Larry Bird was a big trash talker in the NBA. Stories told from NBA stars like Magic Johnson recounting their epic rivalry. Boston Celtics teammates Kevin McCale, Danny Ainge, Robert Parrish and Bill Walton recount stories of playing with Larry. Charles Barkley has a funny story I believe when Barkley was with the Suns. Dominique Wilkins recounts how Larry Bird was with him with Wilkins was a rookie. Then later after both had retired. Great story.
Of course stories from many Lakers like Byron Scott and James Worthy about the Lakers/Celtic rivalry.
Laker Michael Cooper talks about Larry Bird's NBA 3-point championship trash talk.
Larry's "left-handed game" against the Trailblazers.
Xavier McDaniel and Chuck Person stories.
Isaiah Thomas talks about Bird and the Pistons/Celtics epic post season game.
Kareem Abdul Jabar thinks Larry Bird is one of the best of all time, if not the best. High praise.
Dan Patrick shares Larry Bird stories on his show.
Dominique said it best at the end, "A great athlete will give you lots of Oohs and Aahs, A great BB player will beat you every night." Bird was not a Jordan, Kobe or Shaq, he wasn't flashy, he wasn't fast, but he worked with the team he was on to make them great, and they in turn worked with him to make him great. That is what it's all about, making the team work
Couldn’t agree more!
Larry deserves every accolade ever made. He's the absolute greatest basketball player ever! I was privileged to watch him play many times in the Boston Garden!
For Nowirtzki it is in Dallas baut in Boston there is no for Larry. Come on Guys!!!
He knew when to shoot, he knew when to pass, and he knew how to win. He's a hero of mine, grew up watching him and am still amazed by his technique and teamwork. Those passes, holy shit.
Same here. Bird and Jordan were/are still my version of the NBA. The current NBA is not interesting for me.
Best passing forward ever to play in the NBA, nobody even comes close, his tip passes are a work of art, they were always spot on, that is such a difficult pass to make
@@Fister_of_MuppetsThe game was much more physical in the Bird/Magic era. That’s why he could destroy todays NBA players.
@@williamclayton7343 correctomundo
Fun fact, Larry was left handed, shot right handed
I’m gonna play this one left-handed. 47 points later. Now I remember why I loved this guy so much in the 80s!
I really miss this NBA
It’s the greatest compliment to receive accolades from the best players in the NBA. Larry Bird was the GOAT, and it will be a long time before someone ever equals his playing ability and I.Q.
Barkley's Bird joke was the best.
Greatest story ever told about Larry Bird comes from the director of the iconic McDonald's commercial with Michael Jordan (over the interstate, through the window, off 2 corners, nothing but net). The director says, and Jordan has since verified it, that they shot the commercial for 3 days, and Larry Bird never missed a shot. Shooting over 300 shots a day from all over the court for 3 days, zero misses. Greatest shooter in NBA history
That's nothing, I made 400 without missing.
@@dhart8451 and then you woke up
There's a great video of him demonstrating pick and roll with his coach. "What happens when you don't practice these fundamentals, Larry?" Coach says. "Well, then you become less effective," says Larry. And sinks the shot. He couldn't even miss on purpose for a video. That competitive nature and practice were with him from the moment he woke up.
One thing that can be said about Larry Bird...he was no ball-hog. He didn't care about making himself look good like players today. All he wanted was to win the game any way he could.
If I could only watch highlights of one player the rest of my life, it's Bird by a mile.
Bird or Magic for me
I respect the hell out of Larry Bird but I’m watching Jordan highlights. Dude did stuff that nobody else could do.
@@kevinwheesysouthward9295 0-6 Jordan? Cool
Pistol pete
I liked the story when the Legend was jumping on a trampoline putting in 🏀 baskets
Give Bird credit for adapting his game to overcome his weaknesses. As Pat Riley said, if his life was on the line, he'd want Larry to take the shot.
He honestly didn't have a weakness, people who think he can't jump never saw him in his earlier years he'd throw it down.. he won the tip off against Hakeem and averaged more rebounds than some all time great centers including pat Ewing
"A great athlete gonna give you the oh's and the awe's, a great basketball player gonna beat you every night" -Dominique Wilkins
Perfect
I had never seen that clip with Kareem where the first name out of his mouth for the GOAT was Bird.... That is pretty incredible. If you didn't know anything about Larry Bird, that clip says it all. For Kareem Abdul Jabar to put Bird there, after all the guys that he had played with and against, that is why Larry is the Legend.....
