We are all so lucky to have been alive to see Magic and Bird play the game of basketball . There will never ever ever be another Magic Johnson or Larry Bird.
@@JoshuaTraffanstedtI’ve been playing and coaching and watching ball for 50 years. I understand what you’re saying. Everything changes. Today’s basketball revolves entirely around the three. But the reason people from my era enjoy basketball from the 70,80,90’s is because it was more balanced and exciting. Every possession was important. Players did different things. The game was rougher. More intense. Today’s game is literally a three point shooting contest with very little defense. Driving to the basket and post play have disappeared for the most part. Also, players switch teams every year so loyalty and identity have also diminished.
@@michaelcavallacci2945 then Jokic shows up to announce there's room for post play, too. Things still get chippy. Do we really want a return to the Bad Boys/Pat Riley Knicks cave man style? Had people even then losing their minds about how its not safe for kids to watch, much less emulate. Parental types ruin everything.
What a beautiful story....I met Magic in Phoenix after a Suns game his rookie year. He let me sit next to him on the steps of their team bus, he signed a Lakers pennant flag for me. He had Kareem sign it as well and I got to sit there with him for a few minutes while he signed stuff for other people. He was so nice and gracious, great childhood memory.
Agreed. I love a broad spectrum of documentary topics. But this one.....wow. One thing better than watching the best of basketball talent is seeing the rivalry-turned-brothers that goes a layer deeper. Makes me feel love for the these guys like they're my own friends. Excellent documentary.
This documentary only has 1.7M views? Thats tragic. This is a timeless story of rivalry and friendship between two of the best players who ever laced up a pair of basketball shoes . For those like me that grew up in the 70’s and 80’s watching Dr. J, Bird, Magic , Sweetness, Kareem, Jordan etc…we owe it to the kids to show them how the game was meant to be played. Some of the best basketball ever.
I remember as a 12 year old boy, being happy when Bird lost the national championship and was seen on the bench crying. Now as an old ass man I see how shallow I was and how you sometimes miss judge people when you judge with no context. The world could use some context right now. Bird was a champion the entire time, i am sorry it took me growing up to see that. There never will be another pair like Magic & Bird.
In high school, my team lost in the first round of a playoff, and I witnessed a teammate weeping into a towel, because he tried so hard and it wasn't enough to want it. I felt like a pretender because it was just sports, a good time, no different than recess. But then, I wasn't particularly skilled enough to have it be life-changing. I imagine it would unsettling to have that kind of talent, and have people pay attention, and have to make up the rules of self-conduct as you went along. You never know what someone is going through until it's plainly revealed. Also, sympathy is in short supply when you're young and trying to find your way among the competition.
I was born in March 1968 and in March 1979, my father let his 11yr old son stay up late to watch what he considered "our guy", Ervin "Magic" Johnson play Larry Bird in the national championship. I'd never been allowed to stay-up with the "ol'man" until then. We were regular, poor folks in Michigan and Magic and Bird were the beginning of admiration and love. I'll never forget that game or what they gave us.
That was one of the best documentasries i have seen. We all know about bird and his smack talk and magic being a nice guy. But this showed the real side of them. The fact that bird knew he would never get to play against magic again. Allowed him to reach out and be there when johnson really needed it. Made me think of the good samaratan. When you are being treated like crap by your so called friends and your enemy is the one who is there for you when you need it most
The league could go on a thousand more years, heck, ten thousand more years, and I can guarantee that there will never, ever be another friendship/rivalry like the one between these two.
Sadly in 100-200 years, as much as we know the Magic/Bird era forever changed the league & for those of us that watched the 1980's NBA we saw 2 very special players that transformed pro basketball to a team game & essentially saved the NBA from extinction, the generation in 2124 will have moved on & will treat it as many treat Babe Ruth, Hank Aaron, Jackie Robinson, Russell, Chamberlain, Oscar, West-old time pioneers & nothing more...When we know that the Magic/Bird rivalry should remain as special as it is 1000 years from now
💯 Without Bird and Magic the NBA was dead. I remember. I was there watching. The team play of the early 70’s Knicks, the Cowens -Havlicek Celtics, Rick Barry’s Warriors, the Walton Blazers was gone. It was a black, one on one , drug infested league and people weren’t interested anymore. The great DrJ was one notable exception, but nobody cared about greedy individual play. And let’s face it - the vast majority of paying fans were white and traditionally white fans wanted to see team basketball with a balance of black and white players. Growing up in NYC, by 1978 all the Knicks from their chip years had retired. DeBusshere. Bradley. Frazier. Lucas. Reed. Monroe. Etc. Now you had an all black losing team with no identity and interest was lost. Bird and Magic put the fans back in seats and brought the NBA back to prominence- then Jordan took it to new heights and the rest is history.
