When Magic was diagnosed with HIV many people turned their back on him but Larry Bird was by his side. That is a TRUE FRIEND when you are in need 👍

Often times I'll watch a 2 minute video on KZfaq and think "well...that's 2 minutes I'm never getting back". This video was 21 minutes and I wished it could have lasted forever.

Larry’s dry sense of humor cracks me up

Best introvert+extrovert combo in history

Magic and Bird together is pure gold

Magic made a great point at the end of the video that was basically ignored by Letterman. He said we made passing fashionable again. That is one of the most underlooked things they brought to the game! They were 2 of the best passers the game has ever seen.

Magic Johnson's laughter is infectious for real.

Man, I loved watching these guys play each other in the 80s. 2 GOATs

There was no color between these two, they looked each other with the utmost respect and have an unbreakable friendship

Larry's sense of humor is hilarious! I'll bet when it's just the two of them, they're laughing most of the time.

Basketball royalty right there!!!! Thank you Magic&Bird for all the great games...Legends.

Even now, French Lick's population is less than 2,000 and it's high school, Spring's Valley, has a roll of less than 500. What are the odds of such a tiny place producing a basketball player of Larry Bird's caliber; one of the greatest to ever play the game? Incredible.

You can tell that when Larry was talking about his honest reactions to Magic's HIV diagnosis and thinking that he was going to lose his friend in 9 years, Magic really felt the love. That's so genuine. Also, its really interesting to learn that Magic and Bird never "hated" each other like we were all taught, but just respected each other on a competitive scale so highly that they just wanted to beat the breaks off each other lol

Two of the greatest to EVER play the game. Massive RESPECT for these two!! 👏👏👏👏👏

I love Magic.. his laugh is infectious… His smile is effervescent… He took his basketball career and did so much with the money and the celebrity after it was over, for his community, his city and humanity.

These two gentlemen literally saved the NBA from going out of business and made it what it is today. This is a legendary moment right here. I love it.

NO ONE balled out like these two. Past or present. They both made each other the best.

These 2 guys not only saved the NBA, but they created the beginning of the modern NBA. The most iconic rivalry in sports, Magic vs Bird.

"He wanted to shake everybodys hand, i wanted to take 3 of them teeth home with me" Larry is a straight up killer😂

their friendship-came from their intense competition with each other...then respect, then love...one of the best stories in all of sports.

Just two wholesome guys.. Great ball players and even better men..

Its so rare for two sports rivals to be as impactful as these two all time greats. Then for it all to end on genuine mutual respect and real friendship is just icing on the cake. Ali and Frazier almost made it to real friendship, but were always a little on edge with each other. Magic and bird are totally comfortable together.

One of the best interviews Letterman has ever done. Love both of these players and the respect they have for each other and the respect they had for the game and the love of competition!!

Never get enough of these two guys, they did not just changed basketball, they touched and changed lives.

As a Hoosier it was amazing to watch Larry Bird grow into Larry Legend. The epic battles between the Lakers and the Celtics are etched in sports history forever.

I feel so fortunate that I grew up at a time when I saw them in their prime. I'm a dedicated Laker fan and lived and died over the years through their success or failures so I hated the Celtics. Still, you can't help but admire Bird too. It truly was a golden age for the NBA.

Larry looked so mad in the beginning magic was just cracking up 🤣

I live in England. I have never heard of Larry Bird. This is so good. These people are so good. I love the closeness of these two respected men.

Damn. I could have listened to these two for hours.

One of the great interviews

Larry is a funny guy. Magic, too, of course.

I love how excited and “in awe” DL is here…these two Magic Men.

Magic just seems like such a happy smiley person. It's infectious. 😀

Friends and rivals for life. Larry and Magic. The best of the best.

When basketball was it's best by far.

These 2 are the odd couple! Watching these 2 growing up playing against each other and seeing them now as best friends is so awesome!

What an ovation when they came in to two of the greatest basketball players whoever play the game

These guys were so great to watch. Then Jordan. Basketball was at it's peak. Beautiful interview and display of their friendship. They're STILL a pleasure to watch.

Man I could watch two hours of them talking together. What a pair of legends!

One of the best friendships of all time. That is the essence of sports

Two players on my Mount Rushmore with MJ. Salute!

Arguably this is the best interview Dave ever did.

Larry Bird is my favorite of all time.

I was wrong for so many years about Bird. Respect....

Still remember watching this live. What an absolute pair of legends.

