No way man....He honed his skills playing against black hotel workers in French Lick.....That DEFINITELY made him a better player! He wasn't stupid...he knew the best basketball players were African American!
Jordan literally said he learned everything he knows about trash talking and mind games from Larry... When you're the one teaching *Jordan,* you're probably the best at what you do xD
@@terrancethomas9792 They were rivals who respected each other and they were friends. Not like friends who hung out but the mutual respect wanted to see each other do well just not more well than they're doing and watch Larry's retirement video and what magic said.
I am a white dude and the the thing about Larry, He did not see color, he treated all equal. that is why he talked trash to white and black both. he grew up very poor and played ball on outdoor courts with the older black players. He said he never forgot how the black players gave him a chance and he earned their respect. His best friend was Magic Johnson. Magic and Bird saved the league and advanced race relations big time.
The magic/bird wasn't just a friendship and to be honest, it was the epitaph of competitive brotherhood and respect. It was so deep, the Lakers vs Celtics, it literally saved basketball. Basketball was dying when Bird and Magic feud began and their competitiveness saved basketball. Their friendship is an example for the rest of us, to live by, to die by.
Lol he didn’t treat white players the same way as he did black players. He said “psh they put a white boy on me for defense? That’s disrespectful” 🤣🤣🤣 he was worse lol
@@crawdad EVERYBODY back then knew that white players were not as good as black players ( with a few exceptions, of course), so Larry was telling the truth.
@@robertmorrison107 I was in college in Boston just before Larry came to town. The Celtics were so low ( and the league overall) that they were selling lifetime passes for $1000 just to get SOME attendance. Needless to say, those passes became VERY valuable after Larry came!
@@toobroketopayattention Larry talked shit to everyone in sight, players, coaches, fans, he talked it to everyone. He told Magic, who was hurt at the time, sorry your hurt so I'm going to put on a show for you tonight.
“If I had to choose a player to take a final shot to win a game I'd choose (Michael) Jordan, but if I could pick one to shoot to save my life I would pick Bird.” Pat Riley
@@toobroketopayattention As a white guy, I can honestly say if I were blessed with Larry's level of talent, I'd be pissed and offended too lol. There's a reason a movie was made called "White Men Can't Jump."
I don't think he was actually offended, just more mind games. Some of those white guys, like Bobby Jones of Philly, were amazing one-on-one defenders and Bird knew it. Just another attempt to throw a monkey wrench into your opponent's mindset.
Oh you can trade LeBron James and Charles Barkley with little to no worry of their return to your city. With 2 first round picks thrown in... That is a very fair offer for Bird in the 90's! But much like Jordan, Magic, Kobe, and so many other greats, you do not trade these men.They will take it personal and embarrass your city!
On the topic of trash talking. “Larry Bird is the greatest trash-talker and mind-game player of all time. He taught me everything I know about getting in folks’ heads,” - Micheal Jordan
Bird was so good that he needed challenges like this. He could shoot a shot and make it go where he wanted after the swish. Top of the key, swish, the ball is headed down the right baseline where Bird is waiting for it.
Larry and Magic became actual friends after several years of bitter rivalry against each other. But yeah they actually are friends off the court, which is a wonderful thing. The two greatest of the 80s really being friends with each other.
@@jamescouillard8068 Yea, NOW we love Magic. We didn't love him back then! I got to go to 1 Celtics game in person. It was 1991 and I took a vacation to Massachusetts to visit my cousins. (I live in Kansas.) My cousin that I stayed with got me a ticket for the game. The game was on Good Friday and was against Cleveland. Robert Parish won the game on a buzzer beater! I was over-the-moon ecstatic. Bird played but McHale was on the bench in street clothes because he'd been injured and not playing yet. My goal was to see Bird and McHale play and I got halfway to my goal. But I bought me a shirt that had a bunch of Celtics stuff on it plus the slogan "I hate the the Lakers" all over it! I wore that shirt for years until it kinda fell apart. 😅 I can love Magic now but back then when Bird was still playing, no, I did NOT like Magic! Ha ha ha!
You know they don't readily show it, but Magic was wearing a Celtics shirt under his Lakers warm up at Larry Bird's retirement ceremony. They were gods.
They are great friends. When Magic got aids, Larry was one of the first to call him and ask if he could help in any way. There’re still friends to this day. Their Mutual respect is off the charts. Great reactions. Thank you.
No Larry said he cried, and didn't cry for no one ,not even his father. Everybody thought Magic and that smile was gonna wither away, but HIV said damn... Magic is strong as sh*t.
Larry also stated the day Magic called him and told him about his positive HIV test was the only night in his entire career/life he didn’t want to play basketball.
“Other players were always trying to get in my head during the game, Larry got in your head and never wanted to leave.” ~ Michael Jordan ~ When asked by a local Chicago sports reporter later in his career why he hated playing Larry Bird so much after an interview Michael did for SI where he stated his favourite Larry Bird moment was the day he retired.
Exactly! Larry Bird calling shots on the basketball court sounded like Minnesota Fats playing pool! And some of his passes look like volley ball moves. Mad respect for Larry Legend!
I always watch Bird’s eyes. In plays or interviews or going down the court. If he were t a basketball player, he might be a serial killer. His eyes are intense and they see EVERYTHING. Haha. Love Bird. And you’re a fund dude. Thanks.
There was a game where Larry fell on his face. Broke his cheek bone and eye socket. Went to the locker room. The Celts started losing the game. Larry came back on the court into the game and they won. He played hurt for years mostly his back.
The follow-up to that story -- the one where he falls, bangs his face on the flour, breaks his cheek-bone and eye socket and comes back into the game to prevent the Celtics from losing -- is that when he came back to the game, he had a concussion and he was seeing double. I saw an interview where he said, he just aimed at the basket in the middle! Ha ha! I've watched BB for years (before and after Bird) and I don't remember any player that would play through that!
Bird was the best player I've ever personally seen. Only got to see the very end of Wilt's career and never saw Russell or Oscar. But Bird dominated the entire league from the day he stepped on the NBA floor until his surgeries on his feet. He dominated the league for 2 years with a bad back. 9 years of being the best in the game. Best clutch player ever. Non-stop,high level effort every single second he was on the court.
