“Larry Bird is the greatest trash talker and mind-game player of all time. He taught me everything I know about getting in folks’ heads.” Michael Jordan
Larry was the founding member of the “50-40-90” club. He did it back-to-back years. Jordan, Kobe nor LeBron have done it at all. Jordan, Kobe & LeBron “all” need the ball. Larry didn’t. He would beat you in every other aspect of the game.
“When I played, Larry Bird was the only one I feared. A lot of black guys always asked me, ‘Could Larry Bird really play that good?' And I said, 'Man, Larry Bird…’ [*shakes his head and stares into space*] ‘…was so good, it's- it’s frightening.'” - Magic Johnson
I just wish birds and magics career lasted a bit longer… I would’ve loved to see a prime Jordan with Scottie try and beat Larry and magic. It would’ve been interesting seeing Scottie or Jordan try to guard him.
Ok, consider this idea. Wilt, Jordan, Bird, Magic, Lebron. Wilt over Jordan?!! Well ya, because he’s the heavyweight champ of GOATS and Jordan is Pound-For-Pound champ of GOAT. Swap them if they want, but Wilt is literally superior to all other men who ever played.
Larry is without a doubt the toughest man to ever play, never used any pain meds. His back was seriously f'd up and he still whooped up on the kids. Couldn't sit on the bench, had to lay down on the sidelines, yet he still dominated.
Bird averaged more assists per game than Allen Iverson, Kyrie Irving, Dwyane Wade, Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, etc. He also averaged more rebounds per game than Patrick Ewing, Chris Webber, Ben Wallace, Giannis, Robert Parish, Alonzo Mourning, Chris Bosh, Etc. In the past 50 years, only two other players have slightly better stats than Larry Bird and that Michael Jordan and LeBron James
Larry Bird is my favorite player of all time. Driven, talented, hard-working, made everyone around him better, and had the best court sense I've ever seen. I'm glad this highlights video exists, so those who never saw him play in his prime can see how truly GREAT he was. His rivalry with Magic Johnson is my favorite individual and team rivalry in any sport, any era. Oh, and the Dream Team would have beat any team. ANY team. 😁
I recommend Making the Case for Larry Bird and 5 times Bird was hurt but refused to quit. You may also like his 50 greatest passes and the documentary about how him and Magic became friends.
Nah. Let’s just watch one or two vids. We got many other players to watch. Not only Larry. Not to sound like a hater, but thers already 50 different channels only watching mj, Larry, and magic videos and not any others.
And 4 Crazy Stories - Larry Bird as well. Additional stories. 🙏 Please ua-cam.com/video/L4vsB2Hskv4/v-deo.html Bird's the Word - 15 min of Bird 👍 Highlights that will not disappoint IMHO ua-cam.com/video/e-07FJH2sJU/v-deo.html (word of advise, trust the musical choices, as the songs progress they become one with the content. Again, IMHO) Another might be Bird's self proclaimed best game (Game 6 1986 Finals) ua-cam.com/video/maS9smxRubI/v-deo.html And the Beautiful Game - 1986 Celtics ua-cam.com/video/O4Td5QRfzj4/v-deo.html Bird Greatest Passer re-edit ua-cam.com/video/wwo4vtaZmsY/v-deo.html
I saw Bird play his whole career. I have never seen any player with more determination and will to win than larry bird. He was always three steps ahead of everyone on the court. He is still the smartest most clutch player I have ever seen. He could shoot from anywhere on the court. Michael Jordan was unstoppable. But Larry Bird was unbelievable. He did something amazing every game. He is my Goat.
Every single game is an extended highlight reel from Bird. The spectacular was every day for Larry. He just played the game better and with more understanding than anyone else. The only other player who ever saw the game the same way was Russell.
@@andybilakshow260 imo the top 10 is 1. Michael Jordan 2. LeBron James 3. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 4. Magic Johnson 5. Larry Bird 6. Tim Duncan 7. Wilt Chamberlain 8. Kobe Bryant 9. Bill Russell 10. Shaquille O'Neal
ive been watching ball since the mid 80s.. Mj and bird are the 2 BEST players ive ever seen.. Actually Larry Bird is the oNLY player in HISTORY to average ATLEAST 24 points, 10 rebounds and 6 assists.. he also shot 50/40/90 and is 33rd all time in defensive winshares. he was a double double big, that could pass and shoot and playmake and spot up and move without the ball. and he huslted all the time.
Don't forget 3 MVPs in a row, where only two others have ever done that. Also, him and Magic saved the NBA from oblivion. Then there's the big turn around of the Celtics in his rookie year. And we could go on and on and on about Larry's exploits.
@@JET1970 RE read: "ive ever seen" i didnt watch Wilt play (born 1979) so.. but watching his highlights I WONT argue with you on that. but from the ERAS IVE WITNESSED. Jordan and Bird..
Bird didn't fracture his cheek, but he did get a concussion. He later said that he was seeing double during the rest of the game, which is a testament to his skills as a shooter.
One of my favorite Bird moments was in a Boston-Cleveland game. Bird receives a pass in the corner behind the 3 point line. As Bird pumps, Brad Daughtery (a 7 foot all-star center) comes running out to block the shot. As brad jumps Bird pulls the ball down, taps him on his rump with the ball and tells Brad "fly bird". Bird then calmly drains the 3.
I was at the game in Hartford when he made the behind the backboard shot. It was insane! Fun fact Magic had on a Celtics 33 shirt on under his Lakers jersey during the retirement ceremony. There's clips around of it but I don't get why it's not in this video. The level of respect they had for each other is staggering.
