Article: Larry Bird Was Better Than LeBron

[William F. Russell]

I know...I KNOW....this debate is had on this sub-forum all the time but I read this recent article and I'm sold on Bird being better than Bron as it stands right now.

The article details why Bird was a better player than LeBron and accounts for different aspects of the game.

Stats (in their respective primes):
Bird > James
Bird's prime (1983-88): 27pts/10rebs/7asts/51% FG/90% FT/40% 3PT/1.8spg/0.9bpg
James' prime (2010-15): 27pts/7rebs/7asts/53% FG/75% FT/37% 3PT/1.6spg/0.7bpg

Skill: They're even; different playing styles

Impact:
Bird > James
Bird made the Cs marketable again (after a decade or so of irrelevance); made the league marketable; he had a legendary rivalry with Magic; played more of a team game.......James thrived in a much less competitive era; more concerned with his brand and his individual play than winning

Clutch:
Bird > James
MJ, Magic, and Charles Barkley all said they'd want Larry Bird to take the final shot of a game; he raised his game to another level when the game was on the line; made so many game-winning shots; one of the best pure shooters ever; he's nicknamed "Larry Legend".......James isn't feared by opponents when it comes to him taking the final shot b/c he's not a good outside shooter; opponents are more concerned with him bulldozing his way to the basket; has made big shots but not with the same frequency or importance as Bird has; 2011 NBA Finals, anyone?

Winning/Team Play:
Bird > James
Bird is 3-2 in the NBA Finals; led took a 29-win Celtics team to a championship in his 2nd season as the clear-cut leader; Bird led by example and forced his teammates to raise their level of play; in 1988-89, Bird played just 6 games due to an Achilles surgery and the Celtics went from being the #1 seed for 5 years straight to being #8 with a 42-40 record, despite having Kevin McHale as their main player.....James is 2-4 in the NBA Finals; joined super teams to win his rings; requires a high usage rate which ends up being ineffective and alienates teammates (see last year's Finals); barely won 2 rings playing with a prime D-Wade and Chris Bosh and Ray Allen.

Yeah, LeBron's a legend but Bird is better.


Why Larry Bird Was Better Than Lebron James - First Score Boston

 

[onelastdeath]

fukk this article. There is no argument for Larry Bird being better than Lebron James. Period.

He had a prime D-Wade for one year. And that year they lost in the finals.

Im no Lebron stan, but his impact can;t be denied. What he did at such a young age all those years on the Cavs was amazing. Yall gotta stop.

 

[AlbertPullhoez]

If I had to win a game though I'm taking Bird

LeBron is more gifted, stronger, athletic, the whole nine yards but I need that IDGAF assassin out there and that's Larry

 

[William F. Russell]

fukk this article. There is no argument for Larry Bird being better than Lebron James. Period.

He had a prime D-Wade for one year. And that year they lost in the finals.

LeBron can never be forgiven for his 2011 NBA Finals choke job.

 

[onelastdeath]

LeBron can never be forgiven for his 2011 NBA Finals choke job.

He doesnt have to be. He could have another one this year, and hes still levels ahead of Bird and the greatest SF of all time. I'd argue he's a couple of levels above of Bird, as a player.

 

[FS4LFE]

Bron better and played at a higher level for longer.

Wait never mind I forgot Bird played in the flawless 80s.

 

[MJ Truth]

All of these writers should thank LeBron for having made it so easy over the last decade plus.

 

[LurkMoar]

Larry has a better jump shot and post game... thats it.


If they both play 1 on 1 in their primes Lebron Kills larry, stop mythologizing these players.

 

[feelosofer]

Larry Bird is one of GOATs but he's not better than Lebron. Both are on my all time top 10 though.

 

[KOBE]

fukk this article. There is no argument for Larry Bird being better than Lebron James. Period.

He had a prime D-Wade for one year. And that year they lost in the finals.

Im no Lebron stan, but his impact can;t be denied. What he did at such a young age all those years on the Cavs was amazing. Yall gotta stop.

I mean everywhere besides here Bird is considered a top 7 player and suddenly Lebron has been replacing him while not doing shyt all since winning that 2013 finals.

The guy has absolutely no jumper this year and gets a pass for it "because he still puts up points" until he runs into the squad that made him their bytch last year and would do it again this year.

 

[onelastdeath]

Bron better and played at a higher level for longer.

Wait never mind I forgot Bird played in the flawless 80s.

This is just phase one. What people do they throw out asinine statements backed by stats that dont tell the whole story, and then enough stupid people agree with it which allows it to turn into an actual debate. Not calling op stupid because hes cool. Im just saying there isn't really an argument for Bird being better than LBJ. No one in there right mind would start a franchise with Bird over LBJ.

Its just a shame that Lebron got drafted by the Cavs. I get that its his hometown and all. But that front office has always been trash. Theres no reason why he shouldnt have had a running mate or a great team around him during that 2003-2010 stretch. Hes been an all star caliber, franchise heading player since at least 2005.

Averaged 31.7 in 05. in just his third year and averaged 27 in his second year. He was playing at such a high level, right away. And they wasted so many of his years with management. He was playing at a level in SECOND year, that most players would MAYBE reach in their prime. MAYBE.

Had he been drafted to a team with a competent front office and a better location, he'd have at least 5 rings RIGHT NOW. People talk about Jordan being Jordan, and yeah thats great. And he was great, but a part of that shyt was having a great coach, front office etc, and attractive location.

Bron got a bad hand foreal. Those Miami years could have been every year with a better location, and a better front office because he was playing at a HOF level for a long ass time.

And Im not LBJ stan, as nikkas should know. But it is what it is. Hes been a top 5 player in the league since his second year in the league.

 

[onelastdeath]

I mean everywhere besides here Bird is considered a top 7 player and suddenly Lebron has been replacing him while not doing shyt all since winning that 2013 finals.

The guy has absolutely no jumper this year and gets a pass for it "because he still puts up points" until he runs into the squad that made him their bytch last year and would do it again this year.

Bird played with hall of fukking famers. Miss me with that. Brons been playing with up to par teammates since 2010. And has made the finals every year since then.

He spent his first 7 years with who?

 

[Taadow]

I thought everybody knew this.

 

[Taadow]

Bird played with hall of fukking famers. Miss me with that.

Is this gonna hold up when Wade and Bosh join Shaq in the Hall?

 

[onelastdeath]

Is this gonna hold up when Wade and Bosh join Shaq in the Hall?

Look at his career. He played in Miami for 4 years only. When its all said and done and hes had a 19 or so year career. Yall gone be talking about them 4 years still? Thats a very small fraction of his career, and he had a 50% FINALS WIN rate with them. Which should be 75% because she should have won in 11'. And last year we know what happened. But