It's all summed up when HOF coach Pat Riley states that, "If I had to pick one guy to take the shot to save the game, I'd pick Michael Jordan. If I had to choose a guy to take that shot to save my life, I'd choose Larry Bird".
Every time I stumble upon a Larry Bird video, I tell myself, "I'll just watch a few minutes; don't have time to watch it all." And every time, I watch the whole thing! Wow?! REALLY miss those days...
I was young when Larry Legend was flaming the basketball court...watching these videos makes me want to kick myself..for not paying attention back then...
@@mrvlsmrv - Exactly my point. There is only "one" of each NBA great. They are all unique in their own way! The Bird fans think he was so special but he wasn't even the greatest Celtic of all time.
Doin' in right now. The story of the Celtics from this era is almost like a fable in a story book, so many unbelievable moments, dogged determination innate skill, heart and last minute buzzer beaters its almost like no one would believe it if it werent in the record books and on video - not to mention the huge number of people that saw it all happen in person. Add the dream team and the olympics and its a storybook bound in gold.
Because we lived it. We watched all of those games live. We were on the edge of our seats having panic attacks. All of us were bummed out before Larry stole the ball in that Detroit game. It was miracle after miracle with Larry. The main reason is because we are thankful for Larry Bird.
You are right. At this point in my life, Larry is nostalgia. But I remember when he came into the NBA, and now the memories bring tears to my eyes. Perhaps for me, in 2021, the greatest example of Larry is his relationship with Magic Johnson. Why can't we all live as they are living-- as brothers!
For me, Bird's passes were his most incredible moves. ASTOUNDING! Just unreal, like superhuman; and he inspired his teammates to rise way above their own self expectations.
so glad the "Steal by Bird" play made it to #1.. personifies Larry in so many ways. Still, to this day, my favorite player I've ever watched play this game.
Larry Legend played in 897 career regular season games winning 660 and losing 237, that is an astounding .735 win percentage. If you take out the season he only played 6 games and subtract all 6 of those games from his 660 wins, you come up with an average of 54.5 games won per year. Larry Bird is summed up with one word, WINNER, pure and simple..
Also the league became somewhat watered down with expansion teams after Larry retired. Imagine some of that talent going to the Celtics, Lakers and so on. Then there was the Len Bias loss, rip.
I don't care what anyone roaming this planet thinks this was the GOAT including all the "Cream puffs" playing whimpy hoop today!! He was the best in the 80s which was the golden era of hoop and without him and Magic this game may have never survived. Larry Legend forever
For all those saying Lebron this or that I say give me MJ and then because they disrespect Bird even more, I say give me Bird and you can have the next five you want and my team will win. By blow out margins.
Lebron loses, then puts a fake cast on his R-hand, after feigning that he injured his L-hand, in the fourth quarter. Larry, sacrifices his body, for his team and his fans; leads and inspires his team to do what seemed to be impossible. Larry's rivals flock to congratulate him, even in their loss; he's an inspiration to any man who sees him work and perform. All things considered, I'm certain MJ, knows who the better man, IS... #33
No Bird No Magic. These 2 guys brought out the best out of each other since college. My respects to Bird. I hated the guy when they played my Lakers but those where awesome games
I've said it before and I will say it again. You give me my choice of any player in the history of basketball and I will take Larry Bird every time. He had it all, the total package. It didn't matter what you needed, offense, defense, scoring, rebounding, assists, steals, 3 point shots, motivation, confidence, he would deliver for you. I'll give you your choice of any 5 NBA players and you give me 5 Larry Birds and I will beat you every time.
Idk man, he is close to the top, but I have to give Timmy D the nod imo. Larry is 2 or 3 him and Russell are both phenomenal. You couldn't go wrong really with any of them.
Nice Testimony. I'll give you that much because of Larry Bird. But just like Pistol Pete Maravich, you seem to forget whom he went to play Basketball with to get that good at it. Let me politely remind you. Thanks !
I lived to watch the NBA in this era. Bird, Magic, Jordan, Wilkins, Olajuwon, Ewing, Stockton, Malone, and so many others. It really was a great game to watch.
Yes the best era in NBA history was from about 1984-1993. Starting when Magic and Bird met in the finals for the first time, and ending when Michael retired for the first time.
@@anthonynegron788, absolutely the golden years of the NBA. Not going to lie, I’ve watched very little NBA since the early 2000s. The game and league got soft. In the 80s-90s we got to witness the greatest era of basketball. The offenses were incredible but the defenses were unreal. It used to be a physical sport. You had to bang to get position. Don’t see that in the NBA anymore
"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
this is too easy ... just compare Celtic record the year before Bird ... 10th in the conference with a 29-53 record to Bird's first year in Boston ... 1st in the conference with a 61-21 record! ... BEAT THAT PEOPLE!!!
@@sas6561 there is not a more a valuable player for their time than Bird was. Parrish, McHale, DJ...all very good players. But compared to Magic’s team with Worthy, Kareem, Perkins, Cooper, etc? Nah, get outta here. That Celtics team was all Bird. Of course Jordan was similar. Scotty was great, but everyone was a role player.
I'm a diehard Laker fan, lived in Boston during the great 80's rivalry. It was great being a Laker fan then, and Magic is still my favorite. But I always appreciated Larry. Even though he'd piss me off sometimes, I had to love those "waaa???" plays that he'd pull off, with regularity. It's great seeing this, and realize that I've really grown to love him.
They both loved the game and the competition. And neither was a selfish player. Mirror images. I personally think Larry was the better overall player, but Im not gonna get into a fight over it coz Magic was freaking awesome too.
@@senormedia I was going to say the same thing. Grew up in NE. Celtics were my team. Got to see them play in person. Bird was my favorite player. But, boy, did I respect Magic.
I still haven’t seen a player the magnitude of a Larry Joe Bird. He was a phenomenal, consistent basketball player in any era that I can recall in my days of playing and watching this beautiful game of basketball.
The new game is about palming the ball to cross up and walking 3.5 steps like Lebron and many others. The p fouls too. New game. Bird would have scored 30 points a game today, at least and his innate talent would have been a challenge even today. Insight, vision, passion on every level in the best era of basketball. I love Curry, but look who got the 3 point game going with 4 guys on him to win the game. A true Phenom.
You need to watch some Dallas Mavericks games then. Luka is not even 23 and Bird's first season was when he was 23. Luka is a better all-around player and the best is yet to come.
@@kenthomas4668 I bet he could have did close to 100 had he been selfish. But where would that have gotten him? Excluding your teammates does not bring teams to win championships. Bird made that perfectly clear his 1st year at Boston.
Friends: "Hey, we're going to a movie. Wanna come?" Me: "Nah. I'm watching 'Larry Bird's 50 Greatest Moments'. More entertaining than any movie I'll ever see".
The greatest quote of all time about Larry Bird. "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
All of his crazy plays have me genuinely shaking my head, dropping my jaw, smiling, laughing and then saying "What the absolute FREAK!* Hahaha! Amazing! Truly amazing.
person but it wasn't his athleticism that made him great.. it was his hard work and skills and clutch shooting that made him great.. he was known for being a sub par athlete by nba standards
^but he was athletic in his own right...he dunked on people...not athletically dominate like Mike or James...I see this comments like "he can't jump ...he can't run" he's a basketball player ffs...not some janitor with amazing basketball IQ... it was probably that misconception that made him even more deadly on the court...dude got all them rebounds...and people are on here saying he can't jump... search up Larry Bird Athleticism on youtube
@@meld1817 No. lebron is a genius, no doubt but i put magic, bird, mj, isiah thomas iq higher than lbj. Lbj still dont know how to use his teammates properly. He only can play the lbj-system.
