I am a 70 year old black man and an all time fan of B Ball .just my opinion Larry Bird is the not one of but the very best there is. He is the GOAT better than all the others and there is plenty of great players. But only one GOAT. LARRY BIRD .

Larry Bird didnt talk trash, he told your fortune.

During my life, I saw Larry, Magic, Michael, Kobe, and Lebron, all I can say for sure is that I'm one lucky bastard!!

Bird is the best passer rebounder shooter assister Fighter. Clutch player. Period . It’s that simple. GOAT.

I'd take Larry Bird over anyone else....Past, present, future.

Something that is always left out of the 3-point contest is what he said when he received the $10,000 check for winning. The interviewer said, "Are you going to donate this to charity?" Bird replied, "Yes. The Larry Bird Fund."

80's Lakers fan here. I bow down to Larry Bird.

If Larry played today he would be a product of the same fitness and strength trainers and technology of the Era. If he had to face Curry for 3 point dominance. My money is on Bird. Bet the mortgage.

The best compliment I ever heard about Bird came from Bill Russell. I guess he called Bird and essentially told him, the way you play makes me proud to be a Celtic. High praise indeed!

No one can understand how good bird was unless you watched him. Watch his games he was absolutely unstoppable. He literally had no weakness he was great at every aspect of the game. In an era that you could tackle someone to stop them from scoring. Bird would be scoring 40 points a game in today's game

The guy was just sick! He was absolutely an incredible player and teammate! The 700 thumbs down are the ex- NBA players he embarrassed night in and night out!

Ok...here it comes. I was a ten year old boy growing up in Boston and I already loved basketball. My dad looked at me as we were watching the end of the college championship game and said 'That guy is gonna play for the Celtics'. I didn't know anything about the draft, or what Auerbach did. I just remember thinking to myself, "How do you know that?". I had no idea what I was in for. I am so thankful. So thankful for the Tuesday and Friday night games with Bob Lobel. Watching with my Dad. I thought that everyone should play like Bird. And it took a number of years to realize that most couldn't. The effort and skill. I am so blessed to have been able to watch his entire career. The 60 point game in New Orleans where my Dad and I could do nothing but laugh every time he hit a shot. Like, OMG! To watching that game late in his career against the Blazers when he hit that crazy three at the buzzer to tie it up with the best friend I've ever had and we were jumping around the living room like we were two. And everything in between. After watching so many Bird videos, one thing I noticed...he's the only guy I've ever seen make the opponent cry. Not because of losing a series, just a regular season game. Guys crying. Losing all control of bodily function... forgetting how to properly call a time out. Just flailing away with their arms because Larry had just taken away their ability to comprehend reality. I only saw Bird play one game live. And I was lucky enough to get tickets as a Father's Day present for my Dad to see the Celtics against the Sixers at the Hartford Civic Center and Bird hit the game winner from the right baseline with .5 seconds left on the clock. Honestly, I get a tear in my eye when I watch the highlights. Because I thought it would last forever. I really did. I thought he would last forever.

I am a lifelong Laker fan and there has never been, nor will there be, a better basketball player. He is the G.O.A.T.

White boy, my black butt. Gotta watch that classic full game of him goin back and forth against Dominique wilkins and the hawks. AND he was talkin traaaaaaash. Bird was a monster

“There will never, ever, ever be another Larry Bird.” Magic Johnson

I remember watching him play, the guy just always knew exactly where to be at the right time. He was a basketball genius if there ever was such a thing.

In 1974 Larry Bird was my P.E assistant when I was in the 8th grade and he was a senior at Springs Valley High School. At the beginning of each P.E. class we always ran 10 warmup laps around the gym. One day, a trampoline was set up on the basketball court and there was Larry Bird bouncing on it. As the whistle blew and we reluctantly lined up to run our laps, our teacher (who was also Larry's basketball coach) blew his whistle, and said "Larry is going to take 10 shots while jumping on the trampoline. If Larry makes any shots, each one made will delete a lap that you must run." Coach threw the ball to Larry and right there in front of me and the entire boys Jr. High P.E. class, Larry proceeded to hit 7 out of 10 shots while bouncing up and down on the trampoline, 40 feet away from the goal. Larry set an incredible example for me as a young boy in French Lick, Indiana that helped me through my entire adult career. If you are willing to work very hard and never give up, your dreams can and will come true. Thank you Larry.

