There were sooOo many Larry Bird anecdotes and highlights that it was legit hard to choose what made the video. Dude was ridiculous. What are some of your favorite Bird stories that I missed? Share your favorites in the comments. And if you like this check out the rest of the Winning Time Content here: ua-cam.com/play/PL6xBASiM37c6j0JOdouJlr490LMSrw2AM.html
In 1974 Larry Bird was my P.E assistant when I was in the 8th grade and he was a senior at Springs Valley High School. At the beginning of each P.E. class we always ran 10 warmup laps around the gym. One day, a trampoline was set up on the basketball court and there was Larry Bird bouncing on it. As the whistle blew and we reluctantly lined up to run our laps, our teacher (who was also Larry's basketball coach) blew his whistle, and said "Larry is going to take 10 shots while jumping on the trampoline. If Larry makes any shots, each one made will delete a lap that you must run." Coach threw the ball to Larry and right there in front of me and the entire boys Jr. High P.E. class, Larry proceeded to hit 7 out of 10 shots while bouncing up and down on the trampoline, 35 feet away from the goal. Larry worked hard and set an incredible example for me as a young boy in French Lick, Indiana that helped me through my entire adult career.
This is such an amazing story bro. I went to school in South Bend for a bit so I know what Larry means around those parts. 🙏🏾 you really did the world a solid by sharing that one.
Haven’t seen the show yet, but Larry Legend was no joke. Swept Jordan twice, scrapped the baddest dudes, put fear in the toughest guys, played through injuries. Man, he was one of a kind. Love the vid!
I loved how the series introduced Larry Bird. For every single character in the show, they would display the name on the screen. Not for Larry. No, they just put "YOU KNOW MY F*CKING NAME" on the screen. And it worked perfectly.
Larry was one steal away from a quadruple double in the third quarter and he took himself out of the game for the 4th because he was beating the other team too badly.
The man has incredible character. Watch the ESPN greatest athletes. Hey told the gm he was retiring on a certain date. The gm said take a few days and come back next week and retire. Bird said I know what day it is. If I'm not gonna play I'm not taking the money. He had like 100k roster bonus due in 2 days. He didn't take it. CHARACTER.
@@chrispaschal7955 pretty much, dude's back got so bad later into his career that he had to lay on the floor when he was sent to the bench, and he still played his heart out
So playing the game the right way is pushing pass your injuries and retire at a young age? That’s why there are players that are smart about taking care of their body.
@@winchesterwestfield6733 It's not just about their bodies, it's about their hearts. In the days of Bird and Magic, you never questioned a player's heart for the game. Another observation, why can't today's player hit a damn free throw?!
Toughest player ever. Greatest team player. Best trash talker ever. Amazing shooter. Amazing passer. Most well rounded basketball player ever. Legend is legit.
@@ViewTheRightThing I fear him sitting on my couch next to my mom and wife saying " I'm a better player and a better man" My impression of Larry Bird has forever changed 🤣
@@ViewTheRightThing The craziest thing is that Jordan scored 63 points against the 86 Celtics, in Boston, in the playoffs, but the Celtics still won. The Celtics were that stacked. Hakeem took them to 6 games in the finals but had to wait another decade for a ring.
@@stanleyrogouski Insanity, right? Yeah that was when MJ could score at will but was still figuring out how to win at the highest level. 🙏🏾 for the comment.
@@ViewTheRightThing Jordan played Bird in an exhibition game of the 84 Olympic Team against a team of NBA players. It was Jordan, Patrick Ewing and Chris Mullin against a team led by Bird and Isiah Thomas. Jordan's team won. Makes you wonder what a Jordan/Ewing combo would have been like if they had been paired in the 1980s.
Great video, only thing I would add is how tough Bird was. Dude could play and play well with enormous pain. I remember the playoff game Bird fell and hit his head. His back was already a problem. Bird probably had a concussion and went back into the game. The crowd went nuts when they saw him and he led the Celtics to a win.
Boston's reaction when he came back through the tunnel was INSANE! That moment, the crowd, it being the playoffs, the extent of Larry's injury (concussion and a fractured cheek bone), and then Larry's performance once he returned was, is, and always will be the baddest thing that I've ever seen a man do on a basketball court. If you've never seen it I STRONGLY suggest you check it out because it was the closest thing that I've ever seen to a superhero in real life.
I remember watching that game. Larry who was in severe pain from his back falls going for a loose ball bangs his face on the court and broke his cheek bone. He goes in to the locker room and the Pacers go on a run. He comes out and the place explodes. He proceeds to lead the comeback and beat the Pacers in the 91 playoffs. That game alone is reason enough to explain why LeBron will never be the best SF of all times.
This dude was deceptively quick, a stone cold killer on the court. Ripped your soul away as he got between your ears. Believe everything about the Legend, it was real.
@@ViewTheRightThing He was still putting up crazy numbers when he had back problems and was basically averaging 20 up to the end of his career, he would’ve definitely played more years and played better with that load literally off his back
I watched an ESPN Classic Magic-Bird Documentary that originally aired in like 2012 I believe. What I take away from it is how ppl can, on the surface, look so different in every way. But if you could actually see the qualities in ppl that really matter (honesty, respect, determination, loyalty) they would practically be twins. Larry was the guy most ppl couldn’t get two words out of. Not a guy who is going to call ya everyday to chat. Until Larry hears Magic has HIV, and is one of the few “friends” Magic had who actually picked up the phone to check on him. By the end of the documentary you can’t help but be happy they both got the best of each other and in the end, saved the league
I feel like Winning Time portrayed him as a cartoon villain, which I get. And don't even disagree with the decision. It made him an entertaining foil for Magic. I hope that in future seasons they give him a little more depth. Which I think is probable. My favorite Bird scene from the show was following the Lakers finals win, they cut to Bird outside in his driveway shooting.
