NBA Legends Explain How CRAZY GOOD Larry Bird Was
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 6 ต.ค. 2021
- In today's Latest Hoops video we take an in-depth look at NBA legends explaining how CRAZY GOOd Larry Bird was.
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#nba #larrybird #lebronjames - กีฬา
In 1974 Larry Bird was my P.E assistant when I was in the 8th grade and
he was a senior at Springs Valley High School. At the beginning of each
P.E. class we always ran 10 warmup laps around the gym. One day, a
trampoline was set up on the basketball court and there was Larry Bird
bouncing on it. As the whistle blew and we reluctantly lined up to run
our laps, our teacher (who was also Larry's basketball coach) blew his
whistle, and said "Larry is going to take 10 shots while jumping on the
trampoline. If Larry makes any shots, each one made will delete a lap
that you must run." Coach threw the ball to Larry and right there in
front of me and the entire boys Jr. High P.E. class, Larry proceeded to
hit 7 out of 10 shots while bouncing up and down on the trampoline, 35
feet away from the goal. Larry set an incredible example for me as a
young boy in French Lick, Indiana that helped me through my entire adult
career. If you are willing to work very hard and never give up, your
dreams can and will come true. Thank you Larry.
thats a cool ass story man
GREAT story. One of the coolest ive ever read on here.
@@anarchyintheusa4443 Thank you. It's great to have cool Bird fans to share it with!
@@chocolatetownforever7537Thank you! About the only thing I remember from my jr. high school years are Larry Bird highlights. I'm okay with that. ;)
@@tomroach6275 Youre so lucky. The only life lesson I ever got in high school was when Todd Bridges visited and told us not to get caught buying heroin.
Even at 15 years old, I had kind of figured that one out on my own.....
"If I had to choose a player to take a shot to save a game I'd choose Michael Jordan. If I had to choose a player to take a shot to save my life...I'd take Larry Bird." - Pat Riley
Damn, that's deep. I agree 100% with Pat on that one
Such a Real/Deep/Dope Quote from Pat! I def agree with his quote!
@@rafaelcisneros562 yep
I want iguodala
Curry is a better shooter tho lol
5:05 Larry is looking one way and passes the ball another way, backwards, over his shoulder...Masterpiece
Bird was possibly the most unique player in NBA history. He was purely cerebral and knew how to adapt better than any of the others
@Bears1121Agreed. JW is one of my fav players of all time, just giving props to the old school guys. Who dyu think would win one on one in their prime, Williams or Bird? J/c
Bill Russell was the most cerebral player I ever saw on the basketball court. But Bird was close.
Some X-men sheeet
Larry was a straight savage! Walking into the 3 point contest and asking everyone "so, who is coming in 2nd?" Then went out and won in his warm up jacket
No. He actually asked “which one of you ‘n-words’ is coming in second?”
Interesting because that's never been mentioned before. Care to back that up with a source link?
@@Maulleygxxx source? Not one of the contestants EVER said he said "which one of you n-words is coming in second? " NOT ONE. He did say "so, who is coming in 2nd." Sorry
@@Maulleygxxx why ? Seriously dude get a grip
@@Maulleygxxx That would have been more badass.
The ONLY man in HISTORY that Michael Jordan didn’t have a winning record against. That tells you everything you need to know.
Isaiah Thomas??????
@@masonspadaro2331 Random side note I played some super chill yet competitive pool games against Isaiah at a Nike event a few years ago. He was super intense while playing but also very nice when he wasn't shooting. It got to the point where the organizers were getting mad because he had a podium time to head to for a dinner that night, but just kept saying "1 more quick one" haha
@@masonspadaro2331 You have a point but I never liked Isaiah because he still won't admit MJ was the best player he played against. He knows it's true but his hate for Michael gets in the way. He should've let his grudge go away a long time ago!
23-11 regular season. 6-0 in the playoffs. Larry is the true GOAT. Had his back not gone out they would be chasing Bird records.
@@user-dd1bb4tw4r LB made his opponents look like a fool. He was damn good.
Love Larry. He lived in my neighborhood here in Indy until 3 or so years ago. He’d always let my son and his friends play ball on his full court in his back yard.
Larry would come out and watch them play and even talk to them. It was a real treat for my NBA loving son.
Wow! Larry such a nice guy!
LEGENDARY!!!! Did your son and his friends take basketball seriously afterwards?
Growing, too many friends of mine decided to focus on different sports Freshmen Year
I’d say he loves the NBA even more but never really was any sort of a good basketball player, more a soccer player.
Now we have Tyrese Halliburton in the neighborhood. Nice guy.
@@rwwkbw the fuck where do u live damn u really lucky
That is incredible!
I was a Sixers Fan in the 80s as a kid. Larry Bird broke my heart many times. Guy was just unbelievable. DAMNITT
As a kid, I got the opportunity to go to Celtics training camp. Larry Bird showed me so many pointers. He even gave me a signed jersey. By far my favorite player
That's awesome
Wow, hope you still have that jersey. Awesome story.
The bird could play
Wait how could he give you a jersey and not everybody else?
@@DemocratsReadMyBio_ How cum you bought your son a car but your daughter has to borrow yours?