@@michaelcavallacci2945 it was crucial to the NBA to have a genial, telegenic star like Jordan when cable TV really took over. It was fortuitous to also have a great story line to have this handsome babyface successfully fighting off the ugly tactics of the Bad Boys and the Knicks, just like pro wrestling.
@@solitaryman777 I agree that Jordan took the NBA to new heights. But it was Bird and Magic that took it off life support and brought fans and interest back. In the late 1970’s the NBA was in bad shape.
Just goes to show, when people realize there's something going on greater than themselves, only then can their potential for greatness be realized. Bird and Magic both came to realize and appreciate it. Their talents collided at exactly the right time for the NBA, the fans, and ultimately FIFA and the world. It didn't all just happen by accident.
Maybe not accident, but there was a lot of factors hitting at the best possible time without any detectable manipulation by teams of marketers or influencers.
Watching Earvin cry took everything in me not to cry too. I wish humans came together more often instead of just in the face of tragedy. I remember I was 16 on 9/11. We were a country that was together for a few years after. In 2024...kinda devastating to see us at each other the way we are.
We need to understand,it's our government trying to put us against one another, divide and conquer.if we just all stick together instead of listening to their bullshit,what a great country this could be
Yeah, we were engulfed with a feeling of repose for a couple of months, where we actually checked in with neighbors and made ourselves available. Then, we had to take that magnanimous feeling, and all the well-wishing from around the world, and take our revenge on Iraq, using false info to stoke the war chant. There had to be a better way to use that feeling.
Watching this for the fist time as a 57 year old guy who grew up in New England a NE sports fan and all I can say is Wow. Best 90 Covid minutes I have spent in front of a screen.
Bryant Gumbel was so spot on in 1:25:00 when he said Magic and Bird, not Michael Jordan, saved the NBA. Those two showed how sports and sportsmanship should be, namely bitter yet chivalrous rivals. MJ, Kobe, LeBron monopolizing the game and brooking no rivals is more about cult of personality and reeks more of Stalin and Kim Jong Un instead of Magic and Larry
@@chrisanderson7984No, the NBA will never be seen the way it was in the 80’s. The 90’s was the beginning of the end for the NBA! Too selfish and individualized! MJ just a ball hog til Phil Jackson and Scottie Pippen came to help MJ! He wasn’t good enough to win with just gunning all game!
These guys made the NBA a worldwide phenomenon. What a great story, two different characters, but two equally talented and likeable men. Highly competitive but retaing honor and sportsmanship. They were above the machine- all greats are. Take away the middle men and the minions you're left with heart and a love for the game. Priceless. They crossed racial boundries, and ultimately brought the two sides closer
Just seeing magic tear up talking about how bird called him after his AIDS diagnosis shows you the brotherhood and love sports can bring to this world. Ive seen it more than once. Something about sports brings people of all races and beliefs together and its unique. Nothing unites us like sports other than perhaps religion
@@jerrysullivan7223 if suspicious fundamentalists could abide by the spirit of what is being preached, the shunning that Magic went through, and that his son is currently going through, could've been avoided. Instead, that homophobia is squarely on them abusing quotes from Paul to stoke hatred. Complying with doctrine is not unity.
I remember watching these Celtics vs Lakers games as a kid. My dad loved the Celtics, and thought there had never been a player like Larry Bird. He was right.
I love both the rivalry and the respect that these men have for each other… they’re both winners but they also both have tremendous respect for each other. Magic’s smile and Bird’s dry humor are both hallmarks of their personalities… and I don’t believe that we’ll ever see their like again in the NBA.
I was 17 when Magic and Bird come to the league and as a fan of all Boston sports the NBA was in a bad place, I truly believe that the reason the league is so strong and good today was because of these two great men, thank you for all the fantastic memories
I admired both those gentlemen as we grew older together. This was one of the finest sports and relationship documentary I’ve ever seen. Both were portrayed with honesty and depth. Good work ladies and gentlemen. It was memorable.
2 legendary talents, role models for young aspiring basketball players and fans. Both of these men are such rare and exceptional characters, something for all of us to learn, of all ages...thank-you Larry and Magic❤
@@Maoristaunchnessthere were plenty of high flying African Americans in the NBA in the 70’s including the highest of them all Dr J. David Thompson. Iceman. Etc. Nobody was interested. The finals in 78 and 79 was Seattle vs Washington and had the worst ratings in history. The people who paid to see the games wanted to see team ball. The Knicks of the early 70’s. The Havlicek Cowens Jo Jo White Celtics. Then Walton’s Blazers. Bird and Magic renewed interest in the NBA because they played team ball. It put people back in the seats. Jordan then took the brand to new heights and the rest is history.
