Would Larry Bird be an All-Star today?

[TitleMaster]

Well, I'd say that Bird would still be a fine scorer, even today, however, are there more Michael Cooper types in today's league than back in the 80's? 'Cause really, a great defender needs some anticipation to be able to beat someone like Bird not just getting a hand on his face. Likewise, the fact that so many teams foul today might give Bird anywhere from 5 to 10 more free throws per game which are automatic points for him, unlike most players (sans Ray Ray) today.


Also, if you recall, neither Andrew Toney nor Bernard King, were defensively stoppable, however, their teams weren't the best around (except for that great year with Moses). I'd say that no one in today's league would be able to stop these two fellows.

[TripleOT]

Between the shorter, more integrated three point shot and lack of perimeter hand checking in today's game, Bird would be able to light it up.  If SFs tried to guard him, LB would torture them in the post.  If PFs gave it a go, he'd kill them a la Dirk, but with way better driving and passing skills. 

I mean, Dirk was the MVP last season, right?  He isn't half the player Bird was, when you take in all the intangibles that make a great NBA player.  Don't forget, Bird saw the floor like only a few players in the history of the league, and had a killer instinct second to none.  He'd be MVP material in today's NBA too.   

[guava_wrench]

Between the shorter, more integrated three point shot and lack of perimeter hand checking in today's game, Bird would be able to light it up.  If SFs tried to guard him, LB would torture them in the post.  If PFs gave it a go, he'd kill them a la Dirk, but with way better driving and passing skills. 

I mean, Dirk was the MVP last season, right?  He isn't half the player Bird was, when you take in all the intangibles that make a great NBA player.  Don't forget, Bird saw the floor like only a few players in the history of the league, and had a killer instinct second to none.  He'd be MVP material in today's NBA too.   

What are the parallels you are trying to make between Dirk and Bird apart from skin color?

Isn't Dirk considered very agile for a 7 footer?

[Celtics17]

I will answer this question with a question. Can you think of even a single player in this years playoffs that you would rather have on the current C's squad then Larry Bird and I mean in the current NBA?

[Redz]

I will answer this question with a question. Can you think of even a single player in this years playoffs that you would rather have on the current C's squad then Larry Bird and I mean in the current NBA?

Don't make me do that.  Please.  The answers no, because I worshiped Larry.  Lebron might tempt me though.

[BballTim]

[
I don't think we can say there was stiffer competition back then.

But we can say that Bird's offensive skills and effort will always be exceptional.

  You won't be able to say this when Chris Paul and LeBron are a few years older, and you might not have been able to say this when KG and Duncan were a few years younger, but Larry, Magic and MJ were all better than anyone in the NBA is right now. If Kobe played in the 80s he'd go his entire career without hearing the phrase "best player on the planet".

[TripleOT]

Between the shorter, more integrated three point shot and lack of perimeter hand checking in today's game, Bird would be able to light it up.  If SFs tried to guard him, LB would torture them in the post.  If PFs gave it a go, he'd kill them a la Dirk, but with way better driving and passing skills. 

I mean, Dirk was the MVP last season, right?  He isn't half the player Bird was, when you take in all the intangibles that make a great NBA player.  Don't forget, Bird saw the floor like only a few players in the history of the league, and had a killer instinct second to none.  He'd be MVP material in today's NBA too.   

What are the parallels you are trying to make between Dirk and Bird apart from skin color?

Isn't Dirk considered very agile for a 7 footer?

I didn't see anything about skin color in my post.  Both players are bigs who spread the floor and shoot from the perimeter very well.  One is a bit taller than the other.

I used Dirk as a comp because he was a recent MVP without a ton of athletic ability and even though he measures seven feet tall, he isn't a power post player. The OP was wondering if Bird would be an all star today.  I'm trying to make the point that he could be an NVP.

If Dirk can thrive in today's NBA, why wouldn't Bird, who is at least an equal in shooting, defending, and rebounding, so far above Dirk in passing, basketball savvy, and killer instinct that it's a joke.   

[Reyquila]

He would still be the best Point Forward in the league; still with +20ppg and among the leaders in assists and rebounds; and he would still be what he Celtics are all about. Still be in the ALL Time small forward. Please dont compare Bird to DFirk nor any other small forward till now. Maybe in the future some freak of nature may surprise us, but now? NOT!

[nickagneta]

I love all this talk about Larry not being as athletic as today's players and whether he would be as good.