Larry once turned to an opposing head coach and asked him if he had anyone that could guard him. The coach looked at the bench and turned to him and said no. Larry was that good in his prime
Yup Frank Layden lol
NO THAT IT WAS BETTER STORY THAT PISTONS CHUCK DAILY SAID IN DREAM TEAM
'' WE FACED BOSTON SO MANY TIMES BUT FIRST TIME I PUT RODMAN ON BIRD, LARRY ASKED ME WHY HE IS WIDE OPEN ALL ALONE, I ANSWER TO HIM, WHAT YOU TALKING ABOUT, DENNIS IS ALL ON YOU, BIRD SMILE AND SAYS , I DONT SEE ROOKIES ON FLOOR BETTER PUT DOUBLE TEAM OF VETS ON ME OR IT'LL GONNA BE LONG NIGHT ''
@@zzzvain9710 cringe
No he was offended they put a white guy on him to guard him. He actually said you better get a black guy on me
He was offended that nobody could guard him. He wanted to be challenged and nobody on that team on that night could do it. That’s why he got 60 points on that night and it never happened again in his career
There’s just something magical about 80s and 90s basketball. I miss this era so much.
Seriously, why can't we have that back? The Nba is so lame now....
Larry is one of the best players ever with the ball in his hand. He is the best player ever without the ball in his hand. His anticipation and manipulation when he did not have the ball was something not many people talk about. His ability to maneuver himself into position for rebounds, creating lanes for others, picks, turning defenses, was the best that has ever been. He had the best eye for the game of anyone.
One of my favorite stories about Bird: Late season "home" game against Utah, played in Hartford. (Celts used to play a few games there each year for a while.) Celts were having their way with the Jazz, as they did almost everybody. Celts had ~100 points at the end of the 3rd Qtr. Larry almost had a quadruple-double. I think he needed one more steal for a quadruple-double. Coach KC Jones asked if he wanted to go back in to get one more steal in the 4th quarter. Larry said "No, I have to rest for the playoffs."
Larry after the game: "I already did enough damage. Why go for it if we're up by 30?"
Larry was all about winning. The only stat that meant anything to him was the W.
Any greatest of all time lady bird
Which totally contradicts what he told McHale...
True. I watched video of coach KC Jones state that when he urged Larry Bird to go back in the game cuz he only needed one more steal for a quadruple double, Bird said “No.” He continued off the court. “I’ve done enough damage.” Goes and sits down.
Bird wasn’t into accolades, he was into winning, and the game was in the bag. Admirable trait, but I wish he’d listened to Coach and gotten that quadruple double. Those who don’t recognize Bird’s greatness would have a hard time blowing off aa rare an accomplishment as that.
Bro larry is legendary, one of the best no one can tell me otherwise
Only the idiots question his greatness.
@@becool5706 fax
Better than LeBron any day
Legend
He was a killer.
Some of my earliest memories as a child are of Larry Bird. Growing up in the Boston area, we all wanted to be him. I’ll always love Larry Legend!
So are mine, i am 45 now, from germany
Larry was a very dedicated hard working player. He kept himself very humble and treated basketball like it was a team game. It was all about the team and winning. He was a superstar and he would be shooting 1 hour worth of free-throws before any other player even showed up and every home game. His dedication and hard work is what made him so great. Larry was a one of kind B Ball player.
I was fortunate enough to have watched Larry Bird's entire career. He was an amazing shooter and improvisational master. He didn't appear as athletic or as quick as most NBA players, but he could do things on the court that nobody else could. His famous 'trash talking' ability only become known to me after he retired. He has countless videos on TH-cam of NBA players who talk about how good he was. I think this is a testament to his greatness.
Yes, how many NBA players do you know that made as many no look passes, or passes between the opponents legs.
Your assessment of Bird is about the most accurate I've seen here. I too, grew up watching Bird and the Celts in the 80's-90's. He was like this everyday average guy: not super fast, not very muscular, lanky -- basically your average farm boy from backwoods Indiana. He didn't look like your typical athlete. But when he stepped onto the court, he routinely fumbled up his opponents, built up his teammates, and blew the minds of NBA commentators with his ridiculous moves. He would hit shots no one else could. He would sneak a steal within a split-second of an opponent lifting their focus. He really was a master of the game, and incredibly fun to watch play. ...And btw, I also never knew about his trash-talking until much later after his playing days. It kind of adds a whole new layer of insight into his playing mentality.
I saw probably 95% of his NBA games, by back yard satellite. I still had no idea about the trash talking either, until just a few years back, when I started watching youtube. I did see him gabbing a few times, especially with Chuck Person, and a few others, but no idea what was said, other than a couple of "F you"s, by reading his lips.
Would you rank him over Kobe?
@@RobertoHernandez-lp7os When I saw your reply, I went and looked at Bird's and Kobe's stats, just for curiosity. For career stats, Kobe scored 25.0ppg. Bird scored 24.3ppg. Bird was ahead in all other stats, noticeably and with very close to double the rebounds. Bird FG 49%, Kobe 44%. Three points; Bird 37.6%, Kobe 32.9%. Draw your own conclusions.
Celtics won 29 games the year before Bird came. With mostly the same roster, they won over 60 games his rookie year and made it to the ECF where they lost in 7 games to Dr. J. Next year won his first title.
Bird was a magician on court. He did things that left people astounded and scratching their heads. He is one of the GOATS and should always be celebrated.