Larry Bird is the best all-around player in NBA history. He is not the best in any one statistical category , but among the best in all of them. His basketball IQ was off the charts and his "trash talk" is legendary. In regular season games, Bird and the Celtics were 17-11 vs Jordan and the Bulls I playoff games, Bird and the Celtics were 6-0 vs Jordan and the Bulls, sweeping them 2 years in a row. Individual statistics did not matter to Bird, he was all about winning. When Bird was on the floor playing, the Celtics won 73.58% of the time. Only Magic Johnson(73.95%) and Kawhi Leonard (73.70%) have a better winning percentage. In comparison, when Jordan was on the floor the Bulls won 65.86% of the time(When Pippen was on the floor the Bulls won 68.76% of the time)
Second best. His lack of defense puts him number two behind Lebron. Want to hear a crazy stat? Bird and Duncan are tied for second in playoff games where you lead your team in points, rebounds and assists with 21 games each. Number one? Lebron. With....... 77 games. Maybe the craziest stat in all of sports.
@@rickhammel9541 Lack of defense? Bird led the league 4 times in defensive win shares - do you know how many times Lebron has done that, the answer is 0. Lebron has played in 278 playoff games, Duncan 251, Bid 164. Additionally - Lebron has played 20 years, Bird basically 12 - he played only 6 games in the 1988-89 season. Bird played for 1 team his whole career, Lebron tried to create super-teams. Birds team won 73.58% of the games Bird played in, Lebrons team won 65% of the games Lebron played in. Birds team won 3 championships, Lebrons teams have won 4. Bird made a huge difference from day 1 of his pro career. Bird played whenever he could, even if injured. Lebron - not so much and then he "managed" his workload. Not including the season Bird was injured, Bird play in less than 60 games only once - and that was his last season , as a matter of fact Birds last 2 seasons he played 60 and 45 games, other than that Bird never played in less than 74 games per season. Lebron has played less than 70 games in a season 7 times in his career and in 4 of the last 5 years has played less than 60 games. Bird is better
Larry Bird had the same DNA as Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant and the like. IMO, Michael Jordan is the best basketball player who ever lived ...Larry Bird was the best player of basketball who ever lived.
Not true cause Jordan didn't win shit until her got Pippen and Phil Jackson on the team and Jordan had holes in his game like not making his teammates better but Bird had 0 holes in his game and made ALL his teammates better
I’m so glad you reacted to this. Bird is my all time favorite. Hopefully you’ll have more Bird vids. You’ll be more impressed the more you see. Great reaction. Thanks!
How fun watching you discover him . . . check out his trash talking and passing highlights - amazing stuff. He was a wonder to see in person, although usually booing him cause he was doing it against my Knicks!! lol Enjoy this journey!
The peak of professional basketball was the Bird-led Celtics versus the Magic-led Lakers in the 80s. We knew that when we were watching it, too. Best ball ever.
Excited for this... subbed awhile ago for Tom MacDonald reactions and now you are reacting to the GOAT!!!!!!! I hope ya'll are on board with an open mind... I am excited to watch this... lets go!
The passing video (re-edit with additional footage) is great. Bird took himself out of a game in 85 after 3 quarters because he'd "done enough" to the other team. He was 1 steal from a quadruple double. Edit: subbed
There is a video called "making the case Larry bird" as why he should be in your top 5 .. it breaks down all his stats and his impact on the game... great watch if you want to know how he good is
You ought to watch "Making the Case" for Larry Bird. I was lucky to see him play his whole, short career. He invented a lot of what you see today. He played the last half of his career with basically a broken back.
@Shane Denny Oh really?? Then there must have been ANOTHER person wearing #23 that I sat COURTSIDE watching school Larry legend. You are probably swimming in your daddy's nutsack at that time.
Larry was so good with the fakes because he was know for passing. I believe, when it comes to his passing, he perfectly combined basketball with volleyball and football. With the bump passes and launching it like a quarterback, he was amazing.
Facts. Larry Legend killed all the greats. They all say he was the best they ever played against. Larry beat Moses Malone, Dr. J, Kareem and Magic, that Laker team was stacked, Detroit, MJ and Pippen etc etc etc. Larry is the Goat.
The thing is, Larry and Magic were rivals from the NCAA finals in their senior year. It continued that way through their careers. But they became friends when they shot a Converse commercial. Between takes and set-up they talked and got to know each other. Larry said that eas the day he met Earvin.
The more you watch Larry the more your amazed. The numbers and replays don't say it all without the stories . Yes he played the game left handed after he said he would and them said he was saving his right for Magic and the Lakers. He also called the shot and said into the trainer .. Then made the falling three into the trainer. He would tell people the play and hit last second shots on them still. That was a fractured cheekbone he played with. Hands down the most clutch shooter to ever play when the game was on the line. More clutch Than ever MJ or Kobe.. I was actually a Magic Johnson fan when that rivalry started and the Celtics were just a team that we joked was the ugliest team in the NBA. Magic was Phenomenal...and that Lakers team was stacked.. I love ❤️ Magic's happy respectful personality and his passes... Unreal So fun to watch and that his mini Kareem sky hooh was money. Then you watched Larry and the Celtics beat Magic..Jabar..and Cooper in real time.. I didn't know... I guess for whatever reason. Where I lived or time of day I didn't see Larry as Much. Didn't take much to make Celtics Games can't miss TV. His passing is underated even compared to Magic. Those twos Rivarly was one of the most special things in Basketball for many many reasons. Mostly mutual respect Watch more about stories from other greats about Larry. Faller ..Caller.. 3 into the trainer .. Playing games with his left in the NBA and getting 26 in 3 quarters.. Who can do that? Check out the stories. Respect for the Respect . Thanks for putting this out there.
The left hand game - he shot everything except long balls left handed. He finished the night with 47 points, 14 rebounds, 11 assists, a steal, and 2 blocks - 20 points left handed and he made the shot to send the game into overtime and then hit the game winning shot with three seconds remaining in overtime for the win. He shot 62% from the field that night.
Youve only scratched the surface, wait till you see his best passer re-edit video MANY other amazing vids. Larry was a trash talking beast, he would tell the other players coaches and team exactly what shot he was going to make and then do it every time, they could not stop his shots about 98% of the time he was unguardable. I envy your coming first times seeing all the larry bird videos, he couldnt run fast or jump high but he could still do it all he was an amazing passer, best marksman the league had ever seen then, and he had amazing court vision it seemed like he was always two moves ahead of everyone else and he was about the best clutch player in NBA history. Whenever there was a game winning shot in the last five seconds the ball almost always went to Larry and he would make it. Some of his plays were just unbeleivable for someone that did not look athletic.