Went from picking up the trash on his walk to backing up the trash in his talk.All the way to the Hall of fame 😁

Here in England Bird, Magic, Dr J and a few others were the big names but Bird was the man, an absolute legend of the sport.

*BABE-BRADY-BIRD* the best 3 to EVER play at their sports. EVER. E.V.E.R.

I grew up on Showtime Lakers ball with Magic shooting no-looks, Kareem money with the sky hook, Cooper locking down the defense, and Worthy the penultimate finisher. Larry Bird would singlehandedly dismantle teams in those years. He was the greatest serial killer in the most competitive rivalry I have ever seen in basketball.

I grew up watching Larry bird , Magic jonson ,, kareem but I only now realize that Larry Bird was most effective nba player ever.

Bird was the best ball-handler ever! Basketball IQ off the charts too.

Jordan was the best showboat/dunker and he was also hella clutch. Bird is the BEST basketball player to ever live. There isn't a guy in the league today I'd take over Bird. He's been MVP, coach of the year AND GM of the year. He'd own the Pacers right now but Jordan sold more shoes than he did.

I'm die hard Lakers fan n I totally detest, despise, loath n abhor Bird! But that's just because he was too good! Much respect, n love for Bird for bringing out the best in the legions of his era, Thanks n God Bless!

39:32 just watching the Atlanta bench has got to bring a smile to your face.

I'm so glad to have been able to see Larry Bird play

Bird was magic on the court. Fierce.

Bird.... maturity, heart, drive, determination, toughness, leadership, intelligence... Bird was a basketball genius and legend.

Best complete and clutch basketball player to ever step on a court.

Bird was so fun to watch. He made the NBA interesting.

You are correct, Larry and Magic kept basketball alive. They made it look so easy. I got to see Larry play one time when he was in college, he was great then and in my opinion, he was the greatest of all time.

Larry Bird was the epitome of what we need to be in America today. He wasn't a white basketball player playing black basketball players. He was a basketball player, who played basketball against other basketball players. Truly a legend.

Larry made a man reconsider his life within 30 seconds.

Larry Bird would be in my first 5 picks of all time.

Larry Bird had the sweetest jump shot i’ve ever seen. I watched his shot turn nets inside out as it ripped through the bottom of the net

He was a humble man in saying "I woulda been boss by now" regarding having worked on the garbage trucks

Bird was the most intelligent and complete player of all time. He is the Goat, no question.

Larry all day every day. He was clutch for 48 minutes never mind the last 2 mins. Scenario.. End of 1st quarter 10 seconds to go and your team is 2 up. You will end the quarter 1 down not 2 up because Larry didn't want to loose each quarter,never mind the game. Smartest player ever and competitive off the scale,was a class class act. Greatest forward of all time for so many reasons,even the era he played in was the toughest and greatest era of all time too. ❤️The Bird Man

He's not the "baddest white dude to ever play the game." He is the baddest "MAN" to ever play. He is the greatest of all time.

Lebron had to change teams and recruit players to win. Bird just made everyone around him better, and won!

I hope you realize that in his prime for 3 years in a row there is no man alive or dead that has ever played the game of basketball better. The only forward in history to win mvp 3 times in a row (the other 2 were centers). He is also the only player that can say he beat every hall of famer he competed against including sweeping MJ in the playoffs. You can argue and deny all you want. The championships, the mvp's, the stats and the level of competition does not lie. Look it up yourself if you don't believe it. For 3 years in a row he was and remains the greatest basketball player on the face of the earth. Thank you Larry Bird.

Larry Bird is the greatest all around basketball player that has ever played the game. Great shooter, magical passer, strong rebounder, solid defensive player, he did it all. And the only players to ever match his heart and competitive fire is MJ,Magic, and Kobe.

