Larry Bird vs. Magic Johnson - Complete Career Head-to-Head Stats

[B]Nobody is saying that Magic wasn

[QUOTE=Round Mound][B]:no: Why Wasn

[QUOTE=Pointguard]No Vescey was in his prime when Jordan got drafted. His every other day post columns were probably synchronized with Jordan but he was around for awhile before that.[/QUOTE]

I didn't mean Vescey. Given how automatically you think of the nickname Larry Legend when you think of Bird these days, I was surprised it wasn't thought of until 1996.

[QUOTE=Round Mound][B][COLOR="Green"]1979-80 to 1985-86 Bird > Magic[/COLOR]
[COLOR="DarkOrange"]1986-87 to 1991-92 Magic > Bird[/COLOR][/B][/QUOTE]

More like...

80 Magic > Bird
81 Bird > Magic
82 Magic > Bird
83-86 Bird > Magic
87 Magic > Bird
88 Bird > Magic
89-91 Magic > Bird

They're tied as players, but Magic has a bit more in the way of accolades. He was also elite from year one to year twelve. Bird's skill was always elite, but his body wasn't past 32.

I think some of you in this discussion is trying [B]way too hard[/B] to convince others that you are right, although you seem to forget that these debates are always subjective, [B]there is no final answer[/B]. You can talk all you want, but your opinion won't be more worth than anyone else's. If someone says Bird is a better player than Magic, you simply have to accept that opinion, especially since the general consensus is that it is relatively close between the two players anyway.

I for one have Magic over Bird career wise, but I find Bird's peak to be the most impressive out of the two for sure. The fact that he managed to win three straight MVPs while Magic was also in his prime speaks volumes of his play.

Look at those head 2 head finals numbers:applause:

Magic was not Lakers leader/main man/best player till 87 so it's not fