Larry Bird and Magic Johnson had strong rivalries that propelled the NBA into the mainstream in the 1980s. Most people realize they are roughly equal, but Byrd feels that Johnson has been more successful.
The NBA was less popular than it was today in the 1970s. When the 1980s arrived, it was greatly boosted. That’s because it was a time when Iyabin’s “magic” Johnson and Larry Bird exploded into the scene.
Johnson likes the idea of swapping his career, but they’ve cemented as icons for two franchises. The Magic played for the Los Angeles Lakers, and Bird played for the Boston Celtics. The Lakers and Celtics were already historic rivals, so it was a match made in heaven.
In the 1980s, the Lakers and Celtics met three times in the NBA Finals. Johnson and the Lakers won in 1985 and 1987, while Bird led the Celtics in the 1984 final. Johnson was more successful in the first-person matchup in the final.
They were rivals, but Bird and Johnson are usually friendly with each other. Johnson saw Bird and immediately thought he was a star, but Celtics legend never downplayed his rival despite the constant clash.
Byrd likes Johnson enough to make him more successful among the two. It’s an immense praise from a bird known to be one of the most prolific garbage attendees in NBA history. Despite his personality, he is always elegant when it comes to rivals in his career.
It’s amazing to hear from the birds as he was a great player who kept proving that he misunderstood his suspicions. But he always appreciated Johnson. Bird’s idea is valid and takes into account that they constantly compete against each other and go back to their college days.
In fact, I’ve always said I’m successful. He won more championships, so I nod to him,” Byrd told Letterman in 2012.
“I’ve always said that Larry is a better player, because he can do more and shoot from the outside, and for us, what’s important to me is that I played against the best.
You will always debate who is better between Bird and Johnson, but they are the game’s certified legend. No one can deny that they had a special impact on basketball, as they were the driving force behind the rising popularity of the sport.
Michael Jordan ultimately outperformed them, but Bird and Johnson are the greatest of all time. Thankfully, Johnson believes playing with Jordan is one of the best moments of both careers.
To this day, people still see Bird and Johnson as the two greatest players in the league. They proved themselves to the highest level, so they solidified their legacy.
Bird, who thinks Johnson is a more successful player, is that Bird was good enough for him, so some people think he is a great player. It’s always a debate. This is a major result of their fierce rivalry over the years.