Scott Neilson, Larry is one of the greatest, but what do you mean by anyone not matching his championships?

edwardmashberg1 No Bird is better than Magic

Scott Neilson Bird was and there was a lot of black people hated Bird because he was the best player in the world at that time

Chris Loesch You are right BIRD could do it all if he was black Bird would be ranked top 3 everytime

@@donniepate7313 He's top 3 regardless of race. I switch between him and Magic all the time. They're both behind Jordan.

Well, there was nothing those 2 couldn't do.

Duncan also had a mean glass game.

I love players who use the glass

Not by me it ain’t

In their prime, Nique & Walton glass masters. Larry could use glass st8 on from 18 feet.

Bird was great as I am a huge fan. But Wilt said the fella sitting next to him was the greatest as he had more rings than fingers. The fella sitting next to Wilt was his arch enemy on the court. Bill Russel. Say what you want. Bill Russel > MJ. And MJ stands alone as the most athletic and gifted guard. But I’d rather have a Magic on my team because Magic did things with the ball that was mastery of the no look pass and fast break.

@@jjs777fzr Bird also did amazing things & no-look passes! Everyone sleeps on Bird but he consistently proves his dominance over & over.

@@jjs777fzr 9 championships in 11 yrs speak volumes that Russell>Jordan. I'd rather have Bird over Magic, not only could he pass as well as Magic, but he would do anything to win whether that meant killing you, me, or even himself. Today's players don't have that, and neither did Magic.

Don't ask me why, but back in 2007 I worked as a bouncer at my cousin's sports bar/pub in Cambridge, MA (basically in Boston), and one night this blond from Chicago is there with not only full Celtics garb, but she's also wearing a Bird shirt w/ #33 on her back??? What was even stranger and surreal was she had a REAL strong south side Chicago accent. Apparently despite Jordan being the GOAT, there were/are quite a few Bird fans in Chicago.

@@mikes3827 Why?

@@mikes3827 Wrong.

@@mikes3827 I'm from Chicago and Bird was my favorite player I was a little young to see Bird in his prime, Loved Jordan as well... Bird had mad shooting skills, passing skills etc... Anyone that's a basketball fan from Chicago a true fan respected Bird greatly...

People love hard workers and quality performances. Bird was also an Indiana native, i.e... Right down the road from Chicago. Even Jordan admits he was the greatest, what was it. Small forward?, who ever played. Both were phenoms with nothing but mutual respect.

It didnt exist. LOL

sounds like something AI would actually be great for

​@@psymi-hk1fpNah, just plain technology. AI can have no bearing on that wish.

I grew up in the 80's (solid Gen-X'er) and the players today, by and large, aren't of the same professionalism. There are Greats but it seemed that "flash" took over after the 90's. LeBron is a cry baby and a whiner. I don't care what anyone else says, Michael Jordan is the GOAT along with several others in that Pantheon: Bird, Karl Malone, David Robinson, Charles Barkley and many other players who all had much more professionalism and class than LeBum.

Earvin Johnson was never in the REAL discussion !!! Leads the league in turnovers And will never be a top 5 PG !!!!!

Remember...Jordan never won a thing until Bird...Magic...and Kareem retired!!!

Kobe Bryant? Hello!

@@Gaderelli I hope you're joking dude. Personally, I can't stand Magic and I think everyone agrees his myopic act has grown very old. But as a Larry Bird and Celtics lover I can say you are absolutely crazy to say Magic wasn't in the "real discussion" and an even dumber comment saying he's not a top 5 PG ever. He's a top 5 PLAYER ever, arguably a top 2 and the undisputed greatest PG of all time and it's not even close.

Great quote.

Team play > Ball Hogism

As great as Jordan was it still took him 7 years to figure how to win in NBA.

@@davidhilliard1838... Yes, and that meant removing a young healthy Larry Bird out of the Equation.