I saw on a video about Bird that his career was shorter than many of the players of his time. He hurt his back early in his career helping his mom redo her driveway. He gave it all on the court and played with a lot of pain. His numbers would have been hard to beat if he played longer.
It warms my heart when the young men and women seek out the legends and the classics. Yes Bird is a top 5 player period end of story, if anyone says otherwise you do not know basketball
I read an article yesterday..while he was coaching the Pacer`s..the team was stretching out and Larry grasp a ball and shot 10 3 pointers and hit them all at 60 years old,,the team was like DAM
Magic & Larry, resurrected the game of basketball......My dad loved basketball, but stopped watching, until the competition between Johnson & Bird was highlighted......What my Dad used to say, about Larry's game, is that it reminded him of someone, who was not only playing basketball, but also, volleyball, dodgeball, hockey, baseball, football, soccer, & strategic chess, all at the same time, and was what made him so great 😊He certainly was one of the most unique and gifted players, I have ever watched!
Remember that the dream team had MJ, Magic, and Bird. Three guys that not only refused to lose and did anything it took to win, but always upped their games in the big moments.
When Bill Russell,Wilt,Magic,Michael Jordan,Pete Maravich,Julius Erving and Kareem all say that the same player was great it says it all.They all said that about Bird.
Everyone remembers Bird as a shooter, but he was so much more. The number and kinds of assists were staggering. He ran the floor and dunked. Tenacious defense. Supreme trash talker, but he could back it up. Never quit attitude.
Magic had retired due to health concerns, but suited up in his Lakers gear for Bird's own retirement. They played together, teamed with Jordan and a hostvof other stars, on the 1992 original Dream Team Olympics unit.
A lot of people said a lot of things about Larry Bird, he was slow, he couldn't jump, he wasn't physical, he was skinny. But all he did was win, because he was the smartest player on the court. He was a legitimate 6'10" and wasn't skinny. There's a story of when the Dream Team was getting ready for the Olympics and they brought a team of college players to scrimmage with the pros. A bunch of guys, including Chris Washburn and Rodney Rogers, passed him in the hotel and were surprised about how big he really was. He told them "You better get some rest, we're going to wear you out". At the scrimmage, Rodney Rogers yelled out "Hey Larry, you haven't hit a jumper since 1984 !". Magic Johnson heard him and proceeded to feed Larry 8 or 9 times in a row, with Rogers guarding him. Bird hit 8 or 9 in a row, after telling Rogers exactly what he was going to do on each shot. Sadly the 1992 Olympics were the last time both Larry Bird and Magic Johnson played basketball together. Bird retired when he got home from Barcelona and Magic had stopped playing because of his HIV. The Dream Team was the best single team of all time in any sport you want to think of.
A couple things you guys might want to watch are Making The Case video for Larry Bird and Here Comes The Boom Hardest NFL Hits Ever. The Making the case one shows all his accolades and the hardest nfl hits one is done to Nellys Here Comes The Boom which fits perfectly! I think you guys would love both of those❤
I remember the night he retired soooo many tears buuut soooo happy for him at the same time across the COUNTRY but then that was when PEOPLE liked watching/cared about NBA
When discussing the greatest of all time i think most people like to look at it from a 1 on 1 perspective. But the nba isnt a 1 on 1 game. Larry not only did what he did with injuries that were insanely debilitating. He had fun like a street baller at an elite level in the nba. He made everyone around him better. And he was one of the clutchest of all time
Guys this is the first time I'm watching your channel. I'm watching it specifically because I wanted to see your reactions with Larry Bird. In my day I was a Larry Bird nuts and I watched every game all the time. Personally I hate an NBA today because it's not the same. But back then Larry Bird was playing chess while everybody else was playing checkers. I'm very excited for you that you got to see this. I hope you appreciate how well he played on the court.
Larry Bird is the reason I became a Boston fan, And I live in Missouri. Larry Bird is the BEST all round players the league has ever known. You can thank Wilt Chamberlin for the hook shot, not Karim. Larry was MVP 3 times, Couch of the year and Executive of the year, something no one has ever done, not Magic, Not Jordan, nobody. Larry and Magic were fierce competitors on the court and best friends off the court. The NBA was very different place back then, I don't know any of today's pre-Madonna's who could have hung back then.
The only great that didn't have to learn how to be a team player , no one impacted a team more than the legend did from the start till the end . Period...............
An insane thing to think about is that the night of his retirement ceremony at the Garden, the team was off that night. There was no game. They sold the whole damn place out just to watch him retire. That’s legendary.
In the past 50 years, here are the highest Total Career Avg Stat Points (PTS + REB + AST + STL + BLK) #1) Jordan = 44.7 #2) LeBron = 44.4 #3) Bird = 43.1 #4) Kareem = 42.9 #5) Magic = 40.2 ... many other players #24) Curry = 37.3 That's just to put things into perspective
Hey yo I’m from Boston so know I’m all in on bird Larry was intimidating af because he talked so much shit and would score in your face! Good reaction you young bucks!
Larry Bird actually said something to the effect as ...MJ is like God in Tennis Shoes A coach...I think it was coach Riley said "if I needed a player to win a game, I'd take MJ to make the shot, if I needed a player to make a shot to save my life, I'd choose Larry Bird"
I love these reaction videos from people who never got to see Bird play. My favorite to hear is, "whaaaat?" (6:00), like they've never seen anything like this and "how'd he do that?"... "ohhhh!" Thanks y'all... I never get tired of these vids. Peace.
Seen games or least a quarter when his shots were off. But when his shot was on , seemed like he couldn't miss. Double teamed , shooting off hand, awkward looking shot attempt; didn't matter. It was going in the bucket. And this drove the opponent's fans crazy.
