In many people's eyes, Michael Jordan remains the greatest basketball player of all-time. A dominant force in the 1990s who led the Chicago Bulls to unprecedented success in the NBA in the shape of two separate three-peats, Air Jordan carried the league in a way that was never done before, and arguably hasn't been done since.
As the greatest shooting guard in history, and playing in both the 1980s and 1990s, Jordan more than most saw some of the great NBA Hall of Famers who many modern fans may not have gotten the chance to watch. The Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Lakers and the Detroit Pistons teams from the 80s challenged Jordan in a way that shaped him into the player he became, and it's no surprise he has such high respect for those players involved.
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It's exactly why, when asked about some of the game's greats in recent years, Jordan has insisted that those who played in his era could match up just as well. When you consider some of the talent that Jordan either teamed with or played against, it's no surprise he feels they can be counted among the best ever.
Michael Jordan Delivered His Verdict on the Best Small Forward in History
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Michael Jordan
In fact, Jordan didn't hesitate when naming the greatest small forward in NBA history, and he was quite unequivocal that it wasn't the man who many consider as the main contender for his GOAT throne, LeBron James. In Jackie MacMullan's "When the Game Was Ours" book, published in November 2009, Jordan provided his thoughts on the now Los Angeles Lakers star.
People ask me all the time who my all-time five top players are. And when I start saying Larry, they interrupt me. They say, 'You've got to be kidding me. He can't play with LeBron James!' I tell them, 'You guys don't get it. Larry is far better than any small forward who played the game, and to be honest, I'm still not sure if he is a small forward or a power forward.'
Of course, the timing of Jordan's declaration should be taken into context. In 2009, James hadn't yet won his first NBA title, was still playing with the Cleveland Cavaliers and had only just secured his first MVP award of his career. Nevertheless, given the high esteem with which Jordan holds Bird, it wouldn't be too much of a stretch to say that the Bulls legend still remains of the belief that the former Celtics star is still the greatest small forward of all-time.
Speaking on an episode of Irons Club Podcast, Jordan shed more light on what made Bird so special, and why more recent stars like Luka Doncic and Dirk Nowitzki don't quite match up to him.
I get so many questions about Larry Bird, 'Was he really that good?' I say, 'Yeah, he was really that good'. When you see a player like Luka or Dirk, they're great players, but they're not Larry Bird, by no means.
You have to have a great appreciation and play against a guy who athletically every single night was at a disadvantage, but yet, mentally and the way his work ethic was, he was way above the game, way above everybody else.
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Larry Bird is One of the Greatest NBA Players of All-Time
The Boston Celtics legend arguably doesn't get the credit or recognition he deserves
A member of the gold-medal winning US Olympic team in 1992, Bird has been inducted into the NBA's official Hall of Fame as a player two times - one as an individual for his career with the Celtics, and then again for his role with the Dream Team. Both an inside and outside scorer, Bird formed one of the greatest front courts in NBA history alongside fellow Hall of Famers, Kevin McHale and Robert Parish.
Bird's success during the mid-1980s ranks up there with among the greatest individual runs delivered by any player, winning the MVP award three years in a row. The 1984 season saw him named the league's Most Valuable Player before helping the Celtics to win the title, before a year later he would retain his crown but miss out on a second championship in a row.
The following season would see Bird earn his final MVP crown, becoming just the third player in the association's history to win it three times on the bounce. The Celtics' team during the 1985/1986 season is considered among the greatest to have ever played the game, with Bird shining alongside an All-Star cast of the likes of McHale, Parish and Dennis Johnson among others. Even despite some of the great players who have turned out for the Celtics, Bird invariably ranks right near the top in franchise history.
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In fact, it is a testament to Bird's unmatched IQ, that he remains the only man in NBA history to be named Rookie of the Year, MVP, Finals MVP, All-Star Game MVP, Coach of the Year and Executive of the Year. Whether it was on the court, on the side-line or in the front office, Bird's brain simply worked at another level, and evidence of just why he was able to enjoy so much success across the different sides of the NBA.