@@mikeyyekim5858 Bird had a better team

@THE Rattler Jordan WAS a ball hog. You don't think Bird was an amazing passer? Then you were too young or not alive to have seen him play. His passes were so far superior to Jordan's it's not even funny. As for Bird averaging one more assist per game than Jordan, Bird was a FORWARD and Jordan a guard. If you dare doubt how great of a passer he was, let me remind you... kzfaq.info/get/bejne/h7WpfpZ5sduZqJs.html

What assist ability? Those were bank shots.

@Jack Meoff Yet he continued to lead the league in shot attempts until his career with the Bulls ended, dumb fuck. When you take A LOT more shots than Dominique Wilkins, that makes you an incredible ball hog.

+Edward Anthony Leone Bird might be great, but he is not better than Jordan.

+salman sufi personally i think he is a better all round player than jordan, but jordan may be a better scorer

Matthew King You can think what you want, but I think Larry Legend's legacy benefited from his bad back since we couldn't see him facing down father time.

His legacy benefitted from his stats and his ability to outshine everyone he played against

Matthew King In which he was always in his prime, if we saw and aging Bird I don't think he would be as revered.

Bingo

AKSBSU u didnt even name shaq who destroyes ever center u just named . . but yes your point is right sir. 80s and 90s best basketball era ever not even close

They had a lot more class back in the day.

That's Bird, Jordan, Magic and Isiah.

Guys, all these stars from the past would be rookies in our days (except, may be, Jordan). Physically, menthally, technically.

@@AirMax11031978 Most of today's players would be lost back then because of the physicality that was allowed. Guys like Kobe and Lebron would be crying for foul calls all night while everyone else is running up and down the court. The hand checking alone would ruin most of today's guys.

You can't be the best if you had a weak defense. The greatest player in the history of basketball was Magic Johnson; his shooting skills were underrated because of his past first mentality.I will give bird the best shooter of his era.

@@alyjulmiste1880 Umm...from 1982 through 1984, when the head coaches used to do the voting, Bird made the All-Defensive Team three consecutive years.

Tonto Epstein Right Magic really wasn’t a good defensive player at all.. he was decent at best but nothing more.. however Larry was outstanding.. with his insane IQ he could perceive things and steal passes that no one else could dream of seeing.. one of his most iconic plays was a defensive play as well.. “aaaaannddd THERE’S A STEAL BY BIRD”

Aly Julmiste The problem with that is that Bird’s defence was very good.

George Morley Pretty sure that guy made that comment thinking that athleticism translates= good defender when it doesn’t..

Tom Roach

Dude I’ve heard this before this is all fake. All u did was copy and paste

Fake and how does running less make you good. Such a good example

Who gives a shit anyway weirdo

Tom Roach beautiful story❤️

@Mitchell Lauderdale Well said and ON POINT EXACTLY! MJ was over-rated because of rule changes done to HELP THE CURRENT CROP OF NBA PLAYERS

NO better non centers than these 2. Sorry Lebron. Elgin Baylor is close, too.

Cortez Armstrong has rainbow flag panties. Bird kicked MJ's ass in 16 straight games. No GOAT ever loses to anybody in 16 straight games and gets swept in both playoffs. Jordan had to wait till Bird was past his prime and or retired to win anything in the weak watered down, no Kareem, no Bird, no Magic expansion 90's where the refs kissed Jordan's ass.

@@williedaniels3882 Dude the rules in the NBA favored centers from the start, it was a big man's league. Rule changes in Jordan's Era made things even for smaller guys but not advantageous...are you kidding me, "Jordan Rules" put Jordan on his back when he drove to the hoop, and Jordan won his titles with hand checking. Rule changes after Jordan swung the pendulum the other way and put big men at a disadvantage.

@@200mphz06 for the love of God please comprehend the concept of how basketball is a TEAM GAME. So are you seriously arguing that Jordan had a comparable supporting cast as Magic & Bird & Isaiah had? Pippin was slow to develop by the way, he wasn't a freak of nature that dominated right out of the gate like players such as Magic, Michael, Larry, and Kareem. Olajuwon was another example who took awhile to reach his prime

Bird had an uncanny ability to see the whole floor and get the ball to the teammate who had the best chance to score. And those passes to his teammates? Mind-boggling! Great "chess" player, for sure!

