Originally aired in 1999. This was the 30-minute version that aired as part of the SportsCentury countdown. Subsequent airings have been the one hour documentary version.
Who would not take 5 million because he didn’t want to take the money if he couldn’t play . That shows Larry legends integrity and honor which no other basketball player has these days .
I agree 100%, but turning his back, emotionally, I’m sure he’s provided financially, on his daughter is certainly a chink in his armor, IMHO. And I’m a fan of his for sure.
I was the only child of a sports FANATIC. As a kid, I spent a lot of time watching ALL sports with my Dad. He was a die hard Celtics/Larry Bird fan. He was in awe of the talent Larry Bird had. My Dad is gone now, and I have grown to appreciate how special Larry Bird was. I should have known all along. . . My Dad was never wrong about anything.
Larry and Magic should be in the top 10. They saved basketball, and the players today should thank them every time they walk on the court. Magic and Bird are the reasons these guys today are multi-millionaires.
Larry, Magic, and Oscar Robinson - the "Oscar Robinson" lawsuit caused the end of the "reserve clause" in Basketball and was the first step towards the creation of free agency.
They ARE in the top 10. Bird is my #2 behind Jordan. Magic is 3. Put those three IN THEIR PRIME on my team and I don't even care who you give me to fill out the roster. We aren't losing.
If this don’t get to you, you need a new ❤️, followed him all the way, I’m 72 and I’m still looking at all the good stuff that’s on CZcams, the games, the interviews with magic, Larry, Kevin, chief, Dennis, big red, Jerry, K.C. Leprechaun, fitch, Cedric,m.l Carr, Danny, I just hate time is passing too fast because I don’t won’t to turn loose of these basketball memories, I love basketball, would love to meet Larry and these guys🙏🙏☝️😇
Bird V. Magic NBA finals. Are you kidding? You would plan your entire week around that Sunday afternoon game. Invite only the people who appreciated it, beer, food, polish up the TV screen. Make sure the am radio was getting a clear signal for Johnny Most. Never missed a minute. It was magical.
I remember in 1986, I had chest surgery. I woke up in the hospital bed and my wife and her mother were sitting around me. I pointed at the TV and said "Celtics." She turned it on and we watched the game. It was that important.
Larry Bird is truly a great American story and anyone Black, White, Hispanic, etc. can identify with if you are someone who came from nothing and overcame the odds.
@@billbally4419Yeah, it's only the most popular sport in the world. BB's #9, after ping-pong and golf. And yet, all of us here are watching a vid on a BB player.
Damn ! My ole man died at 46. Korean War Vet, of emphysema. FUCK! I was raised to be a warrior, like he was. Family trade. Larry dealt with life better than his pops. Larry fought battles and spilled blood. He put his ass on the line. I've earned 2 Purple hearts. Pops had three. To each their own. We both loved sports and the athletes who earned their checks. Bird was definitely one of them.
How many times were Bird and D.J. on the scoring end of each others passes? Their basketball telepathy was uncanny; one we'll never see again. Rest In Peace D.J.
@Stephen Forfer NO. Pistol Pete never made his teammates better, which is why he rarely had if ever a winning season. Bird was one of the best passers. Pistol Pete was selfish.
Larry Bird was one of the best, ever. Not because of scoring or championships but because of the way he scored & won. He made his teammates HOFers. It’s offensive they named him #30. Bogus. Another similar to him is Joe Montana.
No. He made his teammates BETTER. he didn't make them HOFers. He didn't teach McHale how to become the most unstoppable 4 from the low post in league history. He was in high school when DJ was second in league MVP voting in 1976, so he didn't make DJ a hall of famer. DJ did that. Bill Walton was a HOF lock long before Bird ever played an NBA game. Even though it's not true, I'll give you Robert Parish. Larry Bird made Robert Parish a hall of fame player lol. He made his teammates better. That's a huge compliment. Don't turn the narrative into a lie by saying he made anyone a hall of fame player except himself
Funny... Dennis Johnson was second in NBA MVP voting 4 years BEFORE Bird entered the NBA. Many, myself included, consider McHale the best scoring power forward in history of the NBA. But I'll take your word for it. It was not their own hard work that got them into the hall of fame. Larry Bird did it for them. Smh
@@joshuastinson3013 did someone's comment get deleted? Why did you say the DJ MVP thing twice when it's obviously not even true? It's not like you're trolling because the whole making someone a HOF thing is pretty disrespectful but wtf? that is such a weird claim to make even once, why are you doubling down?
I had a friend who never watched basketball,,l talked him into watching the celtics one nigjt,,after 10 mins he said,,that bird guy is different,he plays with his heart and soul,l like him,,could've said it better myself
I have one more thing to say. Tell me about any player who was arguably the Best player in his sport who played several years after breaking his back. He had to have traction in a hospital to play the next game and he did. No complaints, no excuses, just top all heart effort. I don't care who you say is better; Larry is THE Legend; not just A Legend to me.
Bill Walton said Bird could do everything by himself but he decided to do it all within the framework of the team unlike Jordan and James who do it the other way around.
Thank you for posting this version. Because ESPN went to a 60 minute version later that didn't include the open by Dan Patrick and the clip of his HS coach. 1:01 - 1:36 tears me up every time... You can't measure a person's heart...
