Those who played with and against Larry Bird — and watched his career unfold — know that he deservedly should be mentioned as an all-time great. Fans often overlook the three-time NBA champion in the ageless GOAT debate. However, basketball legends have a very different take.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar , one of the most accomplished players in NBA history, has made it clear that Bird's greatness is far from underrated among those who understand the game.
Abdul-Jabbar was the NBA's all-time leading scorer for nearly 40 years and has played against countless basketball legends across multiple eras. He believes the Boston Celtics icon is up there among the game's greatest players.
"The best guy I played against might have been Larry Bird," Abdul-Jabbar said . "People don't appreciate Larry Bird enough. They think he was a chubby White guy. But he would wear us down. The muscle that was between his ears was the best because he made three points, assisted, rebounded and had steals. He was always in the right place at the right time. He is, without a doubt, one of the best players I've ever played against."
Bird's basketball I.Q. is often overlooked, but those who competed against him saw how he controlled the game without needing explosive athleticism. At 6-foot-9, the Celtics superstar had a rare combination of size, shooting range and court vision.
He wasn't the fastest or most physically dominant player on the court — but he could read the game several moves ahead and set him apart. And that's why Abdul-Jabbar — who battled against the likes of Julius Erving and Michael Jordan and played alongside Magic Johnson — singles Bird out as one of the toughest competitors he ever faced.
After being drafted sixth overall by Boston in 1978, Larry quickly turned the franchise into a powerhouse. By his second season, he led the Celtics to the championship, earning his first ring at just 24 years old.
Over the next decade, Bird's leadership was the driving force behind Boston's three championships (1981, 1984, 1986) and five NBA Finals appearances.
The legendary forward could shoot, and this was an era where 3-point shooting wasn't the norm. He was a three-time champion in the 3-point contest. He was able to make the right play at the right time and elevated those around him.
Julius Erving, a decorated superstar and a face of basketball in the 1970s, faced Bird in the playoffs and knew firsthand how he was in that era.
"What I noticed about Larry right away, even as a rookie, is that not only can he get his shot, he had amazing range for a big man," Erving said. "He may be the best shooter I've ever seen and he is a smart passer, able to weave the ball through inches of daylight. And he would not stop working."
Bird won three consecutive MVP awards from 1984 to 1986. In the 1984 NBA Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers , he averaged 27.4 points and 14 rebounds per game, earning Finals MVP honors. Two years later, he led the Celtics to a dominant 67-win season and another championship, averaging 24 points, 10 rebounds and 6.8 assists per game.
In the 1986 NBA Finals against the Houston Rockets , Bird's near triple-double average — 24 points, 9.7 rebounds and 9.5 assists — secured his third title and cemented Boston's place as the team of the decade.
The Boston icon often finds himself left out of the GOAT debate — overshadowed by the likes of Jordan, LeBron James and Kobe Bryant . Part of that comes down to perception. Bird wasn't flashy. He didn't have Jordan's aerial artistry and mid-range game, James' freakish athleticism or even Bryant's intensity. He just wanted to enjoy his game and talk trash while doing it.
He more than made up for it with substance and that's why NBA legends hold him in such high regard. Bird finished his career with three NBA titles, two Finals MVPs, three regular-season MVPs, 12 All-Star appearances and a spot in the Hall of Fame.