Actually, right now he's 143rd in all-time 3-point percentage. So you were only off by 142. Which isn't to say he wasn't a great shooter, he was. But that comment was a whiff.

@@tontoepstein6860 😀😀 great response

Tonto Epstein by your logic, Stephen Curry is a worse 3-PT shooter than Steve Kerr, Seth Curry, Hubert Davis, Duncan Robinson and Drazen Petrovic? I don’t think so.

@@tontoepstein6860 back when hardly anyone shot 3 pointers and Larry Bird said he hardly ever practiced them. Can you imagine if that was his primary focus like the players these days?

@@MagonTheConqueror You may want to take a logic course yourself. Not to mention a reading comprehension course.

This is what everyone cared about during this time and now it is Steph Curry's 3s that changed the game and he encourage players to shoot more 3s.

@@RiruKrypto_ bird set the trend period. Without him curry doesn’t happen.

If Larry bird was in his prime right now in todays nba he’s a mvp candidate right off the bat , I don’t no of any sf who can shoot/pass and clutch as Larry is , not to mention Boston had the greatest frontline in nba history , bird/Michael/parish all 3 are 7 foot tall

same here. My two favorite players. Birds one of the only players you can put up there with mj. For basketball fans, this is like heaven watching this

+MrYoumitube Amen!

Chad Stoner nah def not like heaven . I enjoy basketball but idol worshipping is not good

Larry bird was a genius , he’s passing is as good as anyone I’ve ever seen period , he was a big guy to

Well its simple math. 40% of three pointers is greater than even 59% of mid range jumpers. I agree with you though. Wish there were more mid range guys. Bird, Jordan, Malone(late in his career), Kobe...all great mid range shooters.

Bernard King.

@ted smith the hell....😂

I read somewhere that he wore his old college shorts underneath so they had to be longer to hide them.

Yeah and he was also very happy when they got Scottie and he became a star and Horace became a very good PF. And I respect Larry to the max.

Yeah, but Boston was stacked and MJ had teammates who were out of the league in three years.

Bird also had two other hall of famers playing with him..Jordan none in this game.Get who else involve nobody.

Jordan was playing with trash teammates and bird was playing with a packed team

@rl184 Lmao what was the record and stats of this HOFers when Larry was not playing with them?

Birds 4 hof teammates to Jordans none. Yall Niggas are so stupid

Exactly

@@wolfgangvanbach9739 exactly

@@wolfgangvanbach9739 Once again, much like in Russell's day some of these guys are likely HOFers thanks to Bird and Russell.

@@wolfgangvanbach9739 Jerry sichsting fred Roberts hofers shut up nigga

And after bird hurt his back lol don't forget that 😂🤣👌

He hurt his back in the summer of 85 installing driveway for his mom and you can tell by watching him vs prior season

That is true.

Andrew, these spoiled and entitled NBA Players today have absolutely no clue and respect for the pioneers who paved the trail and sacrificed their careers in making it possible for the professional game to grow today worldwide. Oscar Robertson and Spencer Haywood made it possible for free agents and undergraduates to earn enormous money today. I believe that it should be mandatory for all NBA Players to give 10% of their earnings, tax free to both NBA Legends without question. These spoiled commodities truly believe and don't appreciate that this professional game is a blessing only because of the Master of the Universe. They refuse to pay homage to the all time greats.

Like we would expect any different.

Agree

Never missed the Celtics when they played in Chicago. Bird and Jordan were both incredible players. Jordan was the flash and Bird was the cash.

I can't believe how far down I had to scroll in the comments section to finally locate a comment on the incredible double pump half-court buzzer beater jump shot Jordan hit to close out the first quarter. Wild.

You bugging.. Bird will tell you MJ was the greatest. Don't get me wrong Bird and Magic were great. MJ was just at another level compared to anyone.. He was a basketball assassin..

