Generally speaking, most former NBA players are not all that crazy about comparing players from one era to another given how rule changes and styles of play allow for certain kinds of players to excel in one era, but in others they might not get off of the bench. But that did not stop Dennis Rodman from a feeble attempt at slandering Boston Celtics rival Larry Bird recently.
If Larry Bird played in this era, I think hed be in Europe. Hed be somewhere over there, began Rodman, perhaps still smarting from when The Hick From French Lick put him in his place during their playing days.
His game was fit for Boston at that time in the 80s, added the former Detroit Pistons star. Todays world oh, (expletive), no. Theres no way
Im not downplaying him because he was a great player at that time, just like I was, claimed Rodman. But Im saying no, theres no way I think the kid from Denver is better than (Bird).
Its unclear what kid from presumably the Nuggets roster is better than Larry Legend, but well assume he means Nikola Jokic given the frequent comparisons between the two. We also think he is wrong.
Bird on playing in today’s NBA
Bird doesn’t really enjoy voicing his opinions in public, unlike some of his contemporaries, particularly when it comes to fictitious games and matchups. But “The Hick from French Lick” acknowledged that he had put himself to the test multiple times during his career and that most of the time he had overestimated his competitors.
Regarding how he would have performed in the NBA today, Bird stated that he would most likely have used the same approach. The legendary Boston Celtics player said that while he would have respected the level of play displayed by today’s NBA players, there’s a good chance he would also come to the conclusion that it’s not as hard as he had thought.
“I say that because after playing against players I thought were really good when I first entered the league, I would say, ‘Well, he’s not that good.'” And I believe that stems from the mindset I had when I was younger and played at a small high school: you play against no one, but I’d score a lot of points and get a lot of rebounds,” Bird said.
“Going to Indiana State, it was the same thing. However, once I entered the professional ranks, I started to wonder, “Can I really do this? I thought it would be fairly simple,” he continued.
Larry Legend is a fan of today’s NBA
In his playing career, Bird was exposed to almost everything on the biggest stage in basketball. Like any other NBA player, he experienced wins, losses, injuries, and aging. However, Larry Legend possesses something that the majority of his peers do not, which is a sincere appreciation of the evolution of the game.
Bird says the NBA has done an amazing job growing as a league and a business. He also likes how the game is played now because he believes that because of the decreased physicality, players can now showcase what their game is all about, something he was never able to do when he was playing.
“I love the way the NBA is going,” Bird admitted. Twenty years ago, I used to worry about little guards; these days, I worry about the centers. The game changes. I like how they cleaned it up. Guys can sort of let their game go and have more freedom of movement. “.
It was a grind-out game when we played in Boston on the East Coast. However, it was more open on the West Coast when we arrived. You could show your talents. Guys werent holding on to you, grabbing you. And I think thats what the NBA is today. Its a freer game; its more open. “You can showcase your abilities every night if you possess multiple skills,” the legendary player of the Celtics stated.
It’s unclear which player on the Nuggets roster is superior to Larry Legend, but given the frequent comparisons between the two, we’ll assume he means Nikola Jokic. We also think he is wrong.
Rodman asserted, “I’m not downplaying him because, like me, he was a great player at that time.” “However, I’m saying no, there’s no wayI believe the Denver kid is superior to (Bird) .
Since different rules and playing styles allow some players to thrive in one era while being limited to the bench in another, most former NBA players are generally not too fond of comparing players from different eras to one another. However, Dennis Rodman made a poor attempt to disparage Boston Celtics rival Larry Bird recently, despite this.
The former Detroit Pistons star continued, “His game was appropriate for Boston at that time in the ’80s.” Todays world oh, (expletive), no. Theres no way.
If Larry Bird played in this era, I think hed be in Europe. Hed be somewhere over there, began Rodman, perhaps still smarting from when The Hick From French Lick put him in his place during their playing days.
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