Larry Bird is one of the greatest NBA players of all time, and he wants everyone to just appreciate LeBron James while he is still playing.
“I tell people, quit whining about LeBron,” Bird said. “Enjoy him while he’s here. He’s unbelievable. To me, he is one of the greatest, if not the greatest ever.”
“Quit whining about LeBron. Enjoy him while he's here. He's unbelievable.”
– Larry Bird pic.twitter.com/hMs6wRHe7I
— ²³ (@SpeakContext) February 17, 2024
Bird is one of the few icons of the past who has always shown a great deal of respect to today’s players, so these comments aren’t surprising at all to me. As the 67-year-old says, enjoy watching LeBron while he’s still here.
James has been a dominant force in the NBA for two decades and has won four titles, four Finals MVPs, and four MVPs. The 39-year-old is a record 20-time All-Star and became the league’s all-time leading scorer by surpassing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in 2023. Also in his 21st season in the NBA, LeBron is averaging 24.8 points, 7.2 rebounds, 7.8 assists, 1.3 steals, and 0.6 blocks per game.
We are not going to see a player like him for a very long time or maybe ever, so appreciate the greatness that you get to witness on a nightly basis. Whether you believe James is the greatest or not, it shouldn’t stop you from admiring what he has achieved and continues to do on the court even today.
Larry Bird Refused To Trade For LeBron James’ Teammates
A sign of just how highly Bird rated LeBron came during his stint as president of basketball operations for the Indiana Pacers. Bird refused to trade for James’ teammates because he made them look a lot better than they are.
“[Former Pacers’ GM David] Morway was trying to get me to trade for them [J.J. Hickson and a selection of other teammates of James], but I ain’t takin’ any of them f***ing guys up there,” Lowe said, quoting Bird from Thomsen’s book, The Soul of Basketball. “I said ‘you don’t understand son. Them guys playing with LeBron James look a whole lot better than what they really are.’”
Well, LeBron does make life easier on the court for his teammates. He famously took a mediocre supporting cast to the NBA Finals in 2007, and not many in history could have taken that group that far.
Anthony Davis Shared What It Is Like To Play With LeBron James
Anthony Davis certainly would have been a teammate of LeBron that Bird would have traded for, as he is an exceptional talent. Still, he has benefited greatly from playing next to him on the Los Angeles Lakers, and recently, Davis opened up on what it’s like to play with LeBron.
“I think my first year we had a conversation and he just told me, ‘Look, don’t come in here and think the pressure is on you. It’s on me.’ He just took all the pressure away from me so I was able to just go out there and play,” said Davis. “And then we had another conversation in the last two years when the injuries happened and I was frustrated and he just said, ‘Hey man everything is gonna work itself out.’ Come back stronger, come back healthier, and then let’s get this thing going.'”
These two won a championship in their first season together in 2020, and are hoping to win more. The Lakers currently sport a 30-26 record and are on a three-game winning streak.
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