Well done, Larry bird was just amazing to watch, in 51 and don't think I missed many of his Celtic games, I still remember the behind the backboard shot
Craziest thing about Bird was that he spent half his career with chronic back pains, whenever he was on the bench he'd be laying on the floor with a back compressor and ointment to dull the pain. He was competing head to head with the greatest players of his era: Drexler, Karl Malone, Moses Malone, Laimbeer, Barkley, Olajuwon, Worthy, Wilkins, Dr J, Thomas, Jordan, Kareem, Magic and he'd often get the better of them and he did it without being 100% healthy half of the time, let that sink in
Go wash ur fingers off with soap... Mentioning Lambeir with everyone else in that list
@@benlauden445 ...... why shouldn't he be considered one of the best players of the 80s? 4x all star, 2x champion, a great defender albeit a dirty one, 10 of 14 seasons played averaged a double double and was one of the first stretch 5s in the NBA shooting a respectable 33 percent from deep
Now imagine that no fighter has ever fought at 100%
So So True!.
@Ben Lauden
Laimbeer was the meanest, dirtiest SOB to ever play the game!
Add to everything else: Larry also lifted the abilities of his team mates to the highest levels. When he was a rookie with the Celtics, his innovative passes were hitting his surprised team mates in the head, etc, when they were not expecting it, and they quickly learned to expect the ball, and to have faith and run because if they got open Larry would pass. It transformed the whole offense into a dazzling, ball-movement jazz band. Larry also lifted the team defensively by his relentless effort, diving for balls, and never-give-up attitude, which was also contagious. Lots of basketball superstars have been great individual players, but Larry was transformational for his team and for the game.
Absolutely. Was just thinking the same thing watching this. You had to be good yourself to play with Larry. A great, clever pass is worthless if the guy it's sent to screws it up.
His most under-appreciated ability was his passing and court vision, at least from people who never seen him play; kids these days saying he was a bum and nothing but a spot up role player and hyped because he was white.
I gotta quibble a little with 'relentless effort on defense'. I watched Larry many a time in the Garden. The Celts were often so much better than their opponents, they were bored for the first three quarters and they played very lackadaisical defense. But come the 4th quarter, you would hear a Southie accent in the nose-bleed seats shout, "C'mon you bums, it's the fourth quahtah!" Bird always heard that guy, and that is when he and the Celts would turn into red-eyed demons on defense.
@@chriswalsh5077 That is the most Boston thing I have ever heard and I love it 🥰
Some of that's seeing the court too, and that's an area Larry had uncommon command.
Shaq was in many ways the epitome of the big man, posting to go to the hole and holding the lane of defense, but he didn't really have that ability to take point and direct an offense.
Not only did Larry do all those things great, he would walk by the opposing bench and tell them how many points he was going to score.
And where he was going to score the next one from.
I watched him during his prime and I am so glad that other players have admitted how good he was! Without their stories most of us wouldn't have really known how good he was, even though we were watching it at the time! When your peers are finally able to admit it later on, you know it was true!
I read a Larry Bird story recently that had me laughing out loud. The first time Dennis Rodman played against him. Rodman was known as an excellent defensive player and he knew Bird's reputation so he did his best to lock Larry down. During the game Larry kept yelling, "Hey! I'm open! I'm open! Hurry up before they realize there's nobody guarding me!"
Makes you wonder- Would Larry have been just as great doing stand -up comedy instead of any sport???! I am glad destiny kicked his butt in the right direction.
LOL!!!! and there is a GREAT example of taking an opponent out of their routine.
Rodman thinks to himself...."OK M#%^%$@#E$!!%$#$...I'll SHOW YOU"
...... and it is done. Out of his routine and now almost...vengeful to make a great play against you? He'll now over-extend or get out of position, trying to make a play!
@@sabrecatsmiladon7380 Yeah, except somehow there was no over-extending for Larry. Didn't matter what kind of circus move was needed, he'd make the play. He was ridiculous like that.
He could trash talk and keep that even keel, not let his emotions go... Icy Veins "The hick from French Lick"
Lambeeir was the only guy that could piss Larry off lol
I watched him in his prime. Every game, I saw him make some crazy play that I'd never seen before. I see some of today's NBA players making the no-look behind the head passes, or the step back jumpers, and I just think about how much he has impacted the game to this day. But 80% of what he did on a daily basis nobody else could do. It is a shame he hurt his back and his career was cut short.
Reportedly, he hurt his back while shoveling gravel to build a driveway for his mom in 1985. It’s a shame his back ended his career. He said he would have liked to have played another year or two but his back made it impossible.
Giddy might come close, he's 4 years younger than the legend when he was drafted and has the potential
Bird and Magic were incredible. I'm an NFL-only fan now but back then I remember watching Larry and Earvin in the championships. Always off the hook. Dr J had a sweet team over in Philly back then too and a lot of people forget that these days. John McEnroe and Borg at Wimbledon almost the same time of the year. Baseball was still great too, although I quit watching after the strike in '78 or '79 when the Big Red Machine got screwed out of one more playoff run. Ali was gone but we still had Sugar Ray Leonard, Thomas Hearns, Marvin Hagler and nobody knew yet the beast Mike Tyson was just a couple years away. It was a great time to be a fan. I never thought back then that all the greatness would someday just vanish.
The Big Red Machine was mostly gone by that point. In reality, it ended with Dick Wagner traded Perez away.