That moment said everything that you needed to know about Bird's character, I caught that too. They definitely are going to expand Bird's role because it's impossible to tell magic's story without him. I'm amped for season 2.
I think they largely portrayed him through the eyes of Magic- which is how the character viewed him in the show at the time (I don’t know about real life)
His 3 years stretch from 84 to 86, is arguably one of the greatest if not the greatest stretches ever. Led Boston to more than 60win seasons in those 3 years, led the Celtics to 3 consecutive finals and won 2. Bird also won 3 consecutive MVP's and 2 FMVP.
Bird is man good to see a generation realizing that. I was too young to see most of Bird’s career but I love basketball history. As a kid Bird was the player I remember reading and watching highlights of. Incredible talent
Even with all the accolades he earned in the NBA, he was also the John Wooden and Naismith Award winner in college. ESPN had also voted him the 5th greatest college basketball player of all time. Larry Bird literally carried Indiana State to the national championship game. Yes, Michigan State beat Larry Bird. Yes you read the last sentence right. Put it like this though, Larry Bird was double and even triple teamed the whole game….. ….and Michigan State only beat Indiana State by 11 points. Put it like this, Michigan State has been a national powerhouse for the past 40 years. Indiana State never even went to the NCAAS before Larry Bird got there and never went to the tournament after Larry Bird left Indiana State.
I feel like this is a bit of an exaggeration of the '79 title matchup and game. First, Indiana State has made the NCAAs three times since then. Next, MSU was not the basketball school it's known as today. They became a Big Ten member in 1950, and had won the conference 3 times in the nearly 30 years before Magic enrolled. They had only two NCAA appearances pre-Magic, 20 years before he arrived, and their last conference title was over 10 years before he arrived. It was Magic that put MSU basketball on the map, and even then, they only made the tourney twice in the '80s, several years after everyone on that '79 team departed. It was only in the '90s when they started becoming tournament regulars. Also, Magic and Kelser (the second-best member of that MSU team) spent a significant amount of that game riding the bench in foul trouble. For vast stretches, MSU had a bunch of unknowns on the court. Also, while the game was competitive for much of its duration, down the stretch, MSU definitely eased off and milked a ton of time (crazy to think the NCAAs didn't adopt any kind of shot clock until the '80s). The 11-point differential isn't exactly indicative of the game flow if you watch it. Now, don't get me wrong: Bird carried that ISU team on his back, and it's entirely down to him that they got to those finals and gave MSU a game. But this wasn't Izzo-era MSU: Magic elevated them nearly as much as Bird did the Sycamores. You look at MSU's seasons immediately preceding and following Magic's time (with a great deal of the same roster that won the title and went to the Elite Eight in his freshman year), and they were completely unremarkable.
@@Rodanguirus What are you talking about? Magic played 35 minutes, Kelser played 32 minutes, and MSU's starters played 177 of 200 minutes, while Indiana State's starters played 158 of 200 minutes.
Thank you for that excellent piece on Larry Bird. I came up playing basketball in the 80s in high school and college. Got to play with Birds Celtics team mate Scott Wedman one summer in Kansas City. The stories he told me! Thank you so much for this excellent piece!🙏🏀❤️
Larry Legend Bird was a baaaaad man. He is just bada$$. He can talk the talk and walk the walk. He is a clutch assassin type of player. And yes I think he is definitely the greatest trash talker ever, because he can actually back it up.
As Dizzy Dean said. It ain't bragging if you can do it. I love the stories the former NBA players tell about Larry. I also was fortunate enough to watch him play on TV. He was fierce. I wasn't a Celtic fan, but he made the game that much more fun to watch
This is the real Golden Era of the NBA, love Magic, and Bird is my 2nd favorite player all time. Sucks I was born in 96’ so couldn’t see these Legends play
Good video. Lakers are my team and I'm not a Larry Bird fan, but good to see you giving proper credit to Bird. However, when Magic scored those 41 points in the 1980 Finals game six that gave the Lakers the NBA championship, playing center, I thought that clinched the Rookie of the Year award for Magic. A case could be made for Bird since he took Boston from the cellar to first in the division, but it was ridiculous that Bird won the ROY award by a 66-3 vote.
I think they voted for regular season. Bird took a lousy team to 61 wins , magic took a good team with a all time great center to nba championship, celtic fan . Both were all time greats and only cared about winning
@@leodrosia4369 Yep, a 33 game turnaround I think, the record at the time it was set. Also, this Bird did this was without Parish and Mchale, who both came a year later.
@@leodrosia4369 Good point, no question Magic had a better supporting cast. I believe the R.O.Y. vote was taken after the finals. You're right, both are intense competitors where winning is the only thing that matters.
Stop writing nonsense. The ROY award that Larry Bird won was for the regular season. Larry Bird literally made Boston win 60 games in the regular season.
@@leodrosia4369 I was going to say that wasn't a lousy team because they had traded for Parish and drafted McHale, then I remembered that happened in the summer after Bird's rookie season lol.
