That’s a great way to describe it. I will say, beyond his basketball IQ,(or at least equal to) was his heart, competitiveness, tenacity; whatever you want to call it.
Larry Bird, as a little kid, learned to play basketball in French Lick, Indiana, from a group of black guys who were coming off their shifts at the local hotel and were playing basketball at a nearby court. He'd watch them play and they'd invite him to play with them, so he started learning that way. He talks about it in the documentary Courtship of Rivals, which is an amazing documentary going through both his and Magic's careers.
He gets rid of the ball so quickly. I remember watching games and all of sudden the ball would be some place else and I literally couldn't figure what happened or how the ball got there.
@@busterkeaton1001 That is one of the things that sets him apart from most of the other elite passers. Many of the other greatest passers had the ball in their hands 80% of the time on the offensive end and had most of the shot clock to plan and set things up. Larry would often get similar results from tipping a lose ball or rebound. Sometimes it's questionable if you could even say he actually had possession of the ball because he just tipped it to someone else in a better position for an easy score. That's a very rare skill to be such an adept passer with split second timing and no time to plan or set up anything.
Celtics fan here. Had a seat behind the Celtics bench. The whole city and most of New England nearly shut down when the Lakers came, because we hated the Lakers ( just like how LA hated the Celtics! 🤬), and that it was going to the the best show you could ever get a ticket for. Simply incredible game between two of the best teams ever.
My uncle played pickup ball with Bird in French Lick Indiana when Larry was in high school. He said even then you knew Larry was going to be something special. There was a large group of black workers who'd come up from Louisville and work in the French Lick resort hotel in the summer. Once they saw what Larry was about they took him under their wing and let him play basketball with them. Bird loved the competition and learned a lot from them.
That's awesome. Was your uncle one of those guys from Louisville? The most awesome Larry Bird story I know is before he played a SINGLE game in college he was scrimmaging at Indiana State with a couple of ABA players who used to play for the IU coach, both of these guys are now in the Hall of Fame and they said coach that's the best basketball player I've ever played against. These were guys playing against prime DR J!
@@busterkeaton1001Maybe one was Roger Brown. But at the time Bird was not the best they played against. Maybe Bernard King or Gervin was better in 1976.
@@glennfromel5711 it was Mel Daniels and Roger Brown. They were giving their opinion. Mel Daniels said "Coach, That’s the best damn player I’ve ever played against.” And Roger Brown agreed. Obviously they saw something.
Too bad NBA Execs looked at Bird differently. Bird was picked 6th Overall in the Draft. Roger Brown was a nice guy. That talk obviously was exaggerated. They could have said Bird has chance to become NBA Legend etc. Of course Bird out of High School put him about bottom level NBA. If Larry was best at the time then he did not improve much. GF
One thing that isn’t mentioned often enough about Bird was his phenomenal work ethic. During the season every day before practice he would stretch for 20 minutes, run 5k, shoot 500 jump shots from all over the court, shoot 100 consecutive free throws (if he missed he started over), run the bleachers, go to practice, play a game and after the game would run another 5k, lift weights, do hundreds of core or plyometrics exercises and shoot another 500 jump shots and 100 consecutive free throws and call it a day. In the off season he would still do his shooting drills and stretching/core/plyometrics and was known to ride around 300 miles/week on his road bike and run a 5k twice a day. As a result Larry had some extraordinary physiological athletic markers. His VO2 Max was around 68, which is on the lower end of elite but exceptional for a man his size, his resting heart rate was around 28 (elite) and his lactate threshold was around 90% of his VO2 max (very elite). The last number is extraordinary as it means he could play at 90% of his peak physical ability for significant amount of time without fatiguing (like an hour at 90% of his max effort). That means though Larry was far from the fastest guy on the court he could still run you into the ground. MJ is the only basketball I know of who had these kind of numbers. Wilt probably did to but played before this kind of testing was common.
Fun Fact- Larry's retirement ceremony was NOT a game night!! It was an off night and the place still sold out in minutes!!...that's 100% love and respect!!! Also, magic had a boston shirt on under his warm ups. Larry pulled on the top a bit but irving opened the top to show the fans and they gave magic a stand ovation!!
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, 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!
Bird's passing was so extraordinary because he had the uncanny ability of knowing exactly where everyone was on the court at any given time. You're absolutely right, next level stuff.
@@bossfan49 People made the chess/checkers analogy about both of them. And since it was clearly not true in Trump’s case, the validity of the metaphor is thus called into question.
@@meminustherandomgooglenumbers Using that same logic, should Larry Bird also go to prison just because the same thing was said about him? There's nothing wrong with the analogy itself. And it can still be applied to both of them regardless of the end result. Making the comparison is quite a reach.
@@glockensig sometimes i go with hakeem. i was too young to see Wilt play so I typically wont include anyone prior to the 80s on my list plus Kareem got more rings. i'll take wilt off the bench tho.. or maybe as my starting center.. but Jordan, Bird and Magic are non negotiable for me.
Bird was MVP 3 years in a row 84.85,86. He also won the 3 point contest the first 3 years they had it then retired from it. Pat Riley famously said he if he needed a player to make the last shot to win the game he'd take Michael Jordan. If he needed a player to make a shot to save his life it would be Larry Bird.
BIRD was founder of 50/40/90 club, 3 time consecutive MVP and the only player to average 24+ pts 10+ reb 6+ asst for an entire career. Only player ever... You haven't seen enough BIRD to know it yet, but he is the GOAT.
The 3 consecutive MVP is a bit of a tree that hides the forest. The 3 consecutive MVP is great, but another huge thing is that for 8 consecutive years, Bird was either 1st or 2nd in that MVP race. Not a single off season for 8 years...
Loved your reaction. Please react to more "Larry Legend" and you will continue to be amazed. Yes, he was as tough as they came and played through many injuries that would have sidelined others for many games or maybe even forever......mangled trigger finger on his shooting hand, double achilles surgery, fractured orbital socket, fractured cheek bone, and most importantly a broken back.
magic and larry weren't just rivals. they were the best of friends. they bonded while shooting a nike commercial at his mother's house in his hometown of french lick, indiana. after magic retired due to his HIV, damn near everyone abandoned. the only people who stuck with him was aresino hall and larry. so when magic said "a friend forever", that wasn't just him being nice. they are like brothers.
