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Who does Larry Bird think is the greatest of all time?

Author

Emily Ross

Published Jan 14, 2026

James is considered one of the greatest players of all time, but many legends of the game believe that he would not be as successful in the NBA during their time. But Larry Bird actually had a lot of kind words for James, especially in 2012.

Who does Larry Bird think is the goat?

“Never Lost to Michael Jordan”: Larry Bird Backing LeBron James' GOAT Case Sends NBA Twitter Into a Tailspin. LeBron James has repeatedly proved why he is considered as one of the GOATs.

Is Larry Bird one of the greatest of all time?

Playing in just under 900 regular-season games, Larry's 21,791 points rank 36th in NBA history. But his career average of 24.3 points is 18th, meaning a fully-healthy Bird could have seen his total climb even higher. It's OK not to have Bird as the greatest player of all time.

Does Larry Bird like Michael Jordan?

Bird had tremendous respect for Jordan

"Michael has the whole package. He can run, jump, block shots and play great defense. Most of all, he is a great competitor. It was great seeing a guy like Michael come to the league, but I don't want to see too many more like him, at least not while I'm still around."

Who has better stats Larry Bird or LeBron James?

James is the far superior athlete and has put up better numbers than Bird. He's third on the all-time scoring list, trailing only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Karl Malone. James has been an All-Star every season except his rookie year and made the All-Defensive Team six times.

38 related questions found

Who was better Larry or Magic?

In fact, Johnson did lead the league in steals two years in a row. His nemesis and friend off the court, Larry Bird, was a much better shooter and defender than Magic ever was. In addition, Bird bested Magic quite convincingly in almost every single major statistical category with the exception of assists.

Does Larry Bird hold any records?

He became only the third player (and the first non-center) to win three consecutive NBA Most Valuable Player Awards. He was a 12-time All-Star, a two-time NBA Finals MVP and a nine-time member of the All-NBA First Team. He led the league in free-throw percentage four times.

When did Jordan beat Larry Bird?

Zeke stated reminded people that Jordan struggled in his early days, not beating Larry Bird and his Celtics or Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's Lakers during the 80s. "Michael Jordan never beat Larry Bird.

Did Jordan beat birds playoffs?

Michael Jordan didn't win in the playoffs versus Larry Bird in his career.

Are Larry Bird and Magic Johnson friends?

Johnson and Bird are still great friends to this day and were co-captains of that 1992 squad. Bird played his final game of professional basketball with Magic by his side, as a career of back injuries caused Bird to announce his retirement after the game.

Is Larry Bird better than Jordan?

Larry Joe Bird is the greatest basketball player who ever lived. Before you get all fired up, just hear me out. Bird's career stats aren't as glamorous as Jordan's because his points per game average isn't as high, but his all-around game was better.

Is Larry Bird top 3 all time?

Bird is a top-5 NBA player of all time

Without getting into specifics, Bird's former teammate, Greg Kite, recently told Sportscasting he would have Bird in his top five. “I'd put him in my top five,” Kite said Friday. “It's a crowded five, but I'd put him there. He was definitely one or two when he was playing.

How good was Larry Bird defensively?

Larry Bird had a defensive rating of 101.5 in his career.

Who is the goat LeBron or Michael Jordan?

Why King James Is the GOAT

LeBron James' statistics indicate that he is a much better overall basketball player. While Jordan scored more overall, LeBron is a more efficient player, shooting better from two and three-point range. LeBron is also a much better passer and rebounder than Jordan ever was.

Who does Jerry West think the goat is?

On a recent podcast appearance, Lakers legend Jerry West dishes out some huge compliments for former Chicago Bulls GOAT Michael Jordan. Michael Jordan is easily one of the greatest players the league has ever witnessed. Apart from being one of the most impactful players, Mike was considered a basketball god.

What did Jordan Call Larry Bird?

“I would never have called him the greatest player I'd ever seen if I didn't mean it,” Bird told The Boston Globe. “It's just God disguised as Michael Jordan.”

How many times did Jordan lose to Bird?

“Michael Jordan dropped 30+ on Larry Bird 24 times but lost 23 times?”: How the Bulls couldn't seem to string together wins against the Celtics despite having 'His Airness' Michael Jordan went off against Larry Bird and the Celtics on numerous occasions but has a losing record against them.

Who has better stats Bird or Jordan?

But Jordan could never get the best of Bird over those 9 seasons, losing 17 out of 28 matchups despite putting up spectacular scoring numbers. The Bulls shooting guard would average 33.5 PPG over those meetings, while Bird would chip in 26.9 PPG and 8.6 RPG.

Who won more NBA titles Bird or Magic?

Magic Johnson - 37 Games, 15-22 (40.5%)

The player that owns the best overall record against Bird was Magic Johnson. During their heyday, the Lakers and Celtics met in the NBA Finals three times where the Lakers won two championships.

Was Larry Bird any good?

For three consecutive seasons, Bird was voted the league's MVP, the only forward to be so honored. He was Finals MVP twice. He was first-team all-league his first nine seasons. By being equally adept at driving to the hoop and shooting 3-pointers, he averaged 24.3 points in his career.

Who is the best defensive player in the NBA of all time?

Known for his blocks and rebounds, Hakeem “The Dream” Olajuwon is one of the greatest NBA defenders to ever step foot on the court.