Bird, Magic and Jordan... did a lot more than change basketball... they brought to the game what the real meaning of what sports competition is all about and know that there is a real world that exists off the court. I consider myself very lucky to witness both Magic and Bird on the court at the same time. Those were the days... it was all about the Lakers and Celtics... Baseball took second seat. Beantown was rich in sports back then.

MAGIC JOHNSON has the MOST WONDERFUL SMILE in the NBA.

It was absolutely surreal to be in L.A. when Magic made his announcement. Immediately afterwards, the man got a version of living through his own funeral for days (if not weeks) on end. Driving home from work on the day, a radio station kept playing Magic's statement over "Purple Rain," and I was a complete mess by the time I got there. Everyone genuinely thought he was in denial when he insisted that he was going to beat it because such a thing just didn't seem remotely possible at the time. Thank goodness Magic knew something the rest of us didn't.

Larry is the greatest pure shooter there ever was, period.

If I could give this one more thumbs up, I would. Thanks to all 3 involved!😎👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

Love their rivalry & friendship! No body has done for the NBA than these 2!! Brought so much to the sport!! Thank you both for the heart & memories!! Larry Legend!!! #33!!!!

Those 2 men are a class act

This is old school at it's finest.... Love it

From tape delay to live tv. These 2 saved the NBA

I like that Magic is wearing a light blue necktie. It could be a reference to Indiana State. Could be a super classy move, and I'm here for it.

I was a Philly kid and had no real interest in the NBA. But then Dr. J came to town in 1977. I was hooked. That interest in bball was heightened with the 1980 entry of the Bird-Magic or Magic/Bird show. That's pretty much the extent of me caring about bball. The NBA will NEVER be as good as it was in the 1980s.

MJ is the greatest basketball player of all time but NOBODY will EVER be more important to the game of basketball than Magic Johnson and Larry Bird.

This is video is iconic! Magic and Bird made passing fashionable on the playgrounds. The fact that one was black and the other white played a huge roll in barbershop talk. For me this two are a history lesson in life. Enemies on the court great friends off the court with mutual admiration and respect for one another. They absolutely saved the NBA, and changed the game forever. 🙏🏿❤️✌🏿🏀

Magic's voice and smile never changed. Bird's jokes are so witty and good. Rivals to friendship! Amazing❤

Magic and Bird two of the all time greats of basketball and life! I truly loved seeing those two again, and seeing that dynamic between them! Just awesome!

There have been influential athletes but these 2 literally saved an entire league, while being the foundation for creating the most unparalleled time in sports; an entire decade full of excellence and elevated play never before seen. I'm a 3rd gen Angeleno, grew up with the Lakes through 3 arenas. My childhood has an Auerbach dark cloud to this day. I say this because in the 80s when the Celts rolled into LA or the Lakes into Boston, it was drop everything else. There's nothing and never will be anything to rival the 1980s NBA. What a time it was.

Dang you can tell these guys still felt the same emotions inside when retelling those stories, happy or sad.

Not only 2 of the greatest basketball players of all time, but 2 of the greatest competitors of all time. Any sport.

I love these two legends both so much! Larry Legend and Magic - THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING!!!

I was very fortunate that my father loved the Lakers and always had season tickets for all the years of the Showtime era with Magic Johnson. I got to see the Lakers against the Boston Celtics, the Detroit Pistons and the Philadelphia 76ers among all the great teams they played. And still even lucky enough to go to all the playoff games and championship games. I will never forget those games and will always be grateful to my father for creating and sharing those memories with me. ❤

dave is like 6'2" and looks like a shrimp next to these guys lol

That was great. The word Legends is thrown out s lot, but if the shoe fits, come on these Men were Legends? They had quite the rivalry.

This 21 mins was better then the last 21 years in the NBA.

Honestly, being from California, and a white dude, yet I followed the Lakers those years. Because of Magic, or so I think, those Laker games were always referred to as 'Showtime'. And that team was literally fun to watch. I didn't know much about Bird or the Celtics, but that Laker-Celtic rivalry heated up pretty fast. I remember watching Larry and thinking 'he's not that good. But then I began to notice more of the things he was doing to help his team. I noticed how good a shooter he was, and by the time that rivalry was indeed cemented, while still a Laker fan, I couldn't wait to see those guys play. I still remember how Bird would usually know when the shot left his hand if it was good. I remember when he got his own rebound from his missed shot and put it in because he knew what the others could not see. For a brief time when younger, I would know that too, but I didn't love basketball and quit playing for a long time. When older, I quickly recovered my shooting skills, but never did recover that ability to know if the shot was good, except on a mere two occasions that really don't matter... Bird was great. His ability and heart were unmatched. Need a shot to win the game? None were better. He nearly always found a way to make the win happen. Magic was great. His ability to channel the game through himself was unmatched; he would literally do whatever his team needed on any particular night. They needed points? He'd score 38. Rebounds? He'd pull down double figures. Ball movement? No one was better at getting the ball to an open teammate, even in ways that defied expectation. Magic could have been a jack of all trades except he would not do everything well; rather, he would be the best at whatever his team needed most to win on a particular night. Jack of all trades? How about King of all trades. I remember when he developed his 'baby hook', so called because Kareem used a hook shot and he wanted that weapon in his arsenal. I remember games where he played forward, even center. His ball handling precision had some otherworldly sense to it. Those games were fun to watch, and great basketball. Kudos to those two champions for being who they were, and are.