These 2 legends, literally and figuratively, saved the NBA! There would be no talk about Jordan or Lebron or Kobe being the GOAT if it weren't for Magic and Bird! PERIOD!!
Celtics vs Lakers rivalry helped NBA become more popular than ever. It hasn’t been the same since. As a Lakers fan, I absolutely hated Bird. When the game was close with only a few seconds to go, Bird was absolutely a killer. Now, I miss the artistry that both Magic and Bird displayed. I miss the 80’s NBA.
Every time I watch this video I'm happy , sad and then glad to have witnessed the journey of Magic and Bird and today how the many stories of reflection from other legends of our era about the 2 Living Legends Incredible Bond of Brotherhood and Friendship. A thousand years from now, this story s a keeper among many throughout time. This truly is how legends are made.
Excellent, excellent documentary....To have seen it all happen, right before your eyes, is indescribable!!!!!! They were like the Yin and the Yang. The Alpha and the Omega, only their roles would flip back and forth at a moments notice. There was no rivalry like it before them and hasn't been one like it ever since. I will always be grateful that I was able to witness the Bird vs Magic rivalry in it's moment. Thank you both for the show and the memories. 🏀🏆❤️
@ValentinaRacing1 during their era, before their arrival in NBA, it was all gangster/hood street basketball with too much fighting. Then came these two, black and white who don't see race and played basketball with integrity. They both pioneered unselfish basketball, and it's beautiful. Their kind of play became the face of NBA, and fans embraced the league.
@ValentinaRacing1 but Reese is not like Magic. Magic is all about winning and better plays, unlike Reese, who keeps on shooting her rebounds at 3/14 stat. Her rebounds could help them win if she passes all her rebounds to any open teammates for a better chance.
Totally agree with Bryant Gumbel. I watched and lived through this great rivalry, and it was terrific to see firsthand. They paved the way for the others that followed!
Being the same age as these two gentlemen and being a basketball fan and player, for myself this was the greatest time for basketball. I love the fact that both these gentleman were able to connect on a person level and become such good friends after needing one in other to drive there motivation.
This video is about two of the best men to ever walk on to a basketball court. They made each other better! Loads of respect for each other. And dare I say love for each other too! They saved the NBA. Magic was/is very outgoing AND Bird likes to play the "Ah shuckes country bumpkin! Two very special men! Plus they were fun to watch ............................ They were the NBA in their era! Their championship game was the MOST watched EVER!!!! Still is..............
Thank you for enlightening me on these two that could get the most out of a skilled TEAM sport. The humanity aspect and its growth raised tears from this old man. I'm truly glad this was produced, and grateful.........that I finally took the time to watch it.
Boy you just can't say enough about this. I'm actually surprised there hasn't been a movie made about them, and yet.... this in itself says so much about everything. The Human Condition is an amazing thing.
I wish Larry played in the 90s to start so I could of seen him in his prime, I still got to watch him play but I was like 9 when he retired but man is he great, favorite player of all time?
That's why he was tailor-made for the blue-collar types in Boston. On Larry's first visit to Boston, he was dressed in a flannel shirt, wearing a John Deere hat, and he decided to walk into a notoriously tough bar in a notoriously tough Boston neighborhood. Granted, this was pre-internet and cable, but the locals soon realized who this 6'9 blond kid was, and when someone from the Celtics' brass learned of where Bird had gone, he rushed over to "save" him...only to find Bird yucking it up with the locals. In other words, Bird was/is a working class guy, and those patrons in that bar were basically the same, and Larry felt comfortable among them.
The Suns have been contenders for awhile now, and have some truly great players who are also good citizens, nothing will match those years I was in Boston for those years of Magic and Larry, and Detroit had a roster that should have been in jail.. I can't force an easy trip to down town Phoenix to attend a game. And the tickets are gifts! I know exactly how Bird said he felt when Magic was forced to retire. It's just not the same. This documentary is outstanding.