@@pg5149- I agree with that, but we still called them that after the dream lineup was breaking up. More generally, I was bouncing around my childhood sports memories from about'73 through'86 and noticing how much more quality there was back then.
Larry will always be my favorite player. And what I admired about his style. He played to win. But it wasn't just "About Larry having the ball or the shot" when you thought his was trapped or going to shoot. He was already planning a pass.. I absolutely agree Larry was completely overlooked as one the greatest players!!
Just got this. My memory of Larry Bird was in the tunnel at Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence KS after Indiana State beat Virginia Tech in the Midwest regionals. I think I was 12 or 13 yrs old. I asked him to autograph my program and he noticed the farm hat and dirty boots. We walked together and talked about farming.
No way.
For real?
My favorite player of all time
Yeah right B.S story!
All I can say is that sounds like Larry.
Similar thing happened to me. Was able to see the Dream Team at the 92 Olympics. Massive crowd outside the hotel and he noticed my Indiana State hat and messy t-shirt. He told security to let me on the team bus and we talked about French Lick and best fertilizer to use to grow corn. I even gave him tips on farming
Larry was slower, but that was by design. The game had been really ramping up in speed and that's how most new players were playing. Larry kept slowing the game down to throw others off their game and make them play his game.
I don’t doubt that Larry could be so genius as to have a “slower” game plan.. and yet he’s such a showman too. That’s a chuckle just to think about “Slow Bird”..
But the thing that really threw them was how fast his mind and hands were after slowing them down. So many times players were reacting and ending up on the floor or confused about where the ball was.
Or he was just slow lol. But the faster you play, the higher your error rate goes up. As long as you get the W, it doesn’t matter how you get it.
Design... Ha. The hick from French Liick.
S
Pat Riley said it all! Hard to say when you debate the greatest. But Bird and Magic’s were my favorite to ever grace the game. The skill, the rivalries, the fun. They brought the game to another level.
I remember watching all these guys in the late 80s and 90s... insane athleticism. Watching the highlights again is just mind blowing how in tune they were with their sport.
I was never a fan of basketball, but growing up in the 70's-80's you would not miss a game if Bird and Magic were playing. They made the game fun to watch.
70-90s basketball was phenomenal, so many great teams.
True that ! If you even knew what a sporting event was back then , you knew where and when to be for these games !!
Not if you were a Sixers fan.
I was a huge laker fan in the 80's living in the Midwest where bird was revered as a god and hated bird with a passion. But it didn't take long as I got older to recognize what a great player Larry was and missed it when him and magic called it a career. It was the end of a golden Era in the nba.
I wish I could've experienced it 😩 Today's NBA is trash.
I'm a Celtic fan that grew up in California. Hated magic and I was around laker fans. Love them both now and miss what was the best days of basketball. We had it great
There were like 5 tv channels at that time so it was hard to know who Larry Bird really was. All I cared about were the Phoenix Suns, and if they lost in the playoffs, basketball meant nothing to me. I had no idea how great Bird was until TH-cam showed him
You know it. Cowboys fans hated Joe Montana for the same reason.
He was great ! And, so was Larry.
Then it started back down to what it is today a joke
Love Larry Bird. I also like how much respect and admiration that Larry and Magic had for each other - yet, they still wanted to compete against each other and not team up for a sure ring (like they do today). That is the ONLY reason why Barkley does not have a ring, he had loyalty and not taking the easier path. I wish Charles had a ring.
And a guy named MJ made it worse too for Barkley.
Reggie Miller also doesn't have a ring. But great player.
no such thing as a sure ring in today's league
That behind the board shot, and the over the head pass to the basket with no eye contact.. 🤯
Bruh, that ain’t human with that level of chill instilled in his face! 💀
Artful.
I wish I had been born 10yrs sooner
This man captivated my father, who played hs basketball and was offered a partial scholarship at UF in 1970 to play basketball. My father did not miss a single Celtics game as long as #33 played. He had a Celtics jacket hanging in his closet when I was a kid. I would call it the Bird jacket. This guy managed to do what so many failed at. He impressed my Dad.
#33 goats Verstappen and Bird
"This guy managed to do what so many failed at, he impressed my dad" Lmao somebody got dem daddy issues.
@@growingstruggle5493 I think you're reading a little too much into things. Troll much?
I was a kid during his prime and he was my favourite.
He was talented, cocky and a play maker, but unlike most "hot shots" he was a team player, who elevated the entire team.
Your footage of Shaq showed him ignoring two open teammates so he could claim the glory of the dunk.
Bird would make his cocky predictions, but he'd just as soon pass the ball if the play was a better one and the team won.
Great point!!!!!
Nah. All of those other so-called "hot shots" were team players just like Larry was, and Larry was a hot shot just like them.
@@Steveman27 Just because you say it and just because you're a fanboy, it doesn't make it so.
You wanna know how you know?
Stats and footage.
You're glad handing means what in comparison?
P
When I watch the highlights of all the top NBA players, Bird is the one I personally choose to call the best!
Larry Legend!!!! I'm from Boston and I'm lucky because I actually got to see Larry Bird live in Boston Garden. One of the best times of my childhood. Forever one of the best.
I’ve watched a lot of Bird highlight videos over the years and I must say you finally nailed it. Kudos!