Not 100% true. Magic did have some other support around the league, most famously Rony Seikaly, who was playing with the Heat at the time. But Bird was one of the first people to speak to Magic on the night it was announced. Some high-profile players (Karl Malone, I think, was one) did either believe or say some derogatory things about Magic at the time.
Karl Malone was against Magic playing on the dream team. but he was hurt mostly by Thomas who was supposed to be his friend but made comments about him must being gay@@SteveGellerMusic
Larry is the only guy to win Rookie of the Year, League MVP, Finals MVP, Coach of the Year, and Executive of the Year. I dont think that will ever be topped.
In his peak 5 years there has never been anyone better. Led the league in defensive win shares 4 times. 3 mvp's in a row, sandwiched between 3 runners up.
That era of basketball was so much fun. Whether your favorite team was on t.v. or not there was always a great game to watch with at least a couple of phenomenal players playing. For about 10 years I watched a game on t.v. almost every night and the squeaking of the basketball shoes on the court drove my wife up the wall.
@@stephanetrembley6180 It does suck getting old. But I think you and I as old farts will agree. We lived through and experienced a lot of cool things in our lives that the younger generations will never get the chance to.
“If I needed a player to make a shot to save a game, I’d choose Jordon. If I needed a player to make a shot to save my life, I’d choose Bird” Pat Riley.😎
Larry bird got skills for days. He got tricks in every category from psychological warfare against entire teams to trick shots/passes that use to make even MJ shocked. Bird was the type of person who could turn a good team into a great team. You are just beginning to look down a rabbit hole full of some of the greatest tricks of all time.
One thing that is missed is that back then, every team had a heart, whether it was Larry, Magic, Thomas, Doctor J, MJ etc. It didn't matter if they had an off night shooting, they all managed to beat you another way. There is one clip and shot that stands out in Bird's career. Last shot against the Lakers. Larry takes the shot and he misses. Everyone who saw that game and shot was like it's over. That's the sign of greatness. The ability to get and take the last shot and miss. That is the fear he put in the opposition and hope for others. Even to this day you see that clip and you know he misses it, but you still think it is going in.
Great reaction. Thanks! Bird was the best small forward ever. I watched him from the beginning all the way until his bad back made him retire. The night before a big game Bird could be found at a local bar drinking everyone under the table and getting into fist fights. Only 3 players in NBA history ever won 3 MVP's in a row - Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell and Larry Bird. Two Pat Riley quotes about Bird: 1) "If I had to choose a player to take a shot to save a game I'd choose Michael Jordan; If I had to choose a player to take a shot to save my life...I'd take Larry Bird." 2) "He's the greatest clutch player I've ever seen. The hell with Jerry West!"
This guy from French Lick Idiana: had a basketball IQ that was pure Genius. He played with Broken bones (even his Back). He won the 3 point contest 3 times, He even competed without taking off his jacket. He wasnt the most physically gifted, but his intuition and sheer hustle and grit put him at the top. He flat humiliated opponents, not only with his play but verbally as well. He even played games where He decided to only shoot left handed all game, just because he could. He is one of only 3 players to win MVP 3 consecutive years, Bill Russell, Chamberlain and Bird. He is in the Hall of Fame not only as a player, but as a Coach as well. during his Retirement Ceremony Magic Declared Bird as the Goat. Bird play at a time when Basketball was 100 times tougher than it is today. So, to sum it all up, Bird IS the GOAT!
He was from Indiana ! His basketball IQ was off the charts ! He’s definitely top five of all time. A lot of people don’t like to say it, but you can’t hide from the truth he played almost his whole career injured. !
@user-fk2is1bf3e the back injury was midpoint of his career when he installed the driveway at his mom's home in the off season. The broken finger was in a baseball/softball game with one of his brothers in college right after Boston drafted him his junior year.
Loved your reaction!! You stopped the video to speak and more importantly you listened to everything. New follower here..now onto bird he was born and raised dirt poor in french lick Indiana he worked at a hotel and played basketball with the kitchen staff he was the only white boy and they upped his skills even though he already played his coworkers showed him street ball he incorporated into his already excellent game.
Larry was born in French Lick Indiana. He grew up playing with the people who worked in the hotels. He said he liked playing with them they were black and they were the best at that time
Those Celtics vs Lakers battles back in the mid 80's were intense. Must watch TV from coast to coast. Keep in mind, there was no air conditioning in the old Boston Garden and those Celtics vs Lakers games occurred in late June. It was ridiculously hot in that building.
I remember my parents would host parties when it was a bird vs. magic night. It was such an exciting time. Those two really made basketball fun to watch.
In a Sports Illustrated interview, he got asked his greatest moment in basketball. He said he got home to his house in Indiana, and there was a deflated ball under one of the baskets on his home court. He picked it up and threw it full court swish. Then he walked down and picked it up, and threw it all the way back swish. That was what he loved. Just the game, nothing else.
Larry Bird is from French Lick, IN. Look it up. As of the 2010 census it was 1807 people. My SW Indiana hometown (Mt. Vernon) was about 3.5 times that. I attended ISU from 1981-1985, after Bird graduated. When I walked to the ball games from my dorm the last block was Larry Bird Blvd.
#HOG in the house. Love your Tom reactions. There is a crazy vid that just shows Birds passes. There is a time where he literally either gets a rebound or after a made shot of him throwing full court passes like he is Tom Brady. Hits them in stride, sometimes with players right there. One is a 2/3 court bounce pass between 2 defenders. Larry Bird was the original last second shot to win the game assassin. He took the team with the worst record the year before he arrived, with the same exact team, went to the playoffs with the biggest turnaround win wise at that time. The 80's were not only a time with the most talented players, the ABA had fallen and 4-6 teams were taken in by the NBA, but the talent was off the charts. Every tea, had practically 2 legit all stars, because they had not expanded to far yet. But the 80's and early 90's were basically no blood...no foul street ball. The altercations and fights were crazy. Because Bird would dive after balls, it really shortened his career. He was league MVP three years in a row just before his back gave out. there seemed to be a Larry Bird highlight on Sports Center most nights. Pat riley said one time....if i needed a last minute shot to wn the game, Michael Jordan is my guy. But if i needed a last minute shot to save my life, Larry is my man. He was an all around player, and killed you with whatever was required of him in that game. If it was assists, if it was rebounds, if it was defense, his steal numbers and blocks are impressive.and at times his shot seemed to never miss. The bigger the game, the biggerthe erformance.