So wrong. I believe that Larry Bird is one of the most overrated players in NBA history. He “led” (though not really a franchise player) the Celtics to only two NBA Titles - as compared to Celtics Bill Russell’s eleven. Larry was not athletic - didn’t jump well and was slow - in contrast to Bill Russell, Dr. J, Charles Barkley, Magic, Michael Jordan, Kobe, Lebron, Durant, and many others.
@@martysomoco Larry Bird, who turned the previous season 29 game winning Celtics into a regular season first place team with 61 wins, then brought them THREE championships in 5 Finals appearances in 6 years, is not a franchise player? Yeah, that level of stupidity does not deserve any more response than this. Believe what you want about him being overrated, but to not call him a franchise player is ridiculous, he is almost the epitome of a franchise player
As a Celtics fan since 1960, I thank God I got to follow Larry Bird's career. I can't put into words how good Larry Bird was because there are no words that are worthy of his greatness in EVERY facet of the game. I'm glad they have videos for all you fans who weren't around then. Take if from me...Seeing Bird perform his 'Magic' in real time was absolutely incredible! I never believed in miracles until I saw Larry Bird play NBA basketball.
MAY 26, 1987...My 22nd birthday... Born & raised in Detroit, my friends & I were watching the game. Last 2 seconds, we thought the Pistons had won; we were celebrating, cheering, etc. We turned around a few seconds later, looked at the TV, and saw the PISTONS HAD LOST!! Wow...
Hell of a game. I was 14ish and remember the choke to set up game 5. But as with Wilkins and Lebron...you can kill first 3 quarters and then meet Larry or Mike and those first 3 quarters dont mean crap.
Not too bad for a hick from Indiana.. Boston you are truly lucky to have had Bird on your Celtics. I grew up in Indiana and we were not Pacer fans, we were Larry Bird and Celtic fans. My parents went to Indiana State as I went to Indiana State. One of my best memories ever was when I went back to Terre Haute for a new semester at college I stopped at Larry Bird's Boston Connection, a restaurant and hotel (not to mention a very cool gift shop for Larry Bird and Boston Celtic merchandise), that was owned by Larry. I tried to visit it whenever possible, food was pretty good. This time I was there, I happened to look up from my plate and there practically staring me in the face was Bird himself. As soon as I could mutter to myself, "hey there's Larry Bird!" other people had noticed and started to swarm him. He quickly disappeared. This was 1994. Sometimes forget how great you were Larry. And how proud you made us fellow Hoosiers. God bless
We were also lucky enough to have 'Red' Auerbach as our GM and coach. Red outsmarted the other teams front office people like Larry did their players..
Its sad that people who didn't see Larry Bird play have no idea how great he was. Not the most physically talented but his shooting, floor knowledge, toughness and competitive energy made him a perennial MVP candidate.
Especially the idiotic Fanboys who will say (with a straight face) that LeBron James is better than either Bird, Magic or Jordan. James isn't even in the same zip code as the Big Three.
One of the best explanations for why those Celtics teams were so great was how heads-up they were, regardless of the situation. In the play from the '87 playoffs where Larry steals the Pistons' inbound pass and feeds DJ for the layup, watch what Johnson does AFTER the layup. He doesn't dance, he doesn't point to himself, he doesn't fall on his back and make snow angels. He immediately heads for the baseline to smother Detroit's attempt to inbound the ball for a (highly unlikely) miracle shot. They played every close game to the last second, which is a sure sign of a winner. The Lakers were thought of as more of a showtime team, but their real calling card was that were rock solid in crunch time as well. That's why the two teams dominated the league through the 1980s.
There were a lot of smart basketball players on those Celtics teams already, but I honestly think that Bird's basketball IQ was infectious, and made everyone around him that much better. THE LAST THING you want to do, is have Bird throw one of these genius passes, and the ball goes off your hands and out of bounds because youre not paying attention. Guys had to be on their toes at all times when Larry had the ball, because it could be coming to you at anytime, in any number of ways.
Yes, Bird was a phenomenal shooter and passer and as a professional was proficient in all the skills needed in the NBA, but the reason why I love watching him was his real-time awareness of what was happening on the court. Who was where, who was guarding who, what were the vectors of people's momentum and the balls. Being in the right place at the right time to use his talent in a way that lifts the team isn't due to luck it's a refined skill and Larry Bird was a Zen master at that.
Anymore , I look at Larry , just like I do the Doctor. All of these guys were as special as you can get. These guys gave us some of the best basketball memories of our lives. Larry , Charles, Magic, MJ , even going back to Wilt , Jerry & Elgin , for me. I miss these guys a lot.
@@kevyonsmith4893 I don’t completely understand, what do you mean? Is it that Larry didn’t play for the money? Or vice versa? I think he also did it for the cash. People can’t spend all of their time and effort doing something unless it at least pays a living. I like golf, wish I was better at it. I’d like to do it all day everyday, but I can’t, I have to make a living. Only way I could possibly do it all the time is if I had the skill to win tournaments so I could support myself.
Literally get chills watching Larry plays. If I can shake this man's hand in my lifetime I will forever be on another level mentally knowing I met a great man who did incredible things. I met Robert Parish and I was in awe.
I've watched this before, and I started watching again. I got to #12 and I thought "I can't do this right now." Yup, finished watching the entire vid. Again. And, that steal and pass against the Pistons is the greatest play of all time in any professional sport ever. Man, I am so lucky to have had the privilege of witnessing Larry Bird's entire career.
Nearly 30 years later I am still in awe of this great great basketball player. Thank you Larry for all the great moments. L J you can only wish to have a career like Larry or Michael Jordan, so keep dreaming.
Can't you express your admiration for great platers of their era without a silly swipe at another great player of a later era? As LeBron James has eclipsed Larry Bird in every individual statistical category and now also won more rings, I'm not even sure what your argument is.
@@jeremysmyczek I guess you haven't seen the reaction of Jordan, Thomas, McHale when lebron was called himself the greatest NBA player of all time. That is why made my comments. And the way he was chasing championship and asking for players on 2 of championship like Davis with the Lakers and Love with Cleveland, Bird did it the players that was in Boston and Jordan in Chicago. That's why Mr. Jeremy.
@@lesduenas5699, I couldn't care less what a bunch of old players who played before the salary cap think of LeBron James and how he builds teams. Larry Bird started alongside three other HOFers and Jordan had Scotty Pippen and probably the greatest coach of all time, so these arguments are just old guys talking about how much tougher things were for them, which is a thing old guys like to do. But you're talking straight past my point: LeBron James is a better player than Larry Bird. He has won more games, won more rings, scored more point, collected more rebounds, passed for more assists, was a better defender in his prime, and would have taken Larry Legend in a one-on-one game if you get a time machine and make them both about 27 at the same time.
Jordan is 1-9 in postseason without a hall of famer on the court with him. Lebron beat the team with best record in the history of the NBA without even an all star on the team. When Jordan wins a series without being surrounded by hall of famers, then we can talk.