The over the backboard shot had me in Tears!!!! ALL NET
They should have counted that behind and over the backboard shot just because it was such an awesome shot.
The old NBA is forever better than any future NBA.
"BIRD" was UNBELIEVABLE- just amazing talent!!
If Kareem says your name as the best ever....wow.
The three years in a row he won the MVP award were 84, 85, and 86. He was runner-up for the MVP award in 82 and 83, he came as close as a player could to have won it five years in a row, that right there tells you he was the best NBA player ever, mic drop, good night, check please!
Facts
Larry Bird is poetry in motion.
19:20 that man just rebound his own shot. That’s some hustle right there.
Larry Bird is one of the greatest ever. He never gets the credit he deserves.
Really? He doesn't get the credit? Careful, kid, you're showing your age here.
It was a pleasure to watch Larry bird play one of the greatest I ever watched. When Boston came to my city and you paid for that ticket , you got your money worth. Love the NBA 80s
Larry Bird would make any team member look like a superstar.
I just love how fans of all races loved when Bird did something amazing.
Why bring your racism into this?
“I’m gonna play this one left handed, gotta save the right hand for the Lakers.”😭🤣❤️🔥
Yet you have young people saying that these type of players could not play in today's game 😱😱😱
Lol he's 1 badazz man. Imagine anyone today coming even close to his trash talk. My lord, dude said I'm gonna play this game with my opposite hand n dominated. What a gangster
@@davidwiltshire-craine9157 they’re just young and....
@@kimchiclashes2890 I hated to watch it back then but Bird and McHale were bad mfs, they got some weak calls but they took some shots on the chin and proved their GREATNESS (unlike today’s game where the referees change the rules and have made the game super soft) and Bird talked the talk and walked the walk ESPECIALLY with the game on the line. REAL GREATNESS not a bunch of fake stats in a soft league that won’t even allow the players to play Real Physical Defense, and they constantly try to compare stats- those 25 point games would be 45-50 point games today
@@lamonteasterling8021 i never had pleasure of watchin those 2 beasts in their prime. Watched the later part of their careers unfortunately. I miss old days of bball when MEN played it. Is it me or does the newer generation seem weaker? Always injured n what not.
the pump fake king!!!! I learned so much playing ball by watching Bird play! Got to see him at the garden in the 90's! The Full Celtic's Team, it was awesome.
I never get tired of listening to stories about Larry Bird, especially the one one that he scored 60 points.
Superstar
Always been a fave..,
Awesome
Bird was so great he could swish a shot and make it go where he wanted it to go. He’s shooting at the top of the key. Swish. He runs to the baseline where the ball is headed toward him.
Twitter sighn because of him, and he agreed
I loved the line, he's was playing chess while everyone elese was playing checkers
In rare situations where he couldn't score, he would pass it to someone who could score. The trash talk was to get your mind off the game and make it personal.
I read a Larry Bird story recently that had me laughing out loud. The first time Dennis Rodman played against him. Rodman was known as an excellent defensive player and he knew Bird's reputation so he did his best to lock Larry down. During the game Larry kept yelling, "Hey! I'm open! I'm open! Hurry up before they realize nobody's guarding me!"
Lol
They are indeed my two favourite players. Bird had something that is hard to explain, confidence in abundance, yet there is more, a belief in himself. It is very funny that he did that during a game. I like Rodman because I felt at one time the World was after him. I am not a basketball fan as such and I would not be able to hold court in an argument at who was the best ever. Yet for people like me, Bird ticked all the boxes.
Playing left handed entire game Also scored 45 points 0
@@joebaker6342 Played three quarters left handed. Scored 27. Isn't that good enough?
@@Oscarspoem It's called being tall and white. Bernard King and Michael Ray Richardson were better than all of them at one point.
Thanks Larry bird for great memories greatest ever
This just sounds like a support group for guys that had to gaurd Larry
Oh Larry, you're the guy we hated to love out here in LA, what a maniac , look back at it now, we felt obligated to hate you , but there was also a deep respect, you earned that.
I felt the same way about Magic growing up in that Era watching these 2 teams go at it was just awesome! You just wanted more of that in the 80s and no other teams in history will have that rivalry against one another. I hated Magic back in the day but I love and respect him now because he was a warrior like Larry!