Bird was a master of mind games. He got into your head & lived there. He took you out of your game. He made you doubt yourself & your team....!!!! Mind games deluxe........ Magic & Larry respected each other. My favorite Larry story - was when he was in the 3 point contest. He did not even take his warm-up jack off. Just unreal skills....!!!!!
8:37 that was towards the end of the game when Bird scored 60 points. He told McHale he should have gone for 60 when McHale broke the Celtics scoring record with 56 points just *NINE* days before. Bird would trash talk his own teammates too lmao. Dude was just a pure competitor.
Maaaaaan, Larry is worth FAR MORE than a Simmons + Barkley 😂 I wouldn’t trade him for ANY player! Btw, ALL of Larry’s teammates Appreciated him. They knew what he brought to the game.
When Larry was a teen he used to stop by the local park and play with the grown black men. That's how he learned to play and talk trash. Can you imagine the talk he learned.
“If I had to choose a player to take a final shot to win a game I'd choose (Michael) Jordan, but if I could pick one to shoot to save my life I would pick Bird.” Pat Riley
One of my favorite quotes, the other one I liked was one Kobe stole and applied it to himself (lmao). Tommy Heinsohn said of Bird, "Larry was playing chess when everyone else on the court was playing checkers" At the time Kobe was probably still in diapers! diapers!
The one thing you got wrong...Larry's teammates loved playing with him. You see bro HUGS at the end of wins...not just high fives. He made everyone better...AND made sure everyone was included. .except when the game was on the line. Larry took that responsibility seriously. And RARELY let his team down. And Larry is top 3 all time. Youll have to trade a Kobe and Olajuwan with a KD before there's a thought about a "trade". And the answer is still no. 😄
He shot the ball, it bounced off the rim, he recovered the rebound with his right hand as he was heading out of bounds. In mid air he switched the ball to his left hand and laid it up. I laugh when people say he wasn't athletic.
What you were saying about Larrys shooting style (from the forearm) - he had a mangled index finger from a softball injury. Can you imagine if he didn't? With medical advancements since he played, with a fixed finger/back/achilles, etc. - man might have been just about unstoppable. Hell, he just about was including it, though it did cut his playing career short. Man had heart. P.S. Jordan took that Master Class in Trash Talk from Bird!
I try to be objective to the players of all generations, but am old enough to remember Bird/Magic/Jordan times when i was a kid. I honestly don't believe the Lebron's and Curry's of today, could hang with those players when comparing the variables (physicality, rules changes, medical availability, willilngness to play hurt, etc.). Granted...one person's opinion, but Bird made everyone on his team from 7s to 8s simply by his vision and willingness to win as a team before individual accomplishments. Don't see a lot of that today. I'll keep Bird. :D
@@AyySolid Lebron is a great player but a few seconds left and the game is on the line who do want taking that last shot I think you know the answer Larry Legend enough said!
Bird and Magic didn't like each other at first, but after they filmed a Converse commercial at Bird's house in Indiana in '84 and Magic got to meet Bird's family and break bread together and all that, they became very close and are close friends to this day.
Back then, the players personalities were more interesting, the wars were real, and it was a physical battle of wills. Today is a damn game of HORSE, with a bunch of players more concerned about their brand than anything else.
Nice, astute, comment. I have said the same thing, in many comments, about today's game being more like a game of horse, and, at times, a dunking contest. I might add, traveling and carrying the ball, not being called, is another big negative, in my opinion. It all, literally, almost makes me sick to watch, what little I have watched.
Larry used to be mad at himself for what he thought was poor performance. Admonished himself for not hitting net when he thought net should be hit. One of the best ever. His own biggest critic.
I agree on your point with the differences in the eras. They changed the rules. They also neutered the fire and emotions of the players too. Without Defensive 3seconds MJ, Bird, Dr.j, Magic had to contend with real defending bigs in the lane to score. They throw Draymond Green out in a finals game over WORDS...not good. No post play, and it's a 3 pt contest now because of one very rare,and unique team in the warriors. Players used to hate each other, and it made for better series. Boston vs Philadelphia 80s , Boston vs LA 80s, Detroit vs Chicago late 80s, Knicks vs Miami 90s...the best to watch.
I grew up in the 80s and 90s when these players were becoming the God like players they would one day be and there were so many of them. The things they did on the basketball court were both shocking and awe inspiring. Their rivalries made for some of the greatest moments in basketball history.
We can't give up Bird, we might not ever get another one like him! Just because he could do everything. Players like him & Magic, they are once in a decade type players.
I don’t know much about basketball but these clips are really exciting and entertaining. I remember hearing about Bird when I was younger but I wasn’t interested in the game then. ☮️❤️🌻
As a girl, I played boys of all sizes, and the best compliment I got was the nickname “Bird”. You couldn’t tell me anything when I heard that. And, uh...no deal on the trades. You couldn’t even thrown in Lebron, Jordan or Kobe and make it worth the mental & physical toughness and strength, just the basketball smarts of Larry. Never see another one close. This league couldn’t play him all together and hope to win lol.
When you said Ben Simmons I was a bit insulted then you said sir Charles and my face lit up. Lol I’m a 76er fan so I’m all for that trade. And he is the nicest guy to workers. Treats them like they are equal and I love that about Charles.
Great review. A few stories about Bird from an old-timer. You talked about how Bird used his forearm in shooting. That's partly because he shattered a knuckle in a softball game at Indiana State (while his agent was in the stand) and he was never able to fully straighten his finger again. He got his back injury by shoveling gravel in 1985 (so well after he was a superstar) so his mom could have a driveway. Imagine how long he could have played and what he could have been without these injuries. And the Magic and Bird friendship? They really hated each other at first, until Converse brought them together in 1984 to shoot a commercial. It was shot in French Lick, IN. Larry's mom invited Magic to lunch at their house and there they found out they had almost everything in common -- midwest values, work ethic, family values. And the bond was formed. Bird was one of the first people Magic called when he was diagnosed with HIV and Bird stood by him the whole time, without question. In many ways, Larry and Magic are the same person.
Was that Converse shoot on Larrys property? & I kinda love that he wanted to do his Mums driveway instead of contractors (despite the back injury for his troubles). & yeah, without Larry & Magic, who knows how long basketball might've had to wait to get to the 'Prime Time, Everybody Cares About It Now' status?