Bird was still playing when Jordan won his first championship and so was Magic………

@@theconservativechristian lol by that time bird and magic were out of their prime and playing their last year while Jordan was young and fresh. No way Jordan would have schooled Bird in his prime, Larry Bird was a beast!

@@battistaverardi1240 no one would school anyone. Both Larry Legend and MJ were assasins. Larry can't be stopped in his prime, so was MJ.

For sure, who did Jordan ever beat, the weak ass Utah Jazz, LOL

But Julius Erving does not have Larry Bird on his all time top 5 basketball player team, try to figure that one out?

Because Larry Bird would frequently smoke Dr. Jay and his 76er team

Michael Coppola Not complicated he just said he made his top 5 decision when he was 10 years old.. ya know.. back when Larry wasn’t in the NBA

Michael Coppola that’s because Bird beat him most of the time

dano You are right

THE BIRD WAS THE WORD!!!!!🏀

He (Jordan) knew that. He did what was expected of him at that point of his career. He certainly did NOT dominate the ball at UNC. He wasn't needed to or supposed to. But as a young star with the Bulls, he was the best option and coaches force fed him and took advantage of his talent. Things evened out , at least somewhat, when Scottie arrived and took some pressure off him .

Classic !! For real - how many NBA MVP's spend parts of their summer redoing a driveway for their mother :) Different time of course but it does add to his Legend hearing stories like that !!

Joe Negall Bird did more than just build a driveway he helped out building his mother's new home and that was the cause of his downfall.

Literally anyone in Boston would've helped build that thing for him, what a shame

The Legend is the "G.O.A.T"

staxmantim Chris mullin wasn't close to bird thats a fact

@@joshuahaynes7413 no. but he was a damn great player tho.

When judging the best players during team duels, I often eliminate the career stats. I watched Kareem and Bird get into each other's faces during that classic skirmish in the 1984 Finals, and neither man gave an inch to each other. At the time, Bird was the younger great. And Kareem was the living legend. And to a degree, Bird and Jordan had their confrontations. Trust this information, Bird used to haze MJ hard during the 1980's. And MJ did not back down. Great players are great players! As for their one on one battles, it's definitely true, Bird led teams were better than Jordan led teams. Stats wise, Jordan was better than Bird. But overall, I try to ignore the stats because it will not determine true impact of a great player's presence on the floor.

Then why Mike use to kill his ass

I would've LOVED to see Jordan bite his tongue completely off during one of his hot dog dunks. Having said that, I'd take him over that piece of shit Lerfraud James every day of the week and twice on Sundays. And I'd take a healthy Larry Bird over both of their ghetto asses combined.

@Mitchell D Tell that to all the 90s players who are ringless because of MJ.

@@tombstone1111 Damn Jordan destroyed your favorite team that much? Must suck to be This petty.

@@wolfgangvanbach9739 What the hell is your dumb ass even talking about? I'm a Boston Celtics fan and the 80's Celtics absolutely mopped the floor with Jordan and the Bulls. It wasn't until Bird retired and Lewis died that the Bulls and pretty much the entire league destroyed my Celtics. But it sure wasn't the Bulls when Bird was still there. The only team that sort of owned us was the Lakers.

@@wolfgangvanbach9739 Tell me why it took Jordan so many yrs to get a ring?

The where abouts Jordan.hell

You should have seen Jordan's historic 63 point performance in Boston Garden.Bird said that Jordan was GOD in basketball shoes.

@@dwightlove3704 that was only later dude. When Celtics was ruling tge NBA, Jordan was drooling in the bench.

@@dipaculao1960 The Celtics were not ruling anything

@@dwightlove3704 Stupid you. It was during my college years that Celtics ruled the NBA with Bird. Maybe you are just watching basketball games in the backyard

@@dipaculao1960 Then Jordan came along and you started to wake up.