The 1984 NBA Final Celtics vs Lakers is still the greatest most fierce high level competitive event I've ever seen. Absolutely finely tuned super skilled athletes on both teams. Very evenly matched. They had to work for every foot of court. I say without hesitation either of those Teams would mop the floor with any team today, bar none.
Only problem today's refs would have everybody in foul trouble before the end of the first quarter
Ali v Frazier is the only comparison.
Actually, the Lakers had the better team talent wise and most of us knew that. What the Magic and the Lakers didn't know was that Bird and the Celtics were so mentally and physically strong they brought another dimension to that series that they couldn't match. We call these the intangibles and Magic and the Lakers had to learn these, improve these and evolve these to beat the Celtics. This is the same problem MJ faced during the 80's when he played against the Celtics and the Pistons in the playoffs. What Magic and the Lakers and Jordan and the Bulls had to learn, improve and evolve into and eventually become to win a championship, Bird and the Celtics already had and Bird especially, unlike any of these other players, had all the intangibles honed to a tee from the very first day he walked onto a NBA basketball court.
🍀🍀🍀☝️👍💪🏆
@@babaoriley3549 Imagine what Bird had to endure to reach the NBA. The abuse he had to put up with. The racial taunts, the physical intimidation. He did not cower. It made him stainless steel tough. His supporting cast sure didnt hurt. His confidence on the court was second to none. That starting 5 in 1984 could beat any team, any era, any location, regular season or playoffs.
I love hearing people say Larry was slow. He often rebounded his own missed shots even if he was shooting 15ft away (sometimes I think he planned it), he had a lot of triple doubles and he racked up a lot of steals. Larry had people believing he was slow.
4:00 He's athletic, no doubt. He's just using his brains more than his gifts.
He's a lot faster than people think. He wasn't fast, but he was quick.
Exactly. Kareem hated Bird and often talked smack about him simply because he was white. But Kareem also hated bird because he could trash talk and back it up which drove him and others absolutely crazy.
Kareem is the one running around YEARS later saying stuff like he was a "chubby slow WHITE guy." Ummmm no Kareem, Larry wasn't chubby or slow but yes he was one of the best in the game ever and happened to be white, which is where your problem is. Apparently Kareem has a problem with his race, which is not surprising considering his antics beginning in the 1960's at UCLA and he['s not shy about it, which is fine (at least he's honest about his bigotries). Abdul Jabbar stated a few years ago that the ambush-murder of two Brooklyn police officers by a black man in late 2014, “Police are not under attack, institutionalized racism is.” Ummmm yeah Kareem. Just stick to basketball it WAS murder and a RACIALLY motivated killing lumped together.
Hes really not that slow. He was deceptively quick.
For NBA standards, he was kind of slow, but he made up for it by being unreal at reading and taking the optimal angle to where he needed to be.
Jaye keep doing your thing. The support for the people supporting you is great. Don't see many doing it
i had so much fun watching this. more than once. thank you !
I remember Bird. He was that good. I am a Pistons fan, the Celtics were the enemy back in the day. But I remember Larry retiring because his body had given up on him and I said at the time "I'm gonna miss Larry Bird, he was the best I have seen play". If you were around, you know...
I grew up in the midst of Jordan's dominance, so I missed Larry Bird's prime...but I think I would have loved to have seen it.
I'm a big Pistons fan too...LOVED the "bad boys". Zeke is my favorite ALL TIME player. I say all the time, Larry was a straight up KILLER. When he, and the Celtics had you down...forget about it...Larry was going to step on your neck, which is what I loved, and hated about him. I HATED Larry, and the Celtics...but I LOVED his game.
I was around and to me it’s MJ, Kobe and Bird my top 3 all time
@@shannonhondo260 All three are great players. Magic Johnson also belongs in that conversation. He made passes I haven't seen before or since. He was money with a jump shot. He was big enough he could play all 5 positions (including center) at an all-star level.
@@jppagetoo Magic/Bird matchup was heavenly to watch and that era was when they let men actually play without all the panzy azz fouls
Larry was just “fun” to watch, you always knew that something “cool” was coming ! 👍👍👍👍👍
Byrd's a legend. Well done putting together a great video. It's nice to see all the interviews.
This is a good video thank you for uploading. I have fond memories watching Jordan and Bird play against each other.
As a Lakers fan, Bird was the one you feared the most. He did everything great, much to my chagrin.
Larry Bird was always the example of the player that every basketball coach wanted his players to be. He was the player who fit the mold of hard work and talent without the benefit of flamboyance and/or anything else outside of simply being brilliant at showing how to be an outstanding conventional basketball player. Definitely among one of the top 10 ballers of all time!🏀
he even did not bad as a Manager when he did that for Indiana Pacers. The only team that made the second championship team of Chicago Bulls go to a game 7!
I remember watching a video of Bird. He said that he truly was not a Natural shooter. Blew my mind!
Reason HS and younger-level coaches hold him up as an example for their kids is because they know not every kid is gifted with physical abilities, but any kid can develop a jump shot if they practice at it hard enough. Any kid can learn the game if they put their mind to it. Kids can find success in hard work in the game of basketball - maybe not Larry level success, but earning themselves a starting spot on their team success.
@@twelveeighteenofficial7487
Well said my friend!
When I was a kid me and my friends would always play as 'Bird' in the court...I grew up in the Los Angeles area
Youngsters today just don't know how influential and amazing Bird was
Damn - he shot 3 LEFT-HANDED three's in the game against the Hawks and Dominique. He could SHOOT! Just imagine if he played today. His scoring average would be insane. He would shoot 3's both left AND right handed. Amazing.
