He wasn’t the fastest, nor was he the strongest—in fact, he was a bit awkward in appearance, with his blonde mustache, and long, lanky arms and legs protruding from a body that lacked muscle definition. Aside from his height, there was nothing about this guy that would make one feel compelled to select him in any schoolyard game; until of course, you watched him play. His name is Larry Bird—his game was basketball.
On August 18, 1992 Larry Bird announced his retirement from the NBA—exactly 16 years ago. The announcement coincided with the conclusion of the USA Dream Team’s dominant run at the gold medal in the Barcelona Olympic Games—the first time that the US sent professional basketball players as its representatives. It marked the end of an illustrious 13 year career (’79-‘92), which featured the following resume: 3x NBA Champ, 3x NBA MVP (consecutive), 12x All-Star, 1980 Rookie of the Year (over Magic Johnson), 3x NBA 3-pt Shootout Champ, 9x All-NBA first team, and member of the NBA’s 50th Anniversary All-Time Team.
His production on the court has been well-documented; he co-headlined one of the biggest rivalries in the history of the NBA, Lakers versus Celtics. His duels with Magic Johnson, which started long before they ever faced off on an NBA court, were credited with helping the NBA re-emerge as one of the more prominent professional sports leagues in the world. His career statistical compilation makes him one of the better basketball players in NBA history, however the numbers alone do not, in my opinion, do Larry Bird justice.
It is a common argument as to who the BEST player of all-time is—usually the Michael Jordan, Wilt Chamberlain, Oscar Robertson debate rages in such discussions. I, however, make an unrelated argument for Larry Bird—he is arguably the most IMPRESSIVE player in the history of the NBA. He defied perceptions, stereotypes, and his own athletic limitations to become a true great. As described above, you would never have taken a look at Bird and thought of him as a game-changer, a clutch performer, or a team leader. Yet, Larry Bird was able to lead an Indiana State basketball program, which never had, and has not since had such success, to a national championship game. He also led less athletic Celtics teams to victories and hard-fought losses to the far superior athletes, the “Showtime” Lakers.
What makes Bird impressive is that there never was and never again will be a player like him—he is truly one of a kind. Every year there are desperate comparisons between young guys and former greats like MJ, Magic, and Dr. J, but talks of the “next Larry Bird” are rare. Nowadays the sports world is interested in bigger, faster, stronger—this is the day of performance enhancers and man-childs like LeBron James or Greg Oden. Bird played every side of the ball; he crashed the boards (averaged 10 rebounds per game for his career) he shot lights out from behind the arc, he was a great passer, and was always active and scrappy on defense. Bird used clever timing, leverage, and positioning to score, rebound, and defend—he played the game very fundamentally rather than out jumping, out running, or trying to overpower opponents. He filled the description of both scrappy role player, and skilled super-star. Many aspects of Bird’s game are rare or practically obsolete in today’s NBA.
You could loosely compare Dirk Nowitzki to Bird, but that is shot down immediately by the fact that Dirk does not crash boards, nor does he play with the same tenacity and confidence. A few years back former Gonzaga standout Adam Morrison was drawing some Bird comparisons, and so far, to call those comparisons unwarranted would be an understatement. You see, with the saturation of talent in the world of basketball right now, scouts are making the mistake of narrowing their search based on physical appearance and measurables. Some of the first things they look at are height, weight, speed, and vertical leap—if those things impress, they’ll have a closer look. Ironically, the Magic-Bird, Lakers-Celtics rivalry, and the very Dream Team that Bird was a part of, are what helped motivate legions of people to practice and pursue a career in basketball, thus creating such a plethora of talent.
Today we should honor the blue-collared pioneers of the game, like Larry Bird, for working hard and playing harder—for holding their own against athletes who should’ve run circles around them. Those are the guys who have given ordinary Joe’s hope—the ones that make any father optimistic that their boy can make it, even if he does appear a bit goofy. In basketball especially, there have been plenty of guys who can jump out of the gym, run the length of the floor in a flash, or who could muscle their way to within inches of the hoop, throughout the course of the sport’s existence. There are those rarities, the glitches in the Matrix—those players who defy odds, ones who are completely and utterly unique, yet masterful in their own way. These are the men we should remember today; the type of men we have not seen since this day 16 years ago. Here’s to Pistol Pete and his floppy hair and socks, along with his scrawny frame. Here’s to Jerry West, Kevin McHale, and John Havlicek; and on this day I say cheers to Larry Bird, the first and last of his kind.