Yuh!! ThNks for the reaction! Back then the physicality was brutal. If you tried to come through the paint as guard, expect to get clothed-lined by a big. Bird consistently had more rebounds than Patrick Ewing, Mutumbo etc. Let's review. BTW as a Lakers fan I HATED Larry. I was born in Lansing MI same as Magic and relocated to LA the same year he did. Bird was a soul crushing machine. Three-time NBA champion (1981, 1984, 1986) Two-time NBA Finals MVP (1984, 1986) Three-time NBA MVP (1984-86) 12-time NBA All-Star (1980-88, 1990-92) Nine-time All-NBA First Team (1980-88) All-NBA Second Team (1990) Three-time All-NBA Defensive Second Team (1982-84) NBA Rookie of the Year (1980) NBA All-Rookie Team (1980) Three-time NBA Three-Point Contest champion (1986-88) And most importantly he saved basketball, and did way more with a lot less. Watch interviews with the Hall of famers. Pat Riley once said if I had to bet my life on one shot, I want Larry Bird shooting it. Also I don't know why every single reaction to this misses the fact that Bird returns to the game with a fractured face. Can you name ANYONE, pick ANYONE in the modern era who would do that and dish sauce until they win? Nope
Larry was the toughest, best trash talker, best ball faker, most clutch, and in my opinion the most valuable and important player to his team and maybe the most important player to the NBA, than any player in NBA history
I went to High School with David Robinson and use to play ball with him and his younger brother Chuck. David is not only a great baller but he and his family are the nicest people you'll ever meet!
I was blessed to grow up through that era. Jordan, Bird, Johnson, Drexler, Wilkins, Webb, Pippen, Barkley, the dream team in the Olympics, Bulls/Lakers, Bulls/Pistons, Bulls/Celtics, all of it. The game today is still great, but those were the golden years. The game was just different too, those guys were animals.
as for dream team, you got Ewing and Robinson at Center and Karl Malone and Barkely at pf.. You had Jordan and Pippen (not to mention Clyde drexler and stockton, the all time leading steals guy) hounding you on the perimeter, if you got by them you got bumped by Karl Malone on your way to the rim where Ewing or Robinson was waiting for you. The dream Teams defense would be too much. im not even guna talk about containing all their BIGS AND michael Jordan on the offensive side of the ball.
@@BoilerRMac plus you got guys like Magic, Pippen, Stockton and Bird facilitating the offense... they got 3 point shooters in Mullin, Stockton, Bird and Pippen.. they got defense, offense, inside outside game, fundamentals and grit.
There was no stopping Larry Bird back in the day! Never has a player called it before he made it happen...all day long! He broke ankles and posterized everyone who dared to challenge him!
Jordan called Larry Bird the greatest small forward he's ever seen. LeBron has Larry in his top 3. Magic said Bird was the only one he feared.
James Worthy and Michael Cooper, both high tier defenders, said they rather guard MJ than Bird (!)
“Larry Bird is the greatest trash talker and mind-game player of all time. He taught me everything I know about getting in folks’ heads.”
Michael Jordan
Larry was the founding member of the “50-40-90” club. He did it back-to-back years. Jordan, Kobe nor LeBron have done it at all. Jordan, Kobe & LeBron “all” need the ball. Larry didn’t. He would beat you in every other aspect of the game.
“When I played, Larry Bird was the only one I feared. A lot of black guys always asked me, ‘Could Larry Bird really play that good?' And I said, 'Man, Larry Bird…’ [*shakes his head and stares into space*] ‘…was so good, it's- it’s frightening.'”
- Magic Johnson
@@kramermccabe8601 Wilt could intimidate better than anyone...with just a stare or one micro second of exhibiting his immense physical authority.
bird, magic, jordan all in their prime its not even close theses guys are legends of legends
the golden age
And Zeke beat them all.
Imagine that team, in their prime, holy hell
I just wish birds and magics career lasted a bit longer… I would’ve loved to see a prime Jordan with Scottie try and beat Larry and magic. It would’ve been interesting seeing Scottie or Jordan try to guard him.
Ok, consider this idea. Wilt, Jordan, Bird, Magic, Lebron. Wilt over Jordan?!! Well ya, because he’s the heavyweight champ of GOATS and Jordan is Pound-For-Pound champ of GOAT. Swap them if they want, but Wilt is literally superior to all other men who ever played.
Larry is without a doubt the toughest man to ever play, never used any pain meds. His back was seriously f'd up and he still whooped up on the kids. Couldn't sit on the bench, had to lay down on the sidelines, yet he still dominated.
People forget that Bird won his 3rd MVP and then finished 2nd twice AFTER he broke a bone in his back.
@@BD-uw1kq he got 3 seconds in a row before winning 3 in a row
@@BD-uw1kq Quiz....who is the ONLY person who has EVER averaged more than 48 minutes a game...for an entire season??? Do you know?
@@shihyuchu6753 wilt chamberlain
Bird averaged more assists per game than Allen Iverson, Kyrie Irving, Dwyane Wade, Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, etc. He also averaged more rebounds per game than Patrick Ewing, Chris Webber, Ben Wallace, Giannis, Robert Parish, Alonzo Mourning, Chris Bosh, Etc. In the past 50 years, only two other players have slightly better stats than Larry Bird and that Michael Jordan and LeBron James
Larry Bird is my favorite player of all time. Driven, talented, hard-working, made everyone around him better, and had the best court sense I've ever seen. I'm glad this highlights video exists, so those who never saw him play in his prime can see how truly GREAT he was. His rivalry with Magic Johnson is my favorite individual and team rivalry in any sport, any era.
Oh, and the Dream Team would have beat any team. ANY team. 😁
And Larry's mother was Magics biggest fan! She loved him. They became good friends
Bird is my favorite player. His trash talking, shooting and passing all have their own vids because he did so many things so well.
I think Larry Legend's passing was my favorite part of his game
@@tonyduncan7710 it’s unreal how knowledgeable he was on the court, like eyes in the back of his head
I recommend Making the Case for Larry Bird and 5 times Bird was hurt but refused to quit. You may also like his 50 greatest passes and the documentary about how him and Magic became friends.