GOAT in my book. Not just for the points he put up but greatest teammate and how much he believed in the team he played for. The man talked the talk and walked the walk.
First time in a long time I have seen the Phoenix shot. Everyone there including the Suns team on the floor was frozen in shock. Bird hit bigger shots but that one took the 110 Phoenix heat down to a blustry 33. ++ to the poster.
We all grew up hoping we could make that one shot where we get bumped, falling down 3 pointer at the buzzer. This guy did it routinely, and told the other team BEFOREHAND what he was going to do.
There was always reports and rumors of how hard & how much Larry Bird & Magic Johnson practiced. And of course this was before the internet and we only had a fee TV channels. So those shots were definitely not luck. And of course, Mike came right behind them and there was reports of how M.J. coming before practice and staying after practice to hone his skills too. That's when those McDonald's commercials came with Larry, Magic & Mike playing horse to win the other person's food. How many out there remember that?
My all time favorite player to watch! He played basketball like you're supposed to. It was like he invented it. What a joy to watch. I almost felt sorry for the other team...almost.
We are so fortunate to watch so many great athletes in this day and age. That being said, I was fortunate enough to watch some very "Special" athletes. Winners!! Magic, Jordan, Tiger, Brady. None however can compare to Larry!!!!!!!!!
"We have good players on this team but we don't play heart. We set back and watch magic and his team high five and we just set back and watch like sissy's. " 😳 OMG you knew all hell was going to break loose!!! I'm 54 yrs old and have seen that interview a thousand times and I still get goose Bumps!!!!! Another masterful chess move to inspire and change the momentum of the series. You are the GOAT Larry Bird!!!!!!
Larry Bird and Magic Johnson did for basketball in the 1980s what Ted Williams and Joe DiMaggio did for baseball in the 1940s. What an era!! Greatness on display in every game.
As much as I love this fabulous video on my all time favorite athlete (Sorry Mickey, you were the one for me... until Larry came along), I feel a painful sense of sadness... because I know (as Magic said), "There will never, ever be another Larry Bird."
3 of the 5 best players of all times. They could do it all on the court. Complete players. We look at scoring to much, it's the guys that hit big shots and can do it all on the court that are the greatest.
Then Shaq won three consecutive final series mvp's. most forget cedric maxwell of those boston la battles. My greatest teammate said bird. Maxwell was nba final series mvp, then mvp game seven final series, then blew his knee out. Lead scorer and rebounder for nc charlotte when they lost by two to marquette in Final 4.semi final. Then Marquette won the final game
This has got to be the best Bird documentary ever made. Great job! Bird was the best all-around player hands down. And his basketball IQ? Forget it! Nobody even comes close. Thanks Larry...
@@johnbrown9076 when I was in my early 20's a bunch of us friends from Boston went to a Red Sox game at Yankee Stadium and we drank the whole ride up there. By the time we got to the game we were all pretty hammered. On our way to our seats we passed right by Johnny Most so I doubled back and asked him to say "Fiddling and Diddling" after he said it the first time I asked him to say it again, which he did by the time I got to asking him to say it the 3rd or 4th time he finally said to me in his classic scratchy Johnny Most voice: "Get outa here kid, ya bothering me" I'm pretty sure I may have been looking at 2 Johnny Mosts but I clearly remember that and they both said it at the same time.
I used to play fastpitch softball against guys who grew up in Bird's neighborhood. They said he was dumb as a box of rocks. But when you put a basketball in his hands, he was a god.
You can talk about the Michael Jordans and the Kobe Bryants, but Larry Legend is the GOAT. He was the complete player that sacrificed his body for his team. No other player has ever or will ever lay that much on the line for the game of basketball.
Guys, this was absolutely incredible ! Thank you. I'm a Canuck, 75 years old, 5'7" tall. Didn't play a whole lot of basketball. But this fantastic collage of Bird, Magic, and the Celtics was something out of this world: terrific skill, determination, brotherhood, and class all rolled into one. WOW !
Probably the best basketball video ever. Great job And to those people who say that basketball players of old couldn't compete with the athleticism of today's players, I have two words.. Larry Bird
He was just a phenomenon Didn’t look like a basketball player but had every shot in the book and was strong as an ox and tough He truly earned the respect
Part of the thing people miss is that Bird was exposing that fans and media missed one thing about his game…that at least 30 percent of his points every game were left handed.
It bothers me when people use the flu game to bolster Jordan’s greatness, but see Bird’s later years as a hindrance. The fact that Bird was so tough that he could play for so long with such pain says far more about him than anything Michael had to endure. Never forget that a Larry lead Celtics team always beat Michael Jordan in the playoffs and through most of their encounters in the regular season. Michael may be the greatest in the eyes of some, but he never could stop Larry Joe.
@@adnoHis1 but it wasnt MJ vs Larry, was it? Facts are MJ never lost a championship series in college, nba, or internationally...larry can never say that. So are we gonna put them championship losses by larry as some sign that Larry is worse than jordan? I love both but I'm not gonna say some ignorant stuff like one is better than the other without at least recognizing the game dont revolve around a player.
Many of those plays that highlighted this reel, I remember watching. There weren’t too many Boston Celtics games we missed back in those days. What a player and what a time to see such a masterful performance day in and day out!
Back when the NBA was a part of American culture. Glad I got to live to see the White Guy as cornbread said he shoots pretty good. Bird is the best basketball player ever. He changed the game forever for the better. Larry Akeem and Michael top 3 top all time IMHO
What made Larry so great were the little things; how he made Ball fakes, how he did three moves before he took a shot- he was great @'passing and shooting. He made everyone better and didn't worry about his stats; just winning. Imagine if the NBA was great again? MJ came in the league and didn’t understand team basketball. As soon as he trusted his teammates his team won. Magic and Bird were clones. They were basketball genius.
That's very unfair to MJ. MJ did not even have any teammates worth a damn when he first came into the league. Bird was surrounded by Hall-of-Famers, so of course the Celtics were always setup for "team basketball". As Chicago improved their Roster with better players around Jordan (Scotty Pippen, etc.) it was natural and predictable that the Team dynamics (and wins) would develop with that. But MJ was ALWAYS great!
@@FreeSociety1 When MJ shared the ball his teammates gained confidence, ran the floor, played defense, etc. sharing the ball is contagious. Your right, Bird/Magic had Super Teams but they made them better. MJ, was great but when he shared the ball and bought into a system he became the GOAT. Bird and Magic won at every level- even before they had amazing costars.
@@FreeSociety1 Beg to differ with you. Bird’s first year was on a team coming off a 29-53 record. Dave Cowan and Pistol Pete were there, but were in their last year of play and in reality just shells of their former selves. With the addition of Bird they were 61-21 his rookie season with no McHale or Parrish. Bird was always all about “team” and winning. Jordan was not there when he first got into the league. He eventually got there but it took him until, you guessed it, Bird and Magic retired.
In deep debt to growing up during the Bird/Magic/Jordan era. I have never been a hardcore basketball fan ( mainly because I could not play to save my life! ) but Larry Bird was the best thing to happen to me as a teen sports fan! If I ever need to replenish my feel goods, I just watch Larry highlights! What a privilege is was to see him play!!! Best team player I have ever seen!!