#larrybird 1979 NCAA player of the year ⛹️ 1st round pick by BOSTON in 1978 🥇 Dream Team USA 🇺🇸 3x Champion 🏆🏆🏆 3x League MVP 🏆🏆🏆 2x Finals MVP 🏆🏆 10x All Star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 1982 All Star MVP ⭐️🏆 2x 50-40-90 seasons 3x 3PT Shooting Contest One of the #50greatestnbaplayers of all time 24 points 10 rebounds and 7 assists in his thirteen year career
@ The Bops. It surely was. I grew up in a basketball playing family. Everyone played. My dad splurged on season tickets from the early ‘60s thru the early ‘90s. Best times ever joining my dad for a game.
I never got to do that - but I DID get to see him in one game at Indiana State, would have been his sophmore season when I was attending Rose-Hulman a few miles East on US 40.
People that say Bird wasn't a good athlete are just not very bright, in denial or both. Every night Bird was defended by the finest "Athletes" in the NBA, teams threw everything including the kitchen sink at him.......he torched them all.
Showtime Lakers fan here to testify. I hated Bird when he played, hated all that wore that hideous green uniform. It was years after the fact that I admitted how great Larry Legend was and that admission grew into admiration as the years passed. Bird was more than a player. He was a presence that loomed over every game he was in. He may have been having an off night, but you just knew when it came down to crunch time, it would be him with the dagger to sink it in your heart. Whatever was needed, Larry would provide. Whether it be a rebound, steal, or a clutch bucket, some how the son of a bitch would come up with it. Larry Bird doesn’t have to look up at anybody on the NBA ladder of greatness. He is on the top rung with MJ, Magic and a handful of others.
I'm a Pacers fan. Raised in the sticks of Indiana the same as Bird, and even share the same Birthday as Bird only years later. I will always say my number one goat is a 3 way tie with Showtime Lakers Magic, Bird, and MJ. All three raised the game to new heights. But without the Bird, and Magic Rivalry there's no NBA
@@joshuastinson3013 Bird is better than LeBron statistically in most categories as well as in the clutch and all the intangables. Lebron is overated and plays in a soft foul happy era. Bird would abuse him far worse than Terry did in the Championship/
@@dwightlove3704 jordan..was a media star also..if bird wanted to score 40 a game. Get 12 rebounds..no problem He made everyone better..jordan..can't say that..jirdan..although great..couldn't do..half the things bird could fo..n that's a pure fact..an..he never beat bird in an series. Bird beat every hall of famer in his era..n there were tons. Only reason. Hes not considered the GOAT..is because his skin color.ets be honest..heres a white boy..dominating the black man's game..plain n simple 😌. Let's be honest..greatest clutch shooter ever..when..kareem..abdul..jabbar..said..Larry bird..was the greatest player...hes ever played against..I will take..what jabbar..said.to fuition..thank you..
@@markcianfarani8777 Are you saying that Bird never got any attention from the media he made the cover of Sports Illustrated while in college at Indiana St when I saw that I knew the hype machine had begun..And when it came to facing a great player I guess Kareem forgot somebody named WILT CHAMBERLAIN.And a black man's game there were plenty of prominent white players in the NBA before he came along.
I remember watching this Dec 31 1999 starting from 50 all the way to 1 was tripping on a millinium trip stayed up for 39 hours lol and yes I watched the whole thing drinking and smoking buds love from New Zealand
As a laker fan I got so much respect for Bird he was a damn assassin he was so fkn tough mentally tough one of the best basketball IQs ever Bird was lethal and scary asf.
My greatest player ever!!! He made the Celtics and the future HOF'ers on that team. Every game was worth watching for something that made you say WOW!!! Great in H S but would he survive college. He shined in college but would he make it in the NBA??? It turned out to be easy peasy regardless of the competition. Talent plus heart to win is the incredible combination. It was commitment not solely about the money. Larry is THE Legend.
I may be a bit biased here, as a Boston native now in my mid 40s, but Larry Bird is #30? Really? The absolute worst number he should've been ranked was #15. But he really should have been some place between 6-10 I'd say. He led, not only the re-birth of the Boston Celtics, but he co-starred in the re-birth of the NBA along with Magic.
Yep, the best quote was by Bryant Gumbel - "One of my pet peeves is when people say Michael Jordan saved the NBA. BS. BS Larry and Magic saved the NBA."
One night at the end of a Celtic west coast trip on the last game at Portland before going back home to Boston, Larry, who was so great the game of basketball had almosr become boring, decided to make it interesting by playing the first 3 quarters of the game left-handed. At the end of 3 quarters he had 27 pts against a pretty good player in Jerome Kersey. A natural right-handed shooter, he decided to make it more interesting for himself as a challenge to take all his shots left-handed.... The fact that he dominated that game and was the player of the game as many times before should prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Larry Bird is THE GOAT! Hands down!!! Neither Jordan, or Lebron, or Kobe, or Wilt, Magic, any of the greats!!!!! None would ever attempt to play 3 quarters left-handed.... and if they did, they wouldn't hit shot after shot after shot after shot like Larry did. Bird was just a level above those guys to be able to do that. A level he's still on by himself. The Greatest Of All Time
Younger folks missed out on a great time in NBA history. Celtics and Lakers were loaded. The series always took on a love/hate mutual admiration aspect. You could always carve the tension with a knife. Just no equivalent today.
Every time either team took a tough loss in the playoffs,against each other or not,the other team knew they were in for a rough one the next game. Neither team knew what folding under pressure was,doubt they could of pronounced it.
Criteria should more be impact-based. Stats alone doesnt cut it. Two points in the 1st q with the team leading by 20 is completely different from 2 points made in the last 5 seconds of the game with the team down by 1pt.