I hated Larry as a Pistons fan but not in a bad way. It was just that every time the game got close, you knew Larry was going to get it and he was almost certainly going to crush the spirit of every non Celtics fan watching. Other teams those moments were excitement feeling like a coin toss. With Larry it was a feeling of dread. Like now the planets have to align for us to win even though we are up by 2. Not many players ever did that for me.
@@grog3514 I felt the same about Magic Johnson being a Celtic fan.
The touch, awareness and god given ability is insane… great player 🏀
You cannot understate how legendary a player has to be for everyone to understand that he was NOT the most athletic player out there, but he would decimate entire teams
Many of the greats i grew up with, much respect to all.
I absolutely love listening to all the Laker greats that had to face Bird show such reverence to Bird. It’s the ultimate level of respect..
One of the smartest, skilled players EVER with the heart and will to win second to none.
I have listened to. These stories a hundred times and it never gets old ,you never hear stories like this about any other player...larry legend
I'm a sixers fan from that era....bird is the GOAT hands down.
Larry Legend! I love how the old players never flopped and took real shots and just played to make it with all heart and focus.
He was so great that he had to have these challenges for him to make things exciting like: ‘Ball boy, go find the most points scored in this arena.’
The highest level of basketball instinct and intelligence ever in one single player
How was he smarter than Magic Michael Kobe or LeBron? I'll wait....
@@slygrant1484 easily
@@joshuapatterson5292 shows you really don't know the game😆
@@slygrant1484 Gee, I dunno...How does a slow white guy that can't jump is usually the best player on the court full of black guys???
It was a privilege to watch basketball during that time. Bird wasn't the most athletic, but was a BALLER! I enjoyed watching him play as well as the other greats.
I hated it then but you have to respect the work Bird and McHale put in when every team was good and they did it every night for a decade + much respect for their competivnous, I think they spoiled me because I can’t even watch this so called basketball today
The reason Larry is so popular with so many people is because he didn’t.appear to be all that athletic and those of us who are not endowed with great athleticism felt like he was one of us. A basketball Everyman. I could never imagine myself taking off from the free throw line and making a spectacular dunk but I could see myself making one of Larry’s crafty passes or diving into the crowd to save the ball. There were a lot of great personalities in the game at that time.
This was in my opinion the highest time for basketball
By far
Bird was so talented he was actually bored.Reminds me of that smart kid in school who always got 100s and sits shocked when they got a rare 90 on a test.
Exactly!
Insane to hear trash talkers in NBA, but become teammates like in the Olympics. 👍👍
Everyone just stopped and watched the beauty of the ball going in.
My daughter and I just watched this. My father showed me a vide(VHS) of Bird like this. The HEART of a Killer !!!
Michael said it himself, I want to play at the highest level and become an elite to be able to play against Larry and Magic. ❤
When you think of great players of that era, or any really, what pops into mind are the players with a “flashy” for lack of words, skill set. When you break them down though you notice strengths and weaknesses more. The great big men could move people around down low and get their shots; but put them on the line or force a jump shot and it’s a different story. Their were great shooting guards, that were weaker on passing skills, great great point guards that could get the ball anywhere but you hesitated to give them the shot when the clock was winding down. My point is their were few people who were solid all around, and even fewer that were solid on offense and defense. And Larry Bird was a name at the top of that list.
Absolutely loved this, thank you.
Nobody better than LARRY LEGEND in my eyes. NOBODY. #BirdGang ☘️
We know where you stand irishgrl. Gotta love you!
@@fidge54 Thank you 🙏
I couldn't agree more, he is the best, bar none!
@@Jondsmusic Nice to see you again Jon 👍
@Musical Box BWAHAHAHAHAAAA Larry beat MJ in head to head matchups 70% of the time and MJ is supposed to be the GOAT? O TAY 👌
Love me some Larry Bird. He played the game right, and did it the best
What made Larry Bird so great was the fact the he played during the era when real men played the game and not even they could stop him. But as far as how Larry would match up against today's players, I don't think he would be nearly as dominating as he was back in his youth, after all he is 65 years old ROFLMAO
Still double double every night though ;-)
Real Recognize Real
Your right he would make them cry and need a safe place.