The thing was Larry would do anything to get back on the court. The infamous story of him having to sleep in a special back brace he had to sleep in for a year. Then when he retired he took that brace took it out back and blew it apart with his shotgun. That goes to show how bad his back injury was. Also don't forget that Larry and the Celtics faced much much steeper competition than what Magic and the Lakers had. Remember in the early 80's it was 76ers and Celtics. Whoever won that series would be playing the Lakers most of the time. Those 76er games were wire to wire a few of them going to game 7 in 80 and 81. Then when the 76ers were falling back as a team the Celtics had to face the Pistons which were bloody knuckle fights. Who can the Lakers say was their competition? The Rockets. Yeah they went to the finals in 81 and 86, but other than who REALLY was their competition, DALLAS? They didn't really have anyone going to show that Bird had to fight and scratch and claw his way into the NBA finals.
This show was so good. I actually would have a higher level of respect for Jerry West, if he didn’t deny his portrayal on the show. I actually really thought he was bad ass like that.
Larry played better on his back then 90 percent played standing up and that's no joke ,ever game he gave us something to talk about all week ,we still love ya 🐦❤,and I'd rather watch your old games then any game today #LB33 🐦❤
It’s funny the older I get the less I watch todays NBA games and re watch games from the 80’s and 90’s especially eastern conference playoff games. In the 90’s Knicks vs bulls for the 80’s Celtic vs 76er or Celtic vs Pistons or Bulls vs Piston’s. The games were epic battles made great TV 😊
What always amazes me about Larry bird and his ability to trash talk, is the fact he was never racist. Like man understands poverty and that’s the real struggle for every working man. Dude respects Ball!
Quick Larry Bird story, he would pump fake people then when they were in the air say “welcome to the parachute club” Anytime i get sometime to bite on a fake I say that 😂
Excellent video! I loved the assessment of Bird. It was spot on ! Bird was more nasty in real life on the court . He should be happy how he was portrayed in winning time
FIrst, the winning time portrayal is awesome. That frigging guy even has his shot form down. The show is hyper exaggeratory - which is why its so great to watch - but all of it is out of the persona of the people, so watching this dude play Bird is pure joy. Second, I get a kick out these arguments that don't at least solidly consider that he may be the greatest to have ever played the game. No stat, no award can tell you the reality. Magic played with Kareem, Worthy, Scott, Green et al who if you took them elsewhere would have still been Kareem, Worthy, Scott etc.....Jordan had Pippin, Rodman, Paxon etc...and if and when the played without Jordan they still looked like the same caliber player. There is no way on earth, Mchale, Parish, Johnson and the rest with the exception of Ainge who proved as much, would have played to that caliber without being fed by the legend. That is why he is the G.O.A.T., focus on winning only. Case and point, the steal from Isaah game 5 Pistons. Where is that on a stat sheet - steals? For a dozen different reasons, all created by Bird, the greatest 5 seconds in NBA history.
@Ken D imagine if the same crew made a Celtics series with the same cast. You have winning time in the spring and The luck of the Irish or something in the fall.
The show is mostly faithful about Bird, except one thing: his portrayed lack of smiling. The real Bird was mean and tough and all, but he smiled a lot more than the fictional character, in and out of the court. He took competition super-seriously of course, especially on the highest stages, but the series often forget to show how much he loved the game of basketball and how much he liked to play on the court.
In the NBA you know you're the man when people only need your first or last name, or nickname, and know exactly who you are no question. Wilt, Magic, Larry, Kareem (or Cap), Mike, Shaq, AI, Hakeem.... Etc.
INDEED.. I have MJ, Bird and Magic 1a and 1b and Larry was UNDEFEATED against MJ in the playoffs. He couldn’t get past those Celtics and my Larry Legend.. Fact!
Given this was a just dramatisation and not a real account of history, HBO should have given the role of Larry Bird to Samuel L Jackson. He would have made that trash talking scene extra cool. Oh well…
I would like to have learned more about what Larry Bird's relationship was with Magic Johnson. Magic has protrayed it as mutual respect, intensely competitive, but friendly. If LB was as intesnse as this video protrays him I can't imagine it was all that friendly.
That’s the case from the middle of their careers and on towards the end of their careers and into the Dream Team Olympics, retirement, and beyond. Early on they hated each other. Plus the way the press talked about Bird in the show is how they did in real life. Early on Bird was considered the better all around player.
I don't think Bird ever got into a fight with Magic. He got into a bad fight with Dr. J. He had words with Kareem after Kareem threw an elbow at him. But I can't recall him and magic ever swinging at each other.
He knew not to try Kareem and he never went near Erving again after that fist fight.He nearly got into a scuffle with Magic Johnson when they were rookies.
@@dwightlove3704 That game where he and Kareem almost came to blows I believe that was Game 4 of the 1984 finals. It began with McHale clotheslining Kurt Rambis and ended up going into overtime. The Celtics won mainly because Kareem fouled out at the end of the fourth quarter. A fight would have cost the Celtics the game since both he and Kareem would have gotten tossed. Kareem was on his fifth foul anyway so it would have been a good trade for the Lakers.
@@stanleyrogouski Yes Bird wanted no parts of Kareem after what McHale pulled on Rambis.Everyone acts like Detroit was physical but Boston was doing this as well.
@@dwightlove3704 Everybody played like that in the 80s but I think Detroit liked playing the wrestling heel so they became notorious for it. Then in the 90s the Knicks tried to play the same way but without any real talent beyond Ewing. In 2022 McHale probably would have been thrown out of the game and gotten suspended for the rest of the series. They should probably bring back hand checking but keep the strict rules against fighting. The Bird/Dr. J fight was just stupid and ugly. Who wants to see two of the greatest basketball players in history get into a bar fight?