What most people these days don't understand is that Magic and Bird literally saved the NBA from disappearing and made it so that all the players who came after were able to make a living playing basketball.
@@clairebear7176 Not everyone. Some younger people know or understand what was going on in the NBA at the time they came into the league and how in dire straights the league was.
People forget that the nba playoffs were on tape delay at 10 pm before Bird and Magic saved the league. And Ncaa basketball git higher ratings than nba with them. Networks were dumping the nba because of low ratings, cbs had them , dumped them. ABC picked them up cause nbc didn’t want them , they had ncaa !
we are soooo happy to have had Larry and Magick. look to our real heroes. don't start believing they are all fake. it is important to have heroes, but always elevate them for their service to society - not for their rank or power.
“Larry has a way of making everybody he comes into contact with a better person. A pure American of the highest character as reported in Sports Illustrated: "Bob Woolf, Larry Bird's attorney, brings out a hotel bill dated April 6, 1979. .... Now, the most illuminating thing in this whole saga is that hotel bill from 1979. You see, except for the basic room charge and the tax, there was nothing else on it. No room service, no restaurant charge, no long-distance phone calls, no nothing. Having dealt with many other athletes, Woolf naturally assumed that the kid would charge at will. But that wasn't how Larry Joe Bird was raised back in French Lick, Indiana. ‘Larry has a way of making everybody he comes into contact with a better person,’ Woolf says. ‘If you think the Larry Bird on the court has character and is unselfish-well, off the court he's even more so.’ Among those who know Bird well, the same catalog of qualities is cited again and again: honest, loyal, steadfast, dependable-his existence shaped by the contradictory, almost mystical ability to be the cynosure, yet always to contribute to those around him. Mel Daniels, who was an assistant coach at Indiana State when Bird played there, said it best: ‘It's like a piece of Larry goes to each player by the things he does.’ Tony Clark, a Terre Haute radio executive who grew up with Bird, says, ‘Larry epitomizes the word friend. Do you understand that?’ Yes. ‘Then you really don't have to know anything else about him.’” (Sports Illustrated 1988, Frank Deford, “A Player For The Ages,” Sports Illustrated, Time, Inc., New York, New York, March 21, 1988)
I am a huge Bird fan. I do not have much of an issue with Bird being #30 on a list of a century of athletes across different sports because it it so hard to compare. I DO have an issue with a list that puts Jordan at #1, Wilt at #13, Magic at #17, Russell at #18, Kareem at #26, and Bird at #30.
John Smith yea good point. You can’t have such a disparity between Bird and Magic. They should be back to back with Bird before magic. And how in the world is Kareem after magic. I would put MJ then Kareem the Bird then magic then Russell then Wilt
yup same here, all those before bird didn't get into the 50:40:90 CLUB. Are you kidding me ESPN? you should be doing cartoons instead of sports. In sports we recognise great sport(wo)men , in cartoons it doesnt matter too much. #cancelsubscribtionESPN
I would have to say my number one pick would have to be Babe Ruth not for his hitting but he could have been a Hall of Famer with just his pitching if you get a chance look up his stats and you'll see what I'm talking about everybody have a blessed day thank you
When the Bruins were out of town, and they put the parquet down (there were always loose tiles), Bird would cover the floor and find them. That was where he made many of his steals! He was thorough and did so well! That is greatness!
James Worthy, a great Laker and UNC teamate of His Airness, said it best,.... "I would much rather guard Michael Jordan than Larry Bird, because with Bird you have to be much more of a thinker"
2:12 Hint, Sports Century. Basketball provides ALL of small town Indiana - and lots of BIG City Indiana as well - with it's cultural pulse. Even Naismith HIMSELF commented on that, many decades ago. "basketball really had its origin in Indiana, which remains the center of the sport."
Top NBA career combined stats per game (pts, reb, ast, stl, blk) additional career fg%,tp%,ft% 1. Jordan 44.7 -50-33-84 2. Lebron 44.4 -51-35-73 3. Bird 43.1 -50-38-89 4. Kareem 42.9 -56-06-72 5. Durant 40.8 -50-38-88 A bunch of guys in the 40’s.
You know, out of the couple Hundred Larry Bird clips I've seen here on CZcams, I've never seen footage of Bird running slow. He looks like he's pretty fast to me. I agree he didn't jump high, but he never looked slow.
In my opinion, the two greatest basketball players of all time are from Indiana. Oscar Robertson and Larry Bird ! Nobody else comes close. Of course, that is my opinion.
Wasn’t fast, wasn’t sleek.. how can you watch him with all these highlights, out rebounding, out passing, crossing ppl over in the 80’s, out shooting, doing stepovers to reversing dunks and dunking on 3 ppl. But wasn’t fast or sleek...🤨 WTF
Yes they would. Some white people love basketball. They would still watch. Some white people with other agendas might stop watching. But they kind of suck anyway imo
I know I can't believe it either my man how in God's name is Larry Legend number 30 like you say at least the minimum top 10 but number 30 something's definitely wrong with that but anyways have a blessed day my man and thank you for agreeing with me
Jill Conner Yes, We always loved the NBA, there’s a lot of White and Black Players I wasn’t impressed with, There’s no one like Bird just like there’s no one like like Kareem or Wilt or Kobe or Dr. J ( a few examples)! Just Dam good players !!
Larry Bird in his prime is STILL the greatest Small Forward to ever live. Had back injuries not derailed his career he'd be much more widely considered the GOAT by many more people. I still take Jordan over Bird but Bird is my #2 all time. Magic comes in at 3.