Lol are you f***** kidding me? Benson and Barkley? Bird was the only addition to the Celtics his rookie year and they improved there record by 32 games. 32 games dude. They went from last to first his rookie year. I'll decline your trade. You going to have to come a lot stronger than that and i will probably still decline. Love your video. Great job!
It's interesting you called them 'best' friends, because Bird even said that if he and Magic grew up near one another, they'd have likely been best friends growing up. You probably already know that the two discovered HOW much they were alike and walked away being good friends after that Converse commercial in Larry's back yard. But it's when Magic got HIV that they became VERY close friends, as Magic mentioned a true friend is one that sticks by you when times are tough, and that's exactly what Bird was--unlike Isaiah Thomas--during Magic's HIV news. Also, Bird and Magic were both crying on the phone when Magic called to tell Larry the news, so they've developed an unbreakable bond that'll last a lifetime.
He wasn't known as a trash talker, but Pete Maravich played like a Harlem Globetrotter against a whole League of Washington Generals in his day. Check out his highlight. He was a combination of Magic Johnson and Steph Curry before Magic was in the League or Steph was even born.
Lol brother! We ain't giving up Larry for anybody. He's ours because we have an example for basketball excellence. Haha! Much love great work on the video.
One of the reasons Bird had a weird shooting style was because he really mangled his finger doing something when he was in college. I forget the story but his finger never healed correctly. Bird said he never shot as well as he did in college after that injury.
Barkley was great and I think people forget in particular what a ridiculous rebounder he was, not even a full 6'5" but he averaged 12.5 a game on his CAREER. But the mark of a truly great player is in how he makes the other 4 guys on the floor with him an EXTENSION of him. Barkley didn't have that, even Jordan didn't. But Magic, Bird, Russell, Wilt and a few others did.
Craig Ehlo made the mistake of teasing larry saying one day he went 1 for 10 and yelled thats defence to Larry. Larry replied theres 2 halfs. He came out 3/4 and scored 10 straight on Ehlo and then asked him is your mother watching, cause i wanna embarrass you. That was just as the coach took him out the game.
You gotta check out documentary “Magic & Bird: A Courtship of Rivals” about them….so good! It really shows what makes those guys so groundbreaking for their time…Also shows how they went from enemies to friends.
I had season tickets in the Boston Garden from 1980-1992. I saw every game he played in that building. I had seats right behind the visitors bench, so I heard every ounce of Bird's trash talking. I mean he would embarrass people. One night in 1985 the Celts were hosting the Philadelphia 76ers. Barkley was playing hung-over. Bird caught onto that right away. "Hey Charlie, what's wrong man, you get in a little late last night? Damn boy, you smell like a sailor!" Bird yelled at him. Larry had him running his ass up and down that court. Barkley looked like he was about to puke man. Then Bird nailed a three on him and said "Not feeling good huh Charlie? Better go sit down and take a water break before you fold up and collapse in the middle of the floor and crush my leprechaun to death!" Everyone was just dying laughing. Then Bird yelled over at coach Cunningham and said, "Hey coach, send somebody else out here will you? I ain't even broke a sweat yet!" So coach subs forward Bobby Jones for Barkley, and Larry starts eating him alive. I mean this went on all game. Finally towards the end, Barkley was drained. I don't even know how he was walking straight. Boston was up by about 11 or 12 points with a few minutes left. Bird wanted Barkley one last time. So he yells over to the 76er bench again, "Hey coach, gimme the Pillsbury Doughboy one more time will you?" Bird was hilarious man!
White , Black Delegation was hilarious! Shout out to Dave Shappel ! Bird was the greatest trash talker for sure ! No Trades ! Keeping BIRD ! Maybe Greatest Player ever !
Larry Bird grew up so hard I think from his experience he had an understanding of what it takes to be Great and he innately knew the hardships that Blackfolks deal with on a daily basis if there ever was a yt cat that was a real homeboy that definitely is Larry Bird
Magic and Larry absolutely hated each other until they filmed a street basketball game in front of Larry Bird's parents house for an TV ad. At lunchtime they stopped filming and Larry invited Magic to come in and have some food because his mom had made a big lunch for them. Magic although a little skeptical came in, Larry's mom give him a big hug and told Magic that he was her favourite basketball player trolling her own son 🤣 It was a great ice-breaker for Larry and Magic who over a great meal sat there laughing with each other and talking about their childhoods and how they grew up. They both came from poor families with lots of kids and both families had moms worked their asses off full time at a job and then came home and took care of the house and all the kids on top of it. Larry's mom reminded Magic totally of his own mom. They realized by the end of lunch that day, they really were just weird mirror images of each other and had an astonishing amount in common. They were great friends from that moment forward all because of Larry Bird's mom was JUST like Magic Johnson's mother was.
His best trash talk wasn't talk and wasn't mentioned here. When Brad Daughterly flew by Bird, Bird tapped Brad on the butt with the ball then nailed the 3.
Love Barkley (very underrated and one of my absolute favorite players of all time) and Simmons is good (but can't shoot a lick). That being said, I would NEVER trade Bird. It wasn't just his skill, it was his attitude. Boston was 29-53 the year before Bird joined the team. They were 61-21 the next year and he took them to the WCF in his rookie season. Kevin McHale and Robert Parish weren't on the team yet. He would do anything to win and was the toughest SOB I ever seen play. The man mangled his index finger on his shooting hand prior to entering the NBA and it couldn't be repaired. He said he could never shoot the ball quite the same after that. He played through multiple injuries, including a back that was deteriorating due to him shoveling gravel to build a driveway for his mom. This back injury occurred in 1985 at the height of his prime. He proceeded to become the founding member of the 50-40-90 club the following year and did it two years straight. He also had an enlarged heart, both literally and figuratively. Respectfully, A Caucasian follower
Larry was the ONLY basketball player to call Magic when he announced he had aids. Larry Bird….his nemesis on the court..the only one that cared enough to call. That showed that no matter how hard they competed, he’d be there for him.
His right hand got hit by a baseball/softball in high school and he has a finger that is permanently deformed from it so he had to learn to change his shooting technique. Then after he joined the NBA he got his back seriously/permanently hurt graveling his moms drive way. So his entire NBA career he played with injuries. With or without the injuries he is the GOAT in my book, no other player in history played as hard or with as much heart as Basketball Jesus Larry Legend Bird.