I was young, but I remember seeing Oscar and Wilt...... They both had overwhelming athletic ability, as did others like Dr. J who came along later. Larry Bird did not have that. Instead he had a mind for the game; a killer instinct; and a shooting stroke that was unbelievable. He was indeed 2-steps ahead of everyone else, anticipating where the ball was going. All the players I've mentioned were great, as well as dozens of others. But Larry Bird was simply amazing because he did what he did with limited athleticism.

"Dirk was a great shooter, Larry was a break your heart shooter."

It has been my privilege to watch Larry Bird and John Stockton among many outstanding players throughout the years . I thank you guys.

If Bird was on the court, we had a chance..... LOADS of memories watching hin play...

Larry could totally play in today's game. He defied big men and athletes. The fact that they called BS calls all the time too would help him.

It's completely disrespectful to even compare Lebron James to Larry Bird. Kobe Bryant alone was superior to Lebron but Larry Bird & Michael Jordan are the two greatest individual players i've ever seen play the game of basketball. They consistently performed at levels that almost defy belief.

What amazes me as I watch Bird make shot after shot is that he is not just making almost every shot, it’s that he is hitting the dead middle of the basket and gets that perfect swish!

Larry Bird was so good it was scary.................... ZERO DOUBT.

Pat Riley with one of my favorite quotes: “I’d want Jordan to shoot the ball to save the game, I’d want Bird to shoot it to save my life”

I was a senior high school basketball player when Bird played Magic for the college championship game. I proceeded to watch Larry dominate the NBA for the next 12 years, I just didn't miss Celtic games through the 80's and early 90's. Best basketball ever played during this time--Celtics, Lakers, Rockets, 76'rs, Pistons, etc. Sunday's meant "The NBA on CBS", no cable so only a hand full of major games per month--they were EVENTS! Bird was fkng unreal people, UNREAL! Cold blooded killer, blue-collar white boy hick that dominated.

I was born in 73 and grew up in southern Indiana , small town ( population 2500) so Bird was THE hero for my friends and I. The NBA was at its peak of popularity when I started watching it at the beginning of the 80s and Bird was the guy I wanted to watch. Clutch players are the most exciting and NOBODY was more clutch than Bird

What I loved about Bird, the ball rarely hit the rim

Tough man. An assassin on the court. Maybe, not too unlike Ali... he would tell you, sometimes in detail, what he was going to do on the court. Worked hard[er] for everything we saw him do. "There will be another Larry Bird", Larry Bird once said...words from a humble man from humble surroundings.. What's not to like or respect about Larry Bird.

larry bird by far the greatest shooter ever watching him is just mind boggling and he truly simplified the game better than anyone i have ever seen.

You can make the argument that he would be even better in this game today with his shooting prowess.

The clutch factor and his accuracy is why Bird is the Goat

I think Larry is the GOAT period. Not the greatest white player, the greatest player of all time. "Clutch"

I agree with Michael Jordan's take, Larry Bird was the greatest shooting small forward in the history of the game!

Larry Legend, top 3 greatest of all time.

Larry Bird was my hero in the basketball world. You could count on 100% , 100% of the time, always expecting the unexpected, admiring the competiveness. His story from colege to pro was remarkable inspiring, and i think that Larry Bird was the greatest ATHLETE of my lifetime, I LOVE YOU LARRY THANK YOU FOR ALL THE MEMORIES

I think Bird's IQ and ability to play team basketball (making everyone around him hall of famers) is the reason he could honestly be considered the greatest. You can name all the magnificent blessed athletes possible but can they make the other starting 4 hall of famers and champions while they too aren't blessed with god-given talent? Some have come close to this feat but no one has ever been entirely influential the way Bird was...

kids playing 2K stay sleeping on how nasty this dude was

As someone who has been following the sport for over 40 years, I can emphatically say that Bird`s name should be mentioned in the GOAT conversation. Not athletically gifted, this man made up for this with basketball knowledge, uncanny instinct and shooting ability few have ever possessed. The young people like to talk about LeBron, but most of them have no idea how good Larry Bird really was. The man could hoop!

He Lived up to every thing they expected and more for boston

Remember when Larry tried to leave the Celtics and join the Lakers in order to win a championship? I sure don’t Larry vs Lebron not even an argument. Long live the legend! 🍀

Shout out to the hotel workers who let this kid play with them, your kindness gave us all something special. There's a moral to this story, a powerful one.