😁 true
But for real when people say he couldnt play today and jokic is back to back mvp, give me a break. Pre back injury bird was the goat
Being a hardcore football fan I love listening to Bird stories he was a legend.🦾
Anybody who watched Bird knows how good he was…how else to explain 8 seasons in a row finishing 1st or 2nd in MVP voting, winning 3 straight when the league was loaded with stars
That's basketball at its finest. This is how basketball should be played.
Best person I've ever had the privilege to watch ,he was going to do something ever game ,that had us all talking all week ,we love you bird 🐦 and you'll always be our first pick ❤ #respect
Larry Bird highlights and stories never get old! He is a legend, and I had the pleasure of growing up watching him play. He played with so much heart and grit. He didn't take nights off because he needed a rest. He didn't take nights off on road trips. He laced them up even when his back was killing him. I hate it that he was only able to play 13 seasons.
13 seasons is a great career with the physicality of that game, he’d probably be able to play 33 seasons in this new soft league
@@lamonteasterling8021ㅎ다ㅓㅓㅗㅗㅗㅗㅗㅗㅗㅜㅜㅜㅜㅠㅠㅠ..,
Bird was so great that he set these challenges to keep him interested.
He’s not a Legend, he is THE Legend.
@@terrancethomas9792 pp
I'm so happy I was able to grow up watching Larry, Magic, Kareem, and Michael play. But Larry was by far the smartest player to ever play the game, he was phenomenal. He taught Michael how to be a KILLER!!
When someone mentions how intelligent, game smart was Larry, I can't help but also think of Wayne Gretzky... same skills.
I brought my son & nephew to see The Legend play at the Hartford civic center
I was lucky enough to also see Isiah and Hakeem play during the same Era!
Larry bird wasn't a great defensive basketball player;; it like saying Dennis rodman super brilliant rebound;& defender: & role player but wasn't a good scorer
Larry didn't teach mj how to be a killer
As race comes into everything now. The reason I love Larry Bird. I live in London and when me and my brother were very young they showed Boston vs Detroit. I shouted for the Celtics as I have Irish connections. We all know what happened and me and my brother were going mental. I had no interest in Basketball, but Wow, what a moment. My favourite other player was Rodman. The reason I mention colour. I related the story and was told I liked him because he was white. Life.
I'd watch basketball if they still played like these guys did.
-Maxwell after a Bird buzzer beater.. “Bird looks at the bench and says you should have had more than one guy on me”… GOAT..
Larry is one of those players that transcends the actual sport itself to the point they're out there playing their own game. Like mentally, they are just on another level. I think of certain athletes at their peak like Mike Tyson, Ronaldinho, Roger Federer, Rodney Mullen. The ones that were just different.
One of the greatest to ever play the game
Best Larry Bird stories compilation that I've ever seen.
Larry Bird won three straight MVP's in the mid 80's. This happened despite the showtime Lakers, Dr. J, the pistons, and MJ emerging as an MVP candidate all in the league at the same time. That is Why he's referred to as Larry Legend!
And because he is white and in a sport dominated by blacks who never like to give a white man credit or respect for shit!! Larry held it down and made it so no matter how biased and racist you are towards the white man you are going to respect my level of skill and how I play this game 💯 😎✊🏻
LP9
He won 84 thru 86. 86 was his BEST season. He was an artist 🎨 painting his best performances that year. He was so good that year.
Larry bird was a poor defender;;or average;; it like Dennis rodman super brilliant defender & rebounder & great role player but poor scorer ;;;
@@loydkline he was constantly in the top 10 in steals and defensive rebounds. Made 2nf team all defensive team several times.
That's basketball iq and a straight sniper !
All those Legends during the late 70's and 80's All deserve the Highest of Praise!! Greatest Decade in Pro Sports: 80's NBA Magic,Bird,Kareem,Jordan,Isaiah,Dominique,Mchale,Parish,Worthy, Dr J, Moses Malone, Bernard King Etc.
Kevin McHale tell the best Larry bird 🐦 story word up
I hated Larry Bird. I was a Sixers fan. Dr, J was my all time favorite player and it made me absolutely insane that this dude was better than my guy. With hindsight, it was an honor to watch him play.
Nice Comment!
Sizers - Celtics weekend afternoon games was must see tv. Still wearing leather Dr J’s
Just an all around great athlete. STRONG TOO. those 3 pointers don't shoot themselves.