Never a word about how he showed up 3 hours before every game and took hundreds of jump shots. Before every game!
Larry was absolutely amazing!! Great by himself, yes, but was a Team Player also. His behind the back or over the shoulder throws while not looking (being aware of where his teammates are), was simply incredible!! Larry Legend is the perfect name.
Bird, McHale, and Parrish were one hell of a front court.
Bird was great!! I was so privileged to be able to say I watched him play live.
When Bird retired there was a special “recap” of his career on one of the local Boston stations. The closing credits were shown alongside a series of clips of Bird passing the ball to his teammates. 😳 That sequence alone showed how great he was. 🤷🏻
th-cam.com/video/Am56lEY2kVQ/w-d-xo.html Bird passing highlights compilation.
Just a different time. I can't feel that nostalgia looking at Brony, Chinaboy. Shame what the NBA has become.
During his prime in the golden era of basketball his passing was rivaled only by Magic Johnson.
Bird is my favorite all time. His basketball intellect was on another level. Not a great leaper but a great rebounder. Smart player. Rarely made bad decisions. Made those around him look good. Unselfish. Fearless competitor. Words don't convey his greatness and legendary status. Anyone who really knows basketball knows this.
You know, that all translates to a current NBA star in Luka Doncic. He's not the mastermind on defense that Larry was but aside from that they are shockingly similar play wise. They both are unathletic yet somehow average 10 rebounds a game or more. Both are high on assists as well as points per game. They both talk a lot of trash they proceed to back up and both have unmerciful determination to win. My opinion at least 🤗
Never was a sports lover or even kinda liked. But when I saw LB play, I was a fan. Still am. Watched alot of his games. Now I like to see videos of other players talking about him and his highlights. Admirable playa.
Bird was the best and most exciting player I ever watched. Pure joy!
Larry legend is one of a kind player
He for sure earned that name.
Bird was the best ever. When he went to the Celtics they were a last place division team. As a rookie, he took them to a division title. He made every player on the team better. I saw the game live when he battled Dominique in the playoffs. It was mind blowing.
I am from Atlanta and remember that game. It was nuts.
Bird was not top 5 every stop sniffing a mans jock because hes white
@@AFTR2025 let me guess your black we get it black man superior but cant even raise his kids gtfoh and go preach on how to stop yall peoples killing each other goofball
@@AFTR2025 ...he is like 3 assists per game shy of averaging a triple double for his whole career. An insane stat line.. in an era where stats weren't inflated like in today's league. YOU seem to be the one focused on race.. everyone else just loves his game.
@@AFTR2025 you the only one talking about other man's privates?
love your vids!
I'm truly enjoying all these old time games..Precious Memories..😊
As a die hard "Showtime" fan in the 80s the distain for the Celtics was immeasurable. However, the respect for "Larry the Legend" was the same! No single opponent more revered and feared of a Laker fan during that Era!
And as a Celts fan, I felt the same about Magic. Deep down inside I wanted Magic and Bird on my team.
Yeah as a guy who grew up in Boston we hated the Lakers… because you had to. Not because you couldn’t think for yourself.. you just couldn’t give them any positivity because they could snatch the joy right out of you in an instant… and sometimes did. I don’t know if I would’ve respected a man from LA who didn’t love the Lakers and hate the Celts hahah. BUT… you get older and realize how much joy and excitement they all brought to us… and most Bostonians I know have nothing but respect for those Laker teams. And the Larry and Magic saga is one of the all time greatest situations to ever happen in sports and we’re all lucky as hell to have seen it. Peace y’all
It was my duty to hate the Celtics, but dang were they good and as a Lakers fan I wouldn't have it any other way. Outstanding era for basketball.
Larry made the Lakers just as much as Magic made the Celtics. Neither existed without the other. All the finals series between those two teams were just magical, and held a vibe that no other series since has touched.
@@Markinfilm it's a good thing, they were both competitive and never thought about it but at least they did when it comes to team USA basketball.
Still my favorite player. His tenacity and talent was such a joy to watch play.
Grew up in the 80's, still a die hard Pistons fan. When it comes to Larry Bird he wasn't talking tash he was predicting what was gonna happen, including when and where. It's not trash talk when you can do it like Bird did.
I dont know shit about basketball but boy do i love hearing Larry bird Stories and watching him play.
Larry was a lot like Wayne Gretzky. Neither were fast but no one was quicker from the neck up. Their reading of the game was without peer and that intelligence allowed them to operate in a space that was about two seconds ahead of everyone else.
Pause
Don't have to be physically faster when your mind's already bought you the extra time you need.
neither of them look athletic either ... deceptive
Wayne Gretzky had wheels
@@bradypayne4470 Well, skates, but point taken.
Some people get caught up in the flash and dash of quick, high-flying players. Sure, it's hoops eye candy, but it doesn't count for anything on the scoreboard. The ball still has to go in. Larry wasn't athletic by NBA standards, but he averaged 24-10-6 over a 13-year career.
He took the Celtics from a 29 win team the season before he arrived in Boston to a 61 win team his rookie year, and that was before McHale and Parrish joined the team. The 60+ win seasons would happen five more times in the '80s, as we'll as three 55+ win seasons.