@@dwightlove3704 no parts of kareem? Larry was the guy who almost swung on him first 💀 as far as earving went, it really wasn't that fair of a fight. Larry was held back by barkely and malone while dr j got free punches in.
I haven't seen the video, but as someone that saw him play so many times and take that shot every time, I will say that Jabbar's sky hook IS the best basketball move ever. Forget the crossovers and the jab steps, it's the sky hook . I saw it in action. The only way that you could stop him was to move him from the spot where he jumped because the key for it to be successful was for him to jump and dall on the same spot on the floor. That's why Bill Laimbeer would bodycheck Jabbar while he was in the air and force him to shoot out of balance.
There were sooOo many Larry Bird anecdotes and highlights that it was legit hard to choose what made the video. Dude was ridiculous. What are some of your favorite Bird stories that I missed? Share your favorites in the comments. And if you like this check out the rest of the Winning Time Content here: ua-cam.com/play/PL6xBASiM37c6j0JOdouJlr490LMSrw2AM.html
Just imagine Bird playing for Bobby Knight at Indiana U. What could have been… 🤔
@@crazyman8472 I know it!
Whats scary is Bird didnt grow up with the three point shot.
In 1974 Larry Bird was my P.E assistant when I was in the 8th grade and
he was a senior at Springs Valley High School. At the beginning of each
P.E. class we always ran 10 warmup laps around the gym. One day, a
trampoline was set up on the basketball court and there was Larry Bird
bouncing on it. As the whistle blew and we reluctantly lined up to run
our laps, our teacher (who was also Larry's basketball coach) blew his
whistle, and said "Larry is going to take 10 shots while jumping on the
trampoline. If Larry makes any shots, each one made will delete a lap
that you must run." Coach threw the ball to Larry and right there in
front of me and the entire boys Jr. High P.E. class, Larry proceeded to
hit 7 out of 10 shots while bouncing up and down on the trampoline, 35
feet away from the goal. Larry worked hard and set an incredible example
for me as a young boy in French Lick, Indiana that helped me through my
entire adult career.
This is such an amazing story bro. I went to school in South Bend for a bit so I know what Larry means around those parts. 🙏🏾 you really did the world a solid by sharing that one.
@@ViewTheRightThing My pleasure! Thank you!
That is awesome
@@JAMESGANG-f5u Thank you Ez!
Such cool story! Adds to lore of Bird!
Haven’t seen the show yet, but Larry Legend was no joke. Swept Jordan twice, scrapped the baddest dudes, put fear in the toughest guys, played through injuries. Man, he was one of a kind. Love the vid!
Thanks, I really appreciate the comments and you're right about Bird, dude was 1 of 1.
Indeed!! My favorite player of all time! A BEAST, A WARRIOR… “What a basketball player should be”- Magic
@@ViewTheRightThing swept a young ass jordan on a trash team. Jordan averaged 40 against him
@@vincecarter2674 didnt win 1 game in 8 tries lol
@@Liam-ex4mfStop it. Bird recently said "he(Jordan) was better than all of us"
I loved how the series introduced Larry Bird. For every single character in the show, they would display the name on the screen. Not for Larry. No, they just put "YOU KNOW MY F*CKING NAME" on the screen. And it worked perfectly.
yes we know it's also featured throughout this video
Larry was one steal away from a quadruple double in the third quarter and he took himself out of the game for the 4th because he was beating the other team too badly.
"I already did enough damage" this was i believe against the Jazz
He had 9 steals, only 2 away from the record of 11.
The man has incredible character. Watch the ESPN greatest athletes. Hey told the gm he was retiring on a certain date. The gm said take a few days and come back next week and retire. Bird said I know what day it is. If I'm not gonna play I'm not taking the money. He had like 100k roster bonus due in 2 days. He didn't take it. CHARACTER.
Larry never stopped trying to improve his game, played hurt/injured/ broke face and body, never wanted taken out of a game. Played the game right.
So unlike today's players.
@@chrispaschal7955 pretty much, dude's back got so bad later into his career that he had to lay on the floor when he was sent to the bench, and he still played his heart out
@@kingsnake8178 Players today hurt a pinky, and there out 6-8 weeks.
So playing the game the right way is pushing pass your injuries and retire at a young age? That’s why there are players that are smart about taking care of their body.
@@winchesterwestfield6733 It's not just about their bodies, it's about their hearts. In the days of Bird and Magic, you never questioned a player's heart for the game. Another observation, why can't today's player hit a damn free throw?!
Love how the camera looks like how it looked back in the 80's and late 70's
Toughest player ever.
Greatest team player.
Best trash talker ever.
Amazing shooter.
Amazing passer.
Most well rounded basketball player ever.
Legend is legit.
TRUTH! Kids today have NO clue how awesome he was.
My ALL TIME favorite player.. LARRY LEGEND.. 🐐
Not only can Larry Bird live in your head, but he can also see you watching him on TV and he'll start trash talking you through your TV screen 🤣
That was my biggest takeaway from Winning Time. In fact, pretty sure he's looking at us...right...now. 😅 Thanks for the comment.
@Ken D 😂😂😂 Exactly!! GM Bird can't cover up the Legend of Bird the Player. Thanks for the comment.