I am pretty sure the baseball injury was in college after the Celtics drafted him. He was trying to hide it from them because he still hadn't signed his contract yet.
@@hawki5120 Yep you're right. Larry still had to complete some extra credit for that college year, and Larry's older brother asked if he wanted to play in a softball game? In addition to basketball, Larry grew up a BIG baseball fan, so he was immediately up for playing. Then after the game starts, none other than Larry's brother hit a wicked spinning ball, and when Bird ran in and tried to make a basket catch against the ground, he bent his right index finger back so violently that Larry's brother got sick when he saw what his younger brother had done to his index finger Bird said upon examining his mangled index finger, that the doctor told him he should consider retirement, as his finger would never be the same. Obviously Bird resumed playing and became one of the all-time greats, but Larry has said that he was never the same shooter as he was before the finger injury, which is scary to imagine that Larry would have likely been an even better shooter w/o that mangled finger.
13:05...it's makes Bird seem really egotistical, but what this vid doesn't show you is the passing wizard he was. Yes, he took a LOT of shots himself, but if he saw an open teammate, the ball went that way without a moment's hesitation....he ALWAYS knew where his teammates were in the middle of the action. Rifle-shot bounce passes, alley-oops, taps while the ball is in flight, no-looks for days....find some vids of his passing skills. You had to be on your game and aware like a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs to play with him.
Larry and Magic have something deeper than just friendship. Respect and Love for each other and the game! They played when you could have serious contact man. Today is the soft game
Prior to his three straight he was second runner up in voting three times; at the end of his three straight he was second runner up for two years. That is dominance!!!
@@AyySolid 8 straight. He won three MVPs in a row, prior to that he was second runner up for 3 years in a row and after he won MVP 3 years in a row he was second runner up 2 years in a row.
Caucasian viewer here. Me not giving up Larry Bird would have nothing to do with race or anything like that. My personal dream team has so many, and Bird is the only white dude. Power forward: Duncan, Kevin Garnett, Karl Malone. Point guard: Magic Johnson, S. Curry Shooting guard: Jordan, Kobe Center: Kareem, Wilt Chamberlain Small forward: Bird, and maybe LeBron I would trade none of these guys. 😆
He broke his right hand before he ever started playing in the NBA, so he couldn’t feel the ball the same after two surgeries on it. Yet he was still that good. Its phenomenal.
LT Everytime I see LT I go right to your video even if I'm watching another one you have become my favorite , LT what are we going to do when we run out of Larry Bird videos?
The caucasian delegation declines the the offer from the african american delegation stating “that’s our one”.
Ha
No way man....He honed his skills playing against black hotel workers in French Lick.....That DEFINITELY made him a better player! He wasn't stupid...he knew the best basketball players were African American!
He said so himself in a game against Charles Barkley....."Why you guys gotta white boy defending me?".....
Freaking hilarious that everyone knows exactly what we're talking about. 😂
NO DEAL, lol! Larry for life!
Jordan literally said he learned everything he knows about trash talking and mind games from Larry... When you're the one teaching *Jordan,* you're probably the best at what you do xD
Facts
Yeah, I saw the interview where Jordan said that he learned how to trash talk from Larry Byrd.
Bird and Magic were not friends most of their career. Only at the end after a TV commercial.
@@terrancethomas9792 They were rivals who respected each other and they were friends. Not like friends who hung out but the mutual respect wanted to see each other do well just not more well than they're doing and watch Larry's retirement video and what magic said.
Then Kobe copied from Jordan. Lol. He told Jordan the first time they met when he was 18 and Mike was retired that he could beat his ass. Lol
I am a white dude and the the thing about Larry, He did not see color, he treated all equal. that is why he talked trash to white and black both. he grew up very poor and played ball on outdoor courts with the older black players. He said he never forgot how the black players gave him a chance and he earned their respect. His best friend was Magic Johnson. Magic and Bird saved the league and advanced race relations big time.
The magic/bird wasn't just a friendship and to be honest, it was the epitaph of competitive brotherhood and respect. It was so deep, the Lakers vs Celtics, it literally saved basketball. Basketball was dying when Bird and Magic feud began and their competitiveness saved basketball. Their friendship is an example for the rest of us, to live by, to die by.
Lol he didn’t treat white players the same way as he did black players. He said “psh they put a white boy on me for defense? That’s disrespectful” 🤣🤣🤣 he was worse lol
@@crawdad EVERYBODY back then knew that white players were not as good as black players ( with a few exceptions, of course), so Larry was telling the truth.
@@robertmorrison107 I was in college in Boston just before Larry came to town. The Celtics were so low ( and the league overall) that they were selling lifetime passes for $1000 just to get SOME attendance. Needless to say, those passes became VERY valuable after Larry came!
@@juniorjohnson9509 Exactly, he was worse to the white players and that was funny
Larry being offended when white guys guard him may be the most hilarious NBA story I've ever heard.
Bro said y’all being rude lol
@@toobroketopayattention Larry talked shit to everyone in sight, players, coaches, fans, he talked it to everyone. He told Magic, who was hurt at the time, sorry your hurt so I'm going to put on a show for you tonight.
“If I had to choose a player to take a final shot to win a game I'd choose (Michael) Jordan, but if I could pick one to shoot to save my life I would pick Bird.” Pat Riley
@@toobroketopayattention As a white guy, I can honestly say if I were blessed with Larry's level of talent, I'd be pissed and offended too lol. There's a reason a movie was made called "White Men Can't Jump."
I don't think he was actually offended, just more mind games. Some of those white guys, like Bobby Jones of Philly, were amazing one-on-one defenders and Bird knew it. Just another attempt to throw a monkey wrench into your opponent's mindset.
while i can’t speak for everyone, i think consensus will be we’ll keep bird. that’s my vote anyway.
What if I throw in lebron
Oh you can trade LeBron James and Charles Barkley with little to no worry of their return to your city. With 2 first round picks thrown in... That is a very fair offer for Bird in the 90's! But much like Jordan, Magic, Kobe, and so many other greats, you do not trade these men.They will take it personal and embarrass your city!
@@nathancooper2500 straight up assassins
Bird UP!!!!
@@AyySolid nah
I’m a 57 year old white woman from Oklahoma and I enjoyed that so much. You were super fun. Thanks for a good time.