Nah. Let’s just watch one or two vids. We got many other players to watch. Not only Larry. Not to sound like a hater, but thers already 50 different channels only watching mj, Larry, and magic videos and not any others.
And 4 Crazy Stories - Larry Bird as well. Additional stories. 🙏 Please
ua-cam.com/video/L4vsB2Hskv4/v-deo.html
Bird's the Word - 15 min of Bird 👍 Highlights that will not disappoint IMHO ua-cam.com/video/e-07FJH2sJU/v-deo.html
(word of advise, trust the musical choices, as the songs progress they become one with the content. Again, IMHO)
Another might be Bird's self proclaimed best game
(Game 6 1986 Finals)
ua-cam.com/video/maS9smxRubI/v-deo.html
And the Beautiful Game - 1986 Celtics
ua-cam.com/video/O4Td5QRfzj4/v-deo.html
Bird Greatest Passer re-edit
ua-cam.com/video/wwo4vtaZmsY/v-deo.html
I saw Bird play his whole career. I have never seen any player with more determination and will to win than larry bird. He was always three steps ahead of everyone on the court. He is still the smartest most clutch player I have ever seen. He could shoot from anywhere on the court. Michael Jordan was unstoppable. But Larry Bird was unbelievable. He did something amazing every game. He is my Goat.
Every single game is an extended highlight reel from Bird. The spectacular was every day for Larry. He just played the game better and with more understanding than anyone else. The only other player who ever saw the game the same way was Russell.
@@BD-uw1kq Russell huh? Care to share your top 5?
@@andybilakshow260 he def a celtics fan lmao
@@Apeezys1229 🤣..🤔ok. top 4 then
@@andybilakshow260 imo the top 10 is
1. Michael Jordan
2. LeBron James
3. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
4. Magic Johnson
5. Larry Bird
6. Tim Duncan
7. Wilt Chamberlain
8. Kobe Bryant
9. Bill Russell
10. Shaquille O'Neal
ive been watching ball since the mid 80s.. Mj and bird are the 2 BEST players ive ever seen.. Actually Larry Bird is the oNLY player in HISTORY to average ATLEAST 24 points, 10 rebounds and 6 assists.. he also shot 50/40/90 and is 33rd all time in defensive winshares. he was a double double big, that could pass and shoot and playmake and spot up and move without the ball. and he huslted all the time.
Larry actually led the league in defensive win shares 4 times, exactly the same as Hakeem.
And on top of all that he was a clutch machine.
Don't forget 3 MVPs in a row, where only two others have ever done that. Also, him and Magic saved the NBA from oblivion. Then there's the big turn around of the Celtics in his rookie year. And we could go on and on and on about Larry's exploits.
Nawww I think Bird and Chamberlain are the 2 best ever
@@JET1970 RE read: "ive ever seen" i didnt watch Wilt play (born 1979) so.. but watching his highlights I WONT argue with you on that. but from the ERAS IVE WITNESSED. Jordan and Bird..
1 out of 1000 reactors are actually LISTENING to the video to hear that Larry fractured his right cheek.
Bird didn't fracture his cheek, but he did get a concussion. He later said that he was seeing double during the rest of the game, which is a testament to his skills as a shooter.
@@jamessmith-pf5zf He fractured his orbital
Right. And most of them miss when he slams his face into the floor.
One of my favorite Bird moments was in a Boston-Cleveland game. Bird receives a pass in the corner behind the 3 point line. As Bird pumps, Brad Daughtery (a 7 foot all-star center) comes running out to block the shot. As brad jumps Bird pulls the ball down, taps him on his rump with the ball and tells Brad "fly bird". Bird then calmly drains the 3.
Bird was coldest of all...
You just watched the
greatest all around
player in history !
You opened a can of Larry
Bird ! More Bird videos !
I was at the game in Hartford when he made the behind the backboard shot. It was insane! Fun fact Magic had on a Celtics 33 shirt on under his Lakers jersey during the retirement ceremony. There's clips around of it but I don't get why it's not in this video. The level of respect they had for each other is staggering.
Larry Bird is the best all-around player in NBA history.
He is not the best in any one statistical category , but among the best in all of them.
His basketball IQ was off the charts and his "trash talk" is legendary.
In regular season games, Bird and the Celtics were 17-11 vs Jordan and the Bulls
I playoff games, Bird and the Celtics were 6-0 vs Jordan and the Bulls, sweeping them 2 years in a row.
Individual statistics did not matter to Bird, he was all about winning.
When Bird was on the floor playing, the Celtics won 73.58% of the time.
Only Magic Johnson(73.95%) and Kawhi Leonard (73.70%) have a better winning percentage.
In comparison, when Jordan was on the floor the Bulls won 65.86% of the time(When Pippen was on the floor the Bulls won 68.76% of the time)
Wilt
Second best. His lack of defense puts him number two behind Lebron. Want to hear a crazy stat? Bird and Duncan are tied for second in playoff games where you lead your team in points, rebounds and assists with 21 games each. Number one? Lebron. With.......
77 games. Maybe the craziest stat in all of sports.
@@rickhammel9541 Lack of defense? Bird led the league 4 times in defensive win shares - do you know how many times Lebron has done that, the answer is 0. Lebron has played in 278 playoff games, Duncan 251, Bid 164.
Additionally - Lebron has played 20 years, Bird basically 12 - he played only 6 games in the 1988-89 season. Bird played for 1 team his whole career, Lebron tried to create super-teams. Birds team won 73.58% of the games Bird played in, Lebrons team won 65% of the games Lebron played in. Birds team won 3 championships, Lebrons teams have won 4. Bird made a huge difference from day 1 of his pro career. Bird played whenever he could, even if injured. Lebron - not so much and then he "managed" his workload. Not including the season Bird was injured, Bird play in less than 60 games only once - and that was his last season , as a matter of fact Birds last 2 seasons he played 60 and 45 games, other than that Bird never played in less than 74 games per season. Lebron has played less than 70 games in a season 7 times in his career and in 4 of the last 5 years has played less than 60 games.
