NBA Debate: LeBron James vs. Larry Bird: Who’s the Best Small Forward Ever?

Wow, LeBron’s friends must be doing this article! Either that, or two very young kids. Anybody that ever saw Bird play on a consistent basis in the ’80s would undoubtedly pick him over LeBron, all day/every day. Those who didn’t watch ’80s b-ball and just get the modern-day washed-down NBA’s LeBron hype show WITH added commentary, in case you didn’t get the memo, would surely pick LeBron because LeBron is supposed to be the second-coming of Jordan. No, sirree, Bob, I’ve been watching this game too long to fall into recency bias. I saw Larry Bird play, and he just may have been the toughest dude to ever play the game! I saw basketball in the ’90s and what Jordan would do on a daily basis — hated him then, still hate him now, he was just THAT good (and would devour my teams). Back in the ’80s and ’90s, you had to survive bar fights WHILE putting up those stats. Nowadays, you just look at somebody wrong, and they call a foul on you — soooo many ticky-tack fouls now! This league s soooo watered-down now. If LeBron played in the ’80s and ’90s, he wouldn’t have lasted too long, he’s too dang soft — always whining because they didn’t call a foul on the guy that barely grazed his jersey! Larry Bird has his jaw indented purposely mid-play with a vicious elbow, and kept playing. Didn’t whine one bit. After the game, he went and got surgery on the darn thing. Same thing with his toe infection where he used beer to numb the pain, as they cut two inches between his toes off, and he still went out there that same night and threw up 34 points on a team. You think LeBron would’ve lasted back in those days? I don’t. Not only is Larry way tougher, he’s also a much more skilled player — shooting he was a beast, guarding he was a beast, last-minute shotting he was a beast, the guy was just beastly night in and night out until his back finally gave out on him. LeBron is a friggin’ marshmallow compared to that guy. LeBron was on the bench cramping up because the A/C in San Antonio didn’t work for one game. Larry played against L.A. in the Finals all four games without air because some mind games were being played by the teams. If LeBron had played back then, he’d likely have been a middle-of-the-pack player. In this washed-up league, though, he’s seen as a God. Whatever — he’s still no Larry Legend, and he sure as heck ain’t no Jordan! But hey, opinions are like a-holes and I am one, so if you don’t agree with me, who gives a hoot? That’s my two cents. I’m out.

Bird is better than Lebron James overall…here’s 16 reasons why.
1) Numbers-they are give and take but Bird still takes it.
2) Intangibles-Clutch, leadership, heart- Bird wins.
3) Passing-Bird is the greatest passing Forward ever…period.
4) Shooting and FG% Bird…
5) Rings, and MVP’s
6) Bird is the 5th leading NCAA all time scorer.
7) Rebounding and a big one….Bird is 84th all time defensive rating to Lebron’s 115th.
8) SPG and BPG they are even.
9) A 2-3 Zone defense would be Bird’s DREAM D to play against. The league(Stern) has implemented rules that would favor scorers like Bird…so it ain’t tougher, it’s easier. MJ, Larry Brown, ,Pat Riley, Phil Jackson, and Shaq all said that it was much harder to score and be effective before 2001.
10)He outplayed and/or stayed right with athletic players like Julius Erving, Michael Jordan, Dominique Wilkins, Dantley, Nance, Agguire, James Worthy each game, ALL THE TIME. Today is even less competitive at the SF position not more competitive.
11) This is the first year I’ve finally seen Lebron develop some inkling of a post game, Bird was the greatest post player ever that wasn’t a center or pure power forward. Baylor is the other greatest in the post at the SF.
12) Lebron has never nor will he ever(Probably) move without the ball well enough and out think his opponents well enough up to Bird’s standards..Nobody had a higher b-ball I.Q. than larry bird..If lebron did…I’d then say he’s better but that’s a no go.
13) …And Bird’s numbers are what they are WITH his celtic hall of famers..so I don’t agree with the “Lebron had a weaker team” theory. Bird led all of those HOFers in every major statistical category…Lebron didn’t lead in rebounds, SPG, FT% for starters, or 3PT% for starters, on his mediocre(which they weren’t that bad) cleveland squad. And no bad team makes it to the final…b-ball is a team sport. Lebron left to play with dwayne wade….that would be like MJ and Bird playing together…think about that.
14) Bird always drew double teams, but he was a WAY better passer soooo…
15) Bird was THE most unbelievable shooter I have ever seen, the shots he made I’ve yet to see from lebron james.
16) A dunk and a lay up BOTH equal 2 points.

Analysis: If you doubt his ability to improve a random group of players, look at what he did at ISU – he took a team of no-names to a near perfect season. On that ISU team Bird was the only one who went to the NBA, Michigan State had 3 players including Magic who got drafted. Translation-Bird WAS that team. His first year in the NBA, without McHale and Parish, he turned the Celtics from a 29-win joke to the best record in basketball. When he missed 1989, they fell apart without him. Automatic at the free throw line. The greatest clutch player since Jerry West. Very good team defender. His first year, he improved the Celtics 32 games in the win-loss. When he missed 76 games in the 1989 season, Boston replaced him with Reggie Lewis (who was 2nd in most improved player voting), yet the Celtics slipped from 57 wins to 40, despite having Lewis, Kevin McHale, and Robert Parish on the roster. The only 1 of 2 players in history to lead his team in ppg,rpg,apg,spg, FT% for starters, 3pt% for starters for at least 94% of his career. Oscar is the other aside from the 3pt% ofcourse. And if Bird played today he would dominate

Lebron is great and close but Bird was something else. Arguing Lebron James being better than Julius Erving is an ok argument, but not Larry Legend Bird. Lebron is the better athlete BUT Blake Griffin is better athlete than Lebron (especially now + Griffin’s size and other things) would you take him over Lebron? I wouldn’t just… like I wouldn’t take Lebron over Bird.
Bird wins.

Another point:Michael Jordan was not the greatest athlete throughout his entire career, but he was the best even when he was old and not that athletic…Athleticism matters but only to a certain degree…it isn’t more important than skill. Never will be, otherwise Shannon Brown is better than Larry Bird but he isn’t either. Class is dismissed