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.
Who won more Magic or Bird?
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. The Celtics won one championship in 1984.
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.
Are Magic Johnson and Larry Bird 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.
What does Michael Jordan think of Larry Bird?
“Larry Bird is the greatest trash-talker and mind-game player of all time. He taught me everything I know about getting in folks' heads,” Jordan said via The Athletic. Bird earned the respect of his peers through his stellar play and trash-talking that he always seemed to back up.
18 related questions foundWhy were Larry Bird and Magic Johnson rivals?
The Magic vs. Bird rivalry started in the 1979 NCAA National Championship game when Johnson's Michigan State Spartans took down Bird's Cinderella Indiana State Sycamores to with the title. The two Hall of Famers then went to the NBA, each ending up on a different coast.
Is Larry Bird the best ever?
Oscar Schmidt declares Bird 'the best player ever'
At 6-foot-9, his passing and court vision were remarkable. He also became one of the first elite 3-point shooters in league history. But one player had a similar game to Bird, even though fans never got to see him in the NBA.
Is Magic or Bird better?
Magic's regular season stats are fantastic but don't differ significantly from Larry Bird`s stats. Per game, Bird scored 24.3 points, picked 10 rebounds, and delivered 6.3 assists. In comparison, Magic`s stats are 19.5, 7.2 and 11.2, respectively. However, Magic's playoff stats are better.
Who is better Larry Bird vs Kevin Durant?
KD's career is far from finished. He still has time to add to his career resume, and he could pass Bird in our head-to-head matchup over the next handful of years. For now, Larry Legend is the better overall player.
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 Larry Bird better than Kobe?
So far, Bird and Kobe are as close as they come, but where Kobe truly surpasses Bird is on the defensive end. Kobe Bryant is one of the all-time great defenders. While many fans think that Bryant's defensive reputation is overrated, the coaches of the NBA have nine times put Kobe on the All-Defensive Team.
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 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.
Are Larry Bird and Patrick Ewing friends?
“Larry and I got to be great friends during the Dream Team,” Ewing explained on a 2018 episode of The Dan Patrick Show. “And, you know, it's funny.
Why is Larry Bird so good?
Larry Bird was such a player. For 13 seasons with the Boston Celtics, from 1979-80 through 1991-92, Bird personified hustle, consistency and excellence in all areas of play — as a scorer, a passer, a rebounder, a defender, a team player, and, perhaps above all, as a clutch performer.
Why did the Lakers not draft Larry Bird?
The Los Angeles Lakers having the first pick in the 1979 NBA draft should've meant they had the freedom to draft any player. However, the reason the Lakers couldn't draft Larry Bird is that he was already a member of the Boston Celtics by this point.
Who got picked after Magic Johnson?
Magic Johnson was selected 1st overall by the Los Angeles Lakers. Bill Cartwright was selected 3rd overall by the New York Knicks. Sidney Moncrief was selected 5th overall by the Milwaukee Bucks. Jim Paxson was selected 12th overall by the Portland Trail Blazers.
Why did the Celtics get Larry Bird?
According to the rules then, Bird was draft eligible because he'd already spent four years in college.” Selecting the Indiana State standout was a roll of the proverbial dice, considering that the eventual three-time MVP wouldn't be able to play for Boston until the following year.
Who was better Magic or Kobe?
While Magic's intangibles place him ahead of Kobe, Kobe's tangible qualities put him ahead of Magic. Magic Johnson is one of the best all-around players of all-time, as he averaged 19.5 PPG, 11.2 APG, and 7.2 APG. However, one can argue that Bryant's on court play is even more impressive.
Who is better Kobe or Duncan?
Bryant beats Duncan in terms of scoring, assists, steals, three point percentage, and free throw percentage, but Duncan beats Kobe in rebounding, blocks, and field goal percentage. Yet, when putting everything together in terms of awards, championships, and winning teams, the winner in that category is Duncan.