Larry led the Celtics to five finals appearances in seven seasons ('81-87), including three championships. In those five finals he averaged 23-12-6, including a near triple-double in the '86 finals when he averaged 24-10-9 for what many consider to be the greatest team in NBA history. From '84-86 he won three consecutive MVP awards, joining Bill Russell and Wilt as the only players to have accomplished this and he did it at time in the league when there was Kareem, Magic, Worthy, Isaiah, Laimbeer, Michael, Julius, Moses, Barkley, Dominique, Drexler, Bernard King, Hakeem and Sampson among others.
He was selected to the All-NBA first team in each of his first nine seasons from '79-80 to '87-88 before the streak ended in '88-89 when he played in just the first six games of the season due to season-ending surgery on both of his heels to remove bone spurs. The following season he was selected to the All-NBA first team for the tenth time in eleven seasons.
Larry made the All-Star team twelve times in his career with the only absence being in the '88-89 season when he had surgery. All twelve of the players who were on the '89-90 Eastern Conference All-Star team (Larry, Isaiah, Michael, Barkley, Ewing, Parrish, McHale, Dumas, Dominique, Reggie, Scottie and Dennis) are in the Hall of Fame, with nine of them being selected to the NBA's 50th Anniversary All-Time Team in 1996 and eleven of them being selected to the NBA's 75th Anniversary All-Time Team in 2021. Eight of the players who were on that year's Western Conference All-Star team (Stockton, Magic, Worthy, Hakeem, David Robinson, Karl Malone, Drexler and Mullin) are also in the Hall of Fame and seven of them were selected to both the 50th Anniversary team and 75th Anniversary team. Considering the incredible talent that Larry played against, his accomplishments are even more impressive.
Larry had the NBA's first 50-40-90 season in '86-87, shooting .525/.400/.910 and improved on it the following season shooting .527/.414/.916. He also won three consecutive three-point contests, the only ones he competed in. He is undeniably one of the most clutch shooters in NBA history with a nearly unmatched work ethic, and he often played hurt.
Charles Barkley once said, "Larry Bird can't run or jump because that was God's way of keeping the game fair." Maybe he's right because can you imagine a player with the basketball IQ and mastery of fundamentals that Larry had in an athletic body like Michael's or Dominique's?
I remember being in High School and putting my top 20 on a message board that included Indiana St. near the top. As a Celtics fan I also remember Bird being selected before his senior season. Fond memories for me.
I heard about him as a child all the time..thankfully we have the internet I can just re-watch his games.
My dad was a Celtic fan and when they were on TV we watched. I grew up with Larry and being so young I didn't realize how good he was until later in life. Understanding how hard he worked and the practice he put in to be what he became I realized I could be great too.
Back in 87, I attended my first NBA game (Celtics against Washington). Larry tied the game on a 3 point buzzer beater in regular time and won it in the 2nd overtime with another 3 pointer
I remember that game
Larry Bird!!!
A basketball legend!
From Parma, Italy with love.
My dad was a big basketball fan in the 80s. My nephew's just 16 and he's into basketball. He was going on and on about how great LeBron and all them are. I just calmly told him "Larry Bird would like to have a word with you".
He said "who's Larry Bird?" And my dad just gave a cheeky smile from the other side of the room and in that moment, we knew.... these kids don't even know what basketball is
Larry Bird was a very enjoyable player to watch!! When he played the NBA was pure greatness. I had the privilege of watching the Celtics twice in Boston. Bird was phenomenal and his team was totally together. Against Philadelphia he got a breakaway. He paused under the basket and then dribbled to the three-point line and you know what happened!! Three! Amazing and Boston Garden came undone. The Sixers started a physical fight with him and he went to the locker room in the 4th quarter. I loved watching Larry Bird.
The desire and determination of Bird was legendary. I think he recieved 67% of all votes for MVP during his career in which he won 3 MVPs and was 2nd 4 times in a 7 year period. He played the last game of one road trip and played the 1st 3 quarters left handed and scored over 20 points left handed b4 finishing the other team off in the 4th quarter. And theres never been a bigger trash talker in the game and he backed up every word
Today I am paying homage to Larry Bird. Everything I can find on the man I am watching, and there’s a big smile on my face.
The hick from French Lick. Brother and I were at a Pacers game when Larry was GM. Larry, as always, was in the stands signing every scrap of paper any fan wanted.
My brother offered him an extra Miller Light he’d purchased (word was Larry liked Miller and Cools). Larry with a smile and in his rural Indiana accent, “awe hell, I can’t accept that. Thanks though!”
Solid memory of a true Indiana legend.
Larry was and is the greatest of all times bar none! Total package and team player!
100%
I really need whatever ur on
You really had to watch him, to appreciate how great he was. His passing was unreal. He made people better, around him, as all great players do. This, in a time when the game was much tougher to play. Today, you can’t touch a player - Foul. Back then it was lights out, if you drove the lane on a big man. Oh, Larry was tough - played hard and beat you down.
When I heard passing, it got me shook for a sec but then I realize what you meant. lol
Clearly you havent watched games back in the 80s...most fouls were called.. also there is some myth that 80s were tough when in fact most teams were run and gun even the pistons in the start of the decade, they later become a defensive team...
@@republikadugave420 I watched. I’m old enough to remember. And not highlights
@@republikadugave420 ummm yea, you clearly never watched 80s. Hand Checks were allowed, there was a flagrant foul every game, they fought often. They didn’t ride banana boats together in the off-season.