Thank you I appreciate your support
On the topic of trash talking. “Larry Bird is the greatest trash-talker and mind-game player of all time. He taught me everything I know about getting in folks’ heads,” - Micheal Jordan
This ☝
Bird was so good that he needed challenges like this.
He could shoot a shot and make it go where he wanted after the swish.
Top of the key, swish, the ball is headed down the right baseline where Bird is waiting for it.
Hell no
@@dlhvac1 Yes, learn your shit
Larry and Magic became actual friends after several years of bitter rivalry against each other. But yeah they actually are friends off the court, which is a wonderful thing. The two greatest of the 80s really being friends with each other.
A rivalry that started in college. And now they are both management. I'm a life long Celts fan, since the late 70's. We love Magic too.
@@jamescouillard8068 Yea, NOW we love Magic. We didn't love him back then! I got to go to 1 Celtics game in person. It was 1991 and I took a vacation to Massachusetts to visit my cousins. (I live in Kansas.) My cousin that I stayed with got me a ticket for the game. The game was on Good Friday and was against Cleveland. Robert Parish won the game on a buzzer beater! I was over-the-moon ecstatic. Bird played but McHale was on the bench in street clothes because he'd been injured and not playing yet. My goal was to see Bird and McHale play and I got halfway to my goal. But I bought me a shirt that had a bunch of Celtics stuff on it plus the slogan "I hate the the Lakers" all over it! I wore that shirt for years until it kinda fell apart. 😅 I can love Magic now but back then when Bird was still playing, no, I did NOT like Magic! Ha ha ha!
When Magic had to retire due to Hiv Bird cried and was there for him.
You know they don't readily show it, but Magic was wearing a Celtics shirt under his Lakers warm up at Larry Bird's retirement ceremony. They were gods.
They are great friends. When Magic got aids, Larry was one of the first to call him and ask if he could help in any way. There’re still friends to this day. Their Mutual respect is off the charts. Great reactions. Thank you.
No Larry said he cried, and didn't cry for no one ,not even his father. Everybody thought Magic and that smile was gonna wither away, but HIV said damn... Magic is strong as sh*t.
@@adogbewise6561 why did you say no? Everything stretch said was true.
Larry also stated the day Magic called him and told him about his positive HIV test was the only night in his entire career/life he didn’t want to play basketball.
He didn't have to have athletic ability or speed he had ice in his veins experience one of the best shooters and he had that know how to WIN
Magic is HIV positive, but it has never developed into full blown AIDS.
“Other players were always trying to get in my head during the game, Larry got in your head and never wanted to leave.”
~ Michael Jordan ~
When asked by a local Chicago sports reporter later in his career why he hated playing Larry Bird so much after an interview Michael did for SI where he stated his favourite Larry Bird moment was the day he retired.
“Gimme the ball nobody’s guarding me.” (Rodman all over him.)
Isiah Thomas said his mother in law called birds jump shot ." The silent death" lmfao.
Larry thought he was playin pool...Calling his shots! Awesome! He sure was fun to watch!
Exactly! Larry Bird calling shots on the basketball court sounded like Minnesota Fats playing pool! And some of his passes look like volley ball moves. Mad respect for Larry Legend!
Larry is different. Dont mess around man. He is going to hurt you and then ask you if your momma is watching. True story
Yep! Just as Craig Ehlo! 😂
I always watch Bird’s eyes. In plays or interviews or going down the court. If he were t a basketball player, he might be a serial killer. His eyes are intense and they see EVERYTHING. Haha. Love Bird. And you’re a fund dude. Thanks.
You nailed it man! The dude could play! He could talk shit and back it up! And the Great Players knew that! Thanks for an awesome video!
I have watched this a couple times and never get tired of it. Love your commentary! Too great
Thank you
There was a game where Larry fell on his face. Broke his cheek bone and eye socket. Went to the locker room. The Celts started losing the game. Larry came back on the court into the game and they won. He played hurt for years mostly his back.
The follow-up to that story -- the one where he falls, bangs his face on the flour, breaks his cheek-bone and eye socket and comes back into the game to prevent the Celtics from losing -- is that when he came back to the game, he had a concussion and he was seeing double. I saw an interview where he said, he just aimed at the basket in the middle! Ha ha! I've watched BB for years (before and after Bird) and I don't remember any player that would play through that!
@@odiebryer2144 susceptible. Lived in Massachusetts during the "Bird era" but I was more into hockey.
Bird was the best player I've ever personally seen. Only got to see the very end of Wilt's career and never saw Russell or Oscar. But Bird dominated the entire league from the day he stepped on the NBA floor until his surgeries on his feet. He dominated the league for 2 years with a bad back. 9 years of being the best in the game. Best clutch player ever. Non-stop,high level effort every single second he was on the court.
For five years, 81-86, Bird was the best basketball player who ever lived
Bird was a master of mind games. He got into your head & lived there. He took you out of your game. He made you doubt yourself & your team....!!!! Mind games deluxe........ Magic & Larry respected each other. My favorite Larry story - was when he was in the 3 point contest. He did not even take his warm-up jack off. Just unreal skills....!!!!!
8:37 that was towards the end of the game when Bird scored 60 points. He told McHale he should have gone for 60 when McHale broke the Celtics scoring record with 56 points just *NINE* days before. Bird would trash talk his own teammates too lmao. Dude was just a pure competitor.
Maaaaaan, Larry is worth FAR MORE than a Simmons + Barkley 😂
I wouldn’t trade him for ANY player!
Btw, ALL of Larry’s teammates Appreciated him. They knew what he brought to the game.
in interviews, when pushed for an answer, outspoken charles barkley refused to say he was better than bird
charles barkles also said god didnt let larry run or jump to make it fair for the rest of the league
@@grafyte2003 charles pretty much said he is better than larry (which is false) i love chuck but larry is just better even tho chuck was a beast
Better have 4 players for bird and not even sure id even do that. Lol
Not only did Larry Birds Teammates Appreciate him, So did the Majority of his Opponents!! They knew what he brought to the game of Basketball!
When Larry was a teen he used to stop by the local park and play with the grown black men. That's how he learned to play and talk trash. Can you imagine the talk he learned.