Bird is better
@@robgelfand2414 dude learn how to use paragraphs ffs
@@rickhammel9541 Lack of defense? He has one of the best defense stats in basketball history.
Larry Bird had the same DNA as Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant and the like. IMO, Michael Jordan is the best basketball player who ever lived ...Larry Bird was the best player of basketball who ever lived.
Not true cause Jordan didn't win shit until her got Pippen and Phil Jackson on the team and Jordan had holes in his game like not making his teammates better but Bird had 0 holes in his game and made ALL his teammates better
Jordan didn't win anything until Bird retired.
@@jamescook6564 Bird retired the year Jordan 2nd championship, casual.
I’m so glad you reacted to this.
Bird is my all time favorite.
Hopefully you’ll have more Bird vids.
You’ll be more impressed the more you see.
Great reaction. Thanks!
Yep! They just scratched the surface.
How fun watching you discover him . . . check out his trash talking and passing highlights - amazing stuff. He was a wonder to see in person, although usually booing him cause he was doing it against my Knicks!! lol Enjoy this journey!
The peak of professional basketball was the Bird-led Celtics versus the Magic-led Lakers in the 80s. We knew that when we were watching it, too. Best ball ever.
Excited for this... subbed awhile ago for Tom MacDonald reactions and now you are reacting to the GOAT!!!!!!! I hope ya'll are on board with an open mind... I am excited to watch this... lets go!
The passing video (re-edit with additional footage) is great.
Bird took himself out of a game in 85 after 3 quarters because he'd "done enough" to the other team. He was 1 steal from a quadruple double.
Edit: subbed
There is a video called "making the case Larry bird" as why he should be in your top 5 .. it breaks down all his stats and his impact on the game... great watch if you want to know how he good is
I'm adding the link ua-cam.com/video/Pxf4RzocHN8/v-deo.html
That’s a whole series of videos
@@TheIcemanthomas i.know just leading him to the videos that break down the greats NY more than just highlight reels :)
There are three kinds of Bird highlights...
* "Man that's some solid basketball right there"
* "DAAAAAMN"
* "No. That did NOT just happen."
You ought to watch "Making the Case" for Larry Bird. I was lucky to see him play his whole, short career. He invented a lot of what you see today. He played the last half of his career with basically a broken back.
Larry is the GOAT
Mike would have him for lunch though...
@@pointsur67 Wrong again
@Shane Denny Oh really?? Then there must have been ANOTHER person wearing #23 that I sat COURTSIDE watching school Larry legend. You are probably swimming in your daddy's nutsack at that time.
No
@@pointsur67then why didn't he? Bird swept him twice in the playoffs 6-0
Larry was so good with the fakes because he was know for passing. I believe, when it comes to his passing, he perfectly combined basketball with volleyball and football. With the bump passes and launching it like a quarterback, he was amazing.
When he could do so many different things, if you guessed wrong which one he was going to do any given play, you could look stupid.
And he gave away scoring points by passing
Larry is the only one MJ never beat
In the playoffs.
Facts. Larry Legend killed all the greats. They all say he was the best they ever played against. Larry beat Moses Malone, Dr. J, Kareem and Magic, that Laker team was stacked, Detroit, MJ and Pippen etc etc etc. Larry is the Goat.
@@pjs777s.8 for sure
@@Dshatila1983 Those are the ones that count
@@Dshatila1983 isn’t that what counts !
The thing is, Larry and Magic were rivals from the NCAA finals in their senior year. It continued that way through their careers. But they became friends when they shot a Converse commercial. Between takes and set-up they talked and got to know each other. Larry said that eas the day he met Earvin.
The more you watch Larry the more your amazed.
The numbers and replays don't say it all without the stories .
Yes he played the game left handed after he said he would and them said he was saving his right for Magic and the Lakers.
He also called the shot and said into the trainer ..
Then made the falling three into the trainer.
He would tell people the play and hit last second shots on them still.
That was a fractured cheekbone he played with.
Hands down the most clutch shooter to ever play when the game was on the line.
More clutch Than ever MJ or Kobe..
I was actually a Magic Johnson fan when that rivalry started and the Celtics were just a team that we joked was the ugliest team in the NBA.
Magic was Phenomenal...and that Lakers team was stacked..
I love ❤️ Magic's happy respectful personality and his passes...
Unreal
So fun to watch and that his mini Kareem sky hooh was money.
Then you watched Larry and the Celtics beat Magic..Jabar..and Cooper in real time..
I didn't know...
I guess for whatever reason. Where I lived or time of day I didn't see Larry as Much.
Didn't take much to make Celtics Games can't miss TV.
His passing is underated even compared to Magic.
Those twos Rivarly was one of the most special things in Basketball for many many reasons.
Mostly mutual respect
Watch more about stories from other greats about Larry.
Faller ..Caller.. 3 into the trainer .. Playing games with his left in the NBA and getting 26 in 3 quarters..
Who can do that?
Check out the stories.
Respect for the Respect .
Thanks for putting this out there.
The left hand game - he shot everything except long balls left handed. He finished the night with 47 points, 14 rebounds, 11 assists, a steal, and 2 blocks - 20 points left handed and he made the shot to send the game into overtime and then hit the game winning shot with three seconds remaining in overtime for the win. He shot 62% from the field that night.
Youve only scratched the surface, wait till you see his best passer re-edit video MANY other amazing vids. Larry was a trash talking beast, he would tell the other players coaches and team exactly what shot he was going to make and then do it every time, they could not stop his shots about 98% of the time he was unguardable. I envy your coming first times seeing all the larry bird videos, he couldnt run fast or jump high but he could still do it all he was an amazing passer, best marksman the league had ever seen then, and he had amazing court vision it seemed like he was always two moves ahead of everyone else and he was about the best clutch player in NBA history. Whenever there was a game winning shot in the last five seconds the ball almost always went to Larry and he would make it. Some of his plays were just unbeleivable for someone that did not look athletic.