Im from Boston but only 34... I never really saw Bird in his prime the way I did Jordan. but as an overall player I still think Jordan might be better due to his defense, speed and intangibles. but on the other hand, bird had a better shot, much better passer, taller and grittier. lets say you could give Magic, Bird, Lebron, Kobe and Jordan the same body (lets say Lebron's because hes freakishly tall, fast, strong but hasn't lost his touch, shot or speed due to his size). if all 5 had that body id rank them in the following order: 1. Bird 2. Jordan 3. Magic 4. Kobe 5. Lebron what Lebron did with his super teams and how he quits when things aren't going his way make him last on my list. hes also soft and is at his worst when he faces some adversity. which is funny because the other 4 thrive off the competition. I would say its hard to really see what Kobe and Jordan were truly made of because by the time those great Chicago teams were put together, Parish, McHale & Bird along with Magic, Jabar and those Piston teams were far past their prime... especially due to Bird's back injury and Magic's HIV diagnosis. I would have loved to see Jordan in his prime play the Shaq and Kobe Lakers or seen Lebron, Bosh and Wade play the Shaq and Kobe Lakers.

@@pat442389 Lebron is an absolute punk. As for Bird vs. Jordan, Bird shot threes better, shot twos better, was better in the paint, shot free throws better, passed MUCH better, rebounded better and made his team mates better than MJ did and did it all in the 80's when the East was absolutely loaded. Jordan played better defense, dunked better and sold more shoes. Had Bird been half the ball hog Jordan was, he would've averaged 40 ppg. But he was all about the team game.

At the time he was. But each at the height of his career, Jordan was better.

@@pat442389 Magic has only himself for his HIV. Bird's back and heel problems couldn't be helped.

@@fjccommish I disagree. From 84-88, Bird was as absolutely dominant as any player in history. He got totally screwed in 1987 when the media decided pretty much in the pre-season that Magic was going to win his first MVP, no matter what and pimped him all season long even though Larry probably was more deserving of MVP that year than his previous 3 MVP awards because he single handily willed the Celtics to within 2 wins of another NBA Title when they were as injured as any team I've ever seen in my life against the greatest Laker team of all time. And if not for some obvious bullshit officiating in Game 4 of the NBA Finals, 4th quarter in 1987, the Celtics would've gone back to LA up 3 games to 2 and I believe would've found a way to win one of those last two games. Shitty, biased officiating cost the Boston Celtics 2 championships against the inferior Lakers, once in 1987 (maybe, maybe not) and FOR SURE in 2010, Game 7 in Staples when Boston was up 13 in the 4th quarter and the refs decided "fuck this shit, enough is enough, we're not sending these snob Hollywood elitists home sad again like in 1969" when Lakers owner Jack Cunt Cooke all but guaranteed a Lakers win in Game 7... until Bill Russel found out and declared "those balloons are never coming down" and the Gods of the NBA went on to BEAT LA once again. And back to the subject at hand, Bird dominated the East in the 80's when it was as loaded as loaded could get. Jordan dominated the East in the 90's when his chief competition was the thug Knicks who often struggled to get 85 points in a game. Larry Legend and the 80's Celtics would've mopped the parquet floor against ANY 90's Bulls team.

Considering the fact they didn't start keeping track of blocks until 1973-74, it always bugs me when somebody lists "all-time" blocks. It's not all-time.

@@tontoepstein6860 I am with you Kimosabe Chamberlain, Russell, Kareem, Walt Bellamy, Nate Thurmond and all the rest of those 1960's big men. I seem to remember a story about Wilt getting overc20 blocks in a game, which is pretty ridiculous

***** "Statnerd"? I've played with some of these guys we're talking about you moron. I was never in the league, I never played College ball, but I have played with plenty of NBA players. So you can take the "statnerd" and shove it up your ass. What are 12 yrs old? The 86 Celts whooped the shit out of the Jordan led Bulls and I watched every damn game. As a matter of fact, I have it on VHS tape. I've watched and played more ball than you dreamed of jackass.

