Unlike many other Black athletes, Andre Iguodala has educated himself about the history of African Americans. By doing so, the four-time NBA champion gained a deeper understanding of oppression, slavery, and other relevant topics.
Despite being well aware of the disparities between Black and white people in America, Iggy didn't let this affect how he viewed white players in the NBA. For Iguodala, talent doesn't have a color. In fact, he even revealed that he got Larry Bird , who is arguably the greatest white player in NBA history, on his all-time starting five.
"Imagine how good Larry Bird was that I think that Larry Bird might be in my [all-time] starting five," Iggy told Evan Turner and JJ Redick on "The Old Man and The Three" podcast in 2023. "After 400 years of oppression like, I've took every African-American history studies class and so that rubs off a little bit in my conversations and I have to be cautious now and then I'm going into business world I have to be very cautious because I tend to just say what I want too much but like, I'm like, how good was Larry Bird that I think he's that good."
Truth be told, what Iguodala said was on point. Throughout Bird's career, he proved that the color of his skin had nothing to do with what he was capable of on the court.
Even Redick, a white player himself who played 15 years in the NBA and is now the head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers , agreed with Iguodala's take on Bird's all-time status. However, JJ also pointed out that while Larry Legend is undoubtedly in many people's all-time starting five, it's hard to say if he's also one of the Top 5 players in NBA history.
"Well, he's certainly a top 10 player ever," Redick said of Bird. "I think that's indisputable. The question is, is he a top-five player ever?"
Bird did not have the physical attributes of a typical Black NBA player, such as athleticism and explosiveness. Nevertheless, "The Hick from French Lick" still earned the respect of his Black peers in the league due to his undeniable skills, competitiveness, and grit.
During his playing years, Larry Legend developed a historic rivalry with his Lakers counterpart, Magic Johnson. They resonated with two different types of fans. Bird was admired by the lowly Bostonians, while Johnson was adored by the sophisticated sports aficionados of Hollywood, LA.
Despite their differences, Johnson once revealed that Bird was never underestimated by Black fans. In fact, Magic even said Larry was recognized in Black communities .
"His game, you see, Larry Bird was the only [white] guy that was mentioned in the barbershop. 'Cause that's where all the talking in our community is, the barbershop or on the playground," Earvin once said via ESPN.
In conclusion, Iguodala, Redick and Johnson's remarks speak volumes about Bird's greatness. By showcasing his otherworldly skills on the NBA stage, Larry Legend helped people from all walks of life and different races find something they have in common — their admiration for him as a player.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Dec 21, 2025, where it first appeared in the Old School section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