You killed me with the 'caucasion trade' stuff, bro
Lol
Larry was the man then and if he played now he would still be The man period
“If I had to choose a player to take a final shot to win a game I'd choose (Michael) Jordan, but if I could pick one to shoot to save my life I would pick Bird.” Pat Riley
One of my favorite quotes, the other one I liked was one Kobe stole and applied it to himself (lmao). Tommy Heinsohn said of Bird, "Larry was playing chess when everyone else on the court was playing checkers"
At the time Kobe was probably still in diapers! diapers!
The one thing you got wrong...Larry's teammates loved playing with him. You see bro HUGS at the end of wins...not just high fives. He made everyone better...AND made sure everyone was included. .except when the game was on the line. Larry took that responsibility seriously. And RARELY let his team down.
And Larry is top 3 all time. Youll have to trade a Kobe and Olajuwan with a KD before there's a thought about a "trade". And the answer is still no. 😄
While Barkley was great, I ain't never giving Bird up. for the trash talk alone.
You totally clicked over and missed the part where larry missed his shot then jumped up and got the rebound and made it.
Rewind that scene sir 👍
With his left hand because his body was behind the backboard.
He shot the ball, it bounced off the rim, he recovered the rebound with his right hand as he was heading out of bounds. In mid air he switched the ball to his left hand and laid it up. I laugh when people say he wasn't athletic.
What you were saying about Larrys shooting style (from the forearm) - he had a mangled index finger from a softball injury. Can you imagine if he didn't? With medical advancements since he played, with a fixed finger/back/achilles, etc. - man might have been just about unstoppable. Hell, he just about was including it, though it did cut his playing career short. Man had heart. P.S. Jordan took that Master Class in Trash Talk from Bird!
i really enjoy your version of reactions compared to the others i have seen, you have a gift , thanks
Thank you I appreciate it
There is no player, white or black, that I would trade for Bird. You got what you got. We're keeping Bird. :)
I’ll give you lebron
I try to be objective to the players of all generations, but am old enough to remember Bird/Magic/Jordan times when i was a kid. I honestly don't believe the Lebron's and Curry's of today, could hang with those players when comparing the variables (physicality, rules changes, medical availability, willilngness to play hurt, etc.). Granted...one person's opinion, but Bird made everyone on his team from 7s to 8s simply by his vision and willingness to win as a team before individual accomplishments. Don't see a lot of that today. I'll keep Bird. :D
Only JORDAN or MAGIC in Trade !
Everything else is a bad deal !
Lebron
@@AyySolid Lebron is a great player but a few seconds left and the game is on the line who do want taking that last shot I think you know the answer Larry Legend enough said!
He was scary good. People nighmared when they played him. He picked apart a whole team.
What many don’t realize is mike learned the trash talking from Larry’s game
Love your video! Larry legend #1
Bird and Magic didn't like each other at first, but after they filmed a Converse commercial at Bird's house in Indiana in '84 and Magic got to meet Bird's family and break bread together and all that, they became very close and are close friends to this day.
Back then, the players personalities were more interesting, the wars were real, and it was a physical battle of wills. Today is a damn game of HORSE, with a bunch of players more concerned about their brand than anything else.
Nice, astute, comment. I have said the same thing, in many comments, about today's game being more like a game of horse, and, at times, a dunking contest. I might add, traveling and carrying the ball, not being called, is another big negative, in my opinion. It all, literally, almost makes me sick to watch, what little I have watched.
I would definitely keep Bird he just made the game so much fun to watch. #33 LEGEND !
Larry used to be mad at himself for what he thought was poor performance. Admonished himself for not hitting net when he thought net should be hit. One of the best ever. His own biggest critic.
Great respect man, thanks for the good reaction.👍
I agree on your point with the differences in the eras. They changed the rules. They also neutered the fire and emotions of the players too.
Without Defensive 3seconds MJ, Bird, Dr.j, Magic had to contend with real defending bigs in the lane to score. They throw Draymond Green out in a finals game over WORDS...not good. No post play, and it's a 3 pt contest now because of one very rare,and unique team in the warriors.
Players used to hate each other, and it made for better series. Boston vs Philadelphia 80s , Boston vs LA 80s, Detroit vs Chicago late 80s, Knicks vs Miami 90s...the best to watch.
Old Caucasian lady says…”No Trade!” 😂😂😂
I grew up in the 80s and 90s when these players were becoming the God like players they would one day be and there were so many of them. The things they did on the basketball court were both shocking and awe inspiring. Their rivalries made for some of the greatest moments in basketball history.
We can't give up Bird, we might not ever get another one like him! Just because he could do everything. Players like him & Magic, they are once in a decade type players.
Y’all got luka lol
@@AyySolid This is true, however, as a satisfactory trade deal has not been reached, we also have Bird lol
We give you Ben Simmons and Anthony davis
Red Auerbach was asked if he could pick any NBA player to start his all time NBA team who would he be?
LARRY BIRD....Larry Legend...the GOAT
I don’t know much about basketball but these clips are really exciting and entertaining. I remember hearing about Bird when I was younger but I wasn’t interested in the game then. ☮️❤️🌻
As a girl, I played boys of all sizes, and the best compliment I got was the nickname “Bird”. You couldn’t tell me anything when I heard that. And, uh...no deal on the trades. You couldn’t even thrown in Lebron, Jordan or Kobe and make it worth the mental & physical toughness and strength, just the basketball smarts of Larry. Never see another one close. This league couldn’t play him all together and hope to win lol.
When you said Ben Simmons I was a bit insulted then you said sir Charles and my face lit up. Lol I’m a 76er fan so I’m all for that trade. And he is the nicest guy to workers. Treats them like they are equal and I love that about Charles.
"so what Larry's white" Michael Jordan
" Larry's not white, Larry's clear." Bill Murray
Space Jam
No trade. No way. There's only one Larry Legend and we're keeping him.
Damn
Great review. A few stories about Bird from an old-timer. You talked about how Bird used his forearm in shooting. That's partly because he shattered a knuckle in a softball game at Indiana State (while his agent was in the stand) and he was never able to fully straighten his finger again. He got his back injury by shoveling gravel in 1985 (so well after he was a superstar) so his mom could have a driveway. Imagine how long he could have played and what he could have been without these injuries. And the Magic and Bird friendship? They really hated each other at first, until Converse brought them together in 1984 to shoot a commercial. It was shot in French Lick, IN. Larry's mom invited Magic to lunch at their house and there they found out they had almost everything in common -- midwest values, work ethic, family values. And the bond was formed. Bird was one of the first people Magic called when he was diagnosed with HIV and Bird stood by him the whole time, without question. In many ways, Larry and Magic are the same person.