SRMgenius
You just had to make that comment after a GREAT Blog. lol
I miss watching Larry knocking down money shots. Or winning a game with his defense as opponents could only sit and watch.
His crazy trick shots he would pull off at any time were nice too. He actually played the game in my opinion like Michael Jordan.......minus all that athletic ability.
What I mean is people seem to forget how much better Mike made his teammates. To me, Larry was that kind of player too.
On another note someone to add to this list is Tom Chambers. This guy had more ability in his finger than Larry had in his whole body however.............he didn't have the work ethic or the mind for basketball like Larry had.
That being said, Tom had some incredible moments,dunks,games(scored over 60 in a game) A couple of plays that stand out in my mind was when Tom jumped from about the free throw line and over a defender(Mark Jackson) and jammed it with both hands.I'll see if i can find a clip of that.
Last edited by sixfigurefan2 on August 18th at 12:33 PM.
This is up to your usual high standards. I sound like I'm kissing up but I am really impressed with the professional blogs you do. I feel like I'm reading someone being paid on the front page of the NBA section. You should be submitting this stuff to Fox. I hear some others are being paid by Fox and they may be better in a particular Sport, I don't know, but you're the best at structuring a blog that there is in the NBA section and there are some other good ones.
Having said all that, most of the names you read about as "great" fall into two categories.
1.) Homers making a god given talent out to be more than he is when all he's doing is what god gave him raw talent to do.
2.) People like Jordan who got the God given talent and maximized it.
Bird is the only 3rd type I ever heard of. Little God Given talent and through sheer hard work ethic and personality drive, was able to equally compete at the 2nd level. But that's just what you said, right?
Here's the other dunk i was talking about.
The other is when he was going for the rim,fakes out magic and reverse dunked it on Orlando Woolridge who was a pretty damn good leaper.
Very entertaining again bro. I agree with the "no need for your comment about goofy white dudes". Larry wasn't a goofy white dude- he was a stone cold killer of a hoopster. His approach to the game was blue-collar errrr green-collar and he played both ends of the court with a steely eyed intensity not matched by many. Keep writing the good stuff.
Nique, I don't take that as kissing up, I appreciate the recognition, and I put a lot of thought and effort into my posts.
What I love about Bird too is he transcends racial boundaries and is the epitome of why I can't stand people like CurlyMo and Whitlock who play the race card--Bird grew up dirt poor, his dad was an alcoholic and committed suicide--he had it rough, and he made it to the league despite...and on top of that he played a pivotal role in making the NBA a uber-lucrative mega-business that it is today, yet he did not reap anywhere near the benefits of guys as garbage as Darius Miles or even Raef LaFrentz who both had contracts bringing in over 10 mill in a year...talk about being "pimped"
SRMgenius
Bird made use of a talent few of us are even blessed with in our lives. He may not have been the most athletic guy on the court. But damn he had heart and played a like a lion. And when all else failed he wasn't scared to lead by example. And that's what missing in a great many of today's players within the entire NBA.
There are many that've been graced with the accolade of being great. But so few of them prove to be that let alone who actually know how to lead. Bird, Jordan and Magic were able to do that with equal aplomb.
Justan, I don't think there IS anyone in the NBA today who plays with the same unwavering intensity night in and night out....you see flashes of it in some guys like Wade, Duncan, Kobe, Bron, and a few others, but nothing like Bird...that guy would get tangled up with someone damn near every game lol. He seemed like a #### to play against, and a privilege to play with.
SRMgenius
I know guys who'll play with a lot of grit and determination. But rarely do any of them actually show any true leadership. And that to me is the mark of a great player. Someone who can lead his team on through great adversity and at the same time show great resolve to get the job done.
I think that's the military side of me that's coming out there.
BTW, anyone sold on that kid from Spain, Ricky Rubio being the next Pete Maravich? I saw flashes of potential, but Pistol Pete is an idol of mine (mostly because my coaches called me that and one day I wondered why, and they told me look up the name...since then he was one of my heroes)...what do you other basketball connoisseurs think of the comparison?
Only now, in retrospect, can I truly appreciate the wonder that was the Birdman.
His competitive fire was the driving force behind all of his accomplishments...what a perfect compliment/nemesis for Magic.