@@jarad590 you clearly clearly never ever watched a game in the 80s ...just seen highlights
At the Summit in the ''86 playoffs I watched Larry Bird warming up doing free throws. He was like a machine.
We lived in Malden, MA back then and saw Bird at Boston Gardens. Amazing!
To be a motor-genius with tactical skill...this is the caliber of man you want on any battleground.
Bird is my favorite player of all time. He was clutch, smooth, and just on another level. He made me a basketball fan as a kid, even tho i only really got to see him at the end, when he was dealing with a bad back. Jordan & Bird made me love basketball. It was a wonderful era for the sport.
He was just awesome,amazing and unstoppable. My favorite player of all time and I am a Laker fan.
You are definitely not a Lakers fan…
@@damarideadass8305 You’re wrong!
I will always be a Laker fan and I love the game. Me being a Bird fan doesn’t take away from me being a Laker fan!
Larry was incredible to watch. I watch his old games and I am still amazed how good he really was.
Love Dominique telling the left hand story... such great guys out there slugging it out.
I had the great good fortune of being a Laker's season's ticket holder during the Magic vs Bird days. When they met in the finals there was so much electricity in the air you could feel it. Watching some of the greatest of all time matching up on the court was mind blowing. I couldn't talk for days following a Laker's Celtics matchup.
That’s so awesome !!
For days that's funny! I saw Jordan, Pippen, Rodman in Dallas that was fun as sh*t!
Ya most people don't understand that the games between these two teams were not just games. They were events, spectacles of the highest order packed with more electricity, excitement and emotions than any sporting event I have ever witnessed and yes that includes the superbowl.
I felt the same way, but I was feeling that electric AIR at Chicago Stadium.. I was very lucky to have a rich friend with 8th row center seats to watch the end of an era Lakers vs the New Jordan Bulls.. But scary Larry Bird still amazed me at the end of his career..
Larry Bird gave me an appreciation for ones athleticism and critical thinking theories that directed his opposition's efforts. I developed a hook shot that became consistent from half court, as a hobby interest. It was the same basic shooting theory with a twist. Squaring your shoulders to the basket on the shot simply became aligning your shoulders toward the basket and the shot. God Bless Bird.
I had this old rubber larry bird basketball. I wore that thing out shooting into the nights with my dad. Best summers ever.
Larry was terrifying precisely because he was so unassuming. He lacked style but his fundamental gamesense was unpredictable yet fundamental. He could do anything at any time and wasn't a flashy one trick. If the situation needed a team player larry was there. If the team needed a shooter Larry was there. Larry was just fundamentally a great player on every area of the court.
Add to his cerebral mastery his absolute mastery of shit talk. Bird was a three-punch combo honed to perfection. Lightspeed game IQ, ability to get into his opponent's heads from the first tip, and his laser like accuracy. And every facet of his game reinforced the others.
He had some style on those dimes tho
When i see Luka play nowadays, I see alot of Larry.
“Unpredictable yet fundamental”. Yes.
Larry was the smartest player to ever play the game . And as such the greatest of all time . The only guy to demolish Jordan every time they met. Says everything .
I remembered reading an article about Larry in SI that epitomized his greatness and his basketball IQ. He had the ultimate court sense - at any point in time in a game, he could recall where everyone on the court was positioned. This probably could explain his amazing passes and his rebounding when he could not jump.
That's really fascinating. I've seen chess players recall the position of every piece on the board at any time in the game from any game they've played. I don't know how they do it. I can't remember what I had for dinner.
@@RaspberryRockOffGridCabin Without a doubt, the highest basketball I.Q. this league has ever seen. Bird was so intelligent on the court he made the opposing team look foolish. He did this his entire career and made it look easy.
regarding court sense I noticed how he often passed the ball without even looking behind because he remembered the position of his teammates the last time he saw them or where they ought to be I should say if they had kept moving forward...which means there's teamwork at play and trust that your teammates are carrying their own weight and are at the location you need them to be.
I watched all of his games. We had great basketball and great teams during his career. Great teams, a lot of great players
Last era I watched basketball was larry bird era he was just soooo good never got into much after larry....Much Larry Love from an old hippy gramma....
At the 9:20 mark, gotta love those bounce passes LARRY JOE BIRD did between the defenders legs. His teammates had to be ready at all times to catch all those magical passes he tossed their way.
I was so glad he took over the Pacers and helped them improve. Bird is and was a Hoosier at heart and did a ton of good for the game. I remember rooting against the Celtics and he made you hate him because he made every hard shot that killed the spirit of your team.
Im not american but discovered basketball through Jordan and that great bulls team. I continued to love it through rewatches of Bird and (my) future greats like Shaq, Bryant etc. Bird is one of the old favorites, had such a great understanding and intellect of the game
Always loved Larry. My brother got me into a bar when I was 16 in 1985 and we watched the Lakers vs the Celtics championships. Fun times.
I am from Massachusetts and can remember so many heart pounding games. I would have to step away from the TV because I couldn't deal with what was going to happen next!! Especially against the Lakers. That was when basketball was GREAT! Love Larry Bird!
The Lakers and Celtics rivalry during the 1980's was the greatest sports rivalry I have
ever witnessed. Nothing has ever come close since.