Which Boston Celtics player was better, Larry Bird or Bill Russell?

Which Boston Celtics player was better, Larry Bird or Bill Russell?

It’s very obvious that Larry Bird and Bill Russell are the two names that typically stand at the top of any list of the greatest Boston Celtics players ever. With a wealth of outstanding players throughout the franchise’s history, the Celtics are the NBA team with the most titles won.

When deciding who the greatest Celtics players of all time are, one typically has to sift among guys like Robert Parish, Kevin McHale, Dave Cowens, Bird, and Russell. Which one are you going to pick?

One may argue that Bill Russell or Larry Bird were the greatest Boston Celtics players ever.

The Celtics tradition was started by Russell in the late 1950s. It was continued by Bird in the 1980s.

Russell, a rookie from San Francisco, assisted Boston in 1957 to win its first-ever championship. The 6-foot-10 center joined the ranks of the Hall of Fame, which also included Bill Sharman, Frank Ramsey, Tom Heinsohn, and Larry Bird. Before Russell joined the team, the Celtics had little trouble scoring, but under Russell’s leadership, their defense significantly improved.

He had a defensive mentality when he joined the NBA. Russell’s ability to block shots and grab rebounds altered the course of the game. Russell claimed eleven titles, the last eight coming from 1959 to 1966. Over his 13-year career, he averaged 15.1 points and 22.5 rebounds.

When Bird joined the league in 1979–80, the squad had only 29 wins, but in his first year, he helped them win 61 games. He was a highly anticipated rookie when he joined the NBA, and he exceeded all expectations by winning Rookie of the Year.

Nobody is going to knock Russell or Bird. When they were in Boston, they both contributed greatly. Russell’s 11 championships and five MVP Awards give him a considerably superior resume. But Bird was the more skillful player.

With Russell, Bird was unable to block shots or grab rebounds, but he excelled at all other tasks. He was more adept at shooting, passing, and scoring. He had unparalleled awareness of the court.

Indiana Pacers coach George Irvine once told Sports Illustrated, “As an all-around player, there’s never been anyone better.” That was in March 1986.