Fantastic tribute to a wonderful player. So many great highlights. Humble but a freak of a superstar!!! How about a Larry Bird's 1000 greatest passing moments. Well done and thankyou . . . If only I could have watched him at Boston Garden :( My greatest player of all time :)
I was there when Bird hit the game winner in Hartford @14:40. Nothing unusual for Bird except for the game immediately before in Boston, a couple of days earlier, he had done the same thing. Back to back game winners.
I am not a huge basketball fan, but I really enjoyed watching this tribute to a man who obviously gave everything he had to the game. What a special player.
Bird just mastered the game. You dont have to be super fast or quick, he just had this great intuition and anticipation of how the play's going to develop and how to get to spots he was comfortable in. Just goes to show bball is really about skills; you just need to have the minimum level of athletic abilty and you could do great things.
@@macferadaig3092 Actaully, he was in terms of reflexes. Not the explosive type but he wasn't a lumbering big guy. He was quick for a 6-9 player and was guard like. So yeah, he wasn't explosive but he wasn't lumbering either. He's faster than Buck Williams or Charles Oakley. But he won't overpower you for a dunk but he did dunk in his early years.
@@wishingb5859 He wasn't Westbrook lol but people think he was like lumbering. He was quick and nimble for a 6-9 guy which was rare in the 80s. He played like a guard. It wasn't until his back gave in when he looked really slow. But even then he was still effective.
It's all summed up when HOF coach Pat Riley states that, "If I had to pick one guy to take the shot to save the game, I'd pick Michael Jordan. If I had to choose a guy to take that shot to save my life, I'd choose Larry Bird".
Pat tells the truth. Well put.
yeah michael will win you a game but he aint gon' care about yo' life at all lol
💓💓💓💓
There was only be one Larry Bird.
@@jason41a
Jordan only cares about Jordan
Every time I stumble upon a Larry Bird video, I tell myself, "I'll just watch a few minutes; don't have time to watch it all."
And every time, I watch the whole thing!
Wow?! REALLY miss those days...
Yea but what a great feeling while doing so, I relive the memories every time!!
Because they don't show the time he sucked. I remember them well.
I was young when Larry Legend was flaming the basketball court...watching these videos makes me want to kick myself..for not paying attention back then...
Me too I watched him play with my dad who's gone now favorite memories Larry Bird is 3 months younger than me. He's still my hero !!
“There will never, ever, ever be another Larry Bird”
Magic’s words still ring true.
There will never be another...
Tim Duncan
LeBron James
Reggie Miller
Magic Johnson
Luka Doncic
Hakeem Olajuwon
Kareem
etc..
@@Physics_Dude none of those guys are named Larry Bird... lol
@@Physics_Dude Go away Bozo. Their all talking about Larry BIird!
@@Physics_Dude
Bob Cousy
Bill Russell
Wilt Chamberlain
Julius Erving
Oscar Robertson
George Gervin
and Air.
@@mrvlsmrv - Exactly my point. There is only "one" of each NBA great. They are all unique in their own way! The Bird fans think he was so special but he wasn't even the greatest Celtic of all time.
If you were, or tried to be, a fan of the NBA in the late 70's, you'll never doubt that Larry and Magic saved the NBA. Boy did they tee it up for MJ.
Why do I always have to fight back tears whenever I watch these old Bird clips?
+1
Doin' in right now. The story of the Celtics from this era is almost like a
fable in a story book, so many unbelievable moments, dogged determination innate skill, heart and last minute buzzer beaters its almost like no one would believe it if it werent in the record books and on video - not to mention the huge
number of people that saw it all happen in person. Add the dream team and the olympics and its a storybook bound in gold.
Because we lived it. We watched all of those games live. We were on the edge of our seats having panic attacks. All of us were bummed out before Larry stole the ball in that Detroit game. It was miracle after miracle with Larry. The main reason is because we are thankful for Larry Bird.
because....they are that good !!!
You are right. At this point in my life, Larry is nostalgia. But I remember when he came into the NBA, and now the memories bring tears to my eyes. Perhaps for me, in 2021, the greatest example of Larry is his relationship with Magic Johnson. Why can't we all live as they are living-- as brothers!
For me, Bird's passes were his most incredible moves. ASTOUNDING! Just unreal, like superhuman; and he inspired his teammates to rise way above their own self expectations.
I mean yeah he put Parrish and McHale in the Hall
Lol you want to catch the passes he threw??? Amazing. He passed the craziest shots and they caught and scored. That's teamwork!❤
so glad the "Steal by Bird" play made it to #1.. personifies Larry in so many ways. Still, to this day, my favorite player I've ever watched play this game.
I remember sitting on my buddy's couch , when that happened. Unbelievable moment.
Bird was born to be Great
I’m at #32 brah… spoiler alert. 😝
My favorite player of all time, hands down. Truly deserving of the name LARRY LEGEND.
He'll always be a legend here in Massachusetts that's for sure!
Mine, too.
Basketball= Larry
Hockey- Gordie / Bobby
Football- Peyton
Baseball- Cal
All these players are remembered on a first name basis!!!
Yeah, what a LARRY he was!
Larry Legend played in 897 career regular season games winning 660 and losing 237, that is an astounding .735 win percentage. If you take out the season he only played 6 games and subtract all 6 of those games from his 660 wins, you come up with an average of 54.5 games won per year. Larry Bird is summed up with one word, WINNER, pure and simple..
That's some good home work "Nose"
I think he won the three shot shootout Multiple times.If he had been a ball hog like players today he could have been the leading Scorer of all time!
@@davycrockett3230 not with his short career and bad back
Also the league became somewhat watered down with expansion teams after Larry retired. Imagine some of that talent going to the Celtics, Lakers and so on.
Then there was the Len Bias
loss, rip.
Easy to be a winner when you have McHale, Parris, and Dennis Johnson on your team. NBA is a team game. Bird didn't win 660 games. The Celtics did.
The very best era of the NBA. Teamwork, real devotion, and bare-knuckle rough playing.
I don't care what anyone roaming this planet thinks this was the GOAT including all the "Cream puffs" playing whimpy hoop today!! He was the best in the 80s which was the golden era of hoop and without him and Magic this game may have never survived. Larry Legend forever
For all those saying Lebron this or that I say give me MJ and then because they disrespect Bird even more, I say give me Bird and you can have the next five you want and my team will win. By blow out margins.
Lebron loses, then puts a fake cast on his R-hand, after feigning that he injured his L-hand, in the fourth quarter.
Larry, sacrifices his body, for his team and his fans; leads and inspires his team to do what seemed to be impossible.
Larry's rivals flock to congratulate him, even in their loss; he's an inspiration to any man who sees him work and perform.
All things considered, I'm certain MJ, knows who the better man, IS... #33
Watch this without bringing anyone else’s name in. Your missing the point. It’s about greatness and Bird was great!
MJ knows Bird had his number
No Bird No Magic. These 2 guys brought out the best out of each other since college. My respects to Bird. I hated the guy when they played my Lakers but those where awesome games
As someone who lives in a city that never had an NBA franchise, watching pro basketball was never as enjoyable as when it was Bird vs. Magic.
I've said it before and I will say it again. You give me my choice of any player in the history of basketball and I will take Larry Bird every time. He had it all, the total package. It didn't matter what you needed, offense, defense, scoring, rebounding, assists, steals, 3 point shots, motivation, confidence, he would deliver for you.
I'll give you your choice of any 5 NBA players and you give me 5 Larry Birds and I will beat you every time.