@@ViewTheRightThing I fear him sitting on my couch next to my mom and wife saying " I'm a better player and a better man"
My impression of Larry Bird has forever changed 🤣
@Ken D just don't look at Larry when he's on TV🤣
@@zachwachs7913 I laughed entirely too long at this and now I can't look at my couch either. Bird's like "Now go find me a beer and slice of cake"
My favorite stat about Larry Bird is he is undefeated against MJ in the playoffs
That's a crazy stat when you consider just how much winning MJ did. Thanks for the comment.
True dat!
@@ViewTheRightThing The craziest thing is that Jordan scored 63 points against the 86 Celtics, in Boston, in the playoffs, but the Celtics still won. The Celtics were that stacked. Hakeem took them to 6 games in the finals but had to wait another decade for a ring.
@@stanleyrogouski Insanity, right? Yeah that was when MJ could score at will but was still figuring out how to win at the highest level. 🙏🏾 for the comment.
@@ViewTheRightThing Jordan played Bird in an exhibition game of the 84 Olympic Team against a team of NBA players. It was Jordan, Patrick Ewing and Chris Mullin against a team led by Bird and Isiah Thomas. Jordan's team won. Makes you wonder what a Jordan/Ewing combo would have been like if they had been paired in the 1980s.
"Larry Bird was cold. Cold dude, man, real cold.”
~Gary Payton
Great video, only thing I would add is how tough Bird was. Dude could play and play well with enormous pain. I remember the playoff game Bird fell and hit his head. His back was already a problem. Bird probably had a concussion and went back into the game. The crowd went nuts when they saw him and he led the Celtics to a win.
Bird's toughness was otherworldly, I could have hit that a bit more. Thanks for the comment.
Boston's reaction when he came back through the tunnel was INSANE! That moment, the crowd, it being the playoffs, the extent of Larry's injury (concussion and a fractured cheek bone), and then Larry's performance once he returned was, is, and always will be the baddest thing that I've ever seen a man do on a basketball court. If you've never seen it I STRONGLY suggest you check it out because it was the closest thing that I've ever seen to a superhero in real life.
I remember watching that game. Larry who was in severe pain from his back falls going for a loose ball bangs his face on the court and broke his cheek bone. He goes in to the locker room and the Pacers go on a run. He comes out and the place explodes. He proceeds to lead the comeback and beat the Pacers in the 91 playoffs. That game alone is reason enough to explain why LeBron will never be the best SF of all times.
This dude was deceptively quick, a stone cold killer on the court. Ripped your soul away as he got between your ears. Believe everything about the Legend, it was real.
💯 That's what the tape says. Imagine a world where he didn't play crippled for the back half of his career.
@@ViewTheRightThing He was still putting up crazy numbers when he had back problems and was basically averaging 20 up to the end of his career, he would’ve definitely played more years and played better with that load literally off his back
TRUTH!
I watched an ESPN Classic Magic-Bird Documentary that originally aired in like 2012 I believe. What I take away from it is how ppl can, on the surface, look so different in every way. But if you could actually see the qualities in ppl that really matter (honesty, respect, determination, loyalty) they would practically be twins. Larry was the guy most ppl couldn’t get two words out of. Not a guy who is going to call ya everyday to chat. Until Larry hears Magic has HIV, and is one of the few “friends” Magic had who actually picked up the phone to check on him. By the end of the documentary you can’t help but be happy they both got the best of each other and in the end, saved the league
That's what I came away with from the research. It's crazy they were only raised ~400 miles apart. Thanks for the knowledge and the comment.
I feel like Winning Time portrayed him as a cartoon villain, which I get. And don't even disagree with the decision. It made him an entertaining foil for Magic. I hope that in future seasons they give him a little more depth. Which I think is probable. My favorite Bird scene from the show was following the Lakers finals win, they cut to Bird outside in his driveway shooting.
That moment said everything that you needed to know about Bird's character, I caught that too. They definitely are going to expand Bird's role because it's impossible to tell magic's story without him. I'm amped for season 2.
@@ViewTheRightThing Me too. It was definitely an entertaining show.
I think they largely portrayed him through the eyes of Magic- which is how the character viewed him in the show at the time (I don’t know about real life)
@@ScubaMySteve That's a good point.
@@ScubaMySteve🤯🤯, This comment is so on point. I think if we view each characterizations through the eyes of a rookie Magic, it all makes sense.
We dont see color with Bird, Luka, J West, Pistol Pete or J Will. They're just cold ass hoopers
I chuckled every time you said “hands,” lol.
I bet they didn't chuckle when Larry threw them 😂 I really appreciate the comment, thanks for watching.
His 3 years stretch from 84 to 86, is arguably one of the greatest if not the greatest stretches ever. Led Boston to more than 60win seasons in those 3 years, led the Celtics to 3 consecutive finals and won 2. Bird also won 3 consecutive MVP's and 2 FMVP.
Bird is man good to see a generation realizing that. I was too young to see most of Bird’s career but I love basketball history. As a kid Bird was the player I remember reading and watching highlights of. Incredible talent
Even with all the accolades he earned in the NBA, he was also the John Wooden and Naismith Award winner in college.
ESPN had also voted him the 5th greatest college basketball player of all time.
Larry Bird literally carried Indiana State to the national championship game. Yes, Michigan State beat Larry Bird.
Yes you read the last sentence right.
Put it like this though, Larry Bird was double and even triple teamed the whole game…..
….and Michigan State only beat Indiana State by 11 points.
Put it like this, Michigan State has been a national powerhouse for the past 40 years.