Yes, he's the greatest passer of all time. As a young kid, I witnessed him grab a rebound in traffic, turn around, off balance and throw a 75 ft, left handed laser pass, to a sprinting Danny Ainge. The pass had prime Brady like accuracy. No player in his era, or now, could throw a pass like that using their week hand so accurately, let alone even have the balls enough to try it. 😊
@@jaredbracci3529 I saw one where he was taking the ball in from out of bounds directly under the basket and launched a laser side armed pass the length of the court to one of his streaking teammates.
Larry wasn't just an amazing player, his impact on the game can't even be measured. The number of kids who started playing because of him is ridiculous, and his rivalry with Magic Johnson literally saved the NBA. There's been books written, TV shows, and documentaries made about it. The Celtics & The Lakers were the perfect match of style and geography. Grit vs Flash. East vs West. Boston vs L.A. And Larry & Magic were at the center of it all, propelling the NBA to ratings it had never seen. I'm 50, so this was happening through my teenage years, and I've never seen a rivalry quite like it. And as far as Bird, They were calling him Larry Legend when he was still playing.
That opening event was just for his retirement--there was no game that night. There are a ton of videos about his play. Check out his passing video, too. 'A Courtship of Rivals' is actually the best about Bird and Magic. The 'Dream Team' documentary is fine, as well. There are also a fair amount of clips about the physical side. He never back down from a fight--on or off the court. In that Pacer game, he broke his cheek bone and had a concussion. He was seeing double vision the whole back end of that game. Not a few minutes.
I'm sure I'm not the first to recommend it, but the HBO documentary on Magic-Bird (A Courtship of Rivals) is one of the finest sports documentaries you'll see. And it tells the story of two men who were mirror images of one another on the court and in their thirst for victory. It really show cases where they came from and what molded their games. It's wonderful.
"It appears he's on a different tier". He was. It was Jordan, Magic, Bird. All those guys respected the crap out of each other. If Magic and Jordan respect you, you're on another level. Period.
Larry’s retirement ceremony was at the Garden on a off night, no scheduled game. It was sold out standing room only, respect for a player who played his whole career for only one team.
Larry and Magic had actually become good friends. They were once doing a commercial together and when it was time for lunch Magic headed for his trailor. Larry stopped him and asked him to come home with him as mama Bird had prepared their lunch. Larry's mom asked Larry, "did you tell him?" and Larry laughed and said to Magic, "you are my mom's favorite player!". When Magic first became ill, Larry called him to see how he was doing. Magic related this story and began to cry remembering how much it had meant to him. Both are really good men!
I remember that last story, in the documentary about their rivalry. Because, a lot of people at that point had basically abandoned Magic. But not Larry. What is in that shirt, about being friends forever, is the absolute truth. like you said, really good men.
Not only was Bird the third player (and the only forward) to make MVP 3 times in a row but In a 9-year run from 1980 to 1989, Larry Bird got 67% of all MVP votes that were cast. All other players combined only received 33% of the votes. in an era that included the players who eventually made up the dream team and a large list of HOF-ers
Larry Bird grew up dirt poor in Indiana and he probably picked up his street ball because when he was a kid. Any chance he got he was playing with the cooks from the kitchen at the local hotel.
Bird is from a very small town in rural Indiana. He played with the black players in his community, which is who he learned and practiced with. In the NBA there are multiple accounts from other players where he complains to the opposing coaches not to put white players on him. He only wanted to play against the black players because he considered them the best competition.
Larry Bird's biggest advantage was his brain power. He was playing chess on the court while the rest of the league was learning how to play checkers. He knew exactly what he was going to do and it didn't matter if he told the opposing player exactly what he was going to do and where he was going to do it, and they couldn't stop him. Everyone looks at him as a tall skinny guy who wasn't fast. Except he was a legitimate 6'10" and was solid and could be fast when he needed to be. When the Dream Team was getting ready for the Olympics, a squad of 8 selected college players were brought in to scrimmage with them, including Bobby Hurley, Chris Webber and Rodney Rogers. Some of the college players were going to their hotel rooms and ran into Bird in the hallway. The first thing was that he was BIG, not skinny. They said hello and Bird told them "we're going to wear you guys out !". But the first scrimmage went the way of the college guys because the pros were not as sharp as they should have been. Chuck Daly was so pissed he shut down the scoreboard because the media was coming in. At the next scrimmage Rodney Rogers, a great player, yelled at Bird, "Hey Larry, you haven't hit a jumper since '84 !". Magic heard this and stared Rogers down, and then proceeded to feed Larry the ball 8 or 9 times in a row. Rogers was guarding Bird, so every time he came down the court Bird told Rogers exactly what he was going to and where he was going to do it, and scored 8 or 9 times in a row. There are clips of this story all over YT. When Red Auerbach said Bird played hurt, he wasn't fooling around. In either 1984 or 85, he injured his back building a driveway for his mom and he played the rest of his career in extreme back pain. He had to have his back adjusted before every game. He couldn't sit on the team flights, he had to lay in the aisle. Towards the end he couldn't even sit on the bench and laid down courtside. When he went to the doctor after the Olympics, the doctor was stunned at the condition of his back. He had several fractures and discs were all out of place up and down his spine and had to have extensive surgery to out it back together with screws and plates. He also lost another whole year because of bone spurs in both feet, and he had the surgery down on both feet at the same time. He was extremely tough in an era when toughness was necessary as the game was a lot rougher than it is now, lol. The thought of him playing an injury-free career is absolutely scary. I saw him play several times at Madison Square Garden and to say he was impressive is a massive understatement. If he was playing in his prime today, he would dominate, with his artistic trash talking he would get into the heads of pretty much every player, as maturity isn't a strong suit in today's NBA. And he did something in basketball that will never be done again. During his career he won Rookie of the Year, League MVP (3 times in a row), All-Star game MVP and Finals MVP (three championships). After he retired he won Coach of the Year and Executive of the Year for the Indiana Pacers, which he was a part owner of. No one will ever match those accomplishments.
I was in middle school in Massachusetts in Bird's prime. He was kind of a god to us. Later, I lived in Indiana, including French Lick. The place is famous for sulphur springs, and the town smells like rotten eggs.
Those great Celtic teams had four great players in order: Larry Bird, Robert Parrish, Dennis Johnson and Kevin Mchale. There was a special chemistry between all of them.