Magic with the iconic drive & hook on McHale was stuff of legend....but I still would tell the kids that Kareem should have got the ball on that play..he was wide open
It was great to grow up as a basketball fan during the late 70's-entire 80's. I'll never forget that NCAA championship(i was 10 1/2)and the back and forth of the Celtics vs Showtime rivalry. I still miss the NBA on CBS🏀🏀
As much as I didn't like Boston the Celtics and the Lakers bought out the best in each team as I've gotten older I have nothing but respect for what the Lakers and Magic and Bird bought the the game of Basketball
Thank you!!! This was my third time viewing this, and every time, it hits a little different. Stronger, if you will. These two were each others, ying to yang! It's a trip, that if we all could see the value in each other, no matter the race, political beliefs, or society views we may have, we can still love each other, if we just put forth the effort!! ✌🏾😔🙏🏾💯
6th and 7th grade. And he's playing against the older, black waiters in the hotel. LOL That's like at 15 when Mario Lemieux was playing against NHL-ers in pick up games during the summer three years before he was drafted. Just two unbelievable talents.
"He's very private, but if he's your friend, man, you've got a friend for life."
These words sum up this friendship beautifully.
"And Larry Bird is a straight shooter."
No truer words have been spoken.
Best documentary I’ve ever seen
Awesome documentary
Love em ... on court LETS GO!!! Off court brothers. I miss 1980s NBA
@@roberthatch6230 💯💯
We are all so lucky to have been alive to see Magic and Bird play the game of basketball . There will never ever ever be another Magic Johnson or Larry Bird.
😅 so😅.:-😮
😮 m
I got to see every game at Indiana State. No one player ever made every player on his team better than Bird.
@@soonerwhirleMagic! Beat Bird three out of four attempts! 75% success rate!
@@RobertVilla-o1qDoesn't mean he made his teammates better. But, you obviously don't give a fuck about that.
Ben Simmons is the Vergence.
Larry is such a genuine dude. " To tell you the truth that was all me doing that" i lol'd
Greatest era in Basketball. No Iso Ball and Throw up 3 pointers all day like today.. It was exciting back then. Not so much now.
Teams successful with the threes win. Thats why the league got with the program.
To me the end of this era was when Houston won in 95.
@@JoshuaTraffanstedtI’ve been playing and coaching and watching ball for 50 years. I understand what you’re saying. Everything changes.
Today’s basketball revolves entirely around the three.
But the reason people from my era enjoy basketball from the 70,80,90’s is because it was more balanced and exciting. Every possession was important. Players did different things. The game was rougher. More intense. Today’s game is literally a three point shooting contest with very little defense. Driving to the basket and post play have disappeared for the most part.
Also, players switch teams every year so loyalty and identity have also diminished.
@@michaelcavallacci2945 then Jokic shows up to announce there's room for post play, too. Things still get chippy. Do we really want a return to the Bad Boys/Pat Riley Knicks cave man style? Had people even then losing their minds about how its not safe for kids to watch, much less emulate. Parental types ruin everything.
What a beautiful story....I met Magic in Phoenix after a Suns game his rookie year. He let me sit next to him on the steps of their team bus, he signed a Lakers pennant flag for me. He had Kareem sign it as well and I got to sit there with him for a few minutes while he signed stuff for other people. He was so nice and gracious, great childhood memory.
This is with out a doubt the best sports doc. ever made. Legends both of them
Agreed. I love a broad spectrum of documentary topics.
But this one.....wow.
One thing better than watching the best of basketball talent is seeing the rivalry-turned-brothers that goes a layer deeper.
Makes me feel love for the these guys like they're my own friends.
Excellent documentary.
Love em ... on court LETS GO!!! Off court brothers. I miss 1980s NBA
I'm 69 years old in these two guys were the best rivalry I've ever seen in life
This documentary only has 1.7M views? Thats tragic. This is a timeless story of rivalry and friendship between two of the best players who ever laced up a pair of basketball shoes . For those like me that grew up in the 70’s and 80’s watching Dr. J, Bird, Magic , Sweetness, Kareem, Jordan etc…we owe it to the kids to show them how the game was meant to be played. Some of the best basketball ever.
I remember as a 12 year old boy, being happy when Bird lost the national championship and was seen on the bench crying. Now as an old ass man I see how shallow I was and how you sometimes miss judge people when you judge with no context. The world could use some context right now. Bird was a champion the entire time, i am sorry it took me growing up to see that. There never will be another pair like Magic & Bird.
In high school, my team lost in the first round of a playoff, and I witnessed a teammate weeping into a towel, because he tried so hard and it wasn't enough to want it. I felt like a pretender because it was just sports, a good time, no different than recess. But then, I wasn't particularly skilled enough to have it be life-changing. I imagine it would unsettling to have that kind of talent, and have people pay attention, and have to make up the rules of self-conduct as you went along. You never know what someone is going through until it's plainly revealed. Also, sympathy is in short supply when you're young and trying to find your way among the competition.
A couple of great guys, real men and two of the best to ever play the game. GOD BLESS MAGIC AND BIRD.
