He did wrk as a garbage man. That was after dropping out at IU.. Indiana State Coach talked him into giving it another chance. But the Yr before coming in the league he was playing Magic in NCAA finals little Indiana State vs Michigan State.. Crazy
I was born and raised in God's country...God being Bobby Knight of course...lol...just an hour south of Larry's house. Back in the day there was a player that was on the Celtics roster Bird's rookie year. A player that may have been better than ALL of them. Look into Pistol Pete Maravich.
He took an average Indiana State team and dragged them to the final. He then played against a great Michigan State team and really didn't make it easy for them.
@@TheGrimmCommoner Had Larry played well, (it might have been the worst he played all year) ISU would have had a fighting chance, but w/out Bird being BIRD, they didn't have a shot.
@@TheGrimmCommoner Average is about it. There was Carl Nicks at guard, pretty good College player, and BIRD. To quote a famous man: NEVER HAS ONE MAN DONE SO MUCH FOR SO LITTLE. Bird would've made any team better... ISU was about a 14-15 win team w/out Larry, w/ Larry, well, they almost won a NC!!
Bird and Magic absolutely saved the NBA with their skills and rivalry. And then, by an amazing stroke of luck from the basketball gods, Michael Jordan entered the league, and then became one of the most famous people on Earth. Thereby, elevating American basketball to the World stage. Many people don't realize, before Bird and Magic saved the NBA, it was right on the verge of bankruptcy.
Bird's passing and unselfish play style were why his fakes worked so well. Because any pass was plausible, his opponents were forced to react to everything.
Hate to necro your two year old post but, man. I was just thinking about like, what if I had to play against Bird, full well knowing he was prolly the greatest passer ever? Okay, he's got the ball, I'm on him, and I now got to anticipate a legendary pass, or a legendary fake. I couldn't!
“If I had to choose a player to take a final shot to win a game I'd choose Jordan, but if I could pick one to shoot to save my life I would pick Bird.” Pat Riley
That one where he smashed his face on the court? Broken occiptal bone, broke the bone around his eye. Came back in and played. With double vision in that eye from the impact. Effing legendary. The man was insane. And insanely good.
And especially true with the players who stuck with their team throughout their careers. That's how you create a LEGACY on top of a legend. Bird, Magic, Erving, are legends and have legacies because they are immediately identified with THEIR team. Even Jordan is identified with the Bulls and has a legacy because he was a Bull for so many great years and people are willing to ignore that Wizards return that probably shouldn't have happened. In the more recent era the late legend Kobe was the most recent Lakers legacy because the Lakers were his one and only team. And that's why crybaby LeBron will never have a legacy and may not even have a legend because he kept looking for greener grass in other cities instead of sticking where he started and he's all about making excuses instead of taking blame.
Video from that game shows him get smashed later in that exact spot and a double forearm shiver to the back by Person (probably his biggest rival) that floors him. He also snuck back in before being cleared by staff. Gtfoh! Legend
As a life long Bostonian, and I speak for most people I know, I thank you Mr. Larry Joe Bird for the amazing childhood memories that will be with me forever.
you speak the 100% TRUTH!...Larry played in an era when defense would HURT you on purpose and no foul would be called...he would have been a dominant force in today's game where they are protected from every little bit of slight contact...and he would have had a field day with the mind games on this generation's easily offended snowflakes hahahaha... he is one of the GOATS that doesn't get the large scale recognition that he deserves... love the video brother!
Yes you say it back in those days everyone played an era that the game is very physical and no one will get Technical or suspended. Lebron and others wouldn't even last if they play the Bad boys of Detroit, - Leimbeer, Salley, Rodman, Thomas, Vinny Johnson, Mark Aguirre.
To me, the GOAT conversation is summed up with 1 story. Bird tells the entire world he’s playing the next game with his off hand, then does it and scores 27 points in a triple double and they win the game. He did that against a NBA team with the team knowing what he’s going to do! that’s some GOAT sh*t
Honestly, Bird used his left hand more frequently than people think. He knew it. No one else really paid attention. It's not a stat people keep track of. So when he said he was going to play the next game left handed except for jumpers and free throws, he was trolling. He knew he already scored maybe half his points with his left hand anyway, why not make it seem more impressive but pointing it out. Bird was always 1-2 steps ahead of everyone.
I see the love you have for the old timers hard-ass style of play, because you wear it on your face as you watch these old videos. It's a pleasure to see young people with a respect for the previous generations of players. Keep up your good work.
Yea, people who slap the "unathletic" tag on Bird need to watch tape from his first few years in the league. The guy's body essentially abandoned him half way through his pro career. Before that, he could posterize dudes and run the fast break as good as any "athletic" forward. That's not to say he was ever an elite athlete / physical specimen like say a Dominque Wilkins or Dennis Rodman or Scottie Pippen... but he wasn't some stone footed jump shooter either.
@@control_the_pet_populationResponding to your 2-year old comment, when people say Larry Bird was “slow”, I ask them if they ever saw Bird get caught from behind by an opponent during a fast break he was leading. The answer is always “No”.
The look on Bird’s face when he’s coming back into the game after being injured gives me chills. He looks like one of those merciless gunslingers from the old west. Time to get the f*** outta town.
Also note the welt on his right cheek just under his eye. This is from the fractured cheek bone after he hit is face on the parkay floor. He also had a concussion, yet came back to help his team win. He was one tough S.O.B.
@@danh966 The story on this is the trash talk with the player with his arms outstretched, God I can't remember his name but his nickname was the "Rifle Man". He told the media that "I'm going Bird hunting tonight". Larry was sitting in a cubicle with ice packs on his cheek and there was a TV showing the game. He *knew* at this point he HAD to get back and save his team. And he did. Every time he went past that pllayer he'd say "SQUAWK"!
Here's my favorite Larry Bird story: On Feb. 18, 1985, Bird and the Boston Celtics were at the Salt Palace to play the Jazz. It was a blowout. By the end of three quarters, Boston led 90-68 and Bird, who was already resting comfortably on the bench, had 30 points, 12 rebounds, 10 assists ... and nine steals. Thinking the Celtics might like to know this information, the stat crew at the Salt Palace sent a note to Celtics coach K.C. Jones. If Bird got one more steal he would have the first quadruple-double in league history involving points, rebounds, assists and steals. (Nate Thurmond had recorded the NBA’s lone quadruple-double in 1974, but it was points-rebounds-assists-blocks.) When asked if Bird wanted to get back in the game to achieve the historical statistics feat, he shook his head and said “What for? I already did enough damage to them.” Larry fuckin Legend.
I think this is what tipped me over to say Bird is the greatest to ever lace'em up; Bird could have gotten 40 PLUS a quadruple double, a feat so staggering and outer worldly that can only be achieved by an all-round super-skilled Genius. I mean to me he is by far the best to watch a highlight reel from, always making me smile or shaking my head in disbelief.
Pure gold indeed, and - to my eyes - with unmatched style and flair with an elegance to it, except maybe for when he was mopping the floor diving for loose balls, and even a few of those are pleasing to the eye. Some of his lay-ups, ankle-breakers, passes, the slight of hand and posture, his shooting form and esp. the release, like a hinge, from toe to fingertips... Still has me gushing and smiling everytime I watch it back again, and again, and.... Don't have that with any other player, just Bird. In Bball that is, in other sports there are also such artists.
The most impressive thing about Bird, even beyond his legendary skill was, to me, his character. When Earvin was diagnosed HIV+, the first thing he did was call him, when most of his supposed friends ghosted him.
@@AyySolid Isaiah Thomas, who was Magic's best friend even ghosted him. Also many of his team mates. When Larry found out he was so upset he couldn't even finish playing a game that night. He said it was the first time that he didn't want to be on court and he had no feel for the ball. If you haven't watch that documentary, A Courtship of Rivals, I highly recommend it. Also, congrats on your channel, keeping working hard.
Bird was an assassin and would dominate even more in today’s NBA! I grew up watching Bird vs Magic and it was awesome! Never forget even Jordan never beat Bird in the playoffs!
And don't feel bad bro I cried the first time I saw this, and I have cried several times during these reactions to the mixtape. I cried my ass off on the Magic/ Bird documentary. What can I say true friendship between such different people is a beautiful thing.
His passing was so extraordinary because he had an uncanny ability to know where everyone was on the court at any given moment. Next level stuff. At the risk of sounding arrogant, I stopped watching basketball after this era because I knew I would never see this kind of playing again.
That's kinda sad in a way, I recently saw footage from Channel 5, a Boston based network, and they, at the same time, said that with the obscene amount of money coming into the game they likely witnessed the end of the last "pure Basketball" in this particular era of the sport...
