When are people going to stop saying Bird wasn’t athletic? This is the dumbest thing I hear people say all the time! The man ran up and down the court with the best of them. He could D-up against anyone. His hand, eye, and foot coordination were unbelievable, and remember, he was a big man! Bird was 6’9”. Some big guys don’t look as athletic because they are so tall and lanky, but looking tall and lanky doesn’t mean that you’re not athletic. I understand that speed and jumps are large athletic attributes, but hand, eye, and foot coordination are better to have overall in most sports. Hand, eye, and foot coordination are part of being a great athlete and a great player. Have you seen the highlights of Bird passing the ball? Have you seen him sink one 3-point shot after another. I can’t tell you how many wide receivers over the years were drafted into the NFL who were speed demons, some of the fastest guys in the league, but couldn’t stay on the field or in the league because they didn’t have the hand, eye, and foot coordination to consistently run their routes and catch passes. NFL wide receivers are not always the fastest guys on the field; most of the time, yes, but not always. Great hand, eye, and foot coordination, along with good speed, will go so much further than an athlete with superior speed and average hand, eye, and foot coordination. Hand, eye, and foot coordination is one of the biggest attributes an athlete can have. Think about it this way. NFL quarterbacks are not the fastest guys on the field, but they have superior hand, eye, and foot coordination, which in turn equals great vision. NFL quarterbacks are great athletes. Another great example is that most of the tight ends in the NFL are nowhere near the fastest or most athletic guys on the field, but they are great athletes because they have great hand, eye, and foot coordination. I know I’m going on and on, but my point is that Larry Bird was a great athlete in his many God given athletic abilities.

Besides being unbelievably skilled, Bird was great with and without the ball, on both ends of the court. I watched him both live and on TV throughout his pro career and the man was game! Most of the people who bash him know nothing about basketball. Larry Legend for a reason.

The new gen plays pussyball

I don't hate Curry. I don't hate Luka or Jokic. LeBron isn't amazing. He is great player, definitely HoFer, but he doesn't have that thing that puts him over the top, unlike the other players I mentioned. As a player who rested on their laurels, LeBron doesn't impress me. He is inconsistent, having GOAT worthy years then crap years. He often blames others. That's a leadership issue, and that takes him out of the GOAT discussion. Curry may sit at the GOAT table, Jokic and Luka may do that, too. But not yet. They are not done. That's the problem. So many people say "LeBron's the GOAT" before looking at his resume as a whole...and he's not done yet. Also, longevity stats don't impress me. As little as Magic and Bird have, they won lots of accolades, played every night like it was the finals, shaped HoF careers (Bird more so than Magic) in half the time LeBron has played. Yet, they are still talked about as GOAT candidates. As for the league...I am not going to blame it on the players. But when you cannot grab the shirt or touch another player when defending, you have a timer for the paint, and lack of fundamental basketball being played, that is on the system. AAUs to less players going to college to the NBA's defense rules. The system has created bad basketball, rewarding selfish players, no wonder LeBron acts the way he does! As much as we want to blame a person, blaming LeBron is easier. Like it or not, he is the face of the League and he will get the brunt of all negativity. But, it isn't his fault, he is only responsible for his actions and his actions can be questioned. But the way basketball is today, can you blame him for taking advantage of the system?

well, im 40 years old, i never hated on any player ever except two, and with one i changed my mind over the time. the 2 im talking about is mj(hated mj throughout his career), and lebron. when mj won his 2nd 3 pt, and all the highlights and buzzer beaters, i had to admit that he is the greatest ever. with lebron as time come by, i even hate him now more after 40k points, because of his egoistic statements about him beeing the greatest of all time. you let others say that, but yourself? that is disgusting. and i could go on and on why i hate leflop. im just objective and i watched the 80s whislt i was young, i watched the 90s the 00s the 10 and now the 20s. so if ALOT of ppl that actually watched games week after week, year after year, you have to be considering that something changed in the league to the "not liking of the current nba" of ppl that watched over 3 decades of nba basketball. they took the toughness out of the game, and the competitivness and everybody is just looking after them benjamins! and that is why alot of oldheads dont like the current nba. its soft and its uncompetitive, i have great hopes in the recently new generation of players that actually want to compete, but when i watched the all star game the last 6 years, it was boring. when i watched the dunk kontest, there was 1 year the last 6 where it was spectacular, all the others were like "meh". where are the best players and dunkers of the league and why are they not competing??? see theres so many things i could mention but that would be too much for a youtube comment. much love as always from germany

Bird is my pick for GOAT basically because he is the best all around player ever combine that with his clutchness and his court awareness just makes him a beast. Granted he didn’t have the size or hops to pull off a free throw line dunk or use a 250 pound plus mostly muscle size to make the massive slams like LeBron or Shaq. He used his smarts and heart to dominate.