@@larryeasterwood1419 Why do you suppose they stuck that bit into a video about his athletic career? The whole list is supposedly based on the person as an athlete. Odd, don't you think? Weird directorial choice.
@@cindyknudson2715 It is a strange thing to do. But I also don't know why he has the weird relationship with his daughter. More to it than meets the eye I guess. This video aired 22 years ago so hopefully that has changed.
Who would not take 5 million because he didn’t want to take the money if he couldn’t play . That shows Larry legends integrity and honor which no other basketball player has these days .
I agree 100%, but turning his back, emotionally, I’m sure he’s provided financially, on his daughter is certainly a chink in his armor, IMHO. And I’m a fan of his for sure.
Agreed. Larry Legend.
"What shall it profit a man if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul?" ~Jesus
I was the only child of a sports FANATIC. As a kid, I spent a lot of time watching ALL sports with my Dad. He was a die hard Celtics/Larry Bird fan. He was in awe of the talent Larry Bird had. My Dad is gone now, and I have grown to appreciate how special Larry Bird was. I should have known all along. . . My Dad was never wrong about anything.
R.I.P to your dad. You're right he was not wrong. You were just to young to appreciate Bird at the time.
Larry and Magic should be in the top 10. They saved basketball, and the players today should thank them every time they walk on the court. Magic and Bird are the reasons these guys today are multi-millionaires.
30 come on!!!!!!!
Larry, Magic, and Oscar Robinson - the "Oscar Robinson" lawsuit caused the end of the "reserve clause" in Basketball and was the first step towards the creation of free agency.
They ARE in the top 10. Bird is my #2 behind Jordan. Magic is 3. Put those three IN THEIR PRIME on my team and I don't even care who you give me to fill out the roster. We aren't losing.
@@raveouscarlias4479 Jordan was a ball hog and has the NBA front office protecting him at every level
@@davemartino5997 I think the name you're trying to pronounce is LeBron James
If this don’t get to you, you need a new ❤️, followed him all the way, I’m 72 and I’m still looking at all the good stuff that’s on CZcams, the games, the interviews with magic, Larry, Kevin, chief, Dennis, big red, Jerry, K.C. Leprechaun, fitch, Cedric,m.l Carr, Danny, I just hate time is passing too fast because I don’t won’t to turn loose of these basketball memories, I love basketball, would love to meet Larry and these guys🙏🙏☝️😇
Bird V. Magic NBA finals. Are you kidding?
You would plan your entire week around that Sunday afternoon game.
Invite only the people who appreciated it, beer, food, polish up the TV screen.
Make sure the am radio was getting a clear signal for Johnny Most.
Never missed a minute. It was magical.
I wasn't born yet, but i can see it infront of me right now.
Me and the boys sitting there 😀😀😀
and Bird might say " If i can do my job and ... make other people happy, so much the better. "
I remember in 1986, I had chest surgery. I woke up in the hospital bed and my wife and her mother were sitting around me. I pointed at the TV and said "Celtics." She turned it on and we watched the game. It was that important.
Them were the days for sure. Basketball has never been the same 😊
Larry Bird is truly a great American story and anyone Black, White, Hispanic, etc. can identify with if you are someone who came from nothing and overcame the odds.
Larry Bird is a hero for the have nots. The humble small town boy who did great
I am so lucky to have grown up watching Larry versus Magic. Can’t believe he hurt his back working on his driveway.
His mom's driveway
His Mom's driveway, not his own.
Larry the Legend Number 1 Foward of all time
Larry transcended basketball, as Ruth did baseball and Messi does soccer.
Legend.
Soccer? Really?
@@billbally4419Yeah, it's only the most popular sport in the world. BB's #9, after ping-pong and golf. And yet, all of us here are watching a vid on a BB player.
Damn ! My ole man died at 46. Korean War Vet, of emphysema. FUCK! I was raised to be a warrior, like he was. Family trade. Larry dealt with life better than his pops. Larry fought battles and spilled blood. He put his ass on the line. I've earned 2 Purple hearts. Pops had three. To each their own. We both loved sports and the athletes who earned their checks. Bird was definitely one of them.
How many times were Bird and D.J. on the scoring end of each others passes? Their basketball telepathy was uncanny; one we'll never see again. Rest In Peace D.J.
Larry even said in an interview that the best and smartest player who he ever played with was Dennis Johnson
@@jimbo029 And Dennis ain't even top 75 th player. It's almost criminal
When I was growing up, as a Lakers fan, I hated DJ. It took maturity and reflection to realize how good he actually was.
That steal from the Pistons, pass to DJ, win.
One of the vids out there says something like, "they forgot Larry came to win."
D.J and Bird...My favorite duo of all-time ❤
Bird took friggin' Indiana State to the championship game. That's all you need to know.
@William Leonard for the 1st time with a record of 33-0!!
@William Leonard Just think they would have topped the mark of 32-0 set by Indiana in '76 the school that originally recruited Bird.
@Stephen Forfer NO.
Pistol Pete never made his teammates better, which is why he rarely had if ever a winning season.
Bird was one of the best passers.
Pistol Pete was selfish.
His own home towm 🤷🏽♂️🙌🏾
HE HAD A Bad game shooting 7 for 21 OR something like that but he might have been smoldered defensively by the better team'
My favorite athlete ever . He was incredible.
@MANCHESTER UNITED F.C haha, soccer is boring.
Soccer sucks
It's lame as fuck in the USA
@M I would rather watch paint dry!!!