Indiana State never even went to the NCAAS before Larry Bird got there and never went to the tournament after Larry Bird left Indiana State.
I feel like this is a bit of an exaggeration of the '79 title matchup and game. First, Indiana State has made the NCAAs three times since then. Next, MSU was not the basketball school it's known as today. They became a Big Ten member in 1950, and had won the conference 3 times in the nearly 30 years before Magic enrolled. They had only two NCAA appearances pre-Magic, 20 years before he arrived, and their last conference title was over 10 years before he arrived.
It was Magic that put MSU basketball on the map, and even then, they only made the tourney twice in the '80s, several years after everyone on that '79 team departed. It was only in the '90s when they started becoming tournament regulars.
Also, Magic and Kelser (the second-best member of that MSU team) spent a significant amount of that game riding the bench in foul trouble. For vast stretches, MSU had a bunch of unknowns on the court. Also, while the game was competitive for much of its duration, down the stretch, MSU definitely eased off and milked a ton of time (crazy to think the NCAAs didn't adopt any kind of shot clock until the '80s). The 11-point differential isn't exactly indicative of the game flow if you watch it.
Now, don't get me wrong: Bird carried that ISU team on his back, and it's entirely down to him that they got to those finals and gave MSU a game. But this wasn't Izzo-era MSU: Magic elevated them nearly as much as Bird did the Sycamores. You look at MSU's seasons immediately preceding and following Magic's time (with a great deal of the same roster that won the title and went to the Elite Eight in his freshman year), and they were completely unremarkable.
@@Rodanguirus What are you talking about?
Magic played 35 minutes, Kelser played 32 minutes, and MSU's starters played 177 of 200 minutes, while Indiana State's starters played 158 of 200 minutes.
Thank you for that excellent piece on Larry Bird. I came up playing basketball in the 80s in high school and college. Got to play with Birds Celtics team mate Scott Wedman one summer in Kansas City. The stories he told me! Thank you so much for this excellent piece!🙏🏀❤️
that dr j vs bird fight was a preseason game xD the 6ers celtics rivalry back then was insane.
I will make it simple. Bird was phenomenal with a mean jumper
Pretty much. Thanks for the comments and for watching the vid.
Larry Legend Bird was a baaaaad man. He is just bada$$. He can talk the talk and walk the walk.
He is a clutch assassin type of player. And yes I think he is definitely the greatest trash talker ever, because he can actually back it up.
in my humble opinion.....Larry Bird is the greatest of all time
Totally agree
Like Ayrton Sena in f1
Aside from his 3 MVPs, he is a four- time MVP runner-up
You’ve got some serious writing talent. I loved that narration. Actually made me want to subscribe.
Legend!! So many stories so many moves in his skill set. One of the goats no doubt.
As Dizzy Dean said. It ain't bragging if you can do it. I love the stories the former NBA players tell about Larry. I also was fortunate enough to watch him play on TV. He was fierce. I wasn't a Celtic fan, but he made the game that much more fun to watch
Whoever cast that guy for Bird should be given an award, that dude is a dead ringer to me!
You are so right. Every shot, every move, all the look. That actor worked hard for this.
I have to confess I've never watched the NBA before 99. Winning Time is so interesting. I'm also now interested in Norm Nixon and Spencer Haywood
This is the ONLY part of that series I could care about. Well done 👍
Thanks for the comment and you're right, Bird is one of the best parts of the show.
😂
@@ViewTheRightThing Like Darth Vader is the best part of Star Wars.
This is the real Golden Era of the NBA, love Magic, and Bird is my 2nd favorite player all time. Sucks I was born in 96’ so couldn’t see these Legends play
Amazing video. Great writing and excellent narration - plus fantastic editing! Should have 1m + views!
Wow, thanks for the love. You just helped it get one view closer to the mill and I appreciate it.
The Legend!! of Legends aka Larry Joe Bird
More Larry Bird Stories!!!! 👍👍👍👍
Am loving that show ! This was a great video..TY ^ ^
HBO should have a spinoff series about the 80s Celtics
Bruh i was so ready for more winnning time. That actor Larry was perfect. Whole cast was great.
Good video. Lakers are my team and I'm not a Larry Bird fan, but good to see you giving proper credit to Bird.
However, when Magic scored those 41 points in the 1980 Finals game six that gave the Lakers the NBA championship, playing center, I thought that clinched the Rookie of the Year award for Magic. A case could be made for Bird since he took Boston from the cellar to first in the division, but it was ridiculous that Bird won the ROY award by a 66-3 vote.
I think they voted for regular season. Bird took a lousy team to 61 wins , magic took a good team with a all time great center to nba championship, celtic fan . Both were all time greats and only cared about winning
@@leodrosia4369 Yep, a 33 game turnaround I think, the record at the time it was set. Also, this Bird did this was without Parish and Mchale, who both came a year later.
@@leodrosia4369 Good point, no question Magic had a better supporting cast. I believe the R.O.Y. vote was taken after the finals. You're right, both are intense competitors where winning is the only thing that matters.
Stop writing nonsense.
The ROY award that Larry Bird won was for the regular season.
Larry Bird literally made Boston win 60 games in the regular season.
@@leodrosia4369 I was going to say that wasn't a lousy team because they had traded for Parish and drafted McHale, then I remembered that happened in the summer after Bird's rookie season lol.
Thanks!