Unfortunately , it’s true ! Todays league is hilariously soft , can’t touch anyone ! Watching LeBron James take his two steps to the basket while everyone else just stands around , is not my idea of what professional basketball should look like ! And sorry , it’s also true , that there is no player in todays game in the top 10 !

When your nickname was "Kodak" you understand the secondary moniker "Larry Legend". James Worthy said, on videotape, he would rather defend Jordan than Bird because his mentality was always two steps ahead (he knew where everyone on court was Going To Be in the future. Dwell upon that and you'll see your GOAT at the Small Forward Position. Don't accept this--ask Magic. He'll tell you.

His best defensive attribute was his hands and anticipation. Thats not only not taught, but is a gift most don’t have. He has incredibly quick and accurate hands. In regards to athleticism, I have a theory as to why he gets so disrespected in this area. At 6’10, Bird was actually a PF. When Kevin McHale joined the team it forced Bird to slide over to the 3. He was only able to do this BECAUSE of his athleticism, not because a lack of it. When you keep in mind his height and compare him to PFs across history, he would actually be considered a very agile and athletic PF as many PFs would not be able to make that switch to 3. Because of this, instead of being compared to his natural position at 4, he’s compared to the freakiest position of all. He’s compared to some of the biggest freak athletes of all time: Nique, Dr J, Lebron, Pippen, KD, etc. Of course he’s not at their level athletically, but when you compare him to most 6’10 players he’s actually more agile, quick first step, body awareness

we undervalue the new era because you now get 2 full steps instead of 1 1/2 and no one plays defense now, check the all-star game this yr, and everyone turns the ball over when they dribble, everyone wants to be part of a super team back then most people played their entire career with one team

Top NBA career combined stats per game (pts, reb, ast, stl, blk) career fg%,tp%,ft% 1. Jordan 44.7 -50-33-84 2. Lebron 44.4 -51-35-73 3. Bird 43.1 -50-38-89 4. Kareem 42.9 -56-06-72 5. Durant 40.8 -50-38-88 Bird has the second highest game winning percentage right behind Magic (10 games off).

A lot of people even in the NBA... Their perception of Larry as a defender was Not good! A lot of them were younger players just coming into the league the last couple of years of Bird's career when his back was at it's worst. But before his back issues he was a really great/good defender! I don't have anything against the players of today ....Just what the league has to transformed the game into! The way the game is played these days... it's very boring for people like me who are used to the game in the 80's! The game was 10 times more exciting back then.... than it is now!

He was never unathletic. He played through more pain than anybody else in the league, ever. Remember, he had both Achilles tendons operated on, bad back, and a broken finger that changed his feel for the ball.

Bird made 3 all defense teams

I mean I remember when Iverson, Kobe, Marbury, Garnett and the rest starting entering the league in the mid 90s.. they were the NEW GENERATION.. flashy players but STILL hand the funamentals and the heart.. MANY people HATED Kobe.. he was ARROGANT. but his PLAY and his HEART won us over.. Lebron is a puss. 280 6'8 and he crumples from a slap to the face? 280 6'8 and he gets pushed around by Frank Ntilikina?.. hate? no these are FACTS.. he AIR BALLS FREE THROWS..

I'm glad you've done your homework on the greats of the past. Bird was phenomenal

A fair statement would be as many have often agreed, Larry Bird was one of the best (all around) players the NBA has ever seen - and he excelled at creative passing, shooting, playmaking/play saving, clutch plays, court IQ and pure toughness regarding him not flopping every time he got hurt - quite the opposite he endured pain to stay in with his team - played seven years with a very bad back disfigured finger, still playing full seasons even after twin achilles tendon surgeries minus healing time one season, as well as other injuries those - are the areas Larry excelled in. More to the point Larry was tough and never gave up on a play making many saves and passing while falling so his team mate could still get a bucket out of what would have otherwise been a broken play and lost points that often decided the fate of the game when things were close in the low single digits. I agree he cant be called an elite defender but by dam he still gave it his all when defense was needed

How can you be dominate in professional sports and not be athletic. Doesn't make sense.

He flew under the radar. He had heart.

Been a huge Bird fan my entire life and watched his whole career. He was a strong team defender but being honest he was not a great defender. Hustle , quick hands and IQ made him a good not great defender

Is basketball a team game or an individual game? Are there 5 players on the court for a reason or is the game meant to be played by one player at a time while the other 4 watch.

You don’t get in the league without some athleticism. He’d fly up and down the court. He also played nearly every minute of every game, if it were necessary. Watch 5 times Larry Bird Wouldn’t Quit, I think you’ll like it it. And definitely trash talking.