Love em ... on court LETS GO!!! Off court brothers. I miss 1980s NBA
I love the Bird and Magic stories, I never tire of them.
I hope you realise that the words _"bird"_ and _"Johnson"_ are both euphemisms for male genitalia?!
We'll talk about it when we get home.
Mother
I was born in March 1968 and in March 1979, my father let his 11yr old son stay up late to watch what he considered "our guy", Ervin "Magic" Johnson play Larry Bird in the national championship. I'd never been allowed to stay-up with the "ol'man" until then. We were regular, poor folks in Michigan and Magic and Bird were the beginning of admiration and love. I'll never forget that game or what they gave us.
That was one of the best documentasries i have seen. We all know about bird and his smack talk and magic being a nice guy. But this showed the real side of them. The fact that bird knew he would never get to play against magic again. Allowed him to reach out and be there when johnson really needed it. Made me think of the good samaratan. When you are being treated like crap by your so called friends and your enemy is the one who is there for you when you need it most
This is one of the best, most heartwarming sports documentaries I’ve ever seen.
Love em ... on court LETS GO!!! Off court brothers. I miss 1980s NBA
🎉💯
The league could go on a thousand more years, heck, ten thousand more years, and I can guarantee that there will never, ever be another friendship/rivalry like the one between these two.
9234J❤
@cathyvalentine2028 that's funny.
Sadly in 100-200 years, as much as we know the Magic/Bird era forever changed the league & for those of us that watched the 1980's NBA we saw 2 very special players that transformed pro basketball to a team game & essentially saved the NBA from extinction, the generation in 2124 will have moved on & will treat it as many treat Babe Ruth, Hank Aaron, Jackie Robinson, Russell, Chamberlain, Oscar, West-old time pioneers & nothing more...When we know that the Magic/Bird rivalry should remain as special as it is 1000 years from now
@@davidclark8543 d
@@cathyvalentine2028okay, I’m slow this morning and I’m not getting the 9234J❤️ please, I’d appreciate it
They brought the NBA back, end of story. ❤
Facts
💯
Without Bird and Magic the NBA was dead. I remember. I was there watching.
The team play of the early 70’s Knicks, the Cowens -Havlicek Celtics, Rick Barry’s Warriors, the Walton Blazers was gone. It was a black, one on one , drug infested league and people weren’t interested anymore. The great DrJ was one notable exception, but nobody cared about greedy individual play. And let’s face it - the vast majority of paying fans were white and traditionally white fans wanted to see team basketball with a balance of black and white players. Growing up in NYC, by 1978 all the Knicks from their chip years had retired. DeBusshere. Bradley. Frazier. Lucas. Reed. Monroe. Etc.
Now you had an all black losing team with no identity and interest was lost.
Bird and Magic put the fans back in seats and brought the NBA back to prominence- then Jordan took it to new heights and the rest is history.
@@michaelcavallacci2945 it was crucial to the NBA to have a genial, telegenic star like Jordan when cable TV really took over. It was fortuitous to also have a great story line to have this handsome babyface successfully fighting off the ugly tactics of the Bad Boys and the Knicks, just like pro wrestling.
@@solitaryman777 I agree that Jordan took the NBA to new heights. But it was Bird and Magic that took it off life support and brought fans and interest back.
In the late 1970’s the NBA was in bad shape.
I could watch this on repeat, they make you laugh and cry. It’s such an honest and pure relationship.
After watching this, my perspective on Bird changed completely. He won my heart, he's was just a great competitor, not what I thought of him before.
Beautiful story. Two poor boys making a name. Connection never broken
Greatest documentary ever. I wish it never ended.
❤💯
I grew up watching this...the good ole days.
An Hour and a Half of Goosebumps 😊
The best bonds are forged in hardships. This is a perfect example of that.
seeing Bird laugh and smile hits deep...
Beautiful way to end it, reflecting on their differences and how they admired each other for them.
Just goes to show, when people realize there's something going on greater than themselves, only then can their potential for greatness be realized. Bird and Magic both came to realize and appreciate it. Their talents collided at exactly the right time for the NBA, the fans, and ultimately FIFA and the world. It didn't all just happen by accident.
Maybe not accident, but there was a lot of factors hitting at the best possible time without any detectable manipulation by teams of marketers or influencers.
Watching Earvin cry took everything in me not to cry too. I wish humans came together more often instead of just in the face of tragedy. I remember I was 16 on 9/11. We were a country that was together for a few years after. In 2024...kinda devastating to see us at each other the way we are.
Perfectly said!