Was that Converse shoot on Larrys property? & I kinda love that he wanted to do his Mums driveway instead of contractors (despite the back injury for his troubles). & yeah, without Larry & Magic, who knows how long basketball might've had to wait to get to the 'Prime Time, Everybody Cares About It Now' status?
Came here to say “he shot from his forearm because his hand was fucked”
Best Larry Bird reaction especially him and Chuck Person analysis.
Larry legend is top 5 dead or alive. The clutch gene.
Lol are you f***** kidding me? Benson and Barkley? Bird was the only addition to the Celtics his rookie year and they improved there record by 32 games. 32 games dude. They went from last to first his rookie year. I'll decline your trade. You going to have to come a lot stronger than that and i will probably still decline. Love your video. Great job!
Not Benson, Ben Simmons!! There isn't enough players in the NBA, Black or White, To trade for Larry Bird!!! One of a kind! Always will be!!
It's interesting you called them 'best' friends, because Bird even said that if he and Magic grew up near one another, they'd have likely been best friends growing up. You probably already know that the two discovered HOW much they were alike and walked away being good friends after that Converse commercial in Larry's back yard. But it's when Magic got HIV that they became VERY close friends, as Magic mentioned a true friend is one that sticks by you when times are tough, and that's exactly what Bird was--unlike Isaiah Thomas--during Magic's HIV news. Also, Bird and Magic were both crying on the phone when Magic called to tell Larry the news, so they've developed an unbreakable bond that'll last a lifetime.
Hilarious LT, two guys and 2 picks for Bird. Funny S. 😁
He wasn't known as a trash talker, but Pete Maravich played like a Harlem Globetrotter against a whole League of Washington Generals in his day. Check out his highlight. He was a combination of Magic Johnson and Steph Curry before Magic was in the League or Steph was even born.
Lol brother! We ain't giving up Larry for anybody. He's ours because we have an example for basketball excellence. Haha! Much love great work on the video.
One of the reasons Bird had a weird shooting style was because he really mangled his finger doing something when he was in college. I forget the story but his finger never healed correctly. Bird said he never shot as well as he did in college after that injury.
Barkley was great and I think people forget in particular what a ridiculous rebounder he was, not even a full 6'5" but he averaged 12.5 a game on his CAREER. But the mark of a truly great player is in how he makes the other 4 guys on the floor with him an EXTENSION of him. Barkley didn't have that, even Jordan didn't. But Magic, Bird, Russell, Wilt and a few others did.
Craig Ehlo made the mistake of teasing larry saying one day he went 1 for 10 and yelled thats defence to Larry. Larry replied theres 2 halfs. He came out 3/4 and scored 10 straight on Ehlo and then asked him is your mother watching, cause i wanna embarrass you. That was just as the coach took him out the game.
Understand that boy played most his career with a bad spine
We never saw the peek of his rise and he still killed it.
Crazy
No, no trade. You're not getting Bird. Franchise clause. He is our franchise player.
magic and bird had the best rivalry and friendship in the history of professional sports.
You gotta check out documentary “Magic & Bird: A Courtship of Rivals” about them….so good! It really shows what makes those guys so groundbreaking for their time…Also shows how they went from enemies to friends.
I had season tickets in the Boston Garden from 1980-1992. I saw every game he played in that building. I had seats right behind the visitors bench, so I heard every ounce of Bird's trash talking. I mean he would embarrass people. One night in 1985 the Celts were hosting the Philadelphia 76ers. Barkley was playing hung-over. Bird caught onto that right away. "Hey Charlie, what's wrong man, you get in a little late last night? Damn boy, you smell like a sailor!" Bird yelled at him. Larry had him running his ass up and down that court. Barkley looked like he was about to puke man. Then Bird nailed a three on him and said "Not feeling good huh Charlie? Better go sit down and take a water break before you fold up and collapse in the middle of the floor and crush my leprechaun to death!" Everyone was just dying laughing. Then Bird yelled over at coach Cunningham and said, "Hey coach, send somebody else out here will you? I ain't even broke a sweat yet!" So coach subs forward Bobby Jones for Barkley, and Larry starts eating him alive. I mean this went on all game. Finally towards the end, Barkley was drained. I don't even know how he was walking straight. Boston was up by about 11 or 12 points with a few minutes left. Bird wanted Barkley one last time. So he yells over to the 76er bench again, "Hey coach, gimme the Pillsbury Doughboy one more time will you?" Bird was hilarious man!
When magic diagnosed with HIV, Larry first person to call him. He offerd to do anything.
Ben Simmons and Barklay?... You ALWAYS make me smile but THIS? THIS MADE ME SHOOT COFFEE OUT MY NOSE!!!! LMAO. You're good and I love your channel.
I appreciate your support means the worls
Ohhhh My man Larry Bird yes sir .
Hahahahaha!!! You crazy!!! Barkley and Simmons!?!?!? Are you out your mind!?!?! Lmfao!!! Thats some funny shit though!!! Got me rollin'!!!!
Lol aye I’m trying
Dude, that was hilarious offering barkley and Simmons to get Bird off the Caucasian team! Lol!
lol its from The Chapelle Show
Right 😭
@@ElectrikNYCfunK lol right 💀
White , Black Delegation was hilarious!
Shout out to Dave Shappel ! Bird was the greatest trash talker for sure !
No Trades ! Keeping BIRD !
Maybe Greatest Player ever !
Larry Bird grew up so hard I think from his experience he had an understanding of what it takes to be Great and he innately knew the hardships that Blackfolks deal with on a daily basis if there ever was a yt cat that was a real homeboy that definitely is Larry Bird
Magic and Larry absolutely hated each other until they filmed a street basketball game in front of Larry Bird's parents house for an TV ad.
