he'd get up everytime and give it right back and more. Go back and watch some of the battles between Boston and Detroit Shit that's why his career was so short. I played Basketball and Football and I'd rather get tackled on pavement than a Basketball Court anyday and that's what they did though in the 80s and early 90s in the NBA it was dirty and Bird was the toughest and just as dirty as well. If he played in today's NBA he'd average 35 points 12 boards and 10 assists a game easy and would be a 30 to 35k point career if healthy. But never unathletic..

loool bird wouldnt be able to play in this soft era. wtf is wrong with people?

Yeah I have heard people say that but man Bird would make Lebron look like a kid in skill and how their is physical aspect anymore

look around youtube, a lot of it's racially based though, to be honest

The kid says Bird underrated maybe because he's white?

Only Kidd could match him in that respect, IMHO.

Ah Isaiah Thomas and Dennis Rodman said if he was black he would be considered average

Who in their right mind underrates Larry? He's top five all time.

They wanted to drive that dagger into your heart twist it about a dozen times and then pull out your heart and show it to you.

@@Lonewolfmike Damn! Thats dark.

@@xaviergms2225 Well they wanted you to know it was they who beat you. I mean Larry would tell the opposing team the play before the Celtics ran it and they still couldn't stop him.

I did thankfully

And the great thing is they have been great friends since Larry retired because of his many injuries.

I know what you mean, but it's a shame if that's the case. Some people just aren't interested in learning about the past, always assuming that it couldn't be as good as the present. Like when dumb people say "That was before my time" as an excuse for being ignorant. "George Washington? That was before my time, man. How should I know who the first president was, ya boomer?"

And they ended up great friends!

After they got hit in the head by a screaming hard no look pass placed perfectly where they needed it to be to catch and shoot 10 or 15 times they started making sure whenever Larry had the ball they were aware of the possibility.

no question. low may be