Thanks Sizz, how the hell do you put pics and videos in comments? I'm a bit retarded about things like that.
sls, lucky you, I live for seeing guys develop at the preparatory levels and following their careers...it is why I am such a fan of Chris Paul and D-Wade, both guys I have followed since high school. LeBron does not count as we had no choice but to follow him since high school.
Bleed, I can echo that sentiment about numerous players...usually great players are appreciated by bitter rivals and opposing fans AFTER the fact, because nobody appreciates another guy going beserk against their team....I HATED M.J. mostly because I can't stand to see a dynasty if it ain't the team I root for; I found myself rooting against him every year, only to say "wow" repeatedly each time he did something amazing--I've said wow a lot in my life, lol.
Great writing, dude. The NBA hasn't been the same for me since the Celtics run in the 80s. I loved watching it back then. Just to see who Bird was going to break one off in next.
Sort of like watching our boy, Danny, with less than two minutes to go, down by four, third and ten on his own twenty. You just knew that someone was going to get a pencil through the heart.
SRMgenius
It's one thing to make comparisons with an alltime great. But it's certainly another thing to live up to it. Rubio may well have the potential. But there's a long way from potential to actually getting the job done. And as of now that's all we've got. We'll have to wait and see how he'll fare in the NBA once he gets there.
If I were playing two on two and could pick anyone as a teammate to win it would be Bird. I'm not saying he is the best of all time but he could always find a way to beat anyone. Not an athelet but a pure ball player.
I agree about the pistol. I saw him play in college and the pre game warm ups was a better show than the game. No one could touch him.
Impressive SAT.
p.s. if you get info on the vids in the comments please pass it along. thanks.
Last edited by goutdaddy on August 18th at 2:03 PM.
I remember watching the NCAA championship game between Bird's Indiana State team and Magic's Michagan State team. For two 8 minute stretches, one in each half, Bird simply DOMINATED both ends of the floor, making every shot on offense and grabbing every board on defense. As I recall ISU led at halftime, it's been a long time but I seem to remember they were undefeated until that game. Husker do you remember that detail?
Mainly due to poor depth and Magic's incredible skills, ISU fell short and MSU were the champions, but you knew the rivalry was going to be special at the next level. He was certainly one of the ultimate streak shooters, as the clips Sizzel posted show. You just don't see that kind of shooting these days, particularly with the off hand...
Last edited by nba is the worst on August 18th at 2:46 PM.
nba/worst-yes, ISU was undefeated heading into that NCAA final.
SRM-nice write here. I was in high school when Bird first appeared on the cover of SI's college basketball issue. When I saw him play, it was unlike anyone I'd ever seen before. I've always said Bird was the best I've seen in my lifetime, for the reasons you mentioned as well as this; compare the Celtics the year before when they won only 29 games. The next year, Bird's first, they had basically the same roster, with only three new faces in their top ten who saw the most playing time. (M.L. Carr and Gerald Henderson being the other additions along with Bird). They won 61 games and a title. He was obviously outstanding as an individual player, but made everyone else better instantly as well.
More good stuff here, SRM. Bird was truly a rare breed in the NBA; he was never outworked and maximized the talent he did have. He and Magic made the NBA popular by showing that passing could indeed be exciting (something that has been lost in translation today because of the desire to be on SportsCenter). And their rivalry made Lakers/Celtics very much more entertaining, because they always tried to one-up each other. And if Magic himself said there will never be another Larry Bird, then there won't be another Bird.
Last edited by DownsA529 on August 18th at 3:39 PM.
People keep touting new players as the next Larry, but what sets Larry apart isn't just his will to win, but his will to PREPARE.
The only player I know of with Larry's heart and passion for the game is Kobe Bryant. I know a lot of guys won't like that statement, but who works on their game harder? The ONLY player to scout Spain and Greece with the coaches was Kobe.
If Bird were on that team, I bet he'd have done it too.
Anyway, I can't think of a player that is the next Larry, certainly not Dirk.
The thing about Larry was that he was just as great as Magic in doing it all - score, pass, rebound, get in someone's head, physical toughness, mental toughness, will to win, a coach on the floor, leadership, clutch factor, killer instinct, etc.