Amazing fact. Players listed as 6'10 said Larry was taller. He was a legit 6'10 while listed as 6'9. Probably Larry messing with the shorties.
I had the privilege of watching Larry Bird almost all of his career because I was in the Navy and I was mostly stationed in the New England area. The only reason I watched the Celtics was because of Larry Bird. I was originally from New York and obviously I liked the Knicks. Over and over I saw him humiliate the best in the game. White boy could play !
Back in the days when I loved the NBA. Bird,Magic,Jorden. Never see it again
Having the respect of all your peers has to have the biggest rewards. Larry once said he would have played for the Celtics for free. That's a pros true passion for the game and it showed every time Larry was on the court. What a fierce competitor he was. It's a shame I was never a basketball fan. Lol. Bird was truly awesome!!
Remember seeing Bird play at times as a kid. By the announcers, you could tell something great was going on. Wasn't till I got older to realize how great it/Bird was. Makes it that much more greater(for me anyway).
We need the spirit of bird in the garden today 🙏💯
And don't forget, Bird played the majority of his career with a really bad back and it affected his play and shortened his career. Can you imagine a Larry Bird with a good back?
😲🤯😁
Don’t forget, he got the bad back by paving his own driveway. He was like that.
@@mikeD1234 True. All parts of the whole.
Reminds me of Mario Lemieux in hockey, both one of the all time greatest in their sports, both had injuries that robbed us of years of greatness.
Larry is the Wayne Gretzky of 🏀. He's a step ahead in every facet of the game.
Right on DD.. The Great One with IQ off the charts, but don't forget Bobby Orr for one second... Bird dug him. Check it out: kzhead.info/sun/mpR-l6p9m5V5eXA/bejne.html
Wayne Gretzky is the me of hockey
You might like Gretzky and he was great but he wasn’t Orr, and he knew it. Bird looks at his number before every game! That’s how great Orr was
Larry Bird did things on the basketball court that no one else has ever done. It was a privilege to watch Larry Bird's Celtics
Yup He better than Curry.
I’d do anything to go back as a kid with my dad watching the game on a Friday night. Miss my dad and those days :-(
@@norpriest521 Win win Bird
@@BrianPex ll
@@BrianPex g
Awesome.. bought tears to my eyes
Man lovely to watch this legend play! Breathtaking
Bird: You're putting a white guy on me??? That's disrespectful!!! 😆🤣😆🤣😆
Even the announcers where different back then lol so hyped
I was there at the Hartford civic center when Larry threw up the shot from behind the backboard 😉
If Luka and Jokic are cooking the league every night. Imagine Bird, exactly.
They are getting stats in a soft European league, Bird and McHale were really Great
Hadn't heard the beer story before,lol .Legend
My first love is hockey. However when Bird was on TV I watched every second of his game. "One of a kind"
What Brad Daugherty forgot to mention. Was as he's flying by and goes fly bird. He hit him on the butt with the basketball. And then hit the 3. That was nothing but nylon. 😂 11:35
That elvin Hayes story by McHale 😆 😂 😆 Larry setting him up.
There will never be another era in the NBA like the 80's and early 90's. The stars of that era would all average 35+ in today's NBA. MOST of today's stars wouldn't have even been the 6th Man back then. Back then you not only had to know how to play, you had to have heart and be tough. Didn't matter much who you played, especially in the East, you had better be ready to put some work in. Detroit. Chicago. NY. Indiana. Miami. Cleveland. Any and all would be you down so hard physically, an 80-75 game was considered a high score. Loved the 80's and 90's.
There is no doubt in my mind and I’ve been watching in the NBA since 1958 Larry bird is the goat,, every facet of the game is three moves ahead of everyone!!!
Lary was a big part of my childhood I was a kid about 8 or 9 when they won in 86 it was just amazing if he had stayed healthy we probably would be having a completely different goat debate
100%
What strikes me about these stories is the similarity between Larry Bird and Michael Jordan. Not in specific skills or abilities. But they were so similar in their confidence, drive, intensity, and refusal to lose. I heard a story one time that a guy was so competitive that if he was playing ping-pong against a 10 year old, he'd try to beat him 21-zip. I believe this would apply to both of these players.
4:05 “Tell Elvin what you told me What do you mean? Tell him you said you’re gonna kick his ass 😂😂”