And keep in mind Bird wasn't the ball control guy..AT ALL. Holy shit in today's game he'd drop what....32, 10, and ....10?....he's SO much better than Luca but it's a different era. Anyway....Bird....always amazing to watch. :)
The extended version of Magic’s speech at Bird’s retirement, Magic said, “Larry said, ‘There will be another Larry Bird someday.’ But Larry, there will never, EVER be another Larry Bird.”
Did you realize LB was the only player in MJ career to beat him in the playoffs 6 wins for Bird and 0 wins for Jordan. Fact, look it up. Love your unbiased reaction. You have a great appreciation for the game. Thank you.
0:33, Thank you, my man! TRUTH! And you are 100% correct about Kobe. As I always say, the State of Indiana ave us two of the top five ballers of all time: Oscar Robinson & Larry Bird.
Bird was a prodigy, if such a thing exists in the basketball world. You nailed it when you said pure talent. I mean, he also had more drive\ heart than anyone else, so basically the perfect player. I sure miss those days watching him.
It's true that Michael Jordan had physical skills Bird didn't have (leaping ability in particular), but Bird was twice the passer Jordan was. His court vision was better. If I had to pick one player in history to build my team around, it would be Bird. The next option would be Kareem.
@@alecvip7562 Your math is off. How did Bird win 17 games but MJ only lost 11 of those 17.... Not to mention Bird had better all-around teams, Jordan had Pippen and he cycled out spot up shooters every 3 years.
You said it perfect in regards to the generational gap. The big 3 in regards to Magic, Bird & Jordan didnt have any fear in their hearts. True competitors.
Thanks so much for posting this, L.T., and I loved watching your reactions in watching Larry Bird play. I was a student at Indiana State University during the entire Bird era there and I saw this man emerge as the greatest small forward of all time. His nickname says it all: LEGEND
That hit on Rambis when he was on the break was only a foul, think about that. A hit like that on a player today would be a flagrant, an automatic ejection and suspension for a whole lotta games.
I watched that game live and the hit on Rambis IS THE REASON we have flagrant fouls today. Flagrant wasn't a thing back then. It's also why the "Bad Boys" could damn near murder people and get a common foul.
@@leifanthony8182 Everybody blames the "Bad Boys" for that shit... but the only difference between them and a ton of other dirty players / teams in the 80s was that they embraced it. Go back and look at some of those early 80s Philly teams with Moses Malone... hell, even the Jazz were dirty as hell, Karl Malone carelessly tossed elbows around for years. Granted, things got out of hand by the mid 90s as Pat Riley's Knicks teams made the Bad Boys look like choir boys and something had to change... But the NBA was a hard-nosed, dirty league for a solid decade before the "Bad Boys" embraced the label.
4:38 This play would've been a flagrant 3 in today's game because these soft players would've had their feelings hurt the way he broke his neck with the fake pass.
The Hick from French Lick was his self given nickname, He was born in French Lick Indiana. He carried that even after he retired from the Celtics. He went on to the Indiana Pacers as head coach and then up to President of Operations. His business card said The Hick from French Lick. When he started at the Celtics in 1980 the NBA was very near to total collapse. Larry and Magic Johnson re-ignited the league practically by themselves. Before they appeared the games were so dull and attendance had shrunk so much that the networks didn't air many regular games at all and they TAPED playoff and championship games to show at off peak times, preferring to run sitcoms and old movies. "We can run that boring basketball s### later" Oh, and when the Celtics had his retirement ceremony, Boston Garden arena was packed for it WITHOUT a game! They were just there to sow honor and love to the Hick.
When you see Magic and Larry playing on the Dreamteam and Magic passing to Bird when he could clearly have taken the shot, You see how strong that respect was between them. I love Bird. There is no way to love him without respecting Magic. Complete talent, the two of them.
They hated each other until they were shooting a TV commercial together at Larry's house. His mom was really nice to Magic, and they hit it off. After that they became likely the best friendship of competitors in the history of the game. They used to call each other up and see how many practice shorts they each took that day. 600 was not enough. They made each other better. They made basketball more popular than ever. They saved the league. Meanwhile LeBron sucks up to China and builds a school, then doesn't follow up, and not a single student can pass their basic exams.
Magic & Larry, resurrected the game of basketball......My dad loved basketball, but stopped watching, until the competition between Johnson & Bird was highlighted......What my Dad used to say, about Larry's game, is that it reminded him of someone, who was not only playing basketball, but also, volleyball, dodgeball, hockey, baseball, track & Field, 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!
Great job on your reaction. It’s easy to see you know & love basketball. I grew up 10 miles outside Boston & was 20 when the Celtics drafted Bird. What an era that was & there was incredible talent across the league. Keep up the great work and hold onto you’re enthusiasm.☮️
Bird actually hurt his back working on his mother's driveway. Multimillionaire star NBA basketball player and he was paving his mother's driveway by himself. Bird shattered his knuckle and lost his touch on the ball before he ever played an NBA game and blew out his back before he even hit his prime seasons and he's STILL in the conversation as possibly the greatest of all time. LEGEND.
As a 60 something old basketball player I have always loved the Celtics and Larry Bird is perhaps the greatest Celtic of them all. The video you put together is amazing and I never get tired of watching it! Keep doing what you do!
L.T., a quick story I remembered when you said it looked like Larry grew up playing in Harlem. Larry says he grew up playing on the blacktops with mostly black players that had skills and talked mad trash and that translated in his game when he almost trolled players with his moves and trash talking. In fact, Larry was offended when the opposing coach put a white player on Larry to defend him because he said it was disrespectful to his game. Larry told them guys, don't ever put a white boy on me. How is that for hilarious.
@@marthahanley6650 I think what you might fail to know or understand is the history of that part of Indiana. French Lick/Baden was known for its natural springs in the early part of the 20th Century. It was noted that Al Capone may have frequented the area at various times. To that end, French Lick became a kind of “tourist destination.” A resort was built there and it garnered a lot of Indianapolis and Chicago traffic during “season.” Tough times came to French Lick and, yes, serious poverty. But the resort stayed open. I saw it myself in the mid 80s. To that end, the busy season required more busboys, kitchen workers, grounds crews, janitors, etc. These jobs were peopled (largely) by urban, black males from Indianapolis as the pay was relatively liberal and the work was seasonal, but steady. THESE were the older black males that LB searched out. He makes a note of it in various videos. I don’t really have any reason to disbelieve Larry Bird… and the facts are born out if you simply go there.
Dude just said this is how the rivalry started. He’s so young. I was born in 1956, and I watched Celtics / Lakers finals for a number of years in the 60s and 70s. It was Bill Russell vs Wilt Chamberlain. Supported by Jon Havlechek and Jerry West. That went on for 10 years or so.
I'm just a country boy from Arkansas and I grew up watching Larry BIRD he was the greatest player I ever saw and I absolutely love the way you break it down great reaction because you're sincere keep up the good work 👍
He was watching the game in the locker room and he felt that Indiana was being too disrespectful! That’s why when he came back out he looked pissed. He was!
I was at that three point contest in Dallas 1987 same year Spud Webb won the dunk contest, best all-star Saturday of all time. it was the first 3 point contest ever and Larry didn't grow up shooting 3's, they started that in his rookie season, and didn't have it when he was in college either, which makes his 3 point ability that much more amazing.
This brings back so many wonderful memories. I lived in Massachusetts in the 70s and 80s and when the Celtics were playing..... the world stopped. We had to see what Larry was going to do that night. Such fun !!!!!
That retirement ceremony was at Boston Gardens on a off night, no game! It was packed and sold out with fans waiting outside to pay respects to their beloved Larry
@@AyySolid Another cool thing was Bird retired right after the Dream Team Olympics. ten days before a $10 million dollar contract would have kicked in. The team told him to wait a few weeks and decide then. He said I know what you're doing. I won't take the money if I didn't earn it.
@@busterkeaton1001 that's a really telling story about the character of Larry Bird and others of his ilk in those days. Even if he was broke, he wouldn't have taken the money. There was just no way he was going to undermine his integrity. That used to mean everything. Today, it's all about your 'brand'. I tell you, every time I hear the word 'brand', I want to vomit. I'm so sick of it. You think if you started talking to Larry about his brand he would have given you another 5 seconds before smacking you in the mouth? You'd be off to the dentist. Talk like that was the antithesis of what Larry and those guys from his era were about.
Hey LT, you make a lot of great points and observations. I'm 53, grew up outside Boston and was a teenager during the Magic and Bird era. Those games between the Celtics and Lakers were all out wars. But I love the point you make about Lebron being able to take a hit like that one Kevin McHale put on Kurt Rambis in that clip from the 1984 NBA Finals. Think about this: Larry played at a time when guys were pulling his jersey, pushing, clawing, elbowing one another all the time. The game was so physical and nasty back then. That all changed when Jordan's star started to rise. The League changed the rules basically to protect Jordan and open up the game to encourage more scoring. Now you can't sneeze on a guy without getting called for a penalty. Can you imagine unleashing Larry Bird in his prime on the league today? Bird would dominate, probably averaging 35 points a game.
