DO you think larry bird was better than michael jordan?

Answer 1

micheal jordan in just unbelivable to watch. he does things that arnt humanly possible

Answer 2

Both are great players. Period. I think there's no sense in comparing the two since they're two different players. They played different positions - one was a forward while the other was a guard. Jordan was blessed with amazing athletic skills that allowed him to play, literally and figuratively, on air. Bird, on the other hand, while lacking in speed, strength and athletic ability, mastered every skill required in the game of basketball, i.e. shooting, dribbling, passing, rebounding, hustle and playing defense. He's also one of the smartest player in the history of the game. Obviously, Jordan was the better scorer and defender but Bird had longer range and was the better passer and rebounder. Both led their teams to championship victories although MJ had 3 more. But that's because Bird had to contend with his fierce rivals in Magic and the Lakers throughout the 80's while Jordan really had no competition during the second threepeat. That being said, let me just say that Jordan, Bird and Magic are up there as the three greatest players of the modern era.

Answer 3

It can be tough to compare players from different positions.

Forward is the toughest position to dominate a game from. But Bird was a dominant forward, and was the greatest forward of all time.

Bird is the only player in history about whom there's no argument as to being the best ever at his position.

Bird was a better outside shooter, with much longer range. Bird was a far better passer. Jordan was a better individual defender, making all defense first team multiple times. But Bird was all defense 2nd team 3 times. Bird was excellent in the team defense concept, and played the passing lanes extremely well.

Bird was a better leader and a better teammate. He instantly transformed the Celtic franchise, a team that won 29 games the year before he arrived. In his first 3 years, he led them to 61, 62 and 63 win seasons.

Jordan did not instantly transform the Bulls franchise, as he "led" them to three straight losing seasons upon joining the team. Jordan never played for a winning team without Scottie Pippen, and when he did make the playoffs during his first 3 years, he was knocked out in the first round each time, with a combined record of 1 win and 9 loses.

Bird truly made his teammates better from the first day he stepped on an NBA court. Jordan did not really make his teammates better in the way that Bird did... Pippen had his best season in 1994, the year after Jordan's first retirement, and in that same year, BJ Armstrong and Horace made the East All star team for the only time in their 11 (Armstrong) and 17 (Grant) year careers, even though Jordan wasn't around to "make them better".

Bird (along with Magic) also saved the NBA in the 80s. Michael didn't save the NBA from anything, it had come all the way back by the time Michael got there.

Jordan won 6 championships to Bird's 3, but Bird faced much tougher competition in the 80s than Jordan faced in the 90s.... the Celtics, Sixers and Lakers were all better than anyone the Bulls faced in their 90s finals matchups. Those teams would have never even lost a game to teams like Portland, Phoenix, Seattle and Utah.

Besides, if anyone wants to merely use the number of rings, then that means that Bill Russell was the greatest player of all time, period.

Another thing that Jordan and Bird had in common was that they were both fanatics about conditioning. They were never out of shape, and both would be just as strong in the 4th Quarter as they were in the 1st Quarter.

If you'd ask any NBA player from that era who he'd rather have as a teammate, 99% of them would say Bird.

Answer 4

Larry Bird is amazing and even played a whole game left handed. As of right now, no one is better than jordan. He did everything when it counted and he was a better defensive player than bird.

Answer 5

In their prime, put them 1 on 1, and I think Jordan would win.

Bird wasn't so much a great basketball athlete as he was SMART about the game of basketball. He had a knack, an uncanny one at that. ANd a great shot. He made his team better and fit in to it really nicely.

I think Jordan is superior in athletic ability.

As for drive/killer instinct on the court...I want to give it to Jordan for his intensity, but Bird was just as driven and bloodthirsty on the court as Jordan (in the win-getting sense, that is).

A lot comes down to team dynamic then. I could see Jordan doing his thing on a different team. Bird, not as much, so I think Jordan was better. But that's like picking between the filet mignon and the lobster...

Answer 6

Larry Bird was indeed a legend, but he wasn't better than Michael Jordan. Both were cerebral players ... "MJ" happened to be a highlight-reel artist, too.

Answer 7

larry bird is a legend...one of the best but not better than jordan. michael jordan changed the game of basketball the name jordan will never be forgotten

Answer 8

No Larry Bird is not better than MJ. jordan has exceeded all standards.

Answer 9

Yes. Bird had more actual basketball skills, which made him great without flying on every play. And he won immediately.
He was a better teammate, a better winner behaviorwise, a much better coach/manager, a better guy overall.

Answer 10

no

besides talent, jordan had much more commercial appeal. lets not forget he was in movies. (Space Jam)

he was also champion of the dunk contest at least twice, and his team won the title more than 6 times while he was there.

Answer 11

He was an amazing player, one of the legends of the game, but MJ was the greatest player ever.