Rick Barry Is Not Interested in Larry Bird vs. Magic Johnson Debates because

Rick Barry Is Not Interested in Larry Bird vs. Magic Johnson Debates because.

Many memorable duos have been shown to us throughout the years. Peanut butter and chocolate. Fish and Chips. Eggs and bacon. Looking beyond the food industry, NBA players exhibit the similar pattern (I promise, that concentration wasn’t intentional). Think about Magic Johnson and Larry Bird, for instance. The two guys will always be a part of basketball history, even though they were more of adversaries than real collaborators. The two guys were pitted against one another throughout their careers. When Indiana State and Michigan State faced off for the championship in college, that tendency began, and it carried over into the Association. Bird naturally joined the Boston Celtics, while Magic was forced by fate to play for their well-known opponent, the Los Angeles Lakers.

While many basketball fans were forced to choose between the two stars in black and white as a result of that reality, Rick Barry is refusing to fall into that trap. The small forward doesn’t have time to decide between Magic Johnson and Larry Bird, even if he could have joined the Celtics near the end of his career—we’ll get to that in a moment. Rick Barry is avoiding being entangled in a dispute between Magic Johnson and Larry Bird.

Rick Barry witnessed a lot of NBA luminaries up close and personal over the years. Magic Johnson and Larry Bird were two of those talented individuals. It was only reasonable, as previously indicated, to set the two stars against one another. They squared off in college, played games with distinct styles, and ended up playing for two of the greatest—and rival—teams in the NBA. Despite this inclination, Barry isn’t taking a position. In an interview with Eric Jay Santos of Inside The Celtics (via Sports Illustrated), the native of New Jersey recalled how, near the end of his career, he nearly brought his skills to Boston. Though one may assume that Barry’s potential to support Larry Legend by joining the Celtics would have revealed.

He clarified, “I played against Bird and Magic when they were freshmen. “They’re both excellent. What the hell, it doesn’t matter; they are distinct positions. Bird is often compared to Magic by people. Magic is a point guard, and Bird is a three.” That’s a fair assessment, but the sniper went one step further by focusing on the subject of all-time greatness. The world’s biggest b******t is this GOAT bullshit. In a team sport, there is no such thing as a GOAT. It’s important to have discussions about positions, and I wish players from various eras wouldn’t be compared. BARRY RICK There you have it, directly from the source. Barry makes a point on Bird and Magic, even at the risk of repeating what is already known.

Rick Barry made a statement regarding Magic Johnson and Larry Bird that may catch your attention, but it’s not exactly a hot perspective. The two men were not just quite different players, but they were also very good at what they did. Johnson was a great point guard, as Barry pointed out, albeit his size did occasionally let him to play other positions. On the other hand, Magic led the Lakers’ fast-paced offense. Throughout his career, the great averaged 19.5 points and 11.2 assists, demonstrating his ability to score and assist with equal ease. He also contributed with steals and rebounds. Recalling that the Michigan State player was ahead of his time is also important; although it would seem typical in the positionless game of today, it wasn’t.

Even while Bird wasn’t as athletic as his longtime opponent, it didn’t really matter. The forward had flawless technique, a smooth shooting stroke, and—perhaps most importantly—a great deal of self-assurance in his own abilities. Throughout his career, he averaged 24.3 points, 6.3 assists, and 10.0 rebounds per game. Considering how important three-point shooting is to every team’s offensive strategy, it’s easy to speculate about how successful he would be in the modern NBA. It’s possible to draw parallels between Barry’s Bird-Magic remarks and his GOAT remarks, but there are benefits to choosing different routes to success. Did the two stars have distinct skill sets? Naturally, though, they both achieved amazing success. It would have been unfortunate to ignore the accomplishments of