Idk man, he is close to the top, but I have to give Timmy D the nod imo. Larry is 2 or 3 him and Russell are both phenomenal. You couldn't go wrong really with any of them.
Nice Testimony. I'll give you that much because of Larry Bird. But just like Pistol Pete Maravich, you seem to forget whom he went to play Basketball with to get that good at it. Let me politely remind you. Thanks !
Agree. Beautifully said . . .
I lived to watch the NBA in this era. Bird, Magic, Jordan, Wilkins, Olajuwon, Ewing, Stockton, Malone, and so many others. It really was a great game to watch.
Yes the best era in NBA history was from about 1984-1993. Starting when Magic and Bird met in the finals for the first time, and ending when Michael retired for the first time.
@@anthonynegron788, absolutely the golden years of the NBA.
Not going to lie, I’ve watched very little NBA since the early 2000s. The game and league got soft. In the 80s-90s we got to witness the greatest era of basketball. The offenses were incredible but the defenses were unreal. It used to be a physical sport. You had to bang to get position. Don’t see that in the NBA anymore
It was exciting to watch Basketball back then.
Absolutely
me too, MJ was incredable he got better every season.
Lasalle Thompsons' comment after that Pacers game?
Pure class.
As an all-time fan, Larry Bird is simply the best. Just... the best.
Yessir
@@RemoWilliams1227love to see you do a treatmentbonndabidvTjokosinnthe OG skywalker
"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
Great quote huh? lol
Amen.
For sure! More game winners per games played than anyone, ever.
this is too easy ... just compare Celtic record the year before Bird ... 10th in the conference with a 29-53 record to Bird's first year in Boston ... 1st in the conference with a 61-21 record! ... BEAT THAT PEOPLE!!!
@@sas6561 there is not a more a valuable player for their time than Bird was. Parrish, McHale, DJ...all very good players. But compared to Magic’s team with Worthy, Kareem, Perkins, Cooper, etc? Nah, get outta here. That Celtics team was all Bird. Of course Jordan was similar. Scotty was great, but everyone was a role player.
Larry was a superb player in an INCREDIBLE era! Nobody will EVER eclipse Larry Bird.
I reported your comment for basic stupidity. 😒
Bird made everybody play ball...Tommy said it.."Thank the Lord for Larry Bird"
I'm a diehard Laker fan, lived in Boston during the great 80's rivalry. It was great being a Laker fan then, and Magic is still my favorite. But I always appreciated Larry. Even though he'd piss me off sometimes, I had to love those "waaa???" plays that he'd pull off, with regularity. It's great seeing this, and realize that I've really grown to love him.
Same with Magic. When I watched him with the Dream Team it completely made me appreciate him.
They both loved the game and the competition. And neither was a selfish player. Mirror images. I personally think Larry was the better overall player, but Im not gonna get into a fight over it coz Magic was freaking awesome too.
@@senormedia I was going to say the same thing. Grew up in NE. Celtics were my team. Got to see them play in person. Bird was my favorite player. But, boy, did I respect Magic.
I still haven’t seen a player the magnitude of a Larry Joe Bird. He was a phenomenal, consistent basketball player in any era that I can recall in my days of playing and watching this beautiful game of basketball.
The new game is about palming the ball to cross up and walking 3.5 steps like Lebron and many others. The p fouls too. New game. Bird would have scored 30 points a game today, at least and his innate talent would have been a challenge even today. Insight, vision, passion on every level in the best era of basketball. I love Curry, but look who got the 3 point game going with 4 guys on him to win the game. A true Phenom.
@@lesstettner1 sorry you are wrong...He would have scored 40 plus if he wanted to!
You need to watch some Dallas Mavericks games then. Luka is not even 23 and Bird's first season was when he was 23. Luka is a better all-around player and the best is yet to come.
@@kenthomas4668 I bet he could have did close to 100 had he been selfish. But where would that have gotten him? Excluding your teammates does not bring teams to win championships.
Bird made that perfectly clear his 1st year at Boston.
@@Physics_Dude luka isn’t even close to bird dude stop being stuck on stupid.
This was just BEAUTIFUL to watch . . What a Player !!!!!
Friends: "Hey, we're going to a movie. Wanna come?"
Me: "Nah. I'm watching 'Larry Bird's 50 Greatest Moments'. More entertaining than any movie I'll ever see".
What a GOAT of a production for the GOAT of basketball. Larry Legend
The greatest quote of all time about Larry Bird. "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
If I had to choose a player to humiliate me I'd take Jimmy Butler - Pat Riley
All of his crazy plays have me genuinely shaking my head, dropping my jaw, smiling, laughing and then saying "What the absolute FREAK!* Hahaha! Amazing! Truly amazing.
yes he was definitively a freak way outside the boundaries, once in a lifetime Hoosier
A dude that didn't grow up middle class or rich work to be the best small forward to ever lay the game amazing
Money can't buy 6'9". Still, he made the most of his god given athleticism.
person but it wasn't his athleticism that made him great.. it was his hard work and skills and clutch shooting that made him great.. he was known for being a sub par athlete by nba standards
^but he was athletic in his own right...he dunked on people...not athletically dominate like Mike or James...I see this comments like "he can't jump ...he can't run" he's a basketball player ffs...not some janitor with amazing basketball IQ... it was probably that misconception that made him even more deadly on the court...dude got all them rebounds...and people are on here saying he can't jump...
search up Larry Bird Athleticism on youtube
Larry Bird was the "Albert Einstein" of basketball. His "Basketball IQ" up to this day I think is still unmatched!
Lebrons IQ is wayyy wayy higher
@@meld1817 No. lebron is a genius, no doubt but i put magic, bird, mj, isiah thomas iq higher than lbj. Lbj still dont know how to use his teammates properly. He only can play the lbj-system.
No way lebron comes close to bird...more athletic..sure but thats it.
You’re a joke
@@meld1817 lol!! LeBron couldn't tie Birds shoes!
Larry Bird, The Greatest All Round Player period.
So wrong. I believe that Larry Bird is one of the most overrated players in NBA history. He “led” (though not really a franchise player) the Celtics to only two NBA Titles - as compared to Celtics Bill Russell’s eleven. Larry was not athletic - didn’t jump well and was slow - in contrast to Bill Russell, Dr. J, Charles Barkley, Magic, Michael Jordan, Kobe, Lebron, Durant, and many others.
@@martysomoco I thought it was 3 nba titles? ...
@@martysomoco
I see your lobotomy was a success
Agree !! Bird was the GOAT !!
@@martysomoco Larry Bird, who turned the previous season 29 game winning Celtics into a regular season first place team with 61 wins, then brought them THREE championships in 5 Finals appearances in 6 years, is not a franchise player?
Yeah, that level of stupidity does not deserve any more response than this. Believe what you want about him being overrated, but to not call him a franchise player is ridiculous, he is almost the epitome of a franchise player
As a Celtics fan since 1960, I thank God I got to follow Larry Bird's career. I can't put into words how good Larry Bird was because there are no words that are worthy of his greatness in EVERY facet of the game. I'm glad they have videos for all you fans who weren't around then. Take if from me...Seeing Bird perform his 'Magic' in real time was absolutely incredible! I never believed in miracles until I saw Larry Bird play NBA basketball.