Here's the thing about that question. I think LeBron (or most other modern day players) 'could' do it, but I think he never 'would' do it. He doesn't have Bird's toughness or determination. That's the difference. Guys were just tough back then and when you learn about Bird's upbringing, it's not surprising that he played through all the injuries he sustained.
@@plefevre the fact is, since Bird retired, there hasn't been anyone close to his skill level and ability at his position to score at will anywhere on the court.
I love your awesome video, LT. Thanks! I agree with almost everything you said about Larry Legend. It was a blast to be a Celtics fan back then. I gotta say that, as a Celtics and Bird fan, I disagree with your "'knowing who you're gonna meet in the finals' during the 80s" statement. The Celts met the Rockets in the finals in two of their three 80's championships because the Rockets knocked the Lakers out of the playoffs. There are three points I need to make about that: 1. it is kinda sad that the Celtics didn't get to face the Lakers in the finals in those two years, 2. the 80s Rockets are underrated in a big way, and 3. it was REALLY fun to be a Celtics fan in the 80s and even more fun to see them play in person. I went to my first Celtics game in 1965, with Bill Russell, Sam Jones, KC Jones, Tommy Heinson, and John Havlicek, but nothing compares to the Bird era. I even had a chance in 1986 to talk to Chris Ford (then the Celtics Assistant Coach) and Bill Walton (basketball legend and Celtics 6th man that year), and they both raved about Larry Bird being the best player they'd ever seen. P.S. I had tickets to Larry Bird's 60-point game in New Orleans, where I lived at the time, and couldn't go because of an unnecessary business meeting that my boss wouldn't let me reschedule. It is one of the biggest regrets of my life. Sometimes life just ain't fair. Thanks again for the vid. I loved it.
Great job telling the story about Bird. I grew up watching Bird and Magic. Two of my favorite players! Bird was amazing at shooting and Magic was amazing at passing. They became great friends and still are to this day. Their friendship should teach the rest of us no matter where we come from or our differences in the end when we are old what matters most is how we lived our lives.
@@ralphmonday7610, it was close but I give Magic the edge. When you watch Birds Highlights which are amazing you see how great he was. But Magics total assist numbers were off the charts! But it was close. No one had the basketball intelligence of Bird. He is still one of my favorite all time players!
I miss those days…when you knew the players because they played together for years and years. Your ears got used to hearing certain names as the commentators called the passes…Ainge to Bird…Stockton to Malone…Etc. It was a combination of skill, brute physical hits, mental skills…. I LOVED WATCHING THESE CLIPS BECAUSE THEY ARE MEMORIES!!
you nailed this son, nothing fake true emotions, seen all this shit live as it happened and its sad because the NBA dont have a Magic or Larry anymore.
well done ive watched these videos on bird and magic and i lived through it as well but you added something loved how you pointed out his fierceness perfect description and how you went what? and rewind like what? how? thats real he was that good. you wonder how hes not looking perfect pass. the never say die never give up attitude that was there every night cant teach that. i coached for a bit i tried use to tell my kids cant make the great play unless you try to make the play that you think you cant. Like bird diving for that ball outta bounds three feet away no way but he didnt hesitate to go for it.
DUDE!! I LOVE your genuine passion and objective perspectives on basketball! Clearly you feel this shit down to your toes. I'd upvote this 1000 times if I could. GREAT, GREAT job.
It wasn't just pure talent. It was pure talent coupled with insane work ethic. The story in Boston was, the day after the Celtics beat the Lakers for the championship i 1984, the next day Larry was supposedly shooting free throws in his personal court.
I heard another story of a janitor cleaning the seating area in Boston Garden. He thought he was the only person there when he walked into the arena proper and found Larry there by himself deliberately dribbling a basketball up and down the floor in a very specific pattern. He went down to the floor and asked Larry what he was doing. Larry said he was looking for dead spots in the floor so he knew where to avoid and where to steer his opponents.
It can be argued that he’s the best ever. MJ wins on championships and superior athleticism and stats. But Bird was essentially what Tom Brady is on the football field. Knows where everyone is and is going to be.
Larry worked on his game growing up and then throughout his professional career in the offseasons back home in French Lick, Indiana. So much of his game was developed at his outdoor court at his parent's house and unlike a lot of players (especially today) who are constantly playing other NBA guys in the offseason, his game grew and his improvements were unseen by any opponents until they got to play him again
Larry came out of the Indiana high school team programs and tournaments that were the foundation of many of today's great college leagues, including the ACC. Everett Case brought a team of Hoosiers to NC State and built that program and conferences like the ACC. The Wolfpack dominated the league for years until Frank McGuire, Dean Smith, Vic Bubas, and others built their programs to compete with Case. The ACC tournament MVP trophy bears his name. NBA greats owe their careers to that foundation. Just watch Hoosiers. Those tournaments still go on today. (Grudgingly posted by someone who grew up on Tobacco Road in NC!)
Birds brain functioned like a chess master.It was him but also him and my team.He seem to know where everybody was and when to use them. To me he seems to be the best.He made the Celtics great .He made the NBA great again.All the others could only follow.If he hadn't had the back injury we would have seen even more.When I need a smile on my face I watch Larry the Legend as He truly was .
Look, please... STOP YOURSELVES. If Mike And Larry Had Switched Teams during THAT Time... BIRD was part of 5 Hall of Famers, and Talk of Best Teams Ever... Mike??? Check The Roster, DURING THAT TIME. MIKE IS GOING 6-0 AGAINST LARRY IF THEY SWITCHED. DURING THAT TIME. PLEASE KNOW THE GAME HISTORY BEFORE YOU COMMENT. 90's Bulls, vs. 80's Celtics.... Now we can Talk. Debate etc... Ok? Be Reasonable. Please.... Please.
Bro stop Larry carried those dudes on his back, the few times he stepped out of games that team completely fell apart, don’t act like he had Kareem and Worthy
@@pedrofalu9425 you may have somewhat of a point…. But you seem to forget that the same team minus bird the year before were in the basement. Year 2 They win the NBA championship 🥴🥴🤪😵💫😃😂
@@pedrofalu9425When the two played eachother, Birds record is 33-11 against Jordan, 6-0 in the playoffs and a lot of those wins was when the Bulls had 5 HOF players on the team. So you can say the same thing about "Switching" but obviously it didn't matter
Great reaction video. I’ve commented on a few of these Larry Bird reaction videos so I’m repeating myself. I got to live through this era and watched these games live. These were hanging on the edge of your seat buzzer beaters. I’m talking adrenaline on full tilt, out of breath, exhausted and we didn’t play in the game. We were just watching them on tv. Magic and Bird saved basketball. Basketball was dying. Too many ball hogs. Magic and Bird made playing basketball as a team sport contagious with fancy passing and championships. I’m sorry Jordan is a great ball player but he brought back ball hog basketball. Jordan never beat Bird in the playoffs because the Celtics played as a team. Bird and Magic wanted wins not the best stat sheet. Yet they got the stats anyway. I miss those days and I wish everyone could have experienced it. It was awesome.
Yo LT, you the GOAT of NBA reactions. You respect the game, the legends and the history. MOST of all you savage against LeBaby James... hell no he can't take that hit that Curt Rambis took. Nor could he hang through the ensuing fight.
A lot of people don’t realize that Magic and Bird had to get old before Jordan was able to have success. I’m not taking anything away from Jordan. But the Bulls struggled a bit against Bird and the Celtics.
Magic & Bird were not that old when Jordan finally broke through. Plus, you all forget both Magic & Bird were playing w/ other HoF caliber players when they were beating Jordan. Go back and look at the guys on Jordan's squad, he was carrying the entire offense because he was literally the only person capable of doing so. I love both Magic & Bird, but context should matter when comparing their success against Jordan.
@@Crimson_Titan I’m so TIRED of that stupid “lousy team” excuse. You stand or fall with your team. Larry’s team was LAST in its division when he got to it & BY HIMSELF he turned it around & improved its record from 29 wins to 61 wins. WITHOUT those HOFERS. And Larry was a good 3 years older than Magic AND considerably more broken down between back, bad Achilles/heels, and other old injuries (like his mangled hands, fractured face etc). If Larry would have stayed healthy, Jordan might just have had to wait even LONGER. If you’re going to ask for CONTEXT, then let’s look at the WHOLE picture. Give it up already.