If you love basketball, a must see is the 1992 Dream Team documentary. Epic. Everyone was glued to their tvs whenever they played. 11 future Hall of Famers on one team. It was a surreal time 😊 I still watch it almost every day and still get chills watching them play. And the players who came in together and saved the NBA, this was the last time that they played
When Bird was around 12 years old, he would go to this hotel and would play basketball with the employees there. All the employees were adults but they let him play anyway and he would get destroyed but he kept playing and kept getting better. His hometown is French Lick, Indiana.
Watched that man hit some of the best off balance shots with hands in his face. Something else. And you are exactly right about how they played defense back then…..that’s what made MJ so special flying through 3 guys at the rim and taking elbows to the face….play on.
Magic and Bird A Courtship of Rivals is one of the best documentaries even if you watch it for yourself. Check out what others had to say about Larry's trash talking, it's funny. Any of the vids with other NBA greats talking about how good larry was is def worth it as well.
Reggie Miller praised Bird's trash talk in this video. You can find others where Isiah Thomas praises his toughness and Kareem praises his intelligence. James Worthey said he'd rather guard Jordan than Bird When you've got that many greats talking about how Bird excelled at an aspect of the game that was especially important to them... well, that speaks volumes.
When you're one of the only White dudes playing a game dominated by brothers, you HAVE to be able to talk sh*t and stand your ground. Otherwise you get eaten alive.
He sought out the best players in town to play with and against, and that was the guys working at the hotel laundry. Older guys, while he was still in high school.
The look on Larry's face when he came back with a fractured cheek and crouched on the sideline... he looked like he wanted in the game to just kill them. I am a long time Pistons fan and I remember at this time NOBODY scared us. Not Jordan. Not Kareem. Not Magic. Not Olajuwon. Except Bird. You knew that he could beat you on his own. I've seen other people react to this video and some of them commented that the rest of the league must not have been good... complete nonsense. The late 80's and early 90's was the best basketball I have ever watched, partly because it was PHYSICAL. You commented on that and you are correct. A seven game series against the Bad Boy Pistons? Laimbeer, Mahorn, Rodman, would reduce todays "stars" to tears.
Larry used his brain way better than anyone else out there. Jordan made you look slow, but Larry made you look stupid.
That’s a great way to describe it. I will say, beyond his basketball IQ,(or at least equal to) was his heart, competitiveness, tenacity; whatever you want to call it.
Jamea Worthy
That’s aJames Worthy quote
They both made ppl look stupid. They did it effortlessly
Larry was playing Chess Jordan was playing checkers
Larry Bird, as a little kid, learned to play basketball in French Lick, Indiana, from a group of black guys who were coming off their shifts at the local hotel and were playing basketball at a nearby court. He'd watch them play and they'd invite him to play with them, so he started learning that way.
He talks about it in the documentary Courtship of Rivals, which is an amazing documentary going through both his and Magic's careers.
hell yea
And he is still grateful to them for allowing him to play with them.
I can only imagine how proud of Larry the players are 😊
That was written about in his book. The book “Drive” is a must read if you want to know about Bird..Very difficult childhood….
Larry was incredible. He could not be intimidated. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar said he was the best he played against.
There was no game the night of Bird's retirement. All those people were there for one man... Larry Legend.
Yes Sir, cause I was there that night... 2/4/1993...
Sold out by the way 👍🏻
@@English_MoFo only season ticket holders could go and picked from a lottery too.... packed house for sure.
If I remember correctly scalpers were selling tickets for 500 bucks
Bird was the most intuitive basketball player I've ever seen, especially with his passing. It's fun to see him getting his due from this generation.
He gets rid of the ball so quickly. I remember watching games and all of sudden the ball would be some place else and I literally couldn't figure what happened or how the ball got there.
@@busterkeaton1001 That is one of the things that sets him apart from most of the other elite passers. Many of the other greatest passers had the ball in their hands 80% of the time on the offensive end and had most of the shot clock to plan and set things up. Larry would often get similar results from tipping a lose ball or rebound. Sometimes it's questionable if you could even say he actually had possession of the ball because he just tipped it to someone else in a better position for an easy score. That's a very rare skill to be such an adept passer with split second timing and no time to plan or set up anything.
Caitlin Clark has Bird's IQ gift. Seems to know where players and ball will be at any given time.
I can attest to Bird's greatness because I was a Lakers fan, and he was the only opponent that gave me a stomach ache BEFORE the games. 😂
Celtics fan you have to admit we waited all year for the Lakers never disappoint everyone of them great games
Its like going up against Orr or Gretzky, going to be a long night, haha.
I'm 57 and spent my teens watching bird. Magic johnson gave me stomach aches whenever the celtics played the lakers.
As a Knick fan... I hear ya..He was a killer on the court. Also DJ was one of the most underrated players ever.
Celtics fan here. Had a seat behind the Celtics bench. The whole city and most of New England nearly shut down when the Lakers came, because we hated the Lakers ( just like how LA hated the Celtics! 🤬), and that it was going to the the best show you could ever get a ticket for. Simply incredible game between two of the best teams ever.
Bird is still the only person inducted into the Pro Basketball Hall of Fame as a player, a coach, and an executive...
LARRY LEGEND IS A UNICORN AND THE TRUE GOAT!!! 🐐 ☘️
he dominated the nba from the moment he entered the league until he retired. the true goat, Larry Legend!
amen.
Always fun to see someone become aware of Larry Bird
My uncle played pickup ball with Bird in French Lick Indiana when Larry was in high school. He said even then you knew Larry was going to be something special.
There was a large group of black workers who'd come up from Louisville and work in the French Lick resort hotel in the summer. Once they saw what Larry was about they took him under their wing and let him play basketball with them. Bird loved the competition and learned a lot from them.
That's awesome. Was your uncle one of those guys from Louisville?
The most awesome Larry Bird story I know is before he played a SINGLE game in college he was scrimmaging at Indiana State with a couple of ABA players who used to play for the IU coach, both of these guys are now in the Hall of Fame and they said coach that's the best basketball player I've ever played against. These were guys playing against prime DR J!
Hey, so great to see you outside your channel, and with a great corrolating sorry! Love your videos btw!
@@busterkeaton1001Maybe one was Roger Brown. But at the time Bird was not the best they played against. Maybe Bernard King or Gervin was better in 1976.
@@glennfromel5711 it was Mel Daniels and Roger Brown. They were giving their opinion. Mel Daniels said
"Coach, That’s the best damn player I’ve ever played against.”