If you put Jordan, Magic, Bird and Isiah in the same room. They'd look at Isiah and say WTF are you doing here?

Bird was insane... Young kids honestly have no idea how dominant he was. Just listen to all the hall of famers who talk about how much Bird destroyed them.. They openly admit it..

Best All-Around Forward in NBA history

Agree! 100% I was there jumping out of my seat watching real basket ball. Larry was the best ever and he couldn`t even jump. I`ll take Larry against any body...Even Jordan!

Besides the 92' Dream Team, Larry's 86' Celtic team could be the best ever!

the best basketball player ever

The behind the glass over the glass into the hoop was unbelievable.

Bird was the best player I have ever seen. Is outside shooting and rebounding was inspirational to me has kid.

I grew up watching Magic, and Birds entire careers. I've seen some of the greatest, and probably in my opinion the greatest (Jordan) to ever play. That being said, from 1984-1988 Larry Bird was unquestionably the best player in the world by a decent margin. Look it up. He won 3 STRAIGHT MVPS, and in 1987 he HAD his BEST SEASON, and finished 3rd in MVP voting. Bird in his prime was impossible to describe unless you saw it yourself.

The Best to Ever Touch the Ball Larry had it All . And he Stood tall tall tall .

Larry Bird is Timeless

What set Larry apart was his will to win. Others can shoot. and other can pass, and make plays, but Bird had an extra drive and desire. He fought for every rebound, was always in the right place, hustled every play, moved without the ball, set the right picks, anticipated on defense, and on top of that had some of the finest shooting and passing skills. Bird studied the game, and knew his opposition, and was more prepared than anyone. He out hustled you, he out thought you, and then he out performed you.

Larry Bird -- The Clint Eastwood of the NBA.

All phases of basketball considered Bird was the best.

Greatest passer, shooter, and basketball IQ the game has ever known.

All you Labron and Michael Jordan Fans, Larry Bird and magic Johnson saved the NBA NOBODY ELSE. And Larry Bird was Better than Anyone else PERIOD.... Best TEAM PLAYER EVER SEEN IN THE NBA.... Too Slow, Can't Jump and touch the Top of the Backboard. So you don't need to Touch the Top of the Backboard too Win a Game. When the Game was On the Line and Everyone else Knew Who's going to get the Basketball 🏀 and they still couldn't STOP 🛑 Him from winning the Game 🎯🎯🎯. Larry Joe Bird 🕊️ NUMBER UNO, ONE THE BEST I'VE EVER SEEN.

Those were the best days of basketball! The great lakers against the great Celtics.

Top 5 quote I've ever heard!! "If I need a shot to win the game, I'll take MJ, if I need a shot to save my life, I'll take Larry!" Pat Riley.

Too much of this is about race but thats not what people are impressed by, Im impressed by the absolute best skill no matter who displays it

People who didnt grow up watching Larry Bird has never seen a real basket ball game.....

Larry Bird isnt racist, THATS why he is a legend. He just wanted to play basketball!

Best pure shooter i have ever seen.....opened up his whole game.....intelligent assassin.....

All phases of the games were top notch. His passing game was unbelievable.

Bird is the GOAT

When you can back up the talk it ain't trash its prophecy.

James Worthy: "I would rather guard Jordan than Bird." Pat Riley: "I'd want Jordan to take the shot with the game on the line. I'd want Bird to take it if my LIFE was on the line." Isiah Thomas: "if you locked me, Michael, Magic and Larry in a room----I think Larry is the one who makes it out".

" he was playing chess while everyone else was playing checkers" - Tommy Heinson Bird was the best passer in the game full stop.

Who says he didn't have skill?? Couldn't jump etc. etc.?? That man had nothin but skill!

one of the greatest to ever play

Let's just pretend that Larry was pampered after entering the league. PED's, advanced "training", games off, rule changes, no back issues, advanced nutrition, etc. How would he do? Lol. People have no idea how great Larry Bird was. It's sickening. Even without all the modern game cheat codes, his stats are ridiculous.