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.

What does Magic Johnson think of Larry Bird?

There have been intense player rivalries over the years, mostly because of the teams they play for. The Boston Celtics-Los Angeles Lakers rivalry is almost as old as the NBA.

Did Larry Bird beat Magic Johnson in the finals?

AP Was There: Bird beats Magic in 1st Finals showdown.

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.

Who's better LeBron or Magic?

When it comes to individual accolades, James has won more than Magic and that is mainly shown by the number of MVP awards and Finals MVP awards. But it is also fair if Magic wins the argument for having a better team career because he was the architect for a Lakers team that won 5 NBA titles in 9 years.

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.

How many times did Larry Bird and Magic play each other in the Finals?

Magic and Bird even faced off in the NBA Finals on three occasions; 1984, 1985, and 1987. Bird and the Celtics won their first encounter in 1984 but would lose to Magic and the Lakers in 1985 and 1987.

How many championships did Larry Bird lose?

Who Did Larry Bird Lose To In the NBA Finals? Larry Bird's Celtics lost two NBA Finals. Both times it was to his rival dating back to college: Magic Johnson and the Los Angeles Lakers.

How many times did Magic Johnson go to the finals?

Basketball Hall of Fame. During his remarkable 13-year career, he led the Lakers to five NBA championships (1980, '82, '85, '87 and '88) and nine appearances in the NBA Finals.

Are Larry and Magic friends?

Larry Bird and Magic Johnson epitomized 80s basketball together. They were the stars of the two flashiest teams in the league on opposite conferences. They won MVPs, titles, Finals MVP, and many other things. Despite their rivalry on the court, the pair were extremely good friends.

Who was better Jordan or Bird?

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. Remember, this is about the best player ever, not scorer, winner or clutch performer. What he lacks in scoring by six points, Bird makes up in other categories.

Is Bird taller than Magic?

Magic Johnson was listed at 6'9, but he said in his book he was 6'7.5. You can check any picture of him standing next to Bird and Bird (listed at 6'9) clearly has a couple of inches on Magic.

Who got Rookie of the Year Magic or Bird?

DEADLINE: You mean when Riley tells Magic in those final moments how lopsided was the Rookie of the Year vote won by rival Larry Bird, 63-3, and it gives the tired star a dose of jet fuel to finish the game and the 76ers…

Who are the Lakers rivals?

The only true rivals of the Lakers team are the San Antonio Spurs and Houston Rockets since the 1999-2000 NBA season because these two basketball teams have qualified for playoffs every year until now. There were championships won by the Lakers against the San Antonio Spurs in the 2000, 2001, and 2002 NBA finals.

Why did Larry Bird retire early?

Larry Bird's injuries derailed an incredible 1991-1992 season for the Boston Celtics. Bird intended to retire in 1988, when his worsening ankle issues had already made every minute on the hardwood painful.

How many MVPs did Larry Bird win?

A three-time MVP, Bird won a pair of Finals MVPs and led the Boston Celtics to five NBA Finals appearances and three NBA championships. He is the only person in NBA history to win MVP (1984-86; Celtics), Coach of the Year (Pacers; 1998) and Executive of the Year (Pacers; 2012) in a career.