@@irishgrl Quick question, did Bird WIN w/out those HOFers? No, he didn't. Didn't even win the ECF, let alone the NBA title, neither of which he got until the Celtics picked up Mchale & Parrish the following year. And as any legend, including Larry, will tell you, your record don't mean shit w/out a title to show for it. That's why you're tired of the "lousy team" excuse, because it debunks your OWN argument. It's not like MJ didn't single-handedly turn his team around either (there's a reason the Bulls had the 3rd pick when selecting MJ, as opposed to the 6th pick like the Celtics had when drafting Larry). As for Larry's injuries, yes they shortened his career, no doubt, but that has nothing to do w/ his age, which is the original point. Injuries happen in sports, that's the name of the game. MJ suffered a broken foot his 2nd season in and still managed to come back and take his team to the playoffs, when they were trying to settle for a lottery pick instead. So yeah, we can look at the WHOLE picture as much as you like, but I got news for ya girl, it ain't gonna help your argument.
Jordan's success had more to do with the Bad Boy Pistons. He's said it himself many times that those playoff losses to the Pistons turned him into the player he was. Bird and Magic were already on the decline when MJ came in the league.
What's cool about Larry Legend, is he did all this with a relatively short career. Plus through his injuries. If this guy could have been healthy and got 20 years in... we could have seen more.
I went to these games (1989, saw no championship) Larry Bird made it worth almost passing out cuz it was 101 degrees in the cheap seats, no AC in the Garden then. Larry Bird: GOAT Loved your video, you are on point.
I watched him growing up & IMHO, what made Bird great was his intuition; Larry Bird knew intuitively whose head he could mess with, he knew intuitively when & where to make the shot & he trusted his intuition to inform him where his teammate would be standing when he passed the ball; it's one of those things you either have, or you don't & Larry Bird had it in spades!!!!! #thatsmy2cents
I was born in '73. I'm a Sixers fan. When the sixers played the celtics and Bird I thought "Damn. we in trouble tonight." Bird hung it up and Jordan arrived and then I thought the same thing. 2 decades plus of those 2 guys going nuts. Nobody else has brought that fear I had when they took the court.
I got teary eye I'm from Boston ma a Larry Bird fan it was special back then thank you Lt I love watching these videos it brings me back to when I was 12 13 14 I also loved Magic !!!!!!!
Bird had his back injury his entire NBA career. He would often have to lay on his stomach when he wasn't on the floor because his back hurt so bad. He was a tough SOB.
Larry had already been drafted by Celtics but returned for his senior season. He faced Magic in the NCAA finals the 1st game I remember watching. It is still highest rated BB game ever. Actually Celtics vs Lakers goes back to 60’s Russel/Kouse vs West & Wilt.
Magic and Bird's rivalry lowkey started in college. They faced each other in the 1979 NCAA championship game and then just so happened to get drafted opposite each other by number 1 rivalry in the NBA respectfully.
Rook of the year, 1st team all NBA as a rook. 3 straight League MVPs, and should won in 88. Was 1st or 2nd in MVP voting from 1981 thru 1988. Received 67% of the vote from 1980 thru 1989. Only played 13 seasons and only 6 games of one of those years. 12 All stars, 11 or 12 1st team all nba. 2 Champ MVPs and should have won it in 81. He made it look easy against the greatest athletes and no one made his team mates better. Stone cold assassin, especially in the 4th and especially with seconds left on the clock. Top 3 shooter AND passer all time, 10 boards his whole career, he really was a prolific rebounder in an age of giants like Malone, and nearly 2 steals. Underrated defender too because of his fundamentals, awareness and hustle. His is always my first pick as SF on an all time 5 with MJ usually at the 2. Bird literally has zero flaws in his game. Lebron.....pfft, please. He would decimate today's soft mental and physical, non fundamental league and be rookie of the year and win ever more MVPs than he did in the 80s.
Bird was a basketball PhD. He only played 12 years and the duration of his career was directly affected by the death of Len Bias. The best player in CBB was going to the defending champions and would've provided relief to Bird's minutes. His death led to Bird playing 38-40 minutes a night and burning out before his time.
Larry had at least two severe back injuries the first one he suffered was in the 1985 off season. He was building his mom's driveway, which caused him to develop sciatica. Which due to his style of play only continued to worsen over time. Then near the end of his career he broke a small bone in his back during training camp.
Also Larry was playing very young and excelled in high school, college and was drafted in his junior year. His college played Magic’s in the finals. Larry shot 1,000 extra shots each practice and ran before practice. He worked hard to be clutch. Larry played team style; watch 85-86 for amazing passing. ❤️Boston ❤️ Larry.
No one could stop the Magic Man where play making is concerned, and when clutch time came around, the King was, Larry Bird. There wasn't anyone better!!!
Im 62 so I always try and remind everyone, Larry did all this in his career and produced solid stats with a very bad back, foot/achilles surgeries, fractured eye socket, injured and disfigured finger on his right hand that reduced his feel for the ball, he was tall but wasnt as fast nor could he jump as well as the more athletic players, plus he played against some of the best teams and most effective players in NBA history -- yet Larry still managed to take his college team to a 33-0 season, stand out as one of the best to ever play the game and win three championships, three time consecutive MVP, first and three time consecutive winner of the three point shootout, made the dream team and helped bring home the Gold for the USA then went on to coach the Pacers his old home team and earn the admiration of untold numbers of fans, then win coach of the year and executive of the year in the NBA front office - how much more could a player ask for in his career. Larry may not be THE Goat, but he most certainly belongs in the top five GOAT conversation. Thank you Larry for all you gave us and what it cost you in pain, it was certainly a wild ride back in the day.
He did wrk as a garbage man. That was after dropping out at IU.. Indiana State Coach talked him into giving it another chance. But the Yr before coming in the league he was playing Magic in NCAA finals little Indiana State vs Michigan State.. Crazy
ua-cam.com/video/xx8OITrIiBI/v-deo.html Magic and Bird the real reason why they are the only two Goats
I was born and raised in God's country...God being Bobby Knight of course...lol...just an hour south of Larry's house. Back in the day there was a player that was on the Celtics roster Bird's rookie year. A player that may have been better than ALL of them. Look into Pistol Pete Maravich.
He took an average Indiana State team and dragged them to the final. He then played against a great Michigan State team and really didn't make it easy for them.
@@TheGrimmCommoner Had Larry played well, (it might have been the worst he played all year) ISU would have had a fighting chance, but w/out Bird being BIRD, they didn't have a shot.
@@TheGrimmCommoner Average is about it. There was Carl Nicks at guard, pretty good College player, and BIRD. To quote a famous man: NEVER HAS ONE MAN DONE SO MUCH FOR SO LITTLE. Bird would've made any team better... ISU was about a 14-15 win team w/out Larry, w/ Larry, well, they almost won a NC!!
Truly an end of an era when Bird and Magic retired. The two men that saved the NBA.
Two of the men. I'd like to toss in another name from that era that doesn't get nearly as much credit. Marc Iavaroni.
Bird and Magic absolutely saved the NBA with their skills and rivalry.
And then, by an amazing stroke of luck from the basketball gods, Michael Jordan entered the league, and then became one of the most famous people on Earth. Thereby, elevating American basketball to the World stage.
Many people don't realize, before Bird and Magic saved the NBA, it was right on the verge of bankruptcy.
Their college playoff game remains the number one most watched basketball game in US history.
Bird's passing and unselfish play style were why his fakes worked so well. Because any pass was plausible, his opponents were forced to react to everything.
Hate to necro your two year old post but, man. I was just thinking about like, what if I had to play against Bird, full well knowing he was prolly the greatest passer ever? Okay, he's got the ball, I'm on him, and I now got to anticipate a legendary pass, or a legendary fake. I couldn't!
“If I had to choose a player to take a final shot to win a game I'd choose Jordan, but if I could pick one to shoot to save my life I would pick Bird.” Pat Riley
My favorite basketball quote ever.
I’ll take ray allen
When a coach says that about two players that never played for him, it speaks volumes as to how good they actually were
@@jeremystanton382 100%
@@tanimal6918 He was just a set shooter
That one where he smashed his face on the court? Broken occiptal bone, broke the bone around his eye. Came back in and played. With double vision in that eye from the impact. Effing legendary. The man was insane. And insanely good.
And especially true with the players who stuck with their team throughout their careers. That's how you create a LEGACY on top of a legend. Bird, Magic, Erving, are legends and have legacies because they are immediately identified with THEIR team. Even Jordan is identified with the Bulls and has a legacy because he was a Bull for so many great years and people are willing to ignore that Wizards return that probably shouldn't have happened. In the more recent era the late legend Kobe was the most recent Lakers legacy because the Lakers were his one and only team. And that's why crybaby LeBron will never have a legacy and may not even have a legend because he kept looking for greener grass in other cities instead of sticking where he started and he's all about making excuses instead of taking blame.
