Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, and Michael Jordan changed the NBA perhaps more than any other superstars before or since. Magic and Bird’s rivalry drew immense crowds in the 80s before Michael Jordan took the game to the next level in the 90s.
Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan faced off in the NBA Finals once, but he went up against Larry Bird many more times than that. So it’s natural that the rivalry and ‘hate’ was deeper with Bird, as he revealed in a recent interview.
“I didn’t get a chance to hate Michael because of the fact we played one time (1991 Finals),” he said. “I think because the relationship with Larry happened in college, then it carried over to the two most storied franchises in NBA history, and we played so many times. That’s why we hated each other.
“Michael, I think the dislike might’ve come with the Bulls and the Celtics because they’re in the Eastern Conference, and they played so many times. We only really played that one time in ’91 when they beat us. I didn’t have a chance to hate Michael.”
Michael Jordan came into the NBA looking to become the greatest and working hard to do it, but he only started winning once Magic and Larry were past their primes. As he told them during their time with the Dream Team, he wanted to take the title of the best from them and make it his league, which he did. But Magic and Bird’s rivalry was always more special.
Magic Johnson Spoke Further On His Rivalry With Larry Bird
Having played against one another at the highest level in college and then in the NBA Finals, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird’s rivalry remains arguably the greatest ever. They both won 3 MVPs, although Magic Johnson did get two more championships. And as per Magic, even the teams they were on led to the rivalry.
“In the early beginning, we hated each other,” Johnson admitted. “We had to because he ended up on the Celtics and I ended up on the Lakers. You knew that there was going to be hatred there because the Celtics had beaten the Lakers, what, seven straight times.
“We met, and they beat us in ’84, so I had to hate him,” he continued. “I had to hate the Celtics. When we shot that commercial, I believe in ’87, at his house in French Lick, Indiana, that’s when we became friends.”
Whatever their feelings towards one another may have been when they played, the respect Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, and Michael Jordan have for one another now is evident. The NBA has had many superstars before and since, but those three might be the greatest in terms of impact.
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