I remember watching the 79 championship as a kid. I was never a die hard basketball fan, but I did love watching these guys. Great to see how good of friends they are and continue that friendship beyond the game. Great interview.

Legends 🏀

I saw the 1979 game with them on tv. Then I saw them both live in the NBA. Thank God for them.

From far off Australia… we are still in awe of what these guys brought to the court…my memory of the ‘80s and their positive effect on the NBA will always stay with me… GOATS to the end👍🍷

The best era of basketball ever

We were blessed to see them play, and even be on the dream team together

I grew up watching these 2 playing. Larry Bird was my fav player back then. Also, my Dads fav player, ever. My Dad passed away 3 years ago. He was 88 years old. My grandson was 11 when Dad passed. I taught my grandson about Larry Bird. He drew a picture of Larry, and placed it in his Great grandfather's casket. My grandson loves basketball. Hes played on many leagues, school ball, YMCA, and many town leagues. Larry was one of the best. Magic, as well.

This was so precious, thank you! They are both great players and great human beings.

IMO, Magic & Larry resurrected the game of basketball...My dad loved basketball, but stopped watching, until the competition between Johnson & Bird was highlighted! I have so much respect for both of these men, & they truly are basketball royalty 👑👑 How great was this, to see them back together again, and their banter was hilarious, & so fun & heartwarming to watch 💖💖

Magic changed the way people passed the ball and spread the floor and Birds 3 pointers made that very fashionable again....

There were no "Participation Trophies" when they played!

if u were watching basketball when these 2 played in their prime-u were a part of seeing history.I loved that era and i always say I was blessed to have been a teenager seeing these two compete aganist each other.great memories from 2 players who saved the NBA from the brink of going down the sports tubes.

Oh, yeah!! Bird is a legend!! He is just humble. Did the game and went home. 💪

MAGIC and BIRD - they ruled on the court - and were nuts off the court.

Thanks to Mom Bird ❤

Bird and Magic are a classic example of how true friendship is measured by the content of ones character and not the color of their skin. Two young men, who became rivals, ( the first Catlin Clark and Angel Reese, without social media), and pitted against each other by segments of our society, largely along racial lines to determine who was the best. The respect they have for each other and the friendship these two champions forged along the way has become legendary and inspiring.

I started watching the NBA as a kid when these guys had their rivalry. True lagends and a high standard set for all time.

80s basketball was GREAT! These guys were pioneers...

Grew up in Boston area, goes without saying Bird and Magic figured prominently in those formitive and transformitive years. Felt the same way as Larry B...hated the Lakers and Magic but had total respect for Earvin. Was in my college dorm when a friend from LA told me about Magic's diagnosis...utter shock, disbelief and sadness. Thought WE were going to lose Magic, as if time stood still for a bit. Love these men among men.

In my book, these two are the two best and together, even better!

Love both of these guys. Thanks for all the great memories fellas.

I love it when they can roast each others and laugh about it.

People, this is class. All the way!

Glad to have witness these great competitors compete in my lifetime. Don't even watch anymore....

2 legends of the game. Past their prime & retired but the respect for each other never faded . What a couple of role models .

Lots of magics so called friends dirched him because of the stigma attached but Larry was a true friend to magic and a loyal one !!! God bless em both

That Leno jab at the end lol

I love Magics laugh,omg 😹 The good ol days of ball.❤❤

Earvin's smile is the most contagious smile on earth. I can't help but smile when he walks in a room smiling ear to ear. Edit:(Corrected spelling of name, I misspelled due to an incorrect assumption that his name was Irving, my apologies for such a blatantly silly mistake when a simple google search would have corrected me)

Both Magic and Larry are all time greats! They're also very competitive, but gentlemen.

Wow What amazing human beings as well as amazing players Love and respect from Ireland