***** All you had to say was "you replied to the wrong comment", LMAO! You didn't have to make up a bunch of lies to try and out do what I said for Christ's sake's. Calm, down, take a DEEP breath, go take your meds, and quit pretending you're something you're NOT. LOL

***** LOL, I think you forgot your meds again, lol.

***** LOL!

Bird said it was God disguised as MJ. Bird never game a compliment like that to anybody except for Magic.

This is the undeniable truth. Jordan was always an individual with a detrimental ego. His first 5-6 seasons he was more concerned with his own PPG and winning the annual dunk contest than he was helping his teammates become better and more involved. MJ was simply the most self centered player I think I've ever seen. it's really a shame that he managed 6 titles in spite of NOT being a team player. This unfortunately showed countless young kids a backwards message that being a self absorbed, egotistical, ball hog equals the limelight and 6 championships. Because of this the league has suffered. Everything that Bird & Magic spent the decade of the 80's displaying that teamwork, unselfish play and superior ball movement leads to championships... well Jordan ruined that. FINALLY in recent years the league is seeing some amount of true team ball with the Spurs, Warriors

6 >> 3

Bill Russell had 11. Horry had 7. So what?

The only thing I can agree with you on is that MJ was an offensive threat. He was able to have an out of this world scoring average, but to say that he was the most self centered player is ridiculous. Even early in his career in the 80s, he was averaging 30+ points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals a game. That's a pretty good line of stats. In 89, he averaged 32 points, 8 rebounds and 8 assists. Like every team, a championship is not won by one player.

bird even said MJ was the better player. bird had a much better team moron

The 90's was the best era in basketball.

I grew up in the 90’s and it was the best era of all time for basketball.

The greatest shooter, passer, average on defense, only nba three championship magic Johnson has five championship nba

Bird was great, but he wasn't greater than Jordan. MJ retired 3 times during his career, and still has over 11,000 career points than Bird. The only areas Bird has Jordan beat is rebounds, and he averaged one more assist per game, than Jordan

+James Hughes even 3 through 3 retirements, MJ still had a solid 5 more seasons played than bird, so a lot of the 11000 points can be attributed to the fact that larry only had about roughly 10 or 11 good years. In terms of a basketball player, you said it already. Bird was a better rebounder, and passer, and an underrated defender too although I wouldn't put him in the same realm as Jordan, and a much more consistent shooter. Anyway, I believe his all around skills give Bird a great argument Jordan, if you're not just talking points and rings. Also, I just wanna mention that Bird never dropped a playoff series to Jordan. how many people from that time period can say that?

+ron peternorth: Bird played in the league for 13 years, while Jordan played 15 seasons. Jordan IMO, was just a better overall player. Jordan was a more decorated player, not to mention, he was a 9x all defensive 1st team selection, and he was defensive player of the year in 1988. Bird is a legend, but Jordan was in a class of his own

You're just going off total seasons played, you aren't taking into to account that bird was banged up and unhealthy for a few of those years, whereas jordan was pretty healthy for his entire career. the argument can't be made with one defensive player of the year award.. not that it isn't a great accomplishment in itself. I'm not trying to make a case for Larry against Jordan, I'm just saying theres definitely a case to be had.. Jordan is decorated, yes. but he won all of his championships in years that were passed Bird's prime and playing career. when they went head to head, the celtics teams generally got the better when Bird was playing.

+ron peternorth: Jordan was the more dominate player IMO. I don't think it's fair to judge MJ early in his career, because his supporting cast was weak compared to Bird's. Jordan scored 63 points on the Celtics in the playoffs, and still lost. I think those 90's Bulls teams would give the 80's Celtics a run for their money. I brought up the defensive player of the year award, because Bird never won that award, and I thought it was pretty impressive for a 6'6 shooting guard to win the award

Ten years later and your comment is still as silly as it was then. Not sure how one would have embarrassed the other, they didn't guard each other. And why would Jordan have had a bunch of assists? He wasn't the point guard and he was the only player in a Bulls uniform that could score. The team was putrid.

Total bullshit comment! MJ never beat Bird - EVER!

Yes, he did 🙂