We need to understand,it's our government trying to put us against one another, divide and conquer.if we just all stick together instead of listening to their bullshit,what a great country this could be
The elites man they hold all the power they can’t control people that’s united
Yeah, we were engulfed with a feeling of repose for a couple of months, where we actually checked in with neighbors and made ourselves available. Then, we had to take that magnanimous feeling, and all the well-wishing from around the world, and take our revenge on Iraq, using false info to stoke the war chant. There had to be a better way to use that feeling.
Watching this for the fist time as a 57 year old guy who grew up in New England a NE sports fan and all I can say is Wow. Best 90 Covid minutes I have spent in front of a screen.
❤
Bryant Gumbel was so spot on in 1:25:00 when he said Magic and Bird, not Michael Jordan, saved the NBA. Those two showed how sports and sportsmanship should be, namely bitter yet chivalrous rivals. MJ, Kobe, LeBron monopolizing the game and brooking no rivals is more about cult of personality and reeks more of Stalin and Kim Jong Un instead of Magic and Larry
Magic and b
Bird save the game yes
Mike elevated it
Yes Larry and Magic saved it. Jordan took it to the next level.
@@chrisanderson7984No, the NBA will never be seen the way it was in the 80’s. The 90’s was the beginning of the end for the NBA! Too selfish and individualized! MJ just a ball hog til Phil Jackson and Scottie Pippen came to help MJ! He wasn’t good enough to win with just gunning all game!
These guys made the NBA a worldwide phenomenon. What a great story, two different characters, but two equally talented and likeable men. Highly competitive but retaing honor and sportsmanship. They were above the machine- all greats are.
Take away the middle men and the minions you're left with heart and a love for the game. Priceless.
They crossed racial boundries, and ultimately brought the two sides closer
What a documentary!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Had me in tears!!! Damn man!!!!
The best documentary period.
Love Bird & Magic
Just seeing magic tear up talking about how bird called him after his AIDS diagnosis shows you the brotherhood and love sports can bring to this world.
Ive seen it more than once.
Something about sports brings people of all races and beliefs together and its unique.
Nothing unites us like sports other than perhaps religion
HIV not AIDS.
Ok@@MitchellGarrett-gh9ix
Sports and music unite people more than religion does.
@@supaflex2857 wrong
@@jerrysullivan7223 if suspicious fundamentalists could abide by the spirit of what is being preached, the shunning that Magic went through, and that his son is currently going through, could've been avoided. Instead, that homophobia is squarely on them abusing quotes from Paul to stoke hatred. Complying with doctrine is not unity.
this should have 50 million views
I remember watching these Celtics vs Lakers games as a kid. My dad loved the Celtics, and thought there had never been a player like Larry Bird. He was right.
I’ve been binge watching about Larry Bird for the past week. This is by far the best story about him I’ve seen yet.
Watch Larry Bird's 50 Greatest Moments for a montage of his career highlights, it's also well put together. Followed by Celtics/Lakers 30 for 30
I love both the rivalry and the respect that these men have for each other… they’re both winners but they also both have tremendous respect for each other. Magic’s smile and Bird’s dry humor are both hallmarks of their personalities… and I don’t believe that we’ll ever see their like again in the NBA.
One of the best Basketball documentaries I've ever seen 💯👍🏾
Best documentary I've seen. Because of this story, that can never be duplicated. Seemed like fate. Playing the right way saved the NBA. Thanks 2 both.
The two men who built the modern NBA as we know it. Also shoutout to Kareem who is also a legend who does not get enough of his props
I was 17 when Magic and Bird come to the league and as a fan of all Boston sports the NBA was in a bad place, I truly believe that the reason the league is so strong and good today was because of these two great men, thank you for all the fantastic memories
I admired both those gentlemen as we grew older together. This was one of the finest sports and relationship documentary I’ve ever seen. Both were portrayed with honesty and depth. Good work ladies and gentlemen. It was memorable.
Young people today just don't know how much greatness and pride players have heart in the game.ty God let me watching great.
2 legendary talents, role models for young aspiring basketball players and fans. Both of these men are such rare and exceptional characters, something for all of us to learn, of all ages...thank-you Larry and Magic❤
This is a very powerful moment bet two close friends, never will be repeated
No Larry, no Magic, no NBA ...get that? This league would be bankrupt and non existent. These two are gods.
Disagree no high flying African Americans there's no NBA period lol
That is correct 100% no bird no magic... No NBA.... Not even in college basketball
@@Maoristaunchnessthere were plenty of high flying African Americans in the NBA in the 70’s including the highest of them all Dr J.