Video from that game shows him get smashed later in that exact spot and a double forearm shiver to the back by Person (probably his biggest rival) that floors him. He also snuck back in before being cleared by staff. Gtfoh! Legend
As a life long Bostonian, and I speak for most people I know, I thank you Mr. Larry Joe Bird for the amazing childhood memories that will be with me forever.
Dude ive been thinking the same thing. I was 10 when he retired and still remember falling in love with a super hot not hot man. ❤
Dominated the three point contest, without even bothering to take off his warm ups.
you speak the 100% TRUTH!...Larry played in an era when defense would HURT you on purpose and no foul would be called...he would have been a dominant force in today's game where they are protected from every little bit of slight contact...and he would have had a field day with the mind games on this generation's easily offended snowflakes hahahaha... he is one of the GOATS that doesn't get the large scale recognition that he deserves... love the video brother!
Thank you I appreciate it
@DougM..... FACTS!
@@AyySolid - you have to react to his 60pt game, it's insane. He was so hot the Hawks were giving each other high fives.
I’ll check it out if I can
Yes you say it back in those days everyone played an era that the game is very physical and no one will get Technical or suspended. Lebron and others wouldn't even last if they play the Bad boys of Detroit, - Leimbeer, Salley, Rodman, Thomas, Vinny Johnson, Mark Aguirre.
To me, the GOAT conversation is summed up with 1 story. Bird tells the entire world he’s playing the next game with his off hand, then does it and scores 27 points in a triple double and they win the game. He did that against a NBA team with the team knowing what he’s going to do! that’s some GOAT sh*t
To make that even better...he had 27 points by the end of the third quarter. He switched back to normal for the fourth quarter and scored another 20.
Honestly, Bird used his left hand more frequently than people think. He knew it. No one else really paid attention. It's not a stat people keep track of. So when he said he was going to play the next game left handed except for jumpers and free throws, he was trolling. He knew he already scored maybe half his points with his left hand anyway, why not make it seem more impressive but pointing it out. Bird was always 1-2 steps ahead of everyone.
Seriously!!! I’m with ya... still wouldn’t pick James over bird
@@tonyfrance4100 not only that, but he tied the game in the 4th AND hit the game winner in OT of that game. That's what GOAT's are made of
I see the love you have for the old timers hard-ass style of play, because you wear it on your face as you watch these old videos. It's a pleasure to see young people with a respect for the previous generations of players. Keep up your good work.
Well said.
After a career ending injury, he toughed it out and spent another seven years at the top of the game. Bird is a true legend.
Yea, people who slap the "unathletic" tag on Bird need to watch tape from his first few years in the league. The guy's body essentially abandoned him half way through his pro career. Before that, he could posterize dudes and run the fast break as good as any "athletic" forward. That's not to say he was ever an elite athlete / physical specimen like say a Dominque Wilkins or Dennis Rodman or Scottie Pippen... but he wasn't some stone footed jump shooter either.
@@control_the_pet_populationResponding to your 2-year old comment, when people say Larry Bird was “slow”, I ask them if they ever saw Bird get caught from behind by an opponent during a fast break he was leading. The answer is always “No”.
The look on Bird’s face when he’s coming back into the game after being injured gives me chills. He looks like one of those merciless gunslingers from the old west. Time to get the f*** outta town.
Also note the welt on his right cheek just under his eye. This is from the fractured cheek bone after he hit is face on the parkay floor. He also had a concussion, yet came back to help his team win. He was one tough S.O.B.
@@danh966 The story on this is the trash talk with the player with his arms outstretched, God I can't remember his name but his nickname was the "Rifle Man". He told the media that "I'm going Bird hunting tonight". Larry was sitting in a cubicle with ice packs on his cheek and there was a TV showing the game. He *knew* at this point he HAD to get back and save his team. And he did. Every time he went past that pllayer he'd say "SQUAWK"!
@@marthahanley6650 His name was Chuck Person.
@@danh966 Not just a concussion, but double vision, as well. Also, side note, it's spelled parquet.
@@cirrustate8674 Thanks. I was having a senior moment.
Here's my favorite Larry Bird story:
On Feb. 18, 1985, Bird and the Boston Celtics were at the Salt Palace to play the Jazz. It was a blowout. By the end of three quarters, Boston led 90-68 and Bird, who was already resting
comfortably on the bench, had 30 points, 12 rebounds, 10 assists ... and nine steals.
Thinking the Celtics might like to know this information, the stat crew at the Salt Palace sent a note to Celtics coach K.C. Jones. If Bird got one more steal he would have the first
quadruple-double in league history involving points, rebounds, assists and steals. (Nate Thurmond had recorded the NBA’s lone quadruple-double in 1974, but it was points-rebounds-assists-blocks.)
When asked if Bird wanted to get back in the game to achieve the historical statistics feat, he shook his head and said “What for? I already did enough damage to them.”
Larry fuckin Legend.
I think this is what tipped me over to say Bird is the greatest to ever lace'em up; Bird could have gotten 40 PLUS a quadruple double, a feat so staggering and outer worldly that can only be achieved by an all-round super-skilled Genius.
I mean to me he is by far the best to watch a highlight reel from, always making me smile or shaking my head in disbelief.
@@Erroll21Oscar25 The guy is unbelievable
Bird would have multiple quad doubles every year, if he played today.
I almost wish he got that quadruple double, because people only like looking at stats nowadays.
@@alecvip7562 I've thought that too. But knowing the story behind why he didn't get it (and that it was in 3 quarters) makes it more impressive.
I still get teary-eyed whenever I watch this video until now,Bird and Magic save the NBA, I love them both
Larry was an owl - 360 swivel - he was gold in every aspect of the game - the man did everything
Pure gold indeed, and - to my eyes - with unmatched style and flair with an elegance to it, except maybe for when he was mopping the floor diving for loose balls, and even a few of those are pleasing to the eye. Some of his lay-ups, ankle-breakers, passes, the slight of hand and posture, his shooting form and esp. the release, like a hinge, from toe to fingertips... Still has me gushing and smiling everytime I watch it back again, and again, and.... Don't have that with any other player, just Bird. In Bball that is, in other sports there are also such artists.
Larry Legend is the man who brought the NBA basketball to life. Larry will always be the G.O.A.T to me. #larrylegendbird33💚
The most impressive thing about Bird, even beyond his legendary skill was, to me, his character. When Earvin was diagnosed HIV+, the first thing he did was call him, when most of his supposed friends ghosted him.
That a real friend that a nrother
Brother
Added
@@AyySolid The documentary is called 'A Courtship of Rivals': ua-cam.com/video/yDfv9BxRQAQ/v-deo.html
@@AyySolid Isaiah Thomas, who was Magic's best friend even ghosted him. Also many of his team mates. When Larry found out he was so upset he couldn't even finish playing a game that night. He said it was the first time that he didn't want to be on court and he had no feel for the ball.
If you haven't watch that documentary, A Courtship of Rivals, I highly recommend it.
Also, congrats on your channel, keeping working hard.
Bird was an assassin and would dominate even more in today’s NBA! I grew up watching Bird vs Magic and it was awesome! Never forget even Jordan never beat Bird in the playoffs!
Larry Joe Bird was the absolute truth..I feel blessed to have watched his, Magic and Michael's entire careers. They made the NBA what it is today.
And don't feel bad bro I cried the first time I saw this, and I have cried several times during these reactions to the mixtape. I cried my ass off on the Magic/ Bird documentary. What can I say true friendship between such different people is a beautiful thing.
When different legends are asked who is the one player that struck fear in them, the most common answer by far is Larry Bird.
His passing was so extraordinary because he had an uncanny ability to know where everyone was on the court at any given moment. Next level stuff. At the risk of sounding arrogant, I stopped watching basketball after this era because I knew I would never see this kind of playing again.
That's kinda sad in a way, I recently saw footage from Channel 5, a Boston based network, and they, at the same time, said that with the obscene amount of money coming into the game they likely witnessed the end of the last "pure Basketball" in this particular era of the sport...
So did I
And keep in mind Bird wasn't the ball control guy..AT ALL. Holy shit in today's game he'd drop what....32, 10, and ....10?....he's SO much better than Luca but it's a different era. Anyway....Bird....always amazing to watch. :)
Lebron does. If u an 80’s fan u won’t buy it but look up Lebron’s science of passing and u’ll see it’s true
Like Larry bird lol come on now y’all just holding that one no look pass of lebron like sit a baby
The extended version of Magic’s speech at Bird’s retirement, Magic said, “Larry said, ‘There will be another Larry Bird someday.’ But Larry, there will never, EVER be another Larry Bird.”
Did you realize LB was the only player in MJ career to beat him in the playoffs 6 wins for Bird and 0 wins for Jordan. Fact, look it up. Love your unbiased reaction. You have a great appreciation for the game. Thank you.