And Roger Brown agreed.
Obviously they saw something.
Too bad NBA Execs looked at Bird differently. Bird was picked 6th Overall in the Draft. Roger Brown was a nice guy. That talk obviously was exaggerated. They could have said Bird has chance to become NBA Legend etc. Of course Bird out of High School put him about bottom level NBA. If Larry was best at the time then he did not improve much. GF
One thing that isn’t mentioned often enough about Bird was his phenomenal work ethic. During the season every day before practice he would stretch for 20 minutes, run 5k, shoot 500 jump shots from all over the court, shoot 100 consecutive free throws (if he missed he started over), run the bleachers, go to practice, play a game and after the game would run another 5k, lift weights, do hundreds of core or plyometrics exercises and shoot another 500 jump shots and 100 consecutive free throws and call it a day.
In the off season he would still do his shooting drills and stretching/core/plyometrics and was known to ride around 300 miles/week on his road bike and run a 5k twice a day.
As a result Larry had some extraordinary physiological athletic markers. His VO2 Max was around 68, which is on the lower end of elite but exceptional for a man his size, his resting heart rate was around 28 (elite) and his lactate threshold was around 90% of his VO2 max (very elite). The last number is extraordinary as it means he could play at 90% of his peak physical ability for significant amount of time without fatiguing (like an hour at 90% of his max effort). That means though Larry was far from the fastest guy on the court he could still run you into the ground. MJ is the only basketball I know of who had these kind of numbers. Wilt probably did to but played before this kind of testing was common.
Yeah, I have no idea why people keep calling him "unathletic."
Fun Fact- Larry's retirement ceremony was NOT a game night!! It was an off night and the place still sold out in minutes!!...that's 100% love and respect!!! Also, magic had a boston shirt on under his warm ups. Larry pulled on the top a bit but irving opened the top to show the fans and they gave magic a stand ovation!!
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, 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!
Bird's passing was so extraordinary because he had the uncanny ability of knowing exactly where everyone was on the court at any given time. You're absolutely right, next level stuff.
And he had an uncanny ability of figuring out how to get it to the right guy in a second.
A great player "in the zone" also knows where every player is *going to be*. 😎
Larry played chess while everybody else was playing checkers. Without a doubt, the most fundamentally sound player in the game.
Ya but to be fair, people did say that chess/checkers thing about Donald Trump too, and now he’s going to prison.
@@meminustherandomgooglenumbers That's because the people who say that don't realize that trump is too dumb to play checkers...
@@meminustherandomgooglenumbers What does that have to do with Larry Bird?
@@bossfan49 People made the chess/checkers analogy about both of them. And since it was clearly not true in Trump’s case, the validity of the metaphor is thus called into question.
@@meminustherandomgooglenumbers Using that same logic, should Larry Bird also go to prison just because the same thing was said about him?
There's nothing wrong with the analogy itself. And it can still be applied to both of them regardless of the end result. Making the comparison is quite a reach.
Who else would come back into a game with a fractured cheek, double vision and a concussion and take over and win the game. LEGENDARY.
It definitely wouldn't happen with the current players nowadays...
He was so street it scared people. Best hand eye skills of a big man ever. Best 2 minute player ever. And scared the living crap out of teams
I was NO Celtics fan! But damn! Bird was the MAN! Personally I say he's the best ever!
The greatest all
around player in
NBA history ! 🐐
his stats PROVE it. I'd pick jordan1, then Bird. then Magic. Kareem.. and the 5th spot is always changing for me
The only person who ALWAYS beat M.J.
Wilt, Bird, Doctor, Magic and Pistol.....mj and Kareem off the bench
@@glockensig sometimes i go with hakeem. i was too young to see Wilt play so I typically wont include anyone prior to the 80s on my list plus Kareem got more rings. i'll take wilt off the bench tho.. or maybe as my starting center.. but Jordan, Bird and Magic are non negotiable for me.
@@soramirez5473 my team beats yours easily...
Bird was MVP 3 years in a row 84.85,86. He also won the 3 point contest the first 3 years they had it then retired from it. Pat Riley famously said he if he needed a player to make the last shot to win the game he'd take Michael Jordan. If he needed a player to make a shot to save his life it would be Larry Bird.
"There are many G.O.A.T.s but only ONE Legend". YT commenter that describes him PERFECTLY!
BIRD was founder of 50/40/90 club, 3 time consecutive MVP and the only player to average 24+ pts 10+ reb 6+ asst for an entire career. Only player ever... You haven't seen enough BIRD to know it yet, but he is the GOAT.
The 3 consecutive MVP is a bit of a tree that hides the forest. The 3 consecutive MVP is great, but another huge thing is that for 8 consecutive years, Bird was either 1st or 2nd in that MVP race. Not a single off season for 8 years...
Loved your reaction. Please react to more "Larry Legend" and you will continue to be amazed. Yes, he was as tough as they came and played through many injuries that would have sidelined others for many games or maybe even forever......mangled trigger finger on his shooting hand, double achilles surgery, fractured orbital socket, fractured cheek bone, and most importantly a broken back.
Plus the bone spurs that kept him,out for a season.
Comes back out with a fractured cheek and leads the comeback to take his team to victory. Just unreal.
magic and larry weren't just rivals. they were the best of friends. they bonded while shooting a nike commercial at his mother's house in his hometown of french lick, indiana. after magic retired due to his HIV, damn near everyone abandoned. the only people who stuck with him was aresino hall and larry.
so when magic said "a friend forever", that wasn't just him being nice. they are like brothers.
Converse commercial, not Nike. But the point stands.
Not 100% true. Magic did have some other support around the league, most famously Rony Seikaly, who was playing with the Heat at the time. But Bird was one of the first people to speak to Magic on the night it was announced. Some high-profile players (Karl Malone, I think, was one) did either believe or say some derogatory things about Magic at the time.
Yes! Converse Shoes were Limousines for the Feet!@@imweakfordeaky
Karl Malone was against Magic playing on the dream team. but he was hurt mostly by Thomas who was supposed to be his friend but made comments about him must being gay@@SteveGellerMusic
Larry is the only guy to win Rookie of the Year, League MVP, Finals MVP, Coach of the Year, and Executive of the Year. I dont think that will ever be topped.
I was hoping he'd win as a coach and executive too
Also was National Player of the Year in college.