David Thompson. Iceman. Etc. Nobody was interested. The finals in 78 and 79 was Seattle vs Washington and had the worst ratings in history. The people who paid to see the games wanted to see team ball. The Knicks of the early 70’s. The Havlicek Cowens Jo Jo White Celtics. Then Walton’s Blazers.
Bird and Magic renewed interest in the NBA because they played team ball. It put people back in the seats. Jordan then took the brand to new heights and the rest is history.
Jordan was right behind them, it would've survived until he arrived
I like the fact that Larry Bird and Magic Johnson were two completely different persons. But became good friends and respected each other.
Love em ... on court LETS GO!!! Off court brothers. I miss 1980s NBA
These 2 legends, literally and figuratively, saved the NBA! There would be no talk about Jordan or Lebron or Kobe being the GOAT if it weren't for Magic and Bird! PERIOD!!
Jordan, Johnson, Bird are head and shoulders above LeBron and Kobe.
I can watch this all day every day! They are the reasons why I am a basketball fan today. Thank you to the both of them.❤
Love em ... on court LETS GO!!! Off court brothers. I miss 1980s NBA
That was great to watch! Kudos to both Magic & Bird, two undeniable legends 👏 🙌 ❤️
Thank You both for Saving the NBA... wouldn't exist 2day.
Celtics vs Lakers rivalry helped NBA become more popular than ever. It hasn’t been the same since. As a Lakers fan, I absolutely hated Bird. When the game was close with only a few seconds to go, Bird was absolutely a killer. Now, I miss the artistry that both Magic and Bird displayed. I miss the 80’s NBA.
Every time I watch this video I'm happy , sad and then glad to have witnessed the journey of Magic and Bird and today how the many stories of reflection from other legends of our era about the 2 Living Legends Incredible Bond of Brotherhood and Friendship.
A thousand years from now, this story s a keeper among many throughout time. This truly is how legends are made.
What a great documentary. Good job, whoever worked on this movie!
What an outstanding film.Very well done.
Magic and Bird transformed the game of basketball and paved the way for Jordan, Lebron, Allen Iverson and other great players that came after them.
Say his name coward
Growing up in Cali, during the 80's, that hated for the Celtics was deep. great show!
Excellent, excellent documentary....To have seen it all happen, right before your eyes, is indescribable!!!!!! They were like the Yin and the Yang. The Alpha and the Omega, only their roles would flip back and forth at a moments notice. There was no rivalry like it before them and hasn't been one like it ever since. I will always be grateful that I was able to witness the Bird vs Magic rivalry in it's moment. Thank you both for the show and the memories. 🏀🏆❤️
The cutest bromance story of all time.
Love em ... on court LETS GO!!! Off court brothers. I miss 1980s NBA
@ValentinaRacing1 during their era, before their arrival in NBA, it was all gangster/hood street basketball with too much fighting. Then came these two, black and white who don't see race and played basketball with integrity. They both pioneered unselfish basketball, and it's beautiful. Their kind of play became the face of NBA, and fans embraced the league.
@@Kitchie26 Angel and Caitlin WNBA women Magic and Bird! could be.
@ValentinaRacing1 but Reese is not like Magic. Magic is all about winning and better plays, unlike Reese, who keeps on shooting her rebounds at 3/14 stat. Her rebounds could help them win if she passes all her rebounds to any open teammates for a better chance.
@@Kitchie26 she should think about it. women's NBA would win with a Magic Bird.
Great documentary!! Thank you for posting this for all of us to enjoy viewing.
Totally agree with Bryant Gumbel. I watched and lived through this great rivalry, and it was terrific to see firsthand. They paved the way for the others that followed!
Being the same age as these two gentlemen and being a basketball fan and player, for myself this was the greatest time for basketball. I love the fact that both these gentleman were able to connect on a person level and become such good friends after needing one in other to drive there motivation.
This video is about two of the best men to ever walk on to a basketball court. They made each other better! Loads of respect for each other. And dare I say love for each other too! They saved the NBA. Magic was/is very outgoing AND Bird likes to play the "Ah shuckes country bumpkin! Two very special men! Plus they were fun to watch ............................ They were the NBA in their era! Their championship game was the MOST watched EVER!!!! Still is..............
Thank you for enlightening me on these two that could get the most out of a skilled TEAM sport. The humanity aspect and its growth raised tears from this old man.
I'm truly glad this was produced, and grateful.........that I finally took the time to watch it.
This is the best sports videos ever. And I'm not a big basketball guy. It was mesmerizing. Great job.
This man’s magic paved my way.
With love from Boston ❤
Boy you just can't say enough about this. I'm actually surprised there hasn't been a movie made about them, and yet.... this in itself says so much about everything. The Human Condition is an amazing thing.