Top 10 30 espn wrong
Larry Bird was one of the best, ever. Not because of scoring or championships but because of the way he scored & won. He made his teammates HOFers. It’s offensive they named him #30. Bogus. Another similar to him is Joe Montana.
No. He made his teammates BETTER. he didn't make them HOFers. He didn't teach McHale how to become the most unstoppable 4 from the low post in league history. He was in high school when DJ was second in league MVP voting in 1976, so he didn't make DJ a hall of famer. DJ did that. Bill Walton was a HOF lock long before Bird ever played an NBA game.
Even though it's not true, I'll give you Robert Parish. Larry Bird made Robert Parish a hall of fame player lol.
He made his teammates better. That's a huge compliment. Don't turn the narrative into a lie by saying he made anyone a hall of fame player except himself
Larry Bird didn't even have to score any points in a game......and he would still beat you! He had a rare gift of being "born to play" Basketball.
💯🤘
Funny... Dennis Johnson was second in NBA MVP voting 4 years BEFORE Bird entered the NBA. Many, myself included, consider McHale the best scoring power forward in history of the NBA.
But I'll take your word for it. It was not their own hard work that got them into the hall of fame. Larry Bird did it for them. Smh
@@joshuastinson3013 did someone's comment get deleted? Why did you say the DJ MVP thing twice when it's obviously not even true? It's not like you're trolling because the whole making someone a HOF thing is pretty disrespectful but wtf? that is such a weird claim to make even once, why are you doubling down?
Larry Legend. Great trash talker that always backed it up with his play.
Larry Bird The Real GOAT!
Larry Bird
“There will never be another Larry Bird”
Magic Johnson
“ I gotta go with Larry Joe for the win”
Reggie Miller
Pat riley said he would pick jordan to win the game, if his life is on the line he would pick bird.
a s
Riley had a pretty high regard for a Player like a Larry Bird
He’s coached the best teams & players ever
I had a friend who never watched basketball,,l talked him into watching the celtics one nigjt,,after 10 mins he said,,that bird guy is different,he plays with his heart and soul,l like him,,could've said it better myself
They will never ever be another Larry Bird
I agree with all the comments relating to this show’s ranking system. #30 isn’t good enough, he deserved better.
A basketball genius A step ahead of everyone else well said Dr J.
Thank you for watching and leaving a comment. We loved both Bird and Doctor J
Magic and Worthy both said LB made them lay awake at night.
mdb831 that’s beautiful
Worthy also said he'd rather guard Michael Jordan than Larry Bird.
Thats funny!
I have one more thing to say. Tell me about any player who was arguably the Best player in his sport who played several years after breaking his back. He had to have traction in a hospital to play the next game and he did. No complaints, no excuses, just top all heart effort. I don't care who you say is better; Larry is THE Legend; not just A Legend to me.
That's why Larry appreciated Bobby Orr.
Bill Walton said Bird could do everything by himself but he decided to do it all within the framework of the team unlike Jordan and James who do it the other way around.
LeBron is team player every team he played on he lead them in ASSISTS!!!!
100%
That white boy could play. His friendship with Magic is priceless.
Thank you for posting this version. Because ESPN went to a 60 minute version later that didn't include the open by Dan Patrick and the clip of his HS coach. 1:01 - 1:36 tears me up every time... You can't measure a person's heart...
Yes I second that! The Dan Patrick ones are the best- they came out in 1999 if I remember right. Even the music is different in them as well.
Birds poster was on my wall right next to Reggie Jackson those were the days my friend
I thought they'd never end...
#larrybird
1979 NCAA player of the year ⛹️
1st round pick by BOSTON in 1978
🥇 Dream Team USA 🇺🇸
3x Champion 🏆🏆🏆
3x League MVP 🏆🏆🏆
2x Finals MVP 🏆🏆
10x All Star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
1982 All Star MVP ⭐️🏆
2x 50-40-90 seasons
3x 3PT Shooting Contest
One of the #50greatestnbaplayers of all time
24 points 10 rebounds and 7 assists in his thirteen year career
The man from Frenchlick. And he was the man. Bird was THE best player/team player ever to play in the NBA
Would have been an absolute privilege to watch him at Boston Garden . . .
@ The Bops.
It surely was. I grew up in a basketball playing family. Everyone played. My dad splurged on season tickets from the early ‘60s thru the early ‘90s. Best times ever joining my dad for a game.
I never got to do that - but I DID get to see him in one game at Indiana State, would have been his sophmore season when I was attending Rose-Hulman a few miles East on US 40.
People that say Bird wasn't a good athlete are just not very bright, in denial or both.
Every night Bird was defended by the finest "Athletes" in the NBA, teams threw everything including the kitchen sink at him.......he torched them all.
GOAT=ALL-Round.
Showtime Lakers fan here to testify. I hated Bird when he played, hated all that wore that hideous green uniform. It was years after the fact that I admitted how great Larry Legend was and that admission grew into admiration as the years passed.
Bird was more than a player. He was a presence that loomed over every game he was in. He may have been having an off night, but you just knew when it came down to crunch time, it would be him with the dagger to sink it in your heart. Whatever was needed, Larry would provide. Whether it be a rebound, steal, or a clutch bucket, some how the son of a bitch would come up with it.
Larry Bird doesn’t have to look up at anybody on the NBA ladder of greatness. He is on the top rung with MJ, Magic and a handful of others.