Yeah he's the most talented and fun to watch Celtic of alltime......is hs ranked higher than Russell it depends on your citeria
The Celtics had 5 player whi are ranked in the top 25 players of alltime...russell..bird..havlicek..cousy.mchale...thats quite an accmplishment
@@senseichess8688don’t forget the mastermind of it all-Red Auerbach
If Bird played today in this league he would be killing it!
With today's rules and officiating...oh my god....he'd average 40 pts a game, 15 assists and 20 boards.
Absolutely!!
MANCHESTER UNITED F.C 😂😂😂😂😂😂
@M, lol. I remember people like you saying the same shit in the 80s and 90s soccer would be the #1 sport in the US by 2000, 2010, 2020.
@M soccer is for cry babies trying to milk a penalty shot at every chance....
Amazing player. And like all geniuses he made it look easy.
gunslinger
MAY 26, 1987...My 22nd birthday... Born & raised in Detroit, my friends & I were watching the game. Last 2 seconds, we thought the Pistons had won; we were celebrating, cheering, etc. We turned around a few seconds later, looked at the TV, and saw the PISTONS HAD LOST!! Wow...
Ouch.
At least Detroit learned a valuable lesson. Play every second.
Don't feel bad. Larry gave out lessons to everybody in his hayday. 😄
I love Larry Bird. Been a fan since as long as I can remember.
These kids would cry if Larry Joe played today I remember the Hawks game watching in awe as a kid
Hell of a game. I was 14ish and remember the choke to set up game 5. But as with Wilkins and Lebron...you can kill first 3 quarters and then meet Larry or Mike and those first 3 quarters dont mean crap.
Not too bad for a hick from Indiana.. Boston you are truly lucky to have had Bird on your Celtics. I grew up in Indiana and we were not Pacer fans, we were Larry Bird and Celtic fans. My parents went to Indiana State as I went to Indiana State. One of my best memories ever was when I went back to Terre Haute for a new semester at college I stopped at Larry Bird's Boston Connection, a restaurant and hotel (not to mention a very cool gift shop for Larry Bird and Boston Celtic merchandise), that was owned by Larry. I tried to visit it whenever possible, food was pretty good. This time I was there, I happened to look up from my plate and there practically staring me in the face was Bird himself. As soon as I could mutter to myself, "hey there's Larry Bird!" other people had noticed and started to swarm him. He quickly disappeared. This was 1994. Sometimes forget how great you were Larry. And how proud you made us fellow Hoosiers. God bless
We were also lucky enough to have 'Red' Auerbach as our GM and coach. Red outsmarted the other teams front office people like Larry did their players..
I loved watching Larry and the boys play as Sycamores!!!
Cool story!
Best Bird video on the net.... really enjoyed it. I am glad I am old enough to have watched him play.
31:00 - "You are watching what greatness is all about." That line always gives me chills.
Red Auerbach once said that when he arranged for Bird to play in Boston, even HE didn't realize how good he was gonna be.
The greatest basketball spirit in the game.
I had the honor of watching Larry Bird in Jr. High, High school, College & The Pros. Thank you Larry.
Same here. An honor to watch Bird in his prime.
A bunch of us rented a school bus and drove over to Loogootee to watch Larry play in HS.
i'm jealous :-D
damn man i would have loved to see him in person
Its sad that people who didn't see Larry Bird play have no idea how great he was. Not the most physically talented but his shooting, floor knowledge, toughness and competitive energy made him a perennial MVP candidate.
I honestly do not believe had he grown up anywhere but Indiana, would he had been able to do this!!
Especially the idiotic Fanboys who will say (with a straight face) that LeBron James is better than either Bird, Magic or Jordan. James isn't even in the same zip code as the Big Three.
LeBron would be delegated to bring Bird, Johnson, Jordan their coffee and that's it!!
One of the best explanations for why those Celtics teams were so great was how heads-up they were, regardless of the situation. In the play from the '87 playoffs where Larry steals the Pistons' inbound pass and feeds DJ for the layup, watch what Johnson does AFTER the layup. He doesn't dance, he doesn't point to himself, he doesn't fall on his back and make snow angels. He immediately heads for the baseline to smother Detroit's attempt to inbound the ball for a (highly unlikely) miracle shot. They played every close game to the last second, which is a sure sign of a winner. The Lakers were thought of as more of a showtime team, but their real calling card was that were rock solid in crunch time as well. That's why the two teams dominated the league through the 1980s.
spot on.
Bird said DJ was best player he ever played with.
Everybody overlooks Parrish on this team. His tough defense inside against the best more than made up for his 2.5 pts/game.
Without mj bird is the no. 1
There were a lot of smart basketball players on those Celtics teams already, but I honestly think that Bird's basketball IQ was infectious, and made everyone around him that much better.
THE LAST THING you want to do, is have Bird throw one of these genius passes, and the ball goes off your hands and out of bounds because youre not paying attention. Guys had to be on their toes at all times when Larry had the ball, because it could be coming to you at anytime, in any number of ways.
Yes, Bird was a phenomenal shooter and passer and as a professional was proficient in all the skills needed in the NBA, but the reason why I love watching him was his real-time awareness of what was happening on the court. Who was where, who was guarding who, what were the vectors of people's momentum and the balls. Being in the right place at the right time to use his talent in a way that lifts the team isn't due to luck it's a refined skill and Larry Bird was a Zen master at that.
And when you combine all that with the passion to give it 100% all the time you had something else.
9th
Just so.
Well said.
That was his greatest talent
Anymore , I look at Larry , just like I do the Doctor. All of these guys were as special as you can get. These guys gave us some of the best basketball memories of our lives. Larry , Charles, Magic, MJ , even going back to Wilt , Jerry & Elgin , for me. I miss these guys a lot.
Larry bird and Dr J. 2 best ever
Back when Basketball was fun....and not thugs. So sad it came to this.
@@SousChef77yeah now we have Ja Morant 🙄
after this era basketball was done. bird, magic, doctor, iceman. the greatest time of the NBA.
I loved what that guy said, Larry didnt play for money, he played to win.
he sacrificed his body for every loose ball and played with a bad back at the end of his career all for the chance to win,,,a real baller
@@robertswift6101 wow I never knew that 🤣🤣🤣
Love Bird, but he also did it for the money. Come on...
@@MrDavidfarris exactly. People love saying that dumb shit.
@@kevyonsmith4893 I don’t completely understand, what do you mean? Is it that Larry didn’t play for the money? Or vice versa? I think he also did it for the cash. People can’t spend all of their time and effort doing something unless it at least pays a living. I like golf, wish I was better at it. I’d like to do it all day everyday, but I can’t, I have to make a living. Only way I could possibly do it all the time is if I had the skill to win tournaments so I could support myself.
People forget what a great coach he was also.
Literally get chills watching Larry plays. If I can shake this man's hand in my lifetime I will forever be on another level mentally knowing I met a great man who did incredible things. I met Robert Parish and I was in awe.
Aw that's awesome
They put balls in baskets for a living
I've watched this before, and I started watching again. I got to #12 and I thought "I can't do this right now." Yup, finished watching the entire vid. Again. And, that steal and pass against the Pistons is the greatest play of all time in any professional sport ever. Man, I am so lucky to have had the privilege of witnessing Larry Bird's entire career.
Nearly 30 years later I am still in awe of this great great basketball player. Thank you Larry for all the great moments. L J you can only wish to have a career like Larry or Michael Jordan, so keep dreaming.
