At last, Larry Bird identified his shared traits with Magic Johnson:
Recognizing his Magic Johnson-like traits, Larry Bird said, “We were winners, there was no question about that”
Supporters might categorically claim that they were entirely different. Surprisingly though, Bird is able to identify his resemblance to Magic.
Both Magic Johnson and Larry Bird engaged in fierce competition throughout their time in college, setting the stage for some of the greatest NBA duels ever. Bird’s Indiana State and Magic’s Michigan State frequently fought. In the end, their rivalry was only a prelude to what would happen when they did join the league—a turning point in the history of the NBA that altered the character of a true competitor.
After all, Magic and Bird were identical. Larry Legend and Magic established themselves in the league early on. Johnson’s spectacular and unbelievable passing, along with his versatility in scoring, thrilled the crowd. However, Bird showed everyone that agility wasn’t the only factor in basketball. Rather, he defeated his opponents with his superb shooting and basketball acumen.
Fans could see that Bird and Magic were two very different players when they watched them play. Surprisingly, though, Bird is able to identify his shared traits with Johnson.
Bird concluded, “We both liked to pass the ball.” “We enjoyed attempting to improve other men. And after that, there was no denying that we had won. Not that there weren’t any previous winners. However, I believe that the way we approached and played the game had a significant influence on how the league watched the game.”
A startling disclosure
Undoubtedly, the most of us were surprised to learn of Bird’s unusual disclosure, particularly regarding his eventual opponent Johnson. It seems that Magic previously made a startling revelation regarding Bird.
In the Finals, Magic and Bird squared off three times. In their first meeting, Larry’s Celtics defeated Magic’s Lakers in ’84, but LA recovered and defeated the C’s in ’85 and ’87. Johnson had already won a championship with the Lakers in his debut campaign before that. And Magic said that was why Bird was envious of him.
“I was taken aback when Larry talked about how he witnessed my 1980 NBA championship win during my rookie campaign. Johnson wrote in the book “When The Game Was Ours” that “he admitted he was jealous, which really shocked me because he never ever showed it back then.”.. “In 1984, during our first matchup in the Finals, Larry prevailed over me. Years passed before I could move on. I’m not sure if I’m over it yet, to be honest.”
Whatever Magic and Bird say about their long-standing rivalry, we fans are just happy to have been there to watch it.
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