Showtime club member here and I do admit Larry Legend Bird is the GOAT
I'm a Pacers fan. Raised in the sticks of Indiana the same as Bird, and even share the same Birthday as Bird only years later. I will always say my number one goat is a 3 way tie with Showtime Lakers Magic, Bird, and MJ. All three raised the game to new heights. But without the Bird, and Magic Rivalry there's no NBA
It took me some time, as a fellow Lakers fan, to appreciate the greatness of Mr. Larry Bird.
BEST FORWARD IN THE HISTORY OF THE NBA
Not even close
Bird>LeBron
I agree
Patrick Reilly
As talented as LeBron is, he’s pretty arrogant and a little uppity
@@joshuastinson3013 Bird is better than LeBron statistically in most categories as well as in the clutch and all the intangables. Lebron is overated and plays in a soft foul happy era. Bird would abuse him far worse than Terry did in the Championship/
@@panzerlambert1194 Amen to that brother.
50:40:90 need i say more?
Imagine if Larry had Lebrons speed lmao. Best ever by far and it wouldn’t be close imo
Hey guys. Don't take this personally. We all know
Bird was the GOAT. He was great in every aspect of the game. Period!
Mmm
@@ericroth59 Somebody name Michael Jeffrey Jordan would take umbrage with this even though he has never publicly stated this but other ppl have.
@@dwightlove3704 without Bird there offs no nba no Michael Jordan so the Legend the GOAT Larry Bird
@@dwightlove3704 jordan..was a media star also..if bird wanted to score 40 a game. Get 12 rebounds..no problem
He made everyone better..jordan..can't say that..jirdan..although great..couldn't do..half the things bird could fo..n that's a pure fact..an..he never beat bird in an series. Bird beat every hall of famer in his era..n there were tons. Only reason. Hes not considered the GOAT..is because his skin color.ets be honest..heres a white boy..dominating the black man's game..plain n simple 😌. Let's be honest..greatest clutch shooter ever..when..kareem..abdul..jabbar..said..Larry bird..was the greatest player...hes ever played against..I will take..what jabbar..said.to fuition..thank you..
@@markcianfarani8777 Are you saying that Bird never got any attention from the media he made the cover of Sports Illustrated while in college at Indiana St when I saw that I knew the hype machine had begun..And when it came to facing a great player I guess Kareem forgot somebody named WILT CHAMBERLAIN.And a black man's game there were plenty of prominent white players in the NBA before he came along.
I remember watching this Dec 31 1999 starting from 50 all the way to 1 was tripping on a millinium trip stayed up for 39 hours lol and yes I watched the whole thing drinking and smoking buds love from New Zealand
As a laker fan I got so much respect for Bird he was a damn assassin he was so fkn tough mentally tough one of the best basketball IQs ever Bird was lethal and scary asf.
Bird was something special. Thanks for watching!
The most entertaining athlete of my lifetime
Wow, we talk about paying players being paid in college, yet one of the best ever worked his ass through college! What an effing stud!
My greatest player ever!!! He made the Celtics and the future HOF'ers on that team. Every game was worth watching for something that made you say WOW!!! Great in H S but would he survive college. He shined in college but would he make it in the NBA??? It turned out to be easy peasy regardless of the competition. Talent plus heart to win is the incredible combination. It was commitment not solely about the money. Larry is THE Legend.
Magic is a great story teller !
I may be a bit biased here, as a Boston native now in my mid 40s, but Larry Bird is #30? Really? The absolute worst number he should've been ranked was #15. But he really should have been some place between 6-10 I'd say. He led, not only the re-birth of the Boston Celtics, but he co-starred in the re-birth of the NBA along with Magic.
Agreed, but I think top 5.
You are right on, Daniel Barrasso.
Yep, the best quote was by Bryant Gumbel - "One of my pet peeves is when people say Michael Jordan saved the NBA. BS. BS Larry and Magic saved the NBA."
@@hawaiisown5064 - Jordan took it to the next level and then some.
@Angie Williams bird and magic could beat any one in a 2 on 2
Larry and Magic's connection in 1992 TRANSCENDED BARRIERS!🏀🇺🇲
One night at the end of a Celtic west coast trip on the last game at Portland before going back home to Boston, Larry, who was so great the game of basketball had almosr become boring, decided to make it interesting by playing the first 3 quarters of the game left-handed. At the end of 3 quarters he had 27 pts against a pretty good player in Jerome Kersey. A natural right-handed shooter, he decided to make it more interesting for himself as a challenge to take all his shots left-handed.... The fact that he dominated that game and was the player of the game as many times before should prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Larry Bird is THE GOAT! Hands down!!! Neither Jordan, or Lebron, or Kobe, or Wilt, Magic, any of the greats!!!!! None would ever attempt to play 3 quarters left-handed.... and if they did, they wouldn't hit shot after shot after shot after shot like Larry did. Bird was just a level above those guys to be able to do that. A level he's still on by himself. The Greatest Of All Time
Yes. No question.
Younger folks missed out on a great time in NBA history. Celtics and Lakers were loaded. The series always took on a love/hate mutual admiration aspect. You could always carve the tension with a knife. Just no equivalent today.
Every time either team took a tough loss in the playoffs,against each other or not,the other team knew they were in for a rough one the next game. Neither team knew what folding under pressure was,doubt they could of pronounced it.
You kidding me..#30 aww shit.he's among the top 5 of all time.
One for me bird
*ALL* sports list, NOT a basketball-specific list.
I couldn't hold back the goosebumps and tears watching this phenomenal footage!🇺🇲
Larry Bird The Greatest of All Time
#30? No way. No sports star was ever any better than Bird.