I just said this in another video I'm so annoyed by ppl using the term unathletic for any pro in any sport. Athletic means to have skill or talent in sports or other track and field events. It doesn't mean having good physique or being fast. And it's not the way they play or the modern players themselves im 32 and my problem with comparing is the rule changes. I grew up watching nba when mj rodman AI Tmac and the leauge was tough af man its soft now it really is the players have loads of talent today but scoring is def easier today and i miss seeing 90s early 00s d in the nba.

he had like 10 defensive rebounds a game in his whole career... if that is not good D then sign me out

I watched bird live , and he wasn't unathletic, he just didn't jump and slam down all the time , birds game was All around,he did it all ,and he just plain put up numbers and winning, and he did whatever to WIN , i love that about bird 🐦,now today's game there is great talent today ,but not all need to be shooting 3,cause it ain't thier jam ,also the refs need to relax enough they can actually play bball 🏀🐦💚

show me 1 player today doin what bird was doing at 4:51 in this video. players today dont care about being great. aksi the lebron vs bird debate is also squashed but birds age 30 season vs lebrons 30 season. Bird was already broken during that season yet he out performed lebron

I'm an old head but I have no problem with acknowledging the greatness of younger players. For example, Lebron. I'm not a fan at all but there's no denying that he's one of the greatest players of all time. How else can you describe someone who can play at his elite level for over 20 years? And will anyone ever catch up to his 40,000 points in a career?? Not likely. But having said that I don't have Lebron as the GOAT. That will be either Jordan, Magic, or Bird, in my book, but I get it if others prefer Kobe, Kareem, Duncan, KD, or any of the others who are worthy of the discussion.

I wouldn’t say the old generation just hates on all players of today’s game, but one huge difference is when players act like pansies. Back in the day you wouldn’t see people flop around like you see Lebron does, it’s just comical watching him.

Bird was very athletic. Jumping ,he could easily dunk with both hands he could ally oop , athletic , fast in short bursts and the most overrated skill in basketball, who gives a crap how fast you can get down the court if you get down there and look like a baby deer. He was extremely athletic , it may be the uh glare off his skin which is blinding people to how great this guy was, after 87 he struggled due to back injuries

Lebron AIR BALLS FREE THROWS.. I PROMISE you.. if he DOESNT AIR BALL FREE THROWS. he DOESNT load manage.. if he DOESNT play like a puss.. WE WOULD RESPECT HIM.. we RESPECT Giannis.. Luka.. Jokic.. Lebron and KD HAVENT earned that respect.. I respect Curry tho most dont.

Popularity voting was worse back then than it is today? Just look at the league now; look at the all-star games and players living for their image online rather than winning basketball games. Try a re-think on that one. And you don't have to take a shot at LJB every time they say something good about him. Everyone knows you think Jordan is better, that's cool. Everyone has their GOAT(s). Views are good with Larrry videos, but if it upsets you, react to the players you like.

All the LeBron lovers all they need to do is listen to who LeBron says is one of the three greatest players of all time and that's Larry Bird and MJ and either Dr. Jay or George gervin

LeBron wouldn't start in the 80s and 90s

Bird played defense similar to Kevin Garnet.. he guarded the ENTIRE floor.. he just wasnt AS GOOD as KG.. but Bird was a GREAT team defender.. NO QUESTION ABOUT THAT.. and his defensive IMPACT SHOWS.. Also you said a casual would think Bird isnt a good defender cuz he is un athletic. but YOU think he ISNT a GREAT defender for that SAME REASON... ... .. .. .. .. . i HATED Michael Jordan and Reggie Miller cuz they KILLED THE KNICKS.. i laugh and im BORED with todays league.. ive watched ball for 30 + years and then in 2017 it got too boring for me.. hows that hating. I TRIED to watch.. its WACK. your generation ONLY knows now and like the last 10 maybe 15 years. I know TWICE THAT.. and in MY eyes, ever since i was a CHILD i thought the NBA got WACKER, with LESS COMPETTIION and LESS GREAT PLAYERS with more and more bums in the league that shouldnt be there, with each decade AFTER the 80s.. less fundamentals, less mental toughness, less UNSELFISHNESS. the 90s brought excitement with one on one play but it slowed the game down. ever since the 90s, flashy play started to become more important than PRODUCTION. NOW its tough to see athletes that perform EVERY SINGLE GAME.. EVERY SINGLE MINUTE THEY ARE OUT THERE. Lebron dont that. He dont play hurt. he doesnt put team first.. that's not hating. that FACT

One thing I don't think about is your opinion. You are so astute and just plain foolish.

If you take the players of the 80s and plop them into todays no touch defense they will all score more. It will be alot easier on offense. In the 80s defense was mchale clotheslining rambis. Today it would be called flagrant with massive fines and suspensions. Todays nba defense is also the same as in the wnba. Bird would avg 35 today. Wilkens too. The top 10 would all be 80s players. Stupid hypothetical arguments i know. Doesnt mean shit