The thing was Larry would do anything to get back on the court. The infamous story of him having to sleep in a special back brace he had to sleep in for a year. Then when he retired he took that brace took it out back and blew it apart with his shotgun. That goes to show how bad his back injury was. Also don't forget that Larry and the Celtics faced much much steeper competition than what Magic and the Lakers had. Remember in the early 80's it was 76ers and Celtics. Whoever won that series would be playing the Lakers most of the time. Those 76er games were wire to wire a few of them going to game 7 in 80 and 81. Then when the 76ers were falling back as a team the Celtics had to face the Pistons which were bloody knuckle fights. Who can the Lakers say was their competition? The Rockets. Yeah they went to the finals in 81 and 86, but other than who REALLY was their competition, DALLAS? They didn't really have anyone going to show that Bird had to fight and scratch and claw his way into the NBA finals.
Good point bro
great analysis for an UnderRated SuperStar who's yet to be duplicated and likely never will. Bird would dominate games across any era of Basketball
Great content, please update for season 2!
Great video mate. I love the friendship and respect between Magic and Larry.
Thanks man, and that is what truly underlined their "rivalry" a deep respect and friendship. I really appreciate the comment.
I totally forgot about this show I'm in the process of binging the 2nd season straight loving it.
This show was so good. I actually would have a higher level of respect for Jerry West, if he didn’t deny his portrayal on the show. I actually really thought he was bad ass like that.
Well, I made a video on Jerry West first and from my research, Winning Time West wasn't nearly as wild as the real thing. Thanks for comment.
@@ViewTheRightThing dang… then maybe he’s pissed about not making him crazy enough??
@@El_Bueno that kills me 😂💀
I have always heard West wasn't screaming angry like the show depicted him, more like mentally tortured inward angry.
"Michael Jordan would make you look slow, but Larry Bird would make you look stupid".
Larry Bird is 5th in my all time list and the best SF ever!
Bron?
@@asc777 Couldn't carry Birds jock
Who's your 1-4
@@steveguse4481 1. MJ (my choice) - 2. Russell - 3. Kareem - 4. Magic (1-4 fluent)
My fav player of all time
Great 👍 take & content
Nice video sharing! ☺️
Thanks, I really appreciate that and I'm glad that you liked it. 🙏🏾
He was called Larry Legend while he was still playing. That was mid 80's. Who has ever done that, answer no one.
Larry played better on his back then 90 percent played standing up and that's no joke ,ever game he gave us something to talk about all week ,we still love ya 🐦❤,and I'd rather watch your old games then any game today #LB33 🐦❤
Larry Bird was the best all-around player in NBA history.
Along with Oscar and Bron.
It’s funny the older I get the less I watch todays NBA games and re watch games from the 80’s and 90’s especially eastern conference playoff games. In the 90’s Knicks vs bulls for the 80’s Celtic vs 76er or Celtic vs Pistons or Bulls vs Piston’s. The games were epic battles made great TV 😊
Top 7 player of ALL TIME in LEAGUE history. greatest FORWARD the game has ever witnessed, small or power. Bet dat💯
No lies detected. Thanks for the comment fam.
What always amazes me about Larry bird and his ability to trash talk, is the fact he was never racist. Like man understands poverty and that’s the real struggle for every working man. Dude respects Ball!
What a great video. This might be the first UA-cam video I ever commented on
This was great! Very well done
You said Larry Bird had hands yall lolol Vid is fire bruh 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Quick Larry Bird story, he would pump fake people then when they were in the air say “welcome to the parachute club” Anytime i get sometime to bite on a fake I say that 😂
Lol, that's the most Larry Bird thing that Larry Bird has Larry Bird'd. Thanks for the comment. 🙏🏾
One thing they got wrong was he was less awkward in real life. People could grab a beer with him.
Greatest pure shooter and wingman ever, and Im a lifelong Laker fan.. gotta give him his props..
Excellent video! I loved the assessment of Bird. It was spot on ! Bird was more nasty in real life on the court . He should be happy how he was portrayed in winning time
I appreciate that! And I agree, I think they did Bird right. He's a bad, baaad man.
FIrst, the winning time portrayal is awesome. That frigging guy even has his shot form down. The show is hyper exaggeratory - which is why its so great to watch - but all of it is out of the persona of the people, so watching this dude play Bird is pure joy. Second, I get a kick out these arguments that don't at least solidly consider that he may be the greatest to have ever played the game. No stat, no award can tell you the reality. Magic played with Kareem, Worthy, Scott, Green et al who if you took them elsewhere would have still been Kareem, Worthy, Scott etc.....Jordan had Pippin, Rodman, Paxon etc...and if and when the played without Jordan they still looked like the same caliber player. There is no way on earth, Mchale, Parish, Johnson and the rest with the exception of Ainge who proved as much, would have played to that caliber without being fed by the legend. That is why he is the G.O.A.T., focus on winning only. Case and point, the steal from Isaah game 5 Pistons. Where is that on a stat sheet - steals? For a dozen different reasons, all created by Bird, the greatest 5 seconds in NBA history.
Thats what was the best thing about Bird....he didnt give AF what anyone other than his teammates thought about him.
Remember when doc punched bird face in😅
Straight facts. Nice work.
'Preciate that fam.
I love the 80s and 90s NBA...I don't give a damn if Winning Time is 100% accurate. It's entertaining af
Bro Larry’s highlights on the entire video was just hilarious how he was draining smothered 3s half the time
Imma need a winning time part 2 on the Shaq and Kobe era
As long as we get a Winning Time: Chicago Bulls spin-off, I'm with it 😅 Thanks for the comment.