At lunchtime they stopped filming and Larry invited Magic to come in and have some food because his mom had made a big lunch for them. Magic although a little skeptical came in, Larry's mom give him a big hug and told Magic that he was her favourite basketball player trolling her own son 🤣
It was a great ice-breaker for Larry and Magic who over a great meal sat there laughing with each other and talking about their childhoods and how they grew up. They both came from poor families with lots of kids and both families had moms worked their asses off full time at a job and then came home and took care of the house and all the kids on top of it. Larry's mom reminded Magic totally of his own mom.
They realized by the end of lunch that day, they really were just weird mirror images of each other and had an astonishing amount in common. They were great friends from that moment forward all because of Larry Bird's mom was JUST like Magic Johnson's mother was.
His best trash talk wasn't talk and wasn't mentioned here. When Brad Daughterly flew by Bird, Bird tapped Brad on the butt with the ball then nailed the 3.
Great reaction video man, you fun to watch...
Love Barkley (very underrated and one of my absolute favorite players of all time) and Simmons is good (but can't shoot a lick). That being said, I would NEVER trade Bird. It wasn't just his skill, it was his attitude. Boston was 29-53 the year before Bird joined the team. They were 61-21 the next year and he took them to the WCF in his rookie season. Kevin McHale and Robert Parish weren't on the team yet.
He would do anything to win and was the toughest SOB I ever seen play. The man mangled his index finger on his shooting hand prior to entering the NBA and it couldn't be repaired. He said he could never shoot the ball quite the same after that. He played through multiple injuries, including a back that was deteriorating due to him shoveling gravel to build a driveway for his mom. This back injury occurred in 1985 at the height of his prime. He proceeded to become the founding member of the 50-40-90 club the following year and did it two years straight. He also had an enlarged heart, both literally and figuratively.
Respectfully,
A Caucasian follower
Caucasian guy here. Grew up cheering for Bird and his Celtics. No deal! LOL 😆 Love the respect.
lol damn
7 out of 12 Seasons he was either 1st or 2nd in MVP Voting. Lebron has 4 and 4 but over more seasons.
Larry bird one if the top 10 bast player we will ever see
Jordan says he learned everything about trash talking from Bird. He saw how effective Bird was at getting in people's heads and disrupting their game.
Larry was the ONLY basketball player to call Magic when he announced he had aids. Larry Bird….his nemesis on the court..the only one that cared enough to call. That showed that no matter how hard they competed, he’d be there for him.
His right hand got hit by a baseball/softball in high school and he has a finger that is permanently deformed from it so he had to learn to change his shooting technique. Then after he joined the NBA he got his back seriously/permanently hurt graveling his moms drive way. So his entire NBA career he played with injuries. With or without the injuries he is the GOAT in my book, no other player in history played as hard or with as much heart as Basketball Jesus Larry Legend Bird.
I am pretty sure the baseball injury was in college after the Celtics drafted him. He was trying to hide it from them because he still hadn't signed his contract yet.
@@hawki5120 Yep you're right. Larry still had to complete some extra credit for that college year, and Larry's older brother asked if he wanted to play in a softball game? In addition to basketball, Larry grew up a BIG baseball fan, so he was immediately up for playing. Then after the game starts, none other than Larry's brother hit a wicked spinning ball, and when Bird ran in and tried to make a basket catch against the ground, he bent his right index finger back so violently that Larry's brother got sick when he saw what his younger brother had done to his index finger
Bird said upon examining his mangled index finger, that the doctor told him he should consider retirement, as his finger would never be the same. Obviously Bird resumed playing and became one of the all-time greats, but Larry has said that he was never the same shooter as he was before the finger injury, which is scary to imagine that Larry would have likely been an even better shooter w/o that mangled finger.
Okay, you are my favorite reaction video person. I'd love to see you do making the case for Larry Bird being the goat. ❤
Larry Legend and Earvin Magic Johnson, there will never be another...EPIC....
,,,,EPIC...!!!
Watchin all your Bird videos again 😊💜😊
13:05...it's makes Bird seem really egotistical, but what this vid doesn't show you is the passing wizard he was. Yes, he took a LOT of shots himself, but if he saw an open teammate, the ball went that way without a moment's hesitation....he ALWAYS knew where his teammates were in the middle of the action.
Rifle-shot bounce passes, alley-oops, taps while the ball is in flight, no-looks for days....find some vids of his passing skills. You had to be on your game and aware like a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs to play with him.
I'm excited for this!!!
Larry and Magic have something deeper than just friendship. Respect and Love for each other and the game!
They played when you could have serious contact man. Today is the soft game
Far out!!! You've done it!!! One THOUSAND describers!!!
Because he fucked up his knuckles before he was drafted he was a better shooter before that. He had to change his shot
Love your content sir . Especially from the 80/90
We can just put him on our top five team of all time. Could you imagine.
Dude, you crack me up with all that stuff you say... and you're the first one I've seen who analyzed Larry's forearm movement. Good Show.
Larry was the MVP three years in a row. You don't trade that. Unfortunately, his career was cut short by injuries.
Prior to his three straight he was second runner up in voting three times; at the end of his three straight he was second runner up for two years. That is dominance!!!
Oh wow so he all most went five straight
@@AyySolid 8 straight. He won three MVPs in a row, prior to that he was second runner up for 3 years in a row and after he won MVP 3 years in a row he was second runner up 2 years in a row.
Damn he just don’t miss do he
@@AyySolid3-Point King 3 years in a row, as well.
Magic and Larry had a real friendship off the still good friends to this day I love magic too u have to respect greatness 👍💜☘️
Caucasian viewer here. Me not giving up Larry Bird would have nothing to do with race or anything like that. My personal dream team has so many, and Bird is the only white dude.
Power forward: Duncan, Kevin Garnett, Karl Malone.
Point guard: Magic Johnson, S. Curry
Shooting guard: Jordan, Kobe
Center: Kareem, Wilt Chamberlain
Small forward: Bird, and maybe LeBron
I would trade none of these guys. 😆
Lol I love it not even for lebron
McHale is as good a power forward than any of those guys.
He broke his right hand before he ever started playing in the NBA, so he couldn’t feel the ball the same after two surgeries on it. Yet he was still that good. Its phenomenal.
Man, I’m a Sixers fan. We don’t even want Ben Simmons
Ayyyy aye lol you to loud lol
LT Everytime I see LT I go right to your video even if I'm watching another one you have become my favorite , LT what are we going to do when we run out of Larry Bird videos?