In his peak 5 years there has never been anyone better. Led the league in defensive win shares 4 times. 3 mvp's in a row, sandwiched between 3 runners up.
That era of basketball was so much fun. Whether your favorite team was on t.v. or not there was always a great game to watch with at least a couple of phenomenal players playing.
For about 10 years I watched a game on t.v. almost every night and the squeaking of the basketball shoes on the court drove my wife up the wall.
As an old man I can tell that not only basketball was better, music was better, movies were better and life was a lot cheaper. Just a fact.
@@stephanetrembley6180 It does suck getting old. But I think you and I as old farts will agree. We lived through and experienced a lot of cool things in our lives that the younger generations will never get the chance to.
It sucks even more if you are a Vikings fan like me! 50 years of misery and more to come...@@Al-rs2rr
“If I needed a player to make a shot to save a game, I’d choose Jordon. If I needed a player to make a shot to save my life, I’d choose Bird” Pat Riley.😎
I grew up watching Larry and he is the best player i ever saw. An assassin of the highest order who had ice water running thru his veins.
Larry bird got skills for days. He got tricks in every category from psychological warfare against entire teams to trick shots/passes that use to make even MJ shocked. Bird was the type of person who could turn a good team into a great team. You are just beginning to look down a rabbit hole full of some of the greatest tricks of all time.
Larry Bird got some skills is an understatement.
You just opened
a can of Larry Bird !
You haven’t seen
nothin yet ! And ,
your right , Bird
was always the best
player on the court !
One thing that is missed is that back then, every team had a heart, whether it was Larry, Magic, Thomas, Doctor J, MJ etc. It didn't matter if they had an off night shooting, they all managed to beat you another way. There is one clip and shot that stands out in Bird's career. Last shot against the Lakers. Larry takes the shot and he misses. Everyone who saw that game and shot was like it's over. That's the sign of greatness. The ability to get and take the last shot and miss. That is the fear he put in the opposition and hope for others. Even to this day you see that clip and you know he misses it, but you still think it is going in.
The real deal! Larry Legend.... Great reaction. Thank you!
Great reaction. Thanks! Bird was the best small forward ever. I watched him from the beginning all the way until his bad back made him retire. The night before a big game Bird could be found at a local bar drinking everyone under the table and getting into fist fights. Only 3 players in NBA history ever won 3 MVP's in a row - Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell and Larry Bird.
Two Pat Riley quotes about Bird:
1) "If I had to choose a player to take a shot to save a game I'd choose Michael Jordan; If I had to choose a player to take a shot to save my life...I'd take Larry Bird."
2) "He's the greatest clutch player I've ever seen. The hell with Jerry West!"
This guy from French Lick Idiana: had a basketball IQ that was pure Genius. He played with Broken bones (even his Back). He won the 3 point contest 3 times, He even competed without taking off his jacket. He wasnt the most physically gifted, but his intuition and sheer hustle and grit put him at the top. He flat humiliated opponents, not only with his play but verbally as well. He even played games where He decided to only shoot left handed all game, just because he could. He is one of only 3 players to win MVP 3 consecutive years, Bill Russell, Chamberlain and Bird. He is in the Hall of Fame not only as a player, but as a Coach as well. during his Retirement Ceremony Magic Declared Bird as the Goat. Bird play at a time when Basketball was 100 times tougher than it is today. So, to sum it all up, Bird IS the GOAT!
It’s a joy to watch others enjoy Larry Bird highlights. Thanks for sharing.
He was from Indiana ! His basketball IQ was off the charts ! He’s definitely top five of all time. A lot of people don’t like to say it, but you can’t hide from the truth he played almost his whole career injured. !
He broke his hand before he ever played a pro game. He said it affected how he shot and that he was an even better shooter before the broken hand.
@@mmbs3191 He couldn’t even sit on the bench he had to lay on stomach because of his back !
@user-fk2is1bf3e the back injury was midpoint of his career when he installed the driveway at his mom's home in the off season. The broken finger was in a baseball/softball game with one of his brothers in college right after Boston drafted him his junior year.
Loved your reaction!! You stopped the video to speak and more importantly you listened to everything. New follower here..now onto bird he was born and raised dirt poor in french lick Indiana he worked at a hotel and played basketball with the kitchen staff he was the only white boy and they upped his skills even though he already played his coworkers showed him street ball he incorporated into his already excellent game.
My goat! He was 5 steps ahead of everyone else. He knew what had to be done and he did it!!!!
The BIRD MAN, talked the talk and walked the walk. JUST THE FACTS.
The retirement ceremony was not on a game night. That's crazy, they packed the gardens for no game.
Larry was born in French Lick Indiana. He grew up playing with the people who worked in the hotels. He said he liked playing with them they were black and they were the best at that time
he made moves and passes not because he practiced them, but because they occurred to him at the time
Yes, absolutely 👍
He had the fastest thinking 'basketball brain' in the league.
That's not true at all. Basketball skills take alot of time and practice.
He practiced more than anyone. Wtf are you talking about
The game where he fractured his cheek he was seeing double vision. Two goals. Two everything.
I've seen a lot of Bird reactions. Yours is excellent! Great job.
The Garden was sold out with people still outside for Larry Legend’s retirement ceremony…and there wasn’t even a game scheduled that night.😎
I was introduced to basketball thru Bird and Johnson!
Those Celtics vs Lakers battles back in the mid 80's were intense. Must watch TV from coast to coast. Keep in mind, there was no air conditioning in the old Boston Garden and those Celtics vs Lakers games occurred in late June. It was ridiculously hot in that building.
I think the only player Bird ever shook hands with before a game is Magic but it took a long long time .
I remember him shaking hands with David Robinson pre-game at least once. 1991 vaguely sticks in my head, but I don't remember well enough.
I have a tee with them passing each other on the court and fist bumping. Its my second one, wore the first out.
Saying Larry Bird has some skills is an understatement!
Larry is the king of distrespectful but you gotta respect it
I remember my parents would host parties when it was a bird vs. magic night. It was such an exciting time. Those two really made basketball fun to watch.
Bird was the coldest, most skilled player in history. React to his Greatest Passer re-edit version, or any of his legendary games. Subbed!!!
In a Sports Illustrated interview, he got asked his greatest moment in basketball. He said he got home to his house in Indiana, and there was a deflated ball under one of the baskets on his home court. He picked it up and threw it full court swish. Then he walked down and picked it up, and threw it all the way back swish. That was what he loved. Just the game, nothing else.