Effort and commitment. None better. Magic hopes he's remembered as a Bird footnote and deserves the No. 2 spot for recognizing.
@@robertquinn8210 Ever heard of MICHAEL JORDAN
Didn't Bird's Celtics sweep Jordan's Bulls, twice?
Lol yes, Bird and several other Hall of Famers swept a young Jordan twice
chris g
Better than Magic Johnson? I doubt it
Better than Bill Russell?! Hell no
Better than wilt or Kareem?!!
Absolutely not
Wilt above Russell on the list? No way. And Bird and Magic should have been right next to each other on the list.
Criteria should more be impact-based. Stats alone doesnt cut it. Two points in the 1st q with the team leading by 20 is completely different from 2 points made in the last 5 seconds of the game with the team down by 1pt.
Wilt above Russell; Bird - GOAT!!!
Wilt above Russell; Bird - GOAT!
Wilt over Russell; Bird is GOAT!
Wilt as an individual player, yes ahead of Russell.
Wilt as an all-time great, no bloody way.
"you can't measure a person's HEART"""🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏💞🐕🙏🙏
What most people these days don't understand is that Magic and Bird literally saved the NBA from disappearing and made it so that all the players who came after were able to make a living playing basketball.
Actually think almost everyone knows this
@@clairebear7176 Not everyone. Some younger people know or understand what was going on in the NBA at the time they came into the league and how in dire straights the league was.
@@Lonewolfmike I'm 49 but I know lots of 20 somethings and with the net they are pretty educated
When Bird and Magic came into the league, the NBA finals were not on live. They were tape delayed and played after the 11:00 news.
People forget that the nba playoffs were on tape delay at 10 pm before Bird and Magic saved the league. And Ncaa basketball git higher ratings than nba with them. Networks were dumping the nba because of low ratings, cbs had them , dumped them. ABC picked them up cause nbc didn’t want them , they had ncaa !
#30 my ass. birdie was the toughest, greatest all around nba player, greatest passer, greatest shooter of all time in my eyes.
rodneygammad
Curry’s the best shooter ever
Magic Johnson is the best passer ever
@@dumisatonyjohnson8145 a
Now combine the 2, and you start to scratch the surface of Bird.
Bird was a basketball genius!🏀
#30? I wouldn't call LB an Athlete in the classical sense, but Greatest Competitor? He's right there with the best.
Saw. Practically all tge great ones..to me..Larry. joe. Bird. Is thee..GOAT. he could do everything..even sell popcorn
At halftime. Thee..GOAT..
we are soooo happy to have had Larry and Magick. look to our real heroes. don't start believing they are all fake. it is important to have heroes, but always elevate them for their service to society - not for their rank or power.
“Larry has a way of making everybody he comes into contact with a better person. A pure American of the highest character as reported in Sports Illustrated: "Bob Woolf, Larry Bird's attorney, brings out a hotel bill dated April 6, 1979. .... Now, the most illuminating thing in this whole saga is that hotel bill from 1979. You see, except for the basic room charge and the tax, there was nothing else on it. No room service, no restaurant charge, no long-distance phone calls, no nothing. Having dealt with many other athletes, Woolf naturally assumed that the kid would charge at will. But that wasn't how Larry Joe Bird was raised back in French Lick, Indiana. ‘Larry has a way of making everybody he comes into contact with a better person,’ Woolf says. ‘If you think the Larry Bird on the court has character and is unselfish-well, off the court he's even more so.’ Among those who know Bird well, the same catalog of qualities is cited again and again: honest, loyal, steadfast, dependable-his existence shaped by the contradictory, almost mystical ability to be the cynosure, yet always to contribute to those around him. Mel Daniels, who was an assistant coach at Indiana State when Bird played there, said it best: ‘It's like a piece of Larry goes to each player by the things he does.’ Tony Clark, a Terre Haute radio executive who grew up with Bird, says, ‘Larry epitomizes the word friend. Do you understand that?’ Yes. ‘Then you really don't have to know anything else about him.’” (Sports Illustrated 1988, Frank Deford, “A Player For The Ages,” Sports Illustrated, Time, Inc., New York, New York, March 21, 1988)
I am a huge Bird fan. I do not have much of an issue with Bird being #30 on a list of a century of athletes across different sports because it it so hard to compare. I DO have an issue with a list that puts Jordan at #1, Wilt at #13, Magic at #17, Russell at #18, Kareem at #26, and Bird at #30.
John Smith yea good point. You can’t have such a disparity between Bird and Magic. They should be back to back with Bird before magic. And how in the world is Kareem after magic. I would put MJ then Kareem the Bird then magic then Russell then Wilt
John Smith I will always put Bird ahead of Jordon. Jordon was a manufactured piece of marketing. Bird and Magic should toggle at the same place.
yup same here, all those before bird didn't get into the 50:40:90 CLUB. Are you kidding me ESPN? you should be doing cartoons instead of sports. In sports we recognise great sport(wo)men , in cartoons it doesnt matter too much. #cancelsubscribtionESPN
I would have to say my number one pick would have to be Babe Ruth not for his hitting but he could have been a Hall of Famer with just his pitching if you get a chance look up his stats and you'll see what I'm talking about everybody have a blessed day thank you
@@silentios7336 on that cancel culture I see
I hope you're all thinking about second place cuz I'm winning this and yes he did
Based on every thing Zi have read and heard, everything he accomplished, he accomplished based on sheer will.
When the Bruins were out of town, and they put the parquet down (there were always loose tiles), Bird would cover the floor and find them. That was where he made many of his steals! He was thorough and did so well! That is greatness!