I saw on a video about Bird that his career was shorter than many of the players of his time. He hurt his back early in his career helping his mom redo her driveway. He gave it all on the court and played with a lot of pain. His numbers would have been hard to beat if he played longer.
It warms my heart when the young men and women seek out the legends and the classics. Yes Bird is a top 5 player period end of story, if anyone says otherwise you do not know basketball
I read an article yesterday..while he was coaching the Pacer`s..the team was stretching out and Larry grasp a ball and shot 10 3 pointers and hit them all at 60 years old,,the team was like DAM
Magic & Larry, resurrected the game of basketball......My dad loved basketball, but stopped watching, until the competition between Johnson & Bird was highlighted......What my Dad used to say, about Larry's game, is that it reminded him of someone, who was not only playing basketball, but also, volleyball, dodgeball, hockey, baseball, football, soccer, & strategic chess, all at the same time, and was what made him so great 😊He certainly was one of the most unique and gifted players, I have ever watched!
Remember that the dream team had MJ, Magic, and Bird. Three guys that not only refused to lose and did anything it took to win, but always upped their games in the big moments.
When Bill Russell,Wilt,Magic,Michael Jordan,Pete Maravich,Julius Erving and Kareem all say that the same player was great it says it all.They all said that about Bird.
Everyone remembers Bird as a shooter, but he was so much more. The number and kinds of assists were staggering. He ran the floor and dunked. Tenacious defense. Supreme trash talker, but he could back it up. Never quit attitude.
Magic had retired due to health concerns, but suited up in his Lakers gear for Bird's own retirement. They played together, teamed with Jordan and a hostvof other stars, on the 1992 original Dream Team Olympics unit.
He wore a Celtic jersey underneath his Laker jersey
The Bird is the greatest all-around basketball player of all time.
No, that would be LeBron
@@ryanc9888 LOL you dont think free throws counts?
@@ryanc9888 I will go with bird, also
I’m with Bird too !
A lot of people said a lot of things about Larry Bird, he was slow, he couldn't jump, he wasn't physical, he was skinny. But all he did was win, because he was the smartest player on the court. He was a legitimate 6'10" and wasn't skinny. There's a story of when the Dream Team was getting ready for the Olympics and they brought a team of college players to scrimmage with the pros. A bunch of guys, including Chris Washburn and Rodney Rogers, passed him in the hotel and were surprised about how big he really was. He told them "You better get some rest, we're going to wear you out". At the scrimmage, Rodney Rogers yelled out "Hey Larry, you haven't hit a jumper since 1984 !". Magic Johnson heard him and proceeded to feed Larry 8 or 9 times in a row, with Rogers guarding him. Bird hit 8 or 9 in a row, after telling Rogers exactly what he was going to do on each shot. Sadly the 1992 Olympics were the last time both Larry Bird and Magic Johnson played basketball together. Bird retired when he got home from Barcelona and Magic had stopped playing because of his HIV. The Dream Team was the best single team of all time in any sport you want to think of.
Bird was a beast with broken back won 3 MVPs if healthy it be undisputed. To dominate & be that injured you can only imagine how he be healthy.
Great reaction guys, now you have to do some of his trash talking videos, those are unreal.
A couple things you guys might want to watch are Making The Case video for Larry Bird and Here Comes The Boom Hardest NFL Hits Ever. The Making the case one shows all his accolades and the hardest nfl hits one is done to Nellys Here Comes The Boom which fits perfectly! I think you guys would love both of those❤
I remember the night he retired soooo many tears buuut soooo happy for him at the same time across the COUNTRY but then that was when PEOPLE liked watching/cared about NBA
Dream Team with Larry GOAT!
Bird is the greatest small forward to ever play!
The greatest dunk ever Tom Chambers
The guy was the first free agent and scored over 20,000 points for his NBA career
One thing folks tend to forget is that the guy making all these crazy passes, behind the back dribbles, etc., is not a guard but a 6'10" forward.
When discussing the greatest of all time i think most people like to look at it from a 1 on 1 perspective. But the nba isnt a 1 on 1 game. Larry not only did what he did with injuries that were insanely debilitating. He had fun like a street baller at an elite level in the nba. He made everyone around him better. And he was one of the clutchest of all time
Guys this is the first time I'm watching your channel. I'm watching it specifically because I wanted to see your reactions with Larry Bird. In my day I was a Larry Bird nuts and I watched every game all the time. Personally I hate an NBA today because it's not the same. But back then Larry Bird was playing chess while everybody else was playing checkers. I'm very excited for you that you got to see this. I hope you appreciate how well he played on the court.
Bird would win an MVP TODAY!!! period
I highly recommend the "passing re-edit" compilation, you'll love it.. and of course the trash talking videos are pure gold.
Be fun to see Larry Bird and any 2 random NCAA division 1 starters,
..... vs the best 5 players from the most recent WNBA "Championship" team.
Larry Bird is the reason I became a Boston fan, And I live in Missouri. Larry Bird is the BEST all round players the league has ever known. You can thank Wilt Chamberlin for the hook shot, not Karim. Larry was MVP 3 times, Couch of the year and Executive of the year, something no one has ever done, not Magic, Not Jordan, nobody. Larry and Magic were fierce competitors on the court and best friends off the court. The NBA was very different place back then, I don't know any of today's pre-Madonna's who could have hung back then.
Larry legend 🐐
Ye need to watch "Magic and Bird a courtship of rivals" that will 🤯🤯
The only great that didn't have to learn how to be a team player , no one impacted a team more than the legend did from the start till the end . Period...............