0:33, Thank you, my man! TRUTH! And you are 100% correct about Kobe. As I always say, the State of Indiana ave us two of the top five ballers of all time: Oscar Robinson & Larry Bird.
Bird was a prodigy, if such a thing exists in the basketball world. You nailed it when you said pure talent. I mean, he also had more drive\ heart than anyone else, so basically the perfect player. I sure miss those days watching him.
It's true that Michael Jordan had physical skills Bird didn't have (leaping ability in particular), but Bird was twice the passer Jordan was. His court vision was better. If I had to pick one player in history to build my team around, it would be Bird. The next option would be Kareem.
i might even choose magic to build around
I’d build with Larry first. But I’d take Magic next.
@@irishgrl If I got Mj your team would lose Mj was 20% better than everybody else.
@@kenthomas4668 mj lost 11 games against larry bird. Larry won 17 against him.
@@alecvip7562
Your math is off. How did Bird win 17 games but MJ only lost 11 of those 17.... Not to mention Bird had better all-around teams, Jordan had Pippen and he cycled out spot up shooters every 3 years.
You said it perfect in regards to the generational gap. The big 3 in regards to Magic, Bird & Jordan didnt have any fear in their hearts. True competitors.
Thanks so much for posting this, L.T., and I loved watching your reactions in watching Larry Bird play.
I was a student at Indiana State University during the entire Bird era there and I saw this man emerge as the greatest small forward of all time. His nickname says it all: LEGEND
No problem I love hearing this story it help me build a better picture of Larry
When he came back into the game, I teared up a little.
Bro that was me at he’s retirement ceremony
The sweetest video on Magic & Larry…when Larry’s mom met Magic & said he (Magic) was her favorite player! 🥰
That hit on Rambis when he was on the break was only a foul, think about that. A hit like that on a player today would be a flagrant, an automatic ejection and suspension for a whole lotta games.
I watched that game live and the hit on Rambis IS THE REASON we have flagrant fouls today. Flagrant wasn't a thing back then. It's also why the "Bad Boys" could damn near murder people and get a common foul.
@@leifanthony8182 Everybody blames the "Bad Boys" for that shit... but the only difference between them and a ton of other dirty players / teams in the 80s was that they embraced it. Go back and look at some of those early 80s Philly teams with Moses Malone... hell, even the Jazz were dirty as hell, Karl Malone carelessly tossed elbows around for years. Granted, things got out of hand by the mid 90s as Pat Riley's Knicks teams made the Bad Boys look like choir boys and something had to change... But the NBA was a hard-nosed, dirty league for a solid decade before the "Bad Boys" embraced the label.
4:38 This play would've been a flagrant 3 in today's game because these soft players would've had their feelings hurt the way he broke his neck with the fake pass.
The Hick from French Lick was his self given nickname, He was born in French Lick Indiana. He carried that even after he retired from the Celtics. He went on to the Indiana Pacers as head coach and then up to President of Operations. His business card said The Hick from French Lick. When he started at the Celtics in 1980 the NBA was very near to total collapse. Larry and Magic Johnson re-ignited the league practically by themselves. Before they appeared the games were so dull and attendance had shrunk so much that the networks didn't air many regular games at all and they TAPED playoff and championship games to show at off peak times, preferring to run sitcoms and old movies. "We can run that boring basketball s### later" Oh, and when the Celtics had his retirement ceremony, Boston Garden arena was packed for it WITHOUT a game! They were just there to sow honor and love to the Hick.
When you see Magic and Larry playing on the Dreamteam and Magic passing to Bird when he could clearly have taken the shot,
You see how strong that respect was between them.
I love Bird. There is no way to love him without respecting Magic. Complete talent, the two of them.
They hated each other until they were shooting a TV commercial together at Larry's house. His mom was really nice to Magic, and they hit it off. After that they became likely the best friendship of competitors in the history of the game. They used to call each other up and see how many practice shorts they each took that day. 600 was not enough. They made each other better. They made basketball more popular than ever. They saved the league. Meanwhile LeBron sucks up to China and builds a school, then doesn't follow up, and not a single student can pass their basic exams.
@@gregpek1624
🛎 end
Magic & Larry, resurrected the game of basketball......My dad loved basketball, but stopped watching, until the competition between Johnson & Bird was highlighted......What my Dad used to say, about Larry's game, is that it reminded him of someone, who was not only playing basketball, but also, volleyball, dodgeball, hockey, baseball, track & Field, 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!
Great job on your reaction. It’s easy to see you know & love basketball. I grew up 10 miles outside Boston & was 20 when the Celtics drafted Bird.
What an era that was & there was incredible talent across the league.
Keep up the great work and hold onto you’re enthusiasm.☮️
You know, that's a great analysis; these guys perceived the game differently. Larry played at his pace, and no one could figure out how to stop it.
Exactly
Larry Bird was a man. Men played in the NBA back then.
Bird actually hurt his back working on his mother's driveway. Multimillionaire star NBA basketball player and he was paving his mother's driveway by himself. Bird shattered his knuckle and lost his touch on the ball before he ever played an NBA game and blew out his back before he even hit his prime seasons and he's STILL in the conversation as possibly the greatest of all time. LEGEND.
he really was just a country boy who happened to be an absolute killer on the court 🤣🤣🤣
Great reaction! It was awesome that you were courteous enough to actually listen to the commentary throughout the video.🙌👏
As a 60 something old basketball player I have always loved the Celtics and Larry Bird is perhaps the greatest Celtic of them all. The video you put together is amazing and I never get tired of watching it! Keep doing what you do!
L.T., a quick story I remembered when you said it looked like Larry grew up playing in Harlem. Larry says he grew up playing on the blacktops with mostly black players that had skills and talked mad trash and that translated in his game when he almost trolled players with his moves and trash talking. In fact, Larry was offended when the opposing coach put a white player on Larry to defend him because he said it was disrespectful to his game. Larry told them guys, don't ever put a white boy on me. How is that for hilarious.
Lol see that what I’m talking about
@@marthahanley6650 I think what you might fail to know or understand is the history of that part of Indiana. French Lick/Baden was known for its natural springs in the early part of the 20th Century. It was noted that Al Capone may have frequented the area at various times. To that end, French Lick became a kind of “tourist destination.” A resort was built there and it garnered a lot of Indianapolis and Chicago traffic during “season.” Tough times came to French Lick and, yes, serious poverty. But the resort stayed open. I saw it myself in the mid 80s. To that end, the busy season required more busboys, kitchen workers, grounds crews, janitors, etc. These jobs were peopled (largely) by urban, black males from Indianapolis as the pay was relatively liberal and the work was seasonal, but steady. THESE were the older black males that LB searched out. He makes a note of it in various videos. I don’t really have any reason to disbelieve Larry Bird… and the facts are born out if you simply go there.
@@marthahanley6650 No worries. Cheers!
@@marthahanley6650 So you didn't know what you're talking about & stated uninformed speculation & opinion as fact. Good job.
Dude just said this is how the rivalry started. He’s so young. I was born in 1956, and I watched Celtics / Lakers finals for a number of years in the 60s and 70s. It was Bill Russell vs Wilt Chamberlain. Supported by Jon Havlechek and Jerry West. That went on for 10 years or so.
Was fortunate to watch Bird throughout the 80s and it was every bit as amazing as you can imagine. Great video.
Truly great reaction!
I'm just a country boy from Arkansas and I grew up watching Larry BIRD he was the greatest player I ever saw and I absolutely love the way you break it down great reaction because you're sincere keep up the good work 👍
Larry GOAT! Dude was PHENOMINAL!!!!!!
Loved the reaction sir. Happy to see some love for Larry
He was watching the game in the locker room and he felt that Indiana was being too disrespectful! That’s why when he came back out he looked pissed. He was!
Gotta remember these guys BANGED! It was a much more physical game back then.
The retirement ceremony gives me the goosebumps. Magic and Larry were real good friends .
I was at that three point contest in Dallas 1987 same year Spud Webb won the dunk contest, best all-star Saturday of all time. it was the first 3 point contest ever and Larry didn't grow up shooting 3's, they started that in his rookie season, and didn't have it when he was in college either, which makes his 3 point ability that much more amazing.
This brings back so many wonderful memories. I lived in Massachusetts in the 70s and 80s and when the Celtics were playing..... the world stopped. We had to see what Larry was going to do that night. Such fun !!!!!
CT native, here, yeah every game he made plays that left amazed..
That retirement ceremony was at Boston Gardens on a off night, no game! It was packed and sold out with fans waiting outside to pay respects to their beloved Larry
I al most cried watching it
@@AyySolid Another cool thing was Bird retired right after the Dream Team Olympics. ten days before a $10 million dollar contract would have kicked in. The team told him to wait a few weeks and decide then.
