I know the stats don't tell the full story, but Larry Legend HAS to be in the talk for greatest NBA player of all time. He was a leader, a great competitor and the main part of one of the sports' greatest dynasties.
He could shoot, he could drive to the rim, he could dribble, he could pass and he could rebound and played excellent defense. He was truly a complete player, not a single phase of his game was subpar.
NO
And that sets him apart from any other great basketball players how? Only think Bird is best of all time at is the 3 man position.
Yes.
If you look at his stats, while he did not put up huge numbers, he was a consummate teammate, floor leader and could be counted on to make the big shot. The opposing team had to account for Bird at all times and he was constantly double teamed. He was an excellent free throw shooter and shot a high percentage from the field, as well.
No he is not. He is possibly in the top ten.
NBAFan wrote:
I know the stats don't tell the full story, but Larry Legend HAS to be in the talk for greatest NBA player of all time. He was a leader, a great competitor and the main part of one of the sports' greatest dynasties.
He could shoot, he could drive to the rim, he could dribble, he could pass and he could rebound and played excellent defense. He was truly a complete player, not a single phase of his game was subpar.
No. Michael Jordan is still the gold standard. Yes Bird did some things better than Jordan, but overall, Jordan is the best ever.
it is obviously magic johnson due to the fact he won a championship his first year when jabar was out of the playoffs and started as a center with 47 points 14 rebs and 10 assists. he won in a era which was the hardest when you had the celtics the rockets the 76ers and pistons. he made everyone around him better now dont say micheal jordan either but who did jordan play that had three hall of famers like the celtics? he never played the rockets the celtics and 76ers like magic did. he needed pippen to beat the pistons. jordan played in a dwon ear. the best team he played was the jazz with stockton and malone...they werent anything like pippen jordan and rodman. and jordan and phil jackson. it took jordan 7 years to win his first title when it took magic 1.
Probably not the best of all time but he fits somewhere in the following list of all time greats who actually won a title:
Jordan
Wilt
Russell
Big O
Magic
Kareem
Jerry West
Elgin Baylor
Elvin Hayes
Rick Barry
Hakeem
Kobe
Isiah
Shaq
Duncan
Maybe should soon include D. Wade/LeBron
Old Man Runner wrote:
Yes.
If you look at his stats, while he did not put up huge numbers, he was a consummate teammate, floor leader and could be counted on to make the big shot. The opposing team had to account for Bird at all times and he was constantly double teamed. He was an excellent free throw shooter and shot a high percentage from the field, as well.
Sounds like a description of Jordan.... except Jordan did put up the huge numbers.
Elgin Baylor did not win a title
Magic Johnson didn't possess any of these attributes? If anything I rate Bird lower because of his injuries late in his career with his back. Johnson retired (the first time) at the peak of his career, as jabbar had left and worthy and byron scott's knees were failing him he was going to be the brunt of the teams offense.
I think he was the most skilled player of all time - considering he wasn't that athletic and dominated the first era where most people were ridiculous athletes.
Larry Bird was like Kyle Korver averaging 30 pts, 10 rebounds, and 6 assists.
Magic once said that the only player he feared was Larry Bird. Still I rate Magic and Jordan ahead of Bird. Their rivalry produced the best basketball ever played.
Bird is whte. Jordan is black. The answer is yes, Bird is the greatest.
coach wrote:
Magic once said that the only player he feared was Larry Bird. Still I rate Magic and Jordan ahead of Bird. Their rivalry produced the best basketball ever played.
Those are the top three that I have seen play, with Jordan as tops and bird?magic tied for second.
I think it is funny how people omit Dr. J from the lists of top ten.
Except bird was 6'10, with amazing instincts on the court and a great shot from anywhere on the floor and not just behind the 3 point line. that is disrespectful to compare the two.
NBAFan wrote:
...He could shoot, he could drive to the rim, he could dribble, he could pass and he could rebound and played excellent defense. He was truly a complete player, not a single phase of his game was subpar.
Larry deserves to be in the discussion of the all time top 5. Jordan is so clearly above everyone else that it is really silly to have a discussion of who was #1.
One weakness for Larry - he was a very weak defender. He was just too slow to be anything more than that.
Super competitor, incredibly skilled, winner in every way but please, "excellent defense"? - no f'ing way.
humph wrote:
Magic Johnson didn't possess any of these attributes? If anything I rate Bird lower because of his injuries late in his career with his back. Johnson retired (the first time) at the peak of his career, as jabbar had left and worthy and byron scott's knees were failing him he was going to be the brunt of the teams offense.
I give Bird more credit for averaging almost 22 points, 9rebounds and 7 assists per game in the 3 years he played due to the back issues. The guy was incredible. He would be laying on the floor on the sidelines on his stomach and then go out there and start dominating. Unreal.
Hell, 20ppg, 9 rpg and 7 apg in this day and age would get you $12 million a year or more!
Dr. should probably be on that list. The problem with his all-time ranking is that his best years were spent in the ABA where the competition may have been not quite as deep as the NBA and when Philly finally won the title in the early 80s, Moses Malone may have been the best player on the team.
You give more credit because he did these things? Magic had the same statistics nearly, and his team didn't become irrelevant after 1987. mchale losing explosiveness in his feet hurt him as much as the lakers losing magic to HIV