LARRY LEGEND IS A UNICORN AND THE TRUE GOAT 🐐 ☘️
An insane thing to think about is that the night of his retirement ceremony at the Garden, the team was off that night. There was no game. They sold the whole damn place out just to watch him retire. That’s legendary.
you guys talked over the part where they said Larry had 60 polnts, and that was just in the first 3/4 of that game-!!
tks for reacting
keeping larry legend legacy alive
im not gonna debate this goat stuff
larry legend has his place in nba HOF
In the past 50 years, here are the highest Total Career Avg Stat Points (PTS + REB + AST + STL + BLK)
#1) Jordan = 44.7
#2) LeBron = 44.4
#3) Bird = 43.1
#4) Kareem = 42.9
#5) Magic = 40.2
... many other players
#24) Curry = 37.3
That's just to put things into perspective
Check out his passing re edit video
Hey yo I’m from Boston so know I’m all in on bird Larry was intimidating af because he talked so much shit and would score in your face! Good reaction you young bucks!
Thank for your kind reaction to the great white hope
Nice reaction.
Check out two-time MVP Steve Nash. Shaq is still pissed Nash was chosen over him.
People underestimated him, but his trash talking was legend, he backed it up! My favorite player ever!!
If you haven't reacted to the video of Larry's full court passes you definitely should. They were spot on like he was playing quarterback basketball.
♥ Larry Bird Making the Case is a great watch. Loved this reaction!
You guys should watch the Bird vs Jordan 71 points crazy battle video. A must watch for both Jordan and Bird fans.
Welcome to Larry’s world. 🇨🇦
Larry Bird actually said something to the effect as ...MJ is like God in Tennis Shoes
A coach...I think it was coach Riley said "if I needed a player to win a game, I'd take MJ to make the shot, if I needed a player to make a shot to save my life, I'd choose Larry Bird"
The 80’s and 90’s is when basketball was FUN. I can’t watch todays game. All money, no heart.
GOAT!!
The GOAT.
A team with Kobe and bron who’s beating them? The team with Jordan bird and magic
I love these reaction videos from people who never got to see Bird play. My favorite to hear is, "whaaaat?" (6:00), like they've never seen anything like this and "how'd he do that?"... "ohhhh!" Thanks y'all... I never get tired of these vids. Peace.
Seen games or least a quarter when his shots were off. But when his shot was on , seemed like he couldn't miss. Double teamed , shooting off hand, awkward looking shot attempt; didn't matter. It was going in the bucket. And this drove the opponent's fans crazy.
Yuh!! ThNks for the reaction! Back then the physicality was brutal. If you tried to come through the paint as guard, expect to get clothed-lined by a big. Bird consistently had more rebounds than Patrick Ewing, Mutumbo etc. Let's review. BTW as a Lakers fan I HATED Larry. I was born in Lansing MI same as Magic and relocated to LA the same year he did. Bird was a soul crushing machine.
Three-time NBA champion (1981, 1984, 1986)
Two-time NBA Finals MVP (1984, 1986)
Three-time NBA MVP (1984-86)
12-time NBA All-Star (1980-88, 1990-92)
Nine-time All-NBA First Team (1980-88)
All-NBA Second Team (1990)
Three-time All-NBA Defensive Second Team (1982-84)
NBA Rookie of the Year (1980)
NBA All-Rookie Team (1980)
Three-time NBA Three-Point Contest champion (1986-88)
And most importantly he saved basketball, and did way more with a lot less.
Watch interviews with the Hall of famers. Pat Riley once said if I had to bet my life on one shot, I want Larry Bird shooting it. Also I don't know why every single reaction to this misses the fact that Bird returns to the game with a fractured face. Can you name ANYONE, pick ANYONE in the modern era who would do that and dish sauce until they win? Nope
Best rivalry ever.
In his rookie season Bird led a team what won 29 games the year before to 61-21 and the best record in the league.
Larry and Magic saved the NBA.
Charles Barkley said god made it so Larry could`nt " jump to to make it fair for the rest of us"
Larry Legend and Magic saved the NBA 2 🐐🐐
A warrior! Thank you Larry Bird as a lifelong lakers fan ❤️
Larry was the toughest, best trash talker, best ball faker, most clutch, and in my opinion the most valuable and important player to his team and maybe the most important player to the NBA, than any player in NBA history
27 in 3 quarters. Scored 20 in the 4th. 47 point game
With a game winner, but right handed
Damn, didn’t know y’all okies, that means you good people. Great video, I really enjoyed it.
Magic was right ,there will never EVER be another Larry Bird ,absolute LEGEND ,talking the talk and walking the walk .BIRD BIRD BIRD!!!!!
I went to High School with David Robinson and use to play ball with him and his younger brother Chuck. David is not only a great baller but he and his family are the nicest people you'll ever meet!
I was blessed to grow up through that era. Jordan, Bird, Johnson, Drexler, Wilkins, Webb, Pippen, Barkley, the dream team in the Olympics, Bulls/Lakers, Bulls/Pistons, Bulls/Celtics, all of it. The game today is still great, but those were the golden years. The game was just different too, those guys were animals.
Dream Team!
MJ never beat Larry Legend 🐐🐐
Larry was a stone cold killer and he was playing today the way he played in his era he would dominate.
as for dream team, you got Ewing and Robinson at Center and Karl Malone and Barkely at pf.. You had Jordan and Pippen (not to mention Clyde drexler and stockton, the all time leading steals guy) hounding you on the perimeter, if you got by them you got bumped by Karl Malone on your way to the rim where Ewing or Robinson was waiting for you. The dream Teams defense would be too much. im not even guna talk about containing all their BIGS AND michael Jordan on the offensive side of the ball.
@@BoilerRMac plus you got guys like Magic, Pippen, Stockton and Bird facilitating the offense... they got 3 point shooters in Mullin, Stockton, Bird and Pippen.. they got defense, offense, inside outside game, fundamentals and grit.
The play today is nothing like these games - kept you hyped and on the end of your seat the WHOLE ENTIRE GAME!
These two men saved the NBA...look it up
I remember rhe game in 92 when the celtics played portland and bird hits a off balance 3 to tie the game and they won in OT
There was no stopping Larry Bird back in the day! Never has a player called it before he made it happen...all day long! He broke ankles and posterized everyone who dared to challenge him!
Dream Team over redeem Team. No Question