He said I know what you're doing. I won't take the money if I didn't earn it.
@@busterkeaton1001 that's a really telling story about the character of Larry Bird and others of his ilk in those days. Even if he was broke, he wouldn't have taken the money. There was just no way he was going to undermine his integrity. That used to mean everything. Today, it's all about your 'brand'. I tell you, every time I hear the word 'brand', I want to vomit. I'm so sick of it. You think if you started talking to Larry about his brand he would have given you another 5 seconds before smacking you in the mouth? You'd be off to the dentist. Talk like that was the antithesis of what Larry and those guys from his era were about.
Hey LT, you make a lot of great points and observations. I'm 53, grew up outside Boston and was a teenager during the Magic and Bird era. Those games between the Celtics and Lakers were all out wars. But I love the point you make about Lebron being able to take a hit like that one Kevin McHale put on Kurt Rambis in that clip from the 1984 NBA Finals.
Think about this: Larry played at a time when guys were pulling his jersey, pushing, clawing, elbowing one another all the time. The game was so physical and nasty back then. That all changed when Jordan's star started to rise. The League changed the rules basically to protect Jordan and open up the game to encourage more scoring. Now you can't sneeze on a guy without getting called for a penalty. Can you imagine unleashing Larry Bird in his prime on the league today? Bird would dominate, probably averaging 35 points a game.
Larry... Legend.
Does anyone think that LeBron James could smack the side of his face on the hardwood, break his cheek-bone leave the game and then come back? 🤣🤣
Hell no! LeMao misses weeks from turning his ankle. Larry also never walked out of his team.
Not a chance.
Larry fought for every play that is rare to see today.
Here's the thing about that question. I think LeBron (or most other modern day players) 'could' do it, but I think he never 'would' do it. He doesn't have Bird's toughness or determination. That's the difference. Guys were just tough back then and when you learn about Bird's upbringing, it's not surprising that he played through all the injuries he sustained.
@@plefevre the fact is, since Bird retired, there hasn't been anyone close to his skill level and ability at his position to score at will anywhere on the court.
nice reaction. giving larry the respect he deserved.
I love watching your face watch the game!! You are like in a different zone
I love your awesome video, LT. Thanks! I agree with almost everything you said about Larry Legend. It was a blast to be a Celtics fan back then.
I gotta say that, as a Celtics and Bird fan, I disagree with your "'knowing who you're gonna meet in the finals' during the 80s" statement. The Celts met the Rockets in the finals in two of their three 80's championships because the Rockets knocked the Lakers out of the playoffs. There are three points I need to make about that: 1. it is kinda sad that the Celtics didn't get to face the Lakers in the finals in those two years, 2. the 80s Rockets are underrated in a big way, and 3. it was REALLY fun to be a Celtics fan in the 80s and even more fun to see them play in person. I went to my first Celtics game in 1965, with Bill Russell, Sam Jones, KC Jones, Tommy Heinson, and John Havlicek, but nothing compares to the Bird era. I even had a chance in 1986 to talk to Chris Ford (then the Celtics Assistant Coach) and Bill Walton (basketball legend and Celtics 6th man that year), and they both raved about Larry Bird being the best player they'd ever seen.
P.S. I had tickets to Larry Bird's 60-point game in New Orleans, where I lived at the time, and couldn't go because of an unnecessary business meeting that my boss wouldn't let me reschedule. It is one of the biggest regrets of my life. Sometimes life just ain't fair.
Thanks again for the vid. I loved it.
Great job telling the story about Bird. I grew up watching Bird and Magic. Two of my favorite players! Bird was amazing at shooting and Magic was amazing at passing. They became great friends and still are to this day. Their friendship should teach the rest of us no matter where we come from or our differences in the end when we are old what matters most is how we lived our lives.
Thank I appreciate
Bird was just as great a passer as Magic.
@@ralphmonday7610, it was close but I give Magic the edge. When you watch Birds Highlights which are amazing you see how great he was. But Magics total assist numbers were off the charts! But it was close. No one had the basketball intelligence of Bird. He is still one of my favorite all time players!
I miss those days…when you knew the players because they played together for years and years. Your ears got used to hearing certain names as the commentators called the passes…Ainge to Bird…Stockton to Malone…Etc. It was a combination of skill, brute physical hits, mental skills…. I LOVED WATCHING THESE CLIPS BECAUSE THEY ARE MEMORIES!!
you nailed this son, nothing fake true emotions, seen all this shit live as it happened and its sad because the NBA dont have a Magic or Larry anymore.
well done ive watched these videos on bird and magic and i lived through it as well but you added something loved how you pointed out his fierceness perfect description and how you went what? and rewind like what? how? thats real he was that good. you wonder how hes not looking perfect pass. the never say die never give up attitude that was there every night cant teach that. i coached for a bit i tried use to tell my kids cant make the great play unless you try to make the play that you think you cant. Like bird diving for that ball outta bounds three feet away no way but he didnt hesitate to go for it.
DUDE!! I LOVE your genuine passion and objective perspectives on basketball! Clearly you feel this shit down to your toes. I'd upvote this 1000 times if I could. GREAT, GREAT job.
It wasn't just pure talent. It was pure talent coupled with insane work ethic. The story in Boston was, the day after the Celtics beat the Lakers for the championship i 1984, the next day Larry was supposedly shooting free throws in his personal court.
I heard another story of a janitor cleaning the seating area in Boston Garden. He thought he was the only person there when he walked into the arena proper and found Larry there by himself deliberately dribbling a basketball up and down the floor in a very specific pattern. He went down to the floor and asked Larry what he was doing. Larry said he was looking for dead spots in the floor so he knew where to avoid and where to steer his opponents.
Yup, I remember hearing that, too. He knew those boards intimately @@randyfergus8781
Larry bird in his prime is better then anyone else in nba history. Larry was a better shooter then curry and far more clutch.
Talk about players being cheat codes, Prime Bird is a cheat code
He is my SF starter, period; nobody comes close.
It can be argued that he’s the best ever. MJ wins on championships and superior athleticism and stats. But Bird was essentially what Tom Brady is on the football field. Knows where everyone is and is going to be.
Larry worked on his game growing up and then throughout his professional career in the offseasons back home in French Lick, Indiana. So much of his game was developed at his outdoor court at his parent's house and unlike a lot of players (especially today) who are constantly playing other NBA guys in the offseason, his game grew and his improvements were unseen by any opponents until they got to play him again
Larry came out of the Indiana high school team programs and tournaments that were the foundation of many of today's great college leagues, including the ACC. Everett Case brought a team of Hoosiers to NC State and built that program and conferences like the ACC. The Wolfpack dominated the league for years until Frank McGuire, Dean Smith, Vic Bubas, and others built their programs to compete with Case. The ACC tournament MVP trophy bears his name. NBA greats owe their careers to that foundation. Just watch Hoosiers. Those tournaments still go on today. (Grudgingly posted by someone who grew up on Tobacco Road in NC!)
You are delightful and I love your reactions.
I greatly appreciate you separating the best by era. so hard to compare across generations. they played different games in each era.
Nice video bro. You are real and you know basketball.
Appreciate it
Birds brain functioned like a chess master.It was him but also him and my team.He seem to know where everybody was and when to use them.
To me he seems to be the best.He made the Celtics great .He made the NBA great again.All the others could only follow.If he hadn't had the back injury we would have seen even more.When I need a smile on my face I watch Larry the Legend as He truly was .
Highly recommend! Clayton Crowley's making the case series. A sober, all encompassing look at who may be the true GOAT. Solid stuff.
MJ beat every superstar. But he never beat Bird in the playoff's. 6-0 to Bird.
Look, please... STOP YOURSELVES. If Mike And Larry Had Switched Teams during THAT Time... BIRD was part of 5 Hall of Famers, and Talk of Best Teams Ever... Mike??? Check The Roster, DURING THAT TIME. MIKE IS GOING 6-0 AGAINST LARRY IF THEY SWITCHED. DURING THAT TIME. PLEASE KNOW THE GAME HISTORY BEFORE YOU COMMENT. 90's Bulls, vs. 80's Celtics.... Now we can Talk. Debate etc... Ok? Be Reasonable. Please.... Please.
Bro stop Larry carried those dudes on his back, the few times he stepped out of games that team completely fell apart, don’t act like he had Kareem and Worthy
@@pedrofalu9425 you may have somewhat of a point…. But you seem to forget that the same team minus bird the year before were in the basement. Year 2
They win the NBA championship 🥴🥴🤪😵💫😃😂
@pedrofalu9425 Larry made those guys HOFers. Before Bird got there they were horrid.
