Larry Bird is a player that almost every player that came after him has looked up to in some capacity. Having won three NBA championships, three MVP awards, and two Finals MVPs, Bird is undisputedly one of the best players to ever play the game.
But when he was coming up as a young player and in his early days in the league, he had his role models as well. And during his playing days, he was asked about a player he looked up to, going on to name a star that went on to win a championship alongside him as a part of the Boston Celtics.
“I’ve probably seen Bill Walton play more than anybody. I remember him shooting 21-for-22 one game and just the way he went about it. … Just the way he played the game, you can tell he’s very fundamentally sound and I really enjoyed watching him play basketball.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_10onrrAJ1E
Bill Walton entered the NBA five years before Larry Bird did and he was exceptional in his early years with the Portland Trail Blazers. He won a championship with the franchise in 1977, also claiming the Finals MVP and then an MVP award in 1978. Bill Walton’s career was then severely marred by injuries, but he left a lasting impact on those that watched him, Larry Bird included.
Larry Bird Would Go On To Inspire Others, Including Michael Jordan
Larry Bird went on to become even greater than Bill Walton was, and the two won a championship together with the Boston Celtics. The legend of Larry Bird is such that many stars that came after have been inspired by him. And alongside his biggest rival, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird also inspired the GOAT himself.
“(It) ate at me. It did. It did,” Michael Jordan said. “My energy started to gear towards my teammates and pushing them to excel. At last, I fit somewhere in the category of Larry Bird and Magic Johnson.”
Bill Walton and Larry Bird are both respected by everyone that knows the game of basketball. There is something to be said about surpassing the man who was your inspiration, but it’s no surprise that Larry Bird made it happen for himself. When it comes to basketball, there has been no one else like him.
We sincerely appreciate and respect you as a reader of our site. It would help us a lot if you follow us on Google News because of the latest update.
Thanks for following us. We really appreciate your support.