@Ken D imagine if the same crew made a Celtics series with the same cast. You have winning time in the spring and The luck of the Irish or something in the fall.
Great video. When they talk about the toughest to ever play the game Bird should be top 2/3 every yime
Great video! You’ve got a new sub right here 👍
Thanks for subbing and I appreciate the comment man, I'll try my best to keep bringing it with the content.
This channel is so underrated.
🤯, Thanks man, I'm still getting over the shock that people like my stuff at all. Really appreciate the comment.
@@ViewTheRightThing Just continue, my brother. You're welcome.
Great great video. Well done.
The greatest shooter of all time.
Of all time....so far. That Curry guy is making me nervous. 🤔😅
Larry Bird was a badass in every possible definition or interpretation of the word.
Personally I think he was a better all around player than magic. Both top 10 all time but give me bird if I have to choose
Larry Bird was so cold, Magic Johnson's MOTHER nicknamed his jump shot "Silent Death."
Greatest small forward of all time, with out of doubt
Imo he might be the best to ever play the game. His court sense was unbelievable.
he was good, remember went i was kid lakers and the celtic match i would always watch.
The show is mostly faithful about Bird, except one thing: his portrayed lack of smiling. The real Bird was mean and tough and all, but he smiled a lot more than the fictional character, in and out of the court. He took competition super-seriously of course, especially on the highest stages, but the series often forget to show how much he loved the game of basketball and how much he liked to play on the court.
Larry trashed talk but he could put his money where his mouth was
That's my favorite kind of trash talker 😂 thanks for the comment.
Larry and Magicsaved the NBA. Period.
This is the era of basketball I wish I could’ve seen live
Love how they've depicted Bird in season 1 and season 2 so far.
I like it - " Hands , More Hands. "
In the NBA you know you're the man when people only need your first or last name, or nickname, and know exactly who you are no question. Wilt, Magic, Larry, Kareem (or Cap), Mike, Shaq, AI, Hakeem.... Etc.
in his prime he is a complete player than lebron
Larry Bird was better than Lebron.
Bird was better than Lebron, and Dr. J was better too. Maybe Lebron is better than Dominique Wilkins... Maybe, I'm not sure about the latter.
Bird is top 3 baller all time.
INDEED.. I have MJ, Bird and Magic 1a and 1b and Larry was UNDEFEATED against MJ in the playoffs. He couldn’t get past those Celtics and my Larry Legend.. Fact!
Given this was a just dramatisation and not a real account of history, HBO should have given the role of Larry Bird to Samuel L Jackson. He would have made that trash talking scene extra cool. Oh well…
3:36 WTF.. what game was that!
I would like to have learned more about what Larry Bird's relationship was with Magic Johnson. Magic has protrayed it as mutual respect, intensely competitive, but friendly. If LB was as intesnse as this video protrays him I can't imagine it was all that friendly.
That’s the case from the middle of their careers and on towards the end of their careers and into the Dream Team Olympics, retirement, and beyond. Early on they hated each other. Plus the way the press talked about Bird in the show is how they did in real life. Early on Bird was considered the better all around player.
Was " you know my fuckin name" really his intro for that show ? Larry Bird is the real deal we all know that shit.
Yes it really was and when I saw it, there was NO way that it wasn't going in. LL was that dude. 🙏🏾 for the comment.
I always thought James Worthy said it best. "I would rather guard Michael Jordan than be asked to guard Larry Bird".
I don't think Bird ever got into a fight with Magic. He got into a bad fight with Dr. J. He had words with Kareem after Kareem threw an elbow at him. But I can't recall him and magic ever swinging at each other.
He knew not to try Kareem and he never went near Erving again after that fist fight.He nearly got into a scuffle with Magic Johnson when they were rookies.
@@dwightlove3704 That game where he and Kareem almost came to blows I believe that was Game 4 of the 1984 finals. It began with McHale clotheslining Kurt Rambis and ended up going into overtime. The Celtics won mainly because Kareem fouled out at the end of the fourth quarter. A fight would have cost the Celtics the game since both he and Kareem would have gotten tossed. Kareem was on his fifth foul anyway so it would have been a good trade for the Lakers.
@@stanleyrogouski Yes Bird wanted no parts of Kareem after what McHale pulled on Rambis.Everyone acts like Detroit was physical but Boston was doing this as well.
@@dwightlove3704 Everybody played like that in the 80s but I think Detroit liked playing the wrestling heel so they became notorious for it. Then in the 90s the Knicks tried to play the same way but without any real talent beyond Ewing. In 2022 McHale probably would have been thrown out of the game and gotten suspended for the rest of the series. They should probably bring back hand checking but keep the strict rules against fighting. The Bird/Dr. J fight was just stupid and ugly. Who wants to see two of the greatest basketball players in history get into a bar fight?
@@dwightlove3704 no parts of kareem? Larry was the guy who almost swung on him first 💀 as far as earving went, it really wasn't that fair of a fight. Larry was held back by barkely and malone while dr j got free punches in.
I haven't seen the video, but as someone that saw him play so many times and take that shot every time, I will say that Jabbar's sky hook IS the best basketball move ever. Forget the crossovers and the jab steps, it's the sky hook . I saw it in action. The only way that you could stop him was to move him from the spot where he jumped because the key for it to be successful was for him to jump and dall on the same spot on the floor. That's why Bill Laimbeer would bodycheck Jabbar while he was in the air and force him to shoot out of balance.