He said he would have played for free if they wanted him to.
That’s the real GOAT right there and it’s not that close
3 consecutive MVP awards, first 50/40/90 guy, 3 Time World Champion, Olympic Gold Medal, Coach of the Year, Executive of the Year
There are many players that are in the Goat conversation but there is only one Legend…….
Larry Bird is from French Lick, IN. Look it up. As of the 2010 census it was 1807 people. My SW Indiana hometown (Mt. Vernon) was about 3.5 times that. I attended ISU from 1981-1985, after Bird graduated. When I walked to the ball games from my dorm the last block was Larry Bird Blvd.
Best small forward ever possibly the greatest team
Player ever
1980s to the late 90s were THE Golden age of the NBA. I miss those years.
#HOG in the house. Love your Tom reactions. There is a crazy vid that just shows Birds passes. There is a time where he literally either gets a rebound or after a made shot of him throwing full court passes like he is Tom Brady. Hits them in stride, sometimes with players right there. One is a 2/3 court bounce pass between 2 defenders. Larry Bird was the original last second shot to win the game assassin. He took the team with the worst record the year before he arrived, with the same exact team, went to the playoffs with the biggest turnaround win wise at that time. The 80's were not only a time with the most talented players, the ABA had fallen and 4-6 teams were taken in by the NBA, but the talent was off the charts. Every tea, had practically 2 legit all stars, because they had not expanded to far yet. But the 80's and early 90's were basically no blood...no foul street ball. The altercations and fights were crazy. Because Bird would dive after balls, it really shortened his career. He was league MVP three years in a row just before his back gave out. there seemed to be a Larry Bird highlight on Sports Center most nights. Pat riley said one time....if i needed a last minute shot to wn the game, Michael Jordan is my guy. But if i needed a last minute shot to save my life, Larry is my man. He was an all around player, and killed you with whatever was required of him in that game. If it was assists, if it was rebounds, if it was defense, his steal numbers and blocks are impressive.and at times his shot seemed to never miss. The bigger the game, the biggerthe erformance.
Hustle and Heart. He played so hard!
Please do more Bird reactions!
the real GOAT, nice video guy, was an awesome time to be a fan, seein the likes of Larry Legend, Dr. J, Magic, etc in their prime.
Thanks brother yeah, going back and watching Larry Bird highlights is a bit refreshing. The game has totally changed from that generation to now.
#33 is my favorite player even though he was before my time. He's amazing.
I think you'd like the mixtape on his passes. He hurled them across the court so many times!
Yes, he's the greatest passer of all time. As a young kid, I witnessed him grab a rebound in traffic, turn around, off balance and throw a 75 ft, left handed laser pass, to a sprinting Danny Ainge. The pass had prime Brady like accuracy. No player in his era, or now, could throw a pass like that using their week hand so accurately, let alone even have the balls enough to try it. 😊
@@jaredbracci3529 I saw one where he was taking the ball in from out of bounds directly under the basket and launched a laser side armed pass the length of the court to one of his streaking teammates.
Everyone else was playing checkers -- Larry was playing chess...& I watched him play in person @ BG. I am so grateful for that experience.
Larry wasn't just an amazing player, his impact on the game can't even be measured. The number of kids who started playing because of him is ridiculous, and his rivalry with Magic Johnson literally saved the NBA. There's been books written, TV shows, and documentaries made about it. The Celtics & The Lakers were the perfect match of style and geography. Grit vs Flash. East vs West. Boston vs L.A. And Larry & Magic were at the center of it all, propelling the NBA to ratings it had never seen. I'm 50, so this was happening through my teenage years, and I've never seen a rivalry quite like it.
And as far as Bird, They were calling him Larry Legend when he was still playing.
James Worthy had probably the best quote about Bird..."Jordan made you look slow. Bird made you look stupid."
I totally enjoyed your reaction, your comments & your appreciation of, in my humble opinion, the GOAT. Thanks
That opening event was just for his retirement--there was no game that night. There are a ton of videos about his play. Check out his passing video, too. 'A Courtship of Rivals' is actually the best about Bird and Magic. The 'Dream Team' documentary is fine, as well. There are also a fair amount of clips about the physical side. He never back down from a fight--on or off the court. In that Pacer game, he broke his cheek bone and had a concussion. He was seeing double vision the whole back end of that game. Not a few minutes.
Take note Larry won that 3 Point Competition without taking off his warm-up jacket. Thats a bad man.
I'm sure I'm not the first to recommend it, but the HBO documentary on Magic-Bird (A Courtship of Rivals) is one of the finest sports documentaries you'll see. And it tells the story of two men who were mirror images of one another on the court and in their thirst for victory. It really show cases where they came from and what molded their games. It's wonderful.
Agreed!
Seconded.
"It appears he's on a different tier". He was. It was Jordan, Magic, Bird. All those guys respected the crap out of each other. If Magic and Jordan respect you, you're on another level. Period.
That last part with Magic
They were more than friends
They were brothers
Larry’s retirement ceremony was at the Garden on a off night, no scheduled game. It was sold out standing room only, respect for a player who played his whole career for only one team.
Larry and Magic had actually become good friends. They were once doing a commercial together and when it was time for lunch Magic headed for his trailor. Larry stopped him and asked him to come home with him as mama Bird had prepared their lunch. Larry's mom asked Larry, "did you tell him?" and Larry laughed and said to Magic, "you are my mom's favorite player!". When Magic first became ill, Larry called him to see how he was doing. Magic related this story and began to cry remembering how much it had meant to him. Both are really good men!
I remember that last story, in the documentary about their rivalry. Because, a lot of people at that point had basically abandoned Magic. But not Larry. What is in that shirt, about being friends forever, is the absolute truth. like you said, really good men.
Not only was Bird the third player (and the only forward) to make MVP 3 times in a row but In a 9-year run from 1980 to 1989, Larry Bird got 67% of all MVP votes that were cast. All other players combined only received 33% of the votes. in an era that included the players who eventually made up the dream team and a large list of HOF-ers
Larry Bird grew up dirt poor in Indiana and he probably picked up his street ball because when he was a kid. Any chance he got he was playing with the cooks from the kitchen at the local hotel.
Bird is from a very small town in rural Indiana. He played with the black players in his community, which is who he learned and practiced with. In the NBA there are multiple accounts from other players where he complains to the opposing coaches not to put white players on him. He only wanted to play against the black players because he considered them the best competition.
