Wilt Chamberlain explains why Larry Bird was his favorite NBA legend over several others.

Wilt Chamberlain explains why Larry Bird was his favorite NBA legend over several others.

NBA luminaries are sometimes questioned about who players rank among their all-time top five. It would be interesting to name players who were prominent in various times, so that makes it a matter for discussion and argument. When legends are asked about other NBA players they look up to, Larry Bird is a name that always comes up—contrary to what one might anticipate—alongside Magic, Hakeem, or Kareem.

Larry Bird is ranked as the best small forward by Wilt Chamberlain.

In a previous interview with Ahmad Rashad, Wilt Chamberlain listed Oscar Robertson, Elgin Baylor, Jerry West, Michael Jordan, and Magic Johnson as the greatest five players of all time, with Larry Bird rounding out the list.

Bill Russell, another icon, selected Bird with Hakeem Olajuwon, Michael Jordan, Elgin Baylor, Oscar Robertson, and Magic Johnson in the same film. Although there were more than five, we will overlook these legends because it was nearly impossible to narrow the list down to just five.

Oddly enough, Wilt and Bill were only active during the same period as Oscar Robertson, Elgin Baylor, and Jerry West. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who played in the same position as Wilt and Bill during that era, was conspicuously absent from the list.

Why is Bird the most effective small forward?

Bird was unstoppable at his best. He was skillful, ruthless, and had a high basketball IQ. The legendary player for the Boston Celtics wasn’t the team’s best passer or the greatest leaper. Although he wasn’t the greatest blocker or rebounder, he was an excellent at all three of these skills. He not only talked the talk but also proved his trash talk with wins.