Was Larry Bird the greatest player ever?

Question

In Bird's first 7 seasons before injuries limited his play, He won rookie of the year and three MVP's. Most experts agree that he was the MVP all of those years but they didn't like giving that award to new players when guys like Moses Malone who was a long-time veteran was playing so well. And also history dictates no more than 3 in a row in most sports. Bird made his team better from day one more than any other player ever. He also was among the league leaders in more categories than any player ever. He made the greatest shots of anyone ever! Who can forget him making that one from behind the backboard, up and over? And the #1 thing is the immeasurables. His court awareness was by far the greatest of any player ever. I think people have short memories and only remember the last thing they see which is a Bird that was only playing at about 50% the last five years or so. Magic actually played his best ball those last couple of years, and Jordan was the new flashy phenom.

Blogbaba needs to stay in boxing - where he actually KNOWS something.

To Smoothie: You had to name several different people to accomplish what Bird did himself! Thanks for making my arguement for me!
P.S. Do you think you could make this a little more racial?

Magic's jump shot? LOL! They used to leave him wide open and dare him to make a jumper! That is why I only have him as the #5 guard of all-time.

You can go by just championships because it is a team game. Plus eras were different. MJ won all his titles after the NBA took a nose dive in the 90's, etc.

I meant CAN'T go just by titles.

What is it about MJ winning his titles against High School caliber teams that some of you don't understand! He didn't win crapola until the great teams went away! Get it through your heads! At least Magic won legit titles even though they were often against injured teams and they had a very soft road in the West in those days.

Mr. Hat - Bird and Magic used to say that about each other too! Watch the tapes of the games from 1980 to 1987. You will never stop asking yourself, " How did he do that? How did he know that?"

Answer 1

In my opinion, yes he was. He was definitely the greatest forward of all time.

In his senior year of college, he led an otherwise ordinary ISU team to a 33-0 record and the NCAA championship game.

He joined the Celtics, who had posted a 29-53 record the year prior, and led them to the best record in the league (61-21), which at the time was the largest turnaround in history. And he didn't have Parish, McHale, DJ, or Ainge either.

And you are correct, he should have won the MVP that year. That was the first year that the sportswriters voted for the league MVP ( as opposed to the players ), and they did give it to an established superstar, rather than to Bird who really deserved it.

He won the championship in his 2nd season, posting another 60+ win season. The Bird led Celtics would win 56+ games in each of his first 9 seasons.

He became the third player in history to win 3 consecutive MVP's (he probably should have won in 1982 also).

To realize the importance of Bird to the Celtics, you need to look at the 1988-89 season. The Celtics won 57 games the year before, and lost in the conference finals to Detroit.

The next year (88-89), Bird missed all but 6 games do to foot surgery. The Celtics still had Parish, McHale, DJ and Ainge, plus future superstar Reggie Lewis. Yet, they only managed a 42-40 record, and were swept in the first round of the playoffs.

So anybody that says Bird only won because he had a great team is incorrect. The Celtics won because of Bird's leadership. Bird made McHale, Parish, and possibly DJ HOF'ers.

He could have scored alot more, had he been selfish. But winning was the most important thing to him. And he wanted his teammates involved.

EDIT: Isn't it hilarious that idiot's like "blogbaba and (f)lakers come on here and demonstate their basketball ignorance?
____________________

Gee "KING"....you really make some interesting points......lol
___________________

"smoothie" obviously didn't read my answer. I don't recall the Tar Heels going 33-0. Nor do I recall the Bulls improving by 32 games in Jordan's rookie season. I've also never heard of a player named "Jackson" having the most "assits"....lol

"spencer v".....so you obviously think that KC Jones is better than Michael Jordan ( 8 championships vs. 6 championships)?

"Mr Hat".....14 incredible seasons?!? 38-44, 30-52, 40-42 in his first 3 seasons. Yeah, that's really incredible....lol....Bird was busy winning 60+ games and championships in his first 3 years.

Bird made that qoute regarding "one game". After the 1987 finals he said " Magic's just the best I've ever seen". He's always acknowledged Magic as the best player he's ever played against.

Jordan played for scoring titles, period. He was just lucky Bird & Magic retired, the league expanded so rapidly that the talent pool couldn't keep up, and the Bulls put good players around him.

Otherwise, he would have just been a "bald-headed Dominique"

Answer 2

No need to ask, coz it's a given. Larry "Legend" Bird is the greatest. what more if he's black?

hey Mr. Hat....did you say "14 incredible seasons" of MJ? these stats are included right?
1983-84 27-55 .329 Team record before MJ

1984-85 38-44 .463 Lost First Rd Mil 3, Chi 1
1985-86 30-52 .366 Lost First Rd Bos 3, Chi 0
1986-87 40-42 .488 Lost First Rd Bos 3, Chi 0
1987-88 50-32 .610 Won First Rd Chi 3, Clev 2
Lost Conf Semis Detroit 4, Chicago 1

Answer 3

I don’t know about best ever but I would say he was top five. If the game was on the line he is my second or third choice of players I want to have the ball with only Magic ahead of him and maybe Jordan tied with him. The reason I would put him above Jordan is his jump shot was deadly for his entire career not after he started to get older. Maybe Isaiah Thomas belongs in that group as well after that performance with the sprained ankle in the finals…

In my opinion, what made Bird so great was he did not have the natural talent of Jordan or Wilkins but he scored, rebounded and defended with them. Talk about team defense. The 80’s Boston Celtics were a model of playing team defense. How many NBA teams could learn from that (Are you listening Sacramento?!?!?!)

Answer 4

You can definitely make a case for him being the greatest. Unfortunately I do not think that people will ever accept him as the greatest though. I think he was better then Jordan, but Jordan was flashier so Jordan got the credit. He was a better rebounder and a better passer then Jordan in my opinion. He carried his team just as well too. The comment about if he were black he'd be just another player is ignorant and stolen from Isiah Thomas. Isiah was jealous of Bird's ability. Check Bird's stats then try finding players to compare him to. He's better then most. He was incredibly clutch and had the greatest court presence and vision I've ever seen.

Answer 5

Larry Bird was certainly one of the all time greats without a doubt sir. He was a very confident player who once before a three point shooting contest before the All Star game asked the other players in the locker room, which one of you is gonna come in second? I remember a playoff game vs the Hawks when he poured in 60 points with defenders all in his face. He was just unconscious! I also saw that famous highlight shot when he hit that shot behind the basket. Very well known for his outstanding play in both regular season and championship series action. He id also have great court awareness and year after year he shot at about 90% free throw percentage too I believe. Truly Larry the Legend!

Answer 6

Any one who say's this is a moron! Did they see Dirk play last spring? Best player last Play-offs hands down! Did they see Chris Humphries play yesterday? Best player yesterday!(I know he is mixed but lets be real) Have they watched Kevin love all year?? Have they watched Steve Nash his whole career?? Lets not be racist, basketball is a sport where every race can be succesfull if the individual is determined to work hard. And if Bird is # 2 it is behind Wilt and Kareem! Bird was better than Magic and Jordan! He was a much better passer than Jordan! He was a much better shooter than Magic! He was a much better rebounder than both of them! He was one of the greatest leaders of all time! He was the smartest player ever!

Answer 7

i was not able to see how the old greats played so i cannot say how good they were (chamberlain, russel era). i started to be an NBA fan the moment Bird and Magic got into the league. So i'll base my answer from the '80's onwards.

Bird does everything on the court. Can't jump high but averaged around 10 boards in his career. Not athletic but can score anywhere on the court and you dare not leave him open. Don't cheat on defense.

He is undoubtedly the Celtics leader during his era. Despite all these, Larry Bird is, in my humble opinion, #3 during the 80's, behind MJ and MJ!

Answer 8

I don't think Larry Bird thinks he was the best player of all time. After all, he once said he thought "God came down disguised as Michael Jordan and hung 63 on his Celtics." He was also quoted as saying, "There's Michael Jordan and then there's the rest of us."

Don't get me wrong, Larry was great. He was amazing and a top fifty player of all time. But he was just a so so player on defense. Also, greatness is measured over time. Seven brilliant seasons doesn't compare to Michael Jordan's fourteen incredible seasons with Chicago.

I can't believe you'd even suggest that Bird is better than a guy who won six championships, led the league in scoring ten times, logged 200 steals and 100 blocks, won a defensive player of the year award and dominated the NBA. Even Larry would disagree with you.

You sound like one of those Kobe apologists that won't listen to anyone else.

Answer 9

No, either Michael Jordan because of 6 titles and because of his 72-10 record. Or Magic Johnson because of his 5 titles and because he can play all 5 positions on the court.

Answer 10

ok Lets see. If you want to go by championships which i think you should judge by it would be Bill Russel He won 8 straight and also was a player coach for a championship. If you want to look at individual stats you would have to go with Wilt Chamberlain. He was amazing one year he averaged 50 points a game. But the problem with him is that he was a terrible team player and ruined some teams. Also you have players like Jerry West who was amazing but injury shortened his greatness. But my overall answer is that if you want to combine Championships and indivudual greatness i would have to go with Micheal Jordon.