Perfectly said
Can't you express your admiration for great platers of their era without a silly swipe at another great player of a later era? As LeBron James has eclipsed Larry Bird in every individual statistical category and now also won more rings, I'm not even sure what your argument is.
@@jeremysmyczek
I guess you haven't seen the reaction of Jordan, Thomas, McHale when lebron was called himself the greatest NBA player of all time. That is why made my comments. And the way he was chasing championship and asking for players on 2 of championship like Davis with the Lakers and Love with Cleveland, Bird did it the players that was in Boston and Jordan in Chicago. That's why Mr. Jeremy.
@@lesduenas5699, I couldn't care less what a bunch of old players who played before the salary cap think of LeBron James and how he builds teams. Larry Bird started alongside three other HOFers and Jordan had Scotty Pippen and probably the greatest coach of all time, so these arguments are just old guys talking about how much tougher things were for them, which is a thing old guys like to do. But you're talking straight past my point: LeBron James is a better player than Larry Bird. He has won more games, won more rings, scored more point, collected more rebounds, passed for more assists, was a better defender in his prime, and would have taken Larry Legend in a one-on-one game if you get a time machine and make them both about 27 at the same time.
Jordan is 1-9 in postseason without a hall of famer on the court with him. Lebron beat the team with best record in the history of the NBA without even an all star on the team. When Jordan wins a series without being surrounded by hall of famers, then we can talk.
GOAT in my book. Not just for the points he put up but greatest teammate and how much he believed in the team he played for.
The man talked the talk and walked the walk.
Larry Bird in his prime has to be a top 5 player of all-time! He knew how to win and lived for the moment!!
Bird wasn't a Top 5 guy....unless you saw him...trust me...HE WAS THE REAL GOAT!!!
@@rogerhazelwood2826 no bout adout it. By far best complete player evah !!!
@@m74796 - Larry isn't even the best Celtic of all time. Y'all killing me forgetting about Bill Russell.
Top 5…he was the greatest. Him and Jordan maybe tied.
@@Physics_Dude didn't forget, Russell just wasn't the same caliber.
This is probably one of the best docs done to celebrate THEE BEST NBA player to grace the wood. Smartest player by far.
smartest ever!!!
Best passer in the game ever! No comparisons.
⁰
@@dg8062 Magic Johnson is a better passer
First time in a long time I have seen the Phoenix shot. Everyone there including the Suns team on the floor was frozen in shock. Bird hit bigger shots but that one took the 110 Phoenix heat down to a blustry 33. ++ to the poster.
We all grew up hoping we could make that one shot where we get bumped, falling down 3 pointer at the buzzer. This guy did it routinely, and told the other team BEFOREHAND what he was going to do.
There was always reports and rumors of how hard & how much Larry Bird & Magic Johnson practiced. And of course this was before the internet and we only had a fee TV channels. So those shots were definitely not luck. And of course, Mike came right behind them and there was reports of how M.J. coming before practice and staying after practice to hone his skills too.
That's when those McDonald's commercials came with Larry, Magic & Mike playing horse to win the other person's food. How many out there remember that?
greatest goat NO doubt!
This is my favorite documentary of Larry Bird
My all time favorite player to watch! He played basketball like you're supposed to. It was like he invented it. What a joy to watch. I almost felt sorry for the other team...almost.
Larry Bird was a phenom.
Played like an alien-lol
No he was God Sent!
I won't ever again will watch The NBA as long idiot Lebron is still part of the NBA
Is*
I don't care what anyone says, Bird is the GOAT
I agree 1000% 👍
THE BEST.
Compare this to Lebron disappearing at the end of games.
We are so fortunate to watch so many great athletes in this day and age. That being said, I was fortunate enough to watch some very "Special" athletes. Winners!!
Magic, Jordan, Tiger, Brady.
None however can compare to Larry!!!!!!!!!
"We have good players on this team but we don't play heart. We set back and watch magic and his team high five and we just set back and watch like sissy's. " 😳 OMG you knew all hell was going to break loose!!! I'm 54 yrs old and have seen that interview a thousand times and I still get goose Bumps!!!!! Another masterful chess move to inspire and change the momentum of the series. You are the GOAT Larry Bird!!!!!!
Great moment in Boston sports. Hell, all of sports! Larry told it straight, and his team responded. Proud!
Great documentary. Bird was a stone cold killer. I always loved watching him play.
Larry Bird and Magic Johnson did for basketball in the 1980s what Ted Williams and Joe DiMaggio did for baseball in the 1940s. What an era!! Greatness on display in every game.
As much as I love this fabulous video on my all time favorite athlete (Sorry Mickey, you were the one for me... until Larry came along), I feel a painful sense of sadness... because I know (as Magic said), "There will never, ever be another Larry Bird."
bird magic michael real generation of miracles
3 of the 5 best players of all times. They could do it all on the court. Complete players. We look at scoring to much, it's the guys that hit big shots and can do it all on the court that are the greatest.
Then Shaq won three consecutive final series mvp's. most forget cedric maxwell of those boston la battles. My greatest teammate said bird. Maxwell was nba final series mvp, then mvp game seven final series, then blew his knee out. Lead scorer and rebounder for nc charlotte when they lost by two to marquette in Final 4.semi final. Then Marquette won the final game
This has got to be the best Bird documentary ever made. Great job!
Bird was the best all-around player hands down. And his basketball IQ? Forget it! Nobody even comes close. Thanks Larry...
I've watched most of them, probably still my favorite is the ESPN one. You take even life lessons
I agree. This is one of the best Bird documentaries to date.
ya its like those 200iq plays hes all ovr those
Paul Sullivan king j you dumb ass
Lebron James has the highest IQ I've witnessed in the game.
Just awesome memories!!!
I'm 57 and grew up in Boston and those games were so much fun to watch.
It hasn't been the same since.
I lived in Boston then too...for me Johnny Most brings back the best Bird and Celtic memories.
@@johnbrown9076 when I was in my early 20's a bunch of us friends from Boston went to a Red Sox game at Yankee Stadium and we drank the whole ride up there. By the time we got to the game we were all pretty hammered. On our way to our seats we passed right by Johnny Most so I doubled back and asked him to say "Fiddling and Diddling" after he said it the first time I asked him to say it again, which he did by the time I got to asking him to say it the 3rd or 4th time he finally said to me in his classic scratchy Johnny Most voice: "Get outa here kid, ya bothering me"
I'm pretty sure I may have been looking at 2 Johnny Mosts but I clearly remember that and they both said it at the same time.
08 must have been fun .beating the lakers again?
Larry Bird the QB! Larry Legend!
Thanks so much for the video... Larry is the smartest and toughest NBA player that I've even seen...
Great great player...
I used to play fastpitch softball against guys who grew up in Bird's neighborhood. They said he was dumb as a box of rocks. But when you put a basketball in his hands, he was a god.
You can talk about the Michael Jordans and the Kobe Bryants, but Larry Legend is the GOAT. He was the complete player that sacrificed his body for his team. No other player has ever or will ever lay that much on the line for the game of basketball.
As a Piston’s fan, “Bird stole the ball! Bird stole the ball!” still hurts...
i remember watching Larry Bird as a youngster on the tube, and all night night long game after game all you hear is Bird Bird Bird , he is the man
This was classic, I loved to watch basketball in the era, today the game just doesn't have the same meaning as it did then.
Larry Bird was the greatest competitor I have ever seen.