If it weren't for Larry, my Lakers would have won 8 titles, possibly nine, in the 80s. And if it weren't for Magic, Bird might have won the same amount of championships as well. And if it weren't for one or the other, people wouldn't be talking about Michael Jordan as the greatest player that ever lived.
It's as simple as that.
Great read SRMgenius.
Last edited by J-DIZZLE on August 18th at 4:43 PM.
Larry Bird was fun to watch and you were always sure he left it all on the floor I know there is no such thing as giving it 110% but it sure looked like he did.
You are correct. Indiana State went into that Championship game undefeated.
Unfortunately Magic had a high flying Greg Kelser and Larry had....well larry had Larry and it wasn't enough. I remember that game, i think it was 78 or 79. Everytime Larry got the game close, magic would throw an ally oop to Kelser for a slam dunk.
It was still a great run for larry's Indiana State Sycamores.
Last edited by sixfigurefan2 on August 18th at 7:56 PM.
" These are the men we should remember today; the type of men we have not seen since this day 16 years ago. Here’s to Pistol Pete and his floppy hair and socks, along with his scrawny frame. Here’s to Jerry West, Kevin McHale, and John Havlicek; and on this day I say cheers to Larry Bird, the first and last of his kind."
16 years ago the NBA DID lose a one of a kind player. His name was Magic Johnson and he was the first major sport figure to retire because of HIV. now THAT would've been a great blog.
Get real. You suck #### with your lame #### blogs.
Please this is a white boy 'dique' riding #### article which is why Nique is riding your johnson so hard on it. It's really quite lame and some old regurgitated "Outside the lines" type ####. Come up with some new material dork.
Why don't you and that Oklahoma trailer park chick get together and write a blog about smokin white poles.
Nice tribute, being from Bloomington and having visited French Lick a few times grwoing up and since, the more amazed I am about the life and achievement of this guy.
How about Jerry West from West Vitginia?
A player who doesn't seem that gifted physically but gets a long of utility of his body is Luol Deng...
I will give Larry the ultimate in respect by saying that as a DIE HARD LAKER FAN....he was the only player I was ever really worried about. Every time he had the ball....I felt they could score. Moses, Dr.J, Andrew Toney, Isiah,Jordan,McHale etc etc were all great players, but I always felt that the Lakers wouldn't have a problem with them. Bird on the other hand????????? The Guy was a killer on the court and a straight shooter off it. He just called it like he saw it. The only guy I thought had the same intensity and courage was Magic. I can only imagine if they had been on the same team.....Larry was more of a scoring player, but Magic wouldn't have given a ####. He would have set Larry up all day.
SRM, you couldn't have said it better. Every year someone always comes up with a comparison of some phenom to an established great. And yes, Adam Morrison and Dirk Nowitzki would be sorely humiliated by Larry Bird in his prime should the two have played against him. I am a lifelong Knicks fan, but I can honestly say that Bird was by far one of the 5 greatest players I have ever seen. I've never seen a man that could not jump higher than 2 inches off the ground grab more rebounds in traffic than him, a player shoot more jumpshots in traffic, with consistency,or no one in my opinion had better court awareness. Magic was great in open court and fast break sets, but Bird was divine in half court. He was the best 3 point shooter on his team, in an era when a 3 point shot was not a "chippy". He could cheat on defense and get steals like great defenders of his time and team, Dennis Johnson, Danny Ainge and others like Alvin Robertson (San Antonio Spurs)and Sidney Moncrief (Milwaukee Bucks). The guy was as great as he was slow but in an era of leapers (Dominque Wilkins), high flyers (Michael Jordan), team specialists, (Craig Hodges, young Dennis Rodman, etc) he was someone who could do it all. What was the most overlooked fact is that he was taken for granted in an era that believed Black players were more talented than white players. This is not a racial comment but an honest assessment coming from a black man, who remembers how much the Boston Celtics were despised by everyone outside of Boston. Bird was great and he, in my opinion, is underappreciated. He along with Dr. J
Last edited by abourn02 on August 19th at 11:04 AM.
well-said abourn, if you read above, you can see that there is an #### who thinks I am kissing up to white people and that I should have honored Magic Johnson instead...IMO Magic gets his fair share, which is why I wanted to honor the guys that are not lauded on par with their accomplishments. Thanks for the nice comment.
and Magic Johnson are responsible for the NBA's renaissance in the early 80's. The leagues owes these 3 great men eternal gratitude for their contributions.
