In the playoffs, Larry Bird has faced off against players like Kareem, Magic, Jordan, Shaq, Kobe, and LeBron.
Larry Bird is one of the greatest players of all time. You can’t talk basketball history without mentioning his name, and the same can be said of the Boston Celtics.
Bird changed the way the small forward spot was played. He did things the league had never seen before and even though he didn’t exactly reek of athleticism or speed, he always had the upper hand vs. all of his rivals.
How’s it so? Well, for starters, Bird was incredibly savvy. But more than that, his skillset was something more of the modern era, as he could put defenders on skates and pull up from everywhere on the court thanks to his signature hip-shot, fadeaway, and step-back.
But Larry Bird’s fame extends beyond his playing career. In actuality, he has been around for a considerable amount of time, even behind closed doors. He has faced off against some of the greatest players of all time as a coach and executive. Let’s dissect it:
In the 1983–84 Finals, as a player, defeat Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (4–3)
The NBA Finals matchup between the Celtics and Lakers is unmatched, especially considering the history of enmity between Magic and Bird dating back to their formative years. And in the 1983–84 Finals, as you may already be aware, Larry Legend prevailed in this matchup.
With averages of 27.4 points, 14.0 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 2.1 steals, and 1.1 blocks per game while playing 43.6 minutes per night and shooting 48/66/84, including a 20–12 double-double in the game that decided the championship, Bird led the Celtics to a 7–game series victory.
defeated in the 1984–85 Finals by Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (2-4)