Oldheads: So was this how it felt to watch a rookie Larry Bird?

[IGOTGAME]

Luka is coming right out the game and playing like a top 20-25 player in the league. Every game I watch he does something that makes your jaw drop bc of the skill level.

I assume this has to be close to what Larry was as a rookie??

[fourkicks44]

Luka can hit some nice shots and looks to have a promising career but Bird lead the Celtics to the best record in the Eastern Conference and the Conference Finals in his rookie year.

I doubt Dallas will make the playoffs.

I don't think it is the same. At all.

[StrongLurk]

Larry Bird was more impressive as a rookie, however Bird was also three years older than Luka as a rookie. That's a big difference.

However the NBA was very different back then (way less teams, no international talent, 3 point line was JUST introduced in Bird's rookie season)

Not to mention the playoffs were very different (high seed teams got first round byes). So Bird and the Celtics did make the conference finals but they STARTED the playoffs with a bye round, and they got crushed in the conference finals that year.

[FKAri]

Bird didn't play like Luka. Bird wasn't dancing with the ball at the top of the key and hitting step backs. Then again no one was because it's very tough to do that with hand checking. And damn near impossible for a guy with size. Bird operated out of the high post most of the time.

Also, back then rookies were a lot older. Despite that they weren't given the keys to a franchise from the jump. Luka is younger and has more freedom than Bird did but he isn't better than rookie Bird. Again, he's only 19.

[IGOTGAME]

Bird didn't play like Luka. Bird wasn't dancing with the ball at the top of the key and hitting step backs. Then again no one was because it's very tough to do that with hand checking. And damn near impossible for a guy with size. Bird operated out of the high post most of the time.

Also, back then rookies were a lot older. Despite that they weren't given the keys to a franchise from the jump. Luka is younger and has more freedom than Bird did but he isn't better than rookie Bird. Again, he's only 19.

Bird and Luka have some things in common. It's there understanding of timing, space, and angles. That combined with shooting ability and clutchness is where I see the similarities.

Not saying they played the same or he was as good as Larry Bird. Just whether the Luka phenomenon was close to the Bird rookie year hysteria. Curious as to the opinion of people who were watching hoops at that time...

[Overdrive]

He's more of a Grant Hill type. Great impact for rookie, you can see he'll be great, but not one of the absolute best in the league (yet).