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It's hard to believe that a slow, unathletic dude that couldn't jump over a phone book became a consensus top 10 player of all time. Arguably, top five.
That was awesome. Im not sure there’s 5 players in the history of basketball better than that man.
Jordan
Lebron
Kareem
Larry
Magic
Jordan
Lebron
Kareem
Larry
Magic
He was something else till injuries took a hold.
He not only was the greatest trash talker he was the greatest player ever imho. Always will be.
I never saw any other player at a small mid-major take a team totally on his back, surrounded by not much talent, to the NCAA Championship game.
I love listening to Doc Rivers tell the story about the 60 point game. Whose next, who wants it, where do you want it from.lol
I watched Larry play in High School. He was talking smack even back then. One of the things that always impressed me about him was his passing ability. He threw some passes when he was at Indiana State that I had never seen any player throw, even Pistol Pete. My all time, all time favorite BB player is Larry Bird...
Love the part where he calls where he taking the shot and then drains it.
That is a guy who practiced his trade, and was Spectacular. Shows you don't have to be super athletic to be a special player. Now 6'9" helps!
Bill Russell 2x with San Francisco...but Bird is a legend both college and professional.
To me it's not arguable. Starting five all-time includes Bird or it's a fraud.
Based on? Just curious as stats and titles don't bear that out.
Great clip. It’s easy to lose track of how devastating the guy was.
Best all time? I don’t think so but to be honest I’m not sure I’d want to argue the point.
Best all time? I don’t think so but to be honest I’m not sure I’d want to argue the point.
Larry Bird is my favorite player all time on all levels of basketball, even over all UK players. Watching him play was just special, never saw a player like him or after him. I remember I saw interviews where friends used to ask Magic and Ewing if Bird was actually good. To sum it up, they told their friends Larry Bird was so good, it was scary.
Are you talking about career stats? Bird played with reckless abandon & as a result his body started breaking down & he played hurt with a deteriorating back his last few seasons before having to prematurely retire. In 92 he spent nights in the hospital, in traction, before games so he could play.
I’m not saying he was the best ever but he’s top 5-6, IMO & worthy of being in the best ever discussion. If he had been 100% for his entire career & played a few more seasons, he would have more rings IMO & obviously more numbers. The Bad Boys might never have happened.
Bird wasn’t the most physically gifted but he had all the intangibles to compensate. Maybe the smartest player ever. Best passing forward I’ve seen. I’ve personally never seen a more confident or competitive player & his will to win is immeasurable. But, maybe most importantly he was at his best in the clutch & there was zero doubt who was taking the shot.
He also played during the golden era of the NBA & had to beat historically good teams for a ring. Some dynasties. Aside from running & jumping Bird is as good as anybody in every other phase or metric. He’d probably be #5 or 6 on my list but even against the top 4-5 above him I’d never bet against Larry Bird, lol.
Bird and my Celtics were so incredible to watch back then. He just had an incredible desire to win and, I think just as important, he absolutely loved the game.
Been a long-time watcher of Korzemba. Does some really good work on videos like these. He likes to feed the hype on prospects Ball Brothers, RJ Hampton, Zion, to name a few. But for the most part he's a pretty good content creator who really does his homework when making these videos. Definitely worth a watch for anyone who surfs Youtube regularly.
I like the story of Mark Aguire hitting a 3 on Bird and saying take a look at that. Bird came down and buried 3 in a row and told Aguire, he was out of his f****** league.
I grew up a Laker fan so of course I hated Bird. Now I regret it because I really didn't watch him and appreciate his greatness.
They never played against each other in college. I am a Bird fan, but Givens is one of the most underrated players at UK. If I was picking a team of past UK players, he would be one of the first picks for me. You younger fans really missed out on one of the all-time greats in Givens.
Yah I agree. All time starting five is pretty much Magic, Jordan, Lebron, Bird, and either Kareem or Wilt.
Would have loved to have seen Givens and Issel...I was born in '80 so my very earliest memories are vaguely of Rex/Walker, etc. My fandom really started with Unforgetables.
Arrogant as hell but backed it up, so no one said a damn word. Walks in before the All Star shooting contest and asks who is coming in second. Then wins it. He was money on a team of money players. Loved the 80s Celtics.
Not really trash talking when you back it up.
Great player for sure. Best of all time is always so subjective. But Bird did more with less than any other player in the Top 100 as far as athleticism. Made him fun to watch.
I'll say this .... if you line up the best 10 of all time for a game. I'm picking Larry Bird on my 5.
Great player for sure. Best of all time is always so subjective. But Bird did more with less than any other player in the Top 100 as far as athleticism. Made him fun to watch.
I'll say this .... if you line up the best 10 of all time for a game. I'm picking Larry Bird on my 5.
That ^^^^ is always my frustration in these threads.
It's like taking a bite of every fruit in the World and labeling an Apple the "GOFT".
Bird made Jack Givens look like a scrub, not a knock against Givens but shows how good Bird was.
I've always thought Bird was the most complete player to play the game. It's hard to get into "best player" stuff. But Bird has to be in the conversation. Some forget or are too young to know, he was that good.
Basketball IQ, pure skills, hand eye coordination, and swagger, Bird had them all in spades.
I agree with that ranking. As far as beating tough teams to win the title I buy the lakers but got the rocketa twice, including a 40 win team. Not his fault lakers choked though. I'd put him 1st team with magic, Jordan, lebron and I guess Kareem although center is tough with Russell, wilt and even Shaq up there for me.
Some of those years, making it out of the Eastern Conference was as tough as the finals.
