“The ball had to be picked up by Larry Bird. Michael moved a few feet away and extended his hands, but Bird grabbed the ball and threw it back over Jordan’s head, seemingly expressing, “I don’t care who you are, you’re not just not getting this ball.” ’”.
The 80s was an era dominated by two NBA legends: Magic Johnson and Larry Bird. Although Michael Jordan was starting to make a name for himself in the collegiate ranks, he was still far from becoming “Air Jordan.” However, Bird knew it was only a matter of time before Jordan entered their ranks, and he made sure to make his presence felt.
Former Sports Illustrated writer Curry Kirkpatrick once told the story of one of Bird’s first interactions with Jordan. The setting was an exhibition game between the Olympic-bound men’s basketball squad—which was then being bannered by collegiate players—and a team of NBA players led by Bird, Johnson, Isaiah Thomas, and Bill Walton, to name a few.
This is the detail of NBA games in which Larry Bird and Michael Jordan played against each other, including head-to-head record, stats average, game highs and game-by-game data both in the Regular Season and Playoffs.
They played 34 NBA games against one another in total. Michael Jordan is beaten by Larry Bird 23–11 overall, with a perfect 6-0 record in the playoffs.
Games Played Against Each Other
|
| Games Won | in Regular Season | in Playoffs | |
| Larry Bird | 23 | 17 | 6 |
| Michael Jordan | 11 | 11 | 0 |
FAQ
Did Jordan and Larry Bird play together?
How many times did Michael Jordan play Larry Bird in the playoffs?
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NAME
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DATE
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FT%
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Michael Jordan
|
4/22/1986
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66.7
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Michael Jordan
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4/23/1987
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100.0
|
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Michael Jordan
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4/26/1987
|
85.7
|
|
Michael Jordan
|
4/28/1987
|
85.7
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Who did Larry Bird play with?
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Indiana Pacers
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Career history
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|
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As player:
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|
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1979–1992
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Boston Celtics
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As coach:
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Who is the famous basketball player that played with Michael Jordan?