This video never gets old. It’s a good story of two exceptional men. Well done. 👍🏼
I wish Larry played in the 90s to start so I could of seen him in his prime, I still got to watch him play but I was like 9 when he retired but man is he great, favorite player of all time?
Man what a blessing! That was good ol pure from the heart honest raw solid RESPECT that they had for each other and for the game.💯
Very nice documentary of an era of basketball where greatness era begins
Great documentary. Larry bird had a tough life. He was too strong for his own good sometimes, but I guess that’s why people loved him.
That's why he was tailor-made for the blue-collar types in Boston. On Larry's first visit to Boston, he was dressed in a flannel shirt, wearing a John Deere hat, and he decided to walk into a notoriously tough bar in a notoriously tough Boston neighborhood. Granted, this was pre-internet and cable, but the locals soon realized who this 6'9 blond kid was, and when someone from the Celtics' brass learned of where Bird had gone, he rushed over to "save" him...only to find Bird yucking it up with the locals. In other words, Bird was/is a working class guy, and those patrons in that bar were basically the same, and Larry felt comfortable among them.
I really enjoyed watching this documentary thank you very from a non NBA basketball player. 🎉🎉I really love this basketball game!
I am not a basketball fan, but what a great documentary and what great guys!
The Suns have been contenders for awhile now, and have some truly great players who are also good citizens, nothing will match those years I was in Boston for those years of Magic and Larry, and Detroit had a roster that should have been in jail.. I can't force an easy trip to down town Phoenix to attend a game. And the tickets are gifts! I know exactly how Bird said he felt when Magic was forced to retire. It's just not the same. This documentary is outstanding.
Love em ... on court LETS GO!!! Off court brothers. I miss 1980s NBA
Magic with the iconic drive & hook on McHale was stuff of legend....but I still would tell the kids that Kareem should have got the ball on that play..he was wide open
What a great documentary. The final 20 minutes or so really hit hard.
Love em ... on court LETS GO!!! Off court brothers. I miss 1980s NBA
@ValentinaRacing1 why are 27:21 you on every post?
@@MitchellGarrett-gh9ix using the same phrasing, too. Not very original or heart-felt, is it?
Wow phenomenal documentary! They are soulmates from past incarnations.
This is great. As a kid of the 80s I remember.
W@w, I was glued to this story. They had retired before I actually started watching basketball regularly, but I still knew they were THE GUYS.
This was a beautiful film.
It was great to grow up as a basketball fan during the late 70's-entire 80's. I'll never forget that NCAA championship(i was 10 1/2)and the back and forth of the Celtics vs Showtime rivalry. I still miss the NBA on CBS🏀🏀
magic and bird saved the nba but jordan made sure it would never have issues ever again.
😂😂😂😂😂 a Jordan worshipper
We'll always have trolls saying how the NBA isn't as good as it was then. "Back in my day..."
Outstanding, two icons.
I’m sad that ended. The true GOATS. Still.
this doc is FIRE.
Those two gentlemen saved the NBA. Tandem super heroes better know as... "The Magic Bird." Coming to a theater near you.
The best documentary I have ever seen. 2 great men.
I’ve watched this many times. Respect. HBO did a helluva job .
This was just EXCELLENT! Awesome documentary...just awesome.
People will always look back at what a great basketball player MJ was, but people will always remember what great man Larry was.
Well said.
Insightful point.
As much as I didn't like Boston the Celtics and the Lakers bought out the best in each team as I've gotten older I have nothing but respect for what the Lakers and Magic and Bird bought the the game of Basketball
Fabulous documentary…absolutely
I watched this on espn. still brings a tear and a smile
Greatest and best too Basketball players of all time JOHNSON AND BIRD Never Be Again
Thank you!!! This was my third time viewing this, and every time, it hits a little different. Stronger, if you will. These two were each others, ying to yang! It's a trip, that if we all could see the value in each other, no matter the race, political beliefs, or society views we may have, we can still love each other, if we just put forth the effort!! ✌🏾😔🙏🏾💯
6th and 7th grade.
And he's playing against the older, black waiters in the hotel. LOL
That's like at 15 when Mario Lemieux was playing against NHL-ers in pick up games during the summer three years before he was drafted.
Just two unbelievable talents.
IT WAS THE BEST SPORTING EVENTS WATCHING BIRD AND BIG THREE. ALWAYS PLANNED GAME DAY GET TOGETHER WITH FRIENDS EVERY GAME
Great tribute, two of the best, thanks for my teenage basketball memories. You're both champs.