Larry Bird's biggest advantage was his brain power. He was playing chess on the court while the rest of the league was learning how to play checkers. He knew exactly what he was going to do and it didn't matter if he told the opposing player exactly what he was going to do and where he was going to do it, and they couldn't stop him. Everyone looks at him as a tall skinny guy who wasn't fast. Except he was a legitimate 6'10" and was solid and could be fast when he needed to be. When the Dream Team was getting ready for the Olympics, a squad of 8 selected college players were brought in to scrimmage with them, including Bobby Hurley, Chris Webber and Rodney Rogers. Some of the college players were going to their hotel rooms and ran into Bird in the hallway. The first thing was that he was BIG, not skinny. They said hello and Bird told them "we're going to wear you guys out !". But the first scrimmage went the way of the college guys because the pros were not as sharp as they should have been. Chuck Daly was so pissed he shut down the scoreboard because the media was coming in. At the next scrimmage Rodney Rogers, a great player, yelled at Bird, "Hey Larry, you haven't hit a jumper since '84 !". Magic heard this and stared Rogers down, and then proceeded to feed Larry the ball 8 or 9 times in a row. Rogers was guarding Bird, so every time he came down the court Bird told Rogers exactly what he was going to and where he was going to do it, and scored 8 or 9 times in a row. There are clips of this story all over YT.
When Red Auerbach said Bird played hurt, he wasn't fooling around. In either 1984 or 85, he injured his back building a driveway for his mom and he played the rest of his career in extreme back pain. He had to have his back adjusted before every game. He couldn't sit on the team flights, he had to lay in the aisle. Towards the end he couldn't even sit on the bench and laid down courtside. When he went to the doctor after the Olympics, the doctor was stunned at the condition of his back. He had several fractures and discs were all out of place up and down his spine and had to have extensive surgery to out it back together with screws and plates. He also lost another whole year because of bone spurs in both feet, and he had the surgery down on both feet at the same time. He was extremely tough in an era when toughness was necessary as the game was a lot rougher than it is now, lol. The thought of him playing an injury-free career is absolutely scary. I saw him play several times at Madison Square Garden and to say he was impressive is a massive understatement. If he was playing in his prime today, he would dominate, with his artistic trash talking he would get into the heads of pretty much every player, as maturity isn't a strong suit in today's NBA. And he did something in basketball that will never be done again. During his career he won Rookie of the Year, League MVP (3 times in a row), All-Star game MVP and Finals MVP (three championships). After he retired he won Coach of the Year and Executive of the Year for the Indiana Pacers, which he was a part owner of. No one will ever match those accomplishments.
he and magin johnson saved the nba man really saved it
If you want the full story of Larry Legend, watch the Documentary: Magic vs Bird, A Courtship of Rivals.
I was in middle school in Massachusetts in Bird's prime. He was kind of a god to us. Later, I lived in Indiana, including French Lick. The place is famous for sulphur springs, and the town smells like rotten eggs.
He got hurt in a game and the team doctor asked if wanted something for pain and Bird said just give me a beer.
Those great Celtic teams had four great players in order: Larry Bird, Robert Parrish, Dennis Johnson and Kevin Mchale. There was a special chemistry between all of them.
Also Danny Ainge was a solid player and they had Bill Walton as 6th man off the bench.
"I'd rather guard Michael Jordan than Larry Bird." James Worthy
I think Worthy also said... _"Michael Jordan made you look slow. Larry Bird made you look stupid."_
love the respect for Bird, he was amazing!
If you love basketball, a must see is the 1992 Dream Team documentary. Epic. Everyone was glued to their tvs whenever they played. 11 future Hall of Famers on one team. It was a surreal time 😊 I still watch it almost every day and still get chills watching them play. And the players who came in together and saved the NBA, this was the last time that they played
When Bird was around 12 years old, he would go to this hotel and would play basketball with the employees there. All the employees were adults but they let him play anyway and he would get destroyed but he kept playing and kept getting better. His hometown is French Lick, Indiana.
Larry learned his skills in southern Indiana in French Lick. There were black employees of a resort near him where he played pickup games
Watched that man hit some of the best off balance shots with hands in his face. Something else.
And you are exactly right about how they played defense back then…..that’s what made MJ so special flying through 3 guys at the rim and taking elbows to the face….play on.
Magic and Bird A Courtship of Rivals is one of the best documentaries even if you watch it for yourself. Check out what others had to say about Larry's trash talking, it's funny. Any of the vids with other NBA greats talking about how good larry was is def worth it as well.
One of the greatest documentaries of all time. It did both of them justice.
There is a great Bird video of all his best passes.
Reggie Miller praised Bird's trash talk in this video. You can find others where Isiah Thomas praises his toughness and Kareem praises his intelligence. James Worthey said he'd rather guard Jordan than Bird When you've got that many greats talking about how Bird excelled at an aspect of the game that was especially important to them... well, that speaks volumes.
Larry was from a tiny town in Indiana. He grew up playing with the older black guys who let him play with them.
His coaches taught him the fundamentals in school. Black players taught him the swag in the park.
When you're one of the only White dudes playing a game dominated by brothers, you HAVE to be able to talk sh*t and stand your ground.
Otherwise you get eaten alive.
Yeah, when he was still in high school he played with the hotel workers in French Lick. They were grown men. Was the best training ground.
He sought out the best players in town to play with and against, and that was the guys working at the hotel laundry. Older guys, while he was still in high school.
Not the park, out back of the hotel in French Lick. They were the guys that worked in the hotel or on the grounds and they taught him toughness
@@jamesshepherd9415 You are fake news. In reality, a lot of the black guys he played with worked at the hotel and went to the park to play after work.
The look on Larry's face when he came back with a fractured cheek and crouched on the sideline... he looked like he wanted in the game to just kill them. I am a long time Pistons fan and I remember at this time NOBODY scared us. Not Jordan. Not Kareem. Not Magic. Not Olajuwon. Except Bird. You knew that he could beat you on his own. I've seen other people react to this video and some of them commented that the rest of the league must not have been good... complete nonsense. The late 80's and early 90's was the best basketball I have ever watched, partly because it was PHYSICAL. You commented on that and you are correct. A seven game series against the Bad Boy Pistons? Laimbeer, Mahorn, Rodman, would reduce todays "stars" to tears.