@@pedrofalu9425When the two played eachother, Birds record is 33-11 against Jordan, 6-0 in the playoffs and a lot of those wins was when the Bulls had 5 HOF players on the team. So you can say the same thing about "Switching" but obviously it didn't matter
Great reaction video. I’ve commented on a few of these Larry Bird reaction videos so I’m repeating myself. I got to live through this era and watched these games live. These were hanging on the edge of your seat buzzer beaters. I’m talking adrenaline on full tilt, out of breath, exhausted and we didn’t play in the game. We were just watching them on tv. Magic and Bird saved basketball. Basketball was dying. Too many ball hogs. Magic and Bird made playing basketball as a team sport contagious with fancy passing and championships. I’m sorry Jordan is a great ball player but he brought back ball hog basketball. Jordan never beat Bird in the playoffs because the Celtics played as a team. Bird and Magic wanted wins not the best stat sheet. Yet they got the stats anyway. I miss those days and I wish everyone could have experienced it. It was awesome.
Larry bird did things that NBA 2K developers can't even animate yet. He was decades ahead (and counting) of 2022 video game technology.
Yo LT, you the GOAT of NBA reactions. You respect the game, the legends and the history. MOST of all you savage against LeBaby James... hell no he can't take that hit that Curt Rambis took. Nor could he hang through the ensuing fight.
A lot of people don’t realize that Magic and Bird had to get old before Jordan was able to have success. I’m not taking anything away from Jordan. But the Bulls struggled a bit against Bird and the Celtics.
Magic & Bird were not that old when Jordan finally broke through. Plus, you all forget both Magic & Bird were playing w/ other HoF caliber players when they were beating Jordan. Go back and look at the guys on Jordan's squad, he was carrying the entire offense because he was literally the only person capable of doing so. I love both Magic & Bird, but context should matter when comparing their success against Jordan.
@@Crimson_Titan
I’m so TIRED of that stupid “lousy team” excuse. You stand or fall with your team. Larry’s team was LAST in its division when he got to it & BY HIMSELF he turned it around & improved its record from 29 wins to 61 wins. WITHOUT those HOFERS. And Larry was a good 3 years older than Magic AND considerably more broken down between back, bad Achilles/heels, and other old injuries (like his mangled hands, fractured face etc). If Larry would have stayed healthy, Jordan might just have had to wait even LONGER. If you’re going to ask for CONTEXT, then let’s look at the WHOLE picture. Give it up already.
@@irishgrl Quick question, did Bird WIN w/out those HOFers? No, he didn't. Didn't even win the ECF, let alone the NBA title, neither of which he got until the Celtics picked up Mchale & Parrish the following year. And as any legend, including Larry, will tell you, your record don't mean shit w/out a title to show for it. That's why you're tired of the "lousy team" excuse, because it debunks your OWN argument. It's not like MJ didn't single-handedly turn his team around either (there's a reason the Bulls had the 3rd pick when selecting MJ, as opposed to the 6th pick like the Celtics had when drafting Larry).
As for Larry's injuries, yes they shortened his career, no doubt, but that has nothing to do w/ his age, which is the original point. Injuries happen in sports, that's the name of the game. MJ suffered a broken foot his 2nd season in and still managed to come back and take his team to the playoffs, when they were trying to settle for a lottery pick instead. So yeah, we can look at the WHOLE picture as much as you like, but I got news for ya girl, it ain't gonna help your argument.
Jordan's success had more to do with the Bad Boy Pistons. He's said it himself many times that those playoff losses to the Pistons turned him into the player he was. Bird and Magic were already on the decline when MJ came in the league.
that was because mj didn't have a team around him
I loved this video! The love between Magic and Larry was real!
It’s so beautiful; my ❤️ grows 3x!!!
What's cool about Larry Legend, is he did all this with a relatively short career. Plus through his injuries. If this guy could have been healthy and got 20 years in... we could have seen more.
It was so much fun to watch basketball back then. I was glued to the tv then.
I went to these games (1989, saw no championship) Larry Bird made it worth almost passing out cuz it was 101 degrees in the cheap seats, no AC in the Garden then. Larry Bird: GOAT Loved your video, you are on point.
I watched him growing up & IMHO, what made Bird great was his intuition; Larry Bird knew intuitively whose head he could mess with, he knew intuitively when & where to make the shot & he trusted his intuition to inform him where his teammate would be standing when he passed the ball; it's one of those things you either have, or you don't & Larry Bird had it in spades!!!!! #thatsmy2cents
I was born in '73.
I'm a Sixers fan.
When the sixers played the celtics and Bird I thought "Damn. we in trouble tonight."
Bird hung it up and Jordan arrived and then I thought the same thing.
2 decades plus of those 2 guys going nuts.
Nobody else has brought that fear I had when they took the court.
I got teary eye I'm from Boston ma a Larry Bird fan it was special back then thank you Lt I love watching these videos it brings me back to when I was 12 13 14 I also loved Magic !!!!!!!
Bird had his back injury his entire NBA career. He would often have to lay on his stomach when he wasn't on the floor because his back hurt so bad. He was a tough SOB.
Bird grew up playing on the concrete courts with Harlem Globetrotter type dudes. That's where he learned that swag.
Larry had already been drafted by Celtics but returned for his senior season. He faced Magic in the NCAA finals the 1st game I remember watching. It is still highest rated BB game ever.
Actually Celtics vs Lakers goes back to 60’s Russel/Kouse vs West & Wilt.
Magic and Bird's rivalry lowkey started in college. They faced each other in the 1979 NCAA championship game and then just so happened to get drafted opposite each other by number 1 rivalry in the NBA respectfully.
The Lakers/Celtics rivalry started in the '60s. So there was over 20 years of rivalry before this. I was really young but there. It was NUTS.
Enjoyed the reaction, thanks for making the footage the large part of the screen.
Rook of the year, 1st team all NBA as a rook. 3 straight League MVPs, and should won in 88. Was 1st or 2nd in MVP voting from 1981 thru 1988. Received 67% of the vote from 1980 thru 1989. Only played 13 seasons and only 6 games of one of those years. 12 All stars, 11 or 12 1st team all nba. 2 Champ MVPs and should have won it in 81. He made it look easy against the greatest athletes and no one made his team mates better. Stone cold assassin, especially in the 4th and especially with seconds left on the clock. Top 3 shooter AND passer all time, 10 boards his whole career, he really was a prolific rebounder in an age of giants like Malone, and nearly 2 steals. Underrated defender too because of his fundamentals, awareness and hustle. His is always my first pick as SF on an all time 5 with MJ usually at the 2. Bird literally has zero flaws in his game. Lebron.....pfft, please.
He would decimate today's soft mental and physical, non fundamental league and be rookie of the year and win ever more MVPs than he did in the 80s.
Bird was a basketball PhD. He only played 12 years and the duration of his career was directly affected by the death of Len Bias. The best player in CBB was going to the defending champions and would've provided relief to Bird's minutes. His death led to Bird playing 38-40 minutes a night and burning out before his time.
Larry had at least two severe back injuries the first one he suffered was in the 1985 off season. He was building his mom's driveway, which caused him to develop sciatica. Which due to his style of play only continued to worsen over time. Then near the end of his career he broke a small bone in his back during training camp.
Bird is one of those RARE players, that falls under the category... We will never see his like again. He was THAT special.✌
I have watched a bunch of Bird reaction highlights but yours is my favorite. Well done!
Also Larry was playing very young and excelled in high school, college and was drafted in his junior year. His college played Magic’s in the finals. Larry shot 1,000 extra shots each practice and ran before practice. He worked hard to be clutch. Larry played team style; watch 85-86 for amazing passing. ❤️Boston ❤️ Larry.
Only player since 1970 that won MVP 3 years in a row.
No one could stop the Magic Man where play making is concerned, and when clutch time came around, the King was, Larry Bird. There wasn't anyone better!!!
Finally! A young(er) person giving Larry Bird his proper due. Thank you sir
Im 62 so I always try and remind everyone, Larry did all this in his career and produced solid stats with a very bad back, foot/achilles surgeries, fractured eye socket, injured and disfigured finger on his right hand that reduced his feel for the ball, he was tall but wasnt as fast nor could he jump as well as the more athletic players, plus he played against some of the best teams and most effective players in NBA history -- yet Larry still managed to take his college team to a 33-0 season, stand out as one of the best to ever play the game and win three championships, three time consecutive MVP, first and three time consecutive winner of the three point shootout, made the dream team and helped bring home the Gold for the USA then went on to coach the Pacers his old home team and earn the admiration of untold numbers of fans, then win coach of the year and executive of the year in the NBA front office - how much more could a player ask for in his career. Larry may not be THE Goat, but he most certainly belongs in the top five GOAT conversation. Thank you Larry for all you gave us and what it cost you in pain, it was certainly a wild ride back in the day.