Guys, this was absolutely incredible ! Thank you. I'm a Canuck, 75 years old, 5'7" tall. Didn't play a whole lot of basketball. But this fantastic
collage of Bird, Magic, and the Celtics was something out of this world: terrific skill, determination, brotherhood, and class all rolled into one. WOW !
Probably the best basketball video ever. Great job
And to those people who say that basketball players of old couldn't compete with the athleticism of today's players, I have two words..
Larry Bird
He was just a phenomenon
Didn’t look like a basketball player but had every shot in the book and was strong as an ox and tough
He truly earned the respect
You are watching what greatness is all about.
*Larry Legend* ...from a Sycamore to a Celtic (One of the *Greatest* Ever)!
Has anyone ever heard Lebron say, "You know what... this is the last game of the west coast trip so I'm gonna play this one left handed
Part of the thing people miss is that Bird was exposing that fans and media missed one thing about his game…that at least 30 percent of his points every game were left handed.
Yeah, it's not like LeBron ended a playoff game shooting with his opposite hand, or anything. czcams.com/video/ayQN1aJSy0o/video.html
@@jeremysmyczek was not left handed
@@jeremysmyczek you missed the point. Bird said I’ll play at least 3 quarters left handed, not just make one basket left handed.
@@baliktad8 correct. He could play entire games left handed to make the point that he was better than them.
Larry Legend of course.
Russell. Orr. Bird. Pedro. Ortiz. Brady. Belichick.
Boston is a very lucky city.
Pedro Martinez paul pierce too..
you forgot babe ruth
You also forgot Ted Williams, the greatest hitter of all time.
Pedro Martinez you also forgot Wade Boggs, who once drank 73 beers on a flight to Seattle
@@hughsmith5764 With NO trips to the john until the plane landed!! AMAZING!
It bothers me when people use the flu game to bolster Jordan’s greatness, but see Bird’s later years as a hindrance. The fact that Bird was so tough that he could play for so long with such pain says far more about him than anything Michael had to endure. Never forget that a Larry lead Celtics team always beat Michael Jordan in the playoffs and through most of their encounters in the regular season. Michael may be the greatest in the eyes of some, but he never could stop Larry Joe.
So True. MJ vs Larry in playoffs 0-6!! Think about that for a Sec.
@@adnoHis1 but it wasnt MJ vs Larry, was it? Facts are MJ never lost a championship series in college, nba, or internationally...larry can never say that. So are we gonna put them championship losses by larry as some sign that Larry is worse than jordan? I love both but I'm not gonna say some ignorant stuff like one is better than the other without at least recognizing the game dont revolve around a player.
They played different positions, Larry had far better teammates, and even Larry says Jordan is better. Don't be a moron.
@@TheKos2Kos
Well if Jordan fans can claim he had scrubs for teammates then Bird fans can say the same for Larry’s ONLY College loss.
@@lucasfamily4670
Larry’s gracious in victory. Which is more than I can say for Jordan.
Many of those plays that highlighted this reel, I remember watching. There weren’t too many Boston Celtics games we missed back in those days. What a player and what a time to see such a masterful performance day in and day out!
Yes, the whole country was watching the same channels and talking about it around the water cooler the next day.
gunslinger
Turn down the tv to listen to Johnny most on the radio
Back when the NBA was a part of American culture. Glad I got to live to see the White Guy as cornbread said he shoots pretty good. Bird is the best basketball player ever. He changed the game forever for the better. Larry Akeem and Michael top 3 top all time IMHO
What made Larry so great were the little things; how he made Ball fakes, how he did three moves before he took a shot- he was great @'passing and shooting. He made everyone better and didn't worry about his stats; just winning. Imagine if the NBA was great again? MJ came in the league and didn’t understand team basketball. As soon as he trusted his teammates his team won. Magic and Bird were clones. They were basketball genius.
Butter 2926
L
That's very unfair to MJ. MJ did not even have any teammates worth a damn when he first came into the league. Bird was surrounded by Hall-of-Famers, so of course the Celtics were always setup for "team basketball". As Chicago improved their Roster with better players around Jordan (Scotty Pippen, etc.) it was natural and predictable that the Team dynamics (and wins) would develop with that. But MJ was ALWAYS great!
@@FreeSociety1 When MJ shared the ball his teammates gained confidence, ran the floor, played defense, etc. sharing the ball is contagious. Your right, Bird/Magic had Super Teams but they made them better. MJ, was great but when he shared the ball and bought into a system he became the GOAT. Bird and Magic won at every level- even before they had amazing costars.
@@FreeSociety1 Beg to differ with you. Bird’s first year was on a team coming off a 29-53 record. Dave Cowan and Pistol Pete were there, but were in their last year of play and in reality just shells of their former selves. With the addition of Bird they were 61-21 his rookie season with no McHale or Parrish. Bird was always all about “team” and winning. Jordan was not there when he first got into the league. He eventually got there but it took him until, you guessed it, Bird and Magic retired.
@@thenoseknows1097
Bird was the Celtics from the moment he arrived period!
"That checks had my name on it for 2 weeks now."
Savage
He was Savage before Savage was a word.
I am from Terre Haute and Larry is the GREATEST.
In deep debt to growing up during the Bird/Magic/Jordan era. I have never been a hardcore basketball fan ( mainly because I could not play to save my life! ) but Larry Bird was the best thing to happen to me as a teen sports fan! If I ever need to replenish my feel goods, I just watch Larry highlights! What a privilege is was to see him play!!! Best team player I have ever seen!!
Very true the 80's & 90's was the best time to watch NBA, oh well nothing last forever.
Larry Bird is one of the greatest scoring shooter
Fantastic tribute to a wonderful player. So many great highlights. Humble but a freak of a superstar!!! How about a Larry Bird's 1000 greatest passing moments. Well done and thankyou . . . If only I could have watched him at Boston Garden :( My greatest player of all time :)
To be the greatest period,,,,,, That is what we all should strive for...
Great to watch...sad, though, because it reminds you what a parody of itself the NBA has become.
I was there when Bird hit the game winner in Hartford @14:40. Nothing unusual for Bird except for the game immediately before in Boston, a couple of days earlier, he had done the same thing. Back to back game winners.
Shit Larry was a monster
I am not a huge basketball fan, but I really enjoyed watching this tribute to a man who obviously gave everything he had to the game. What a special player.
Larry bird was ridiculously good , he rarely ever missed
Bird just mastered the game. You dont have to be super fast or quick, he just had this great intuition and anticipation of how the play's going to develop and how to get to spots he was comfortable in. Just goes to show bball is really about skills; you just need to have the minimum level of athletic abilty and you could do great things.
so true his bball iq was far superior
Bird was super-quick.
I was thinking about it when they talk about him not being as athletic. Tom Brady has been Boston's football version of the same thing.
@@macferadaig3092 Actaully, he was in terms of reflexes. Not the explosive type but he wasn't a lumbering big guy. He was quick for a 6-9 player and was guard like. So yeah, he wasn't explosive but he wasn't lumbering either. He's faster than Buck Williams or Charles Oakley. But he won't overpower you for a dunk but he did dunk in his early years.
@@wishingb5859 He wasn't Westbrook lol but people think he was like lumbering. He was quick and nimble for a 6-9 guy which was rare in the 80s. He played like a guard. It wasn't until his back gave in when he looked really slow. But even then he was still effective.