Many of today's stars are incredible athletes that are good basketball players. Larry was one of the best ever basketball players who was a good athlete.

Does anyone here realize just how great Larry's cardio-vascular conditioning was? There's a reason Larry was deadly late in games. It's because his cardio was so good that he wasn't as tired as some and was able to concentrate better than those that were tired. Lack of oxygen = lack of concentration. Proven scientific fact. Those 80 teams would run most current NBA teams off the floor.

Those Celtics and Lakers of those eras were record breaking marathoners not muscled out sprinters. Marathoners don't have huge bulk, but they have some of the best stamina of all athletes. That was basketball of the late 70's into the very early 90's.

Bird had once in a generation hand-eye coordination, unreal cardiovascular conditioning, an incredibly high pain threshold, and was a pure basketball playing talent. Today's players, the Josh Smiths, Tracy McGradys, Vince Carters, Chris Boshs, and even Kobe Bryants, are all athletes first and basketball players second. Bird was basketball player first and athlete second.

MJ, Bird, Magic, Russell, and others could not only play basketball better than you physically, they could play basketball better than you mentally as well.

All this needs to be taken into consideration when asking about Bird's or Magic's or Russell's or Cousy's transcendence between eras and it usually isn't.

Bird would dominate today. Of that, there is no doubt.

[Celtics17]

I tried to post this earlier but it did not show up. When the Bulls won their 6th title one writer from the Boston Globe said this in response to how much more athletic players were supposedly at that time. He said this, more or less, "you hear the word athleticism used so much  today that you would think the players of the past could not run or jump. Now hear this and hear it well, William Fenton Russell would come out of nowhere to block a Michael Jordan shot just as easily and just as often as he did such greats from the past as Oscar Robertson, Jerry West, and Elgin Baylor...". So paraphrasing this writer hear this and hear it well, LB would be every bit as dominant today as he was 20 years ago, maybe more so.

[Barnabas]

obviously the original poster never saw larry play...we'd never be having this discussion right now if he had.

Actually, I have, Andy.  I asked the question because I wanted to know what the opinion of the community is.  I myself did not ponder the question until Reyquilla mentioned it.  I never said Larry would not be an all-star.  I was asking the opinion of the community, not making a statement.

[Barnabas]

He would still be the best Point Forward in the league; still with +20ppg and among the leaders in assists and rebounds; and he would still be what he Celtics are all about. Still be in the ALL Time small forward. Please dont compare Bird to DFirk nor any other small forward till now. Maybe in the future some freak of nature may surprise us, but now? NOT!

Reyquilla, it was actually one of your post from another thread that got me pondering this question.  I had not thought of it until your post kindled the question.  I find it an interesting topic to ponder, so I am thankful to you for what it's worth.  It led me to solicit the opinions of our fellow community members. 

Let me ask you a question that may stimulate you to ponder a question, that I hope you will find just as interesting.  Who do you think is a better player, James Posey or Michael Cooper (during his prime)? 

[Andy Jick]

larry was a 3-time LEAGUE mvp at a time when the nba was at its peak...it wasn't a jump-shooting / motion offense oriented league that it's become today.  some of the greatest players to EVER play the game did so during Bird's era.

would he be a great player today?  hell yes!!  he'd dominate the league...sadly, as time goes by we begin to diminish the greatness of those who played years ago.

don't let the short shorts fool you...Larry Legend made everyone around him better, something that is a rare trait in any era of professional basketball.

[TerreHaute]

I would agree that Larry would dominate in any era, as would any of the stars from previous eras. The guys in the 50's and 60's had to get part time jobs in the off-season. If they would have had the time and money to work on their games as today's players do, they would dominate the same way.

Do you guys realize that Wilt was also Olympic caliber in the decathalon. Not he had the potential to be, he actually was. How many guys in today's NBA can say that.

The theory that yesterday's athletes were not as good as today's athletes is not correct and completely unfair to the old-timers.

[RebusRankin]

He's 6ft9, can shoot better than 95% of the players playing now (seriously how many great jump shooters are there?), good rebounder, great passer, can handle the ball, superior basketball intellect, can run all day, all around scorer (drives, outside shots, post up game etc).

If you posted this about a player entering the draft right now, wouldn't they go first overall? If this was written to describe a player currently in the league wouldn't he be an MVP/All NBA type player? Well the above describes the man known as Larry Legend.

People are too quick to forget the past.