Brought his lunch box and hard hat to every game. Blue collar work
Larry always hit the shot
James Worthy, a great Laker and UNC teamate of His Airness, said it best,.... "I would much rather guard Michael Jordan than Larry Bird, because with Bird you have to be much more of a thinker"
There was more to that comment, including Larry never stopping - but that was the core of it.
Should be #1
When you look up the definition of "Hoosier Hustle", that is Larry Bird's picture as the definition.
I did not watch the video just came to comment how absurd a ranking of #30 is.
11:48 Always surprised to see how tall Larry Bird is-Not quite eye to eye with Kareem, but not too far off
6-10, always taller than Magic in photos as he's 6-8
Bird is 6'9" tall, magic is 6'9" tall and Kareem is 7'2" tall.
justafanintexas I thought that Bird was 6-9 and a half and a Magic was 6-8 and a half
3 INCHES'
I played against Larry in college when I was a senior and he was a freshman. He was good then and you could see where he was going to go, too.
2:12
Hint, Sports Century.
Basketball provides ALL of small town Indiana - and lots of BIG City Indiana as well - with it's cultural pulse.
Even Naismith HIMSELF commented on that, many decades ago.
"basketball really had its origin in Indiana, which remains the center of the sport."
G.O.A.T.
Top NBA career combined stats per game (pts, reb, ast, stl, blk) additional career fg%,tp%,ft%
1. Jordan 44.7 -50-33-84
2. Lebron 44.4 -51-35-73
3. Bird 43.1 -50-38-89
4. Kareem 42.9 -56-06-72
5. Durant 40.8 -50-38-88
A bunch of guys in the 40’s.
It is a joke Bird is rated #30 here. Best forward to ever play the game - period.
You know, out of the couple Hundred Larry Bird clips I've seen here on CZcams, I've never seen footage of Bird running slow. He looks like he's pretty fast to me. I agree he didn't jump high, but he never looked slow.
There was footage that I have never seen...thanks for sharing!
In my opinion, the two greatest basketball players of all time are from Indiana. Oscar Robertson and Larry Bird ! Nobody else comes close. Of course, that is my opinion.
edwinjones1000 JERRY WEST. HOW SOON WE FORGET.
@El Tigre and platitudes are like Oatmeal. Fucking boring
top5
Bird is top 5. He and Magic saved the NBA but also his stats speak volumes. Plus all of the greats say Bird was the best.
that pic with Danny Ainge is hilarious
I believe Bird and Magic made each other a better player.
There's the bird and there's the air. Can't have one without the other. No edge better just on different points on the knife. Just the greatest both.
He should be number 1. He played for everyone, not just himself. He wasn’t self centered.
Greatest all-around player to ever play the game
Wasn’t fast, wasn’t sleek.. how can you watch him with all these highlights, out rebounding, out passing, crossing ppl over in the 80’s, out shooting, doing stepovers to reversing dunks and dunking on 3 ppl. But wasn’t fast or sleek...🤨 WTF
Kris Sanders Its perception that is often greater than reality. And maybe a bit of that is at play here.
Thats just ESPN making it about Race, Just that they pretend it's OTHER PEOPLE that do it, not them.
Sleek?
His highlights are insane. Sometimes I wonder if the are playing them in fast forward. Bird was fast and quick off the ball.
It's all because he didn't do the flashy dunks. And that about sums it up. Why he gets underrated, and people actually think Letrine James is better.
The baddest white boy in the floor...my hero.
best black boy, too.
Benny Zabala the baddest period!
Don't forget who inspired bird the amazing pistol Pete Marivich
No. 30 is crazy, top 10 hands down. Would white people be still watching the nba if Larry never played?
See
Yes they would. Some white people love basketball. They would still watch. Some white people with other agendas might stop watching. But they kind of suck anyway imo
This is top athletes, not just basketball players
I know I can't believe it either my man how in God's name is Larry Legend number 30 like you say at least the minimum top 10 but number 30 something's definitely wrong with that but anyways have a blessed day my man and thank you for agreeing with me
Jill Conner Yes, We always loved the NBA, there’s a lot of White and Black Players I wasn’t impressed with, There’s no one like Bird just like there’s no one like like Kareem or Wilt or Kobe or Dr. J ( a few examples)! Just Dam good players !!
Never back down.
Larry Bird in his prime is STILL the greatest Small Forward to ever live. Had back injuries not derailed his career he'd be much more widely considered the GOAT by many more people. I still take Jordan over Bird but Bird is my #2 all time. Magic comes in at 3.
They must be calling him top 30 of all sports and not just basketball, he's GOT TO BE in the top 10 at least in basketball.
19:57 Speaks volumes of Bird’s character.
Or may 20:45
@@larryeasterwood1419 Why do you suppose they stuck that bit into a video about his athletic career? The whole list is supposedly based on the person as an athlete. Odd, don't you think? Weird directorial choice.
@@cindyknudson2715 It is a strange thing to do. But I also don't know why he has the weird relationship with his daughter. More to it than meets the eye I guess. This video aired 22 years ago so hopefully that has changed.
Bird went to National Championship Alone
#30 are you fucking kidding me.he's among the top 5 of all time.
#30? I think not, top 5 easy!!!!
Greatness is one Name Larry Bird
#30 is a HUGE insult!! He IS top 5!!!!!!
He was too intimidating, top 5.
#30? He is i believe top 1-5 greatest...
Larry Legend
Larry Bird should be much closer to #1!