re: Prime Bird better than prime Magic

Its the classic peak vs career argument. Bird had a window of maybe 5 or 6 years where he would be in the running for best player ever. But he was old when he came into the NBA and then hurt his back close to the peak of his career. He is tough to argue top 5 alltime for me. He would be top 10 for sure.

Top 5 For me

Jordan - obviously

Bill Russell - most decorated player ever but in a different era

Kareem - start to finish of an entire career he makes a good case

Lebron - best swiss army knife in my opinion. Has a much higher basketball iq then most give him credit for.

And this one is for me personally has to be on this list.
Shaq - physically the most dominant player that has ever stepped foot on a basketball court. Had Shaq had Kobe or Jordan’s drive to win this would not even be an argument. He would be the number 1 guy. As it was, at his absolute best…….he might be the guy you fear the most in a seven game series with a title on the line.

Bird played with McHale, Parrish and Dennis Johnson. All three of those men are in the hall of fame.

I may agree better shooter, ball handler wasn't as bad as people think, Great passer and was flashy about it also at times. The MVP's also say yes.

And he was a 6th man when Bird was in his prime and I didn’t say he played with bums but none of those guys were anywhere near Kareem. Worthy was probably better than any of em too.

I am a HUGE Bird fan but I disagree with this. Kareem was 38 years old during the 85 Finals (still won MVP). McHale played was on the bench because Cornbread Maxwell (81 Finals MVP) was so highly thought of until they traded him in 85 due to McHale being so good. The 86 Celtics team is considered the pinnacle of basketball and Bird's peak. DJ, Ainge, Bird, McHale, and Chief were every bit as good as Magic, Scott, Worthy, Rambis/AC, Kareem. If anything the thing that put the Lakers over the Celtics in 87 was the Mychael Thompson trade, and the fact that Walton was a shell and the rest of the bench was garbage. Cooper and Thompson off the bench was much better than Jerry Sichting and Walton/Greg Kite.

But Birds prime was better than Magic's. However, Magic's career and legacy are better than Bird's. IMHO. One game or season in their prime, give me Larry. If I had to draft either considering the future....I am taking Magic.

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Larry Bird is criminally underrated even though he’s still considered top 10.

Bird is better than several of this generations favorites.

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Yep. go on youtube and watch some of these videos with old legends and hall of famers that played with and against Bird. The stories they tell are amazing.

I'm a big Bird fan, but Magic could play all 5 positions at a high level at both ends...like LaBron.

I think Bird was the best 1984-1986, in his prime, but Magic at least as good in the surrounding years.

Very subjective.

Kevin Mchales first year starting was 1986, the Lakers and Celtics only faced off once while he was a starter. Archibald had been gone for two years at that point and wasn’t nearly a HOF level player in Boston.

Yes, had that game for the Radio Shack 64k color computer.

Bird go to move was backing Dr. J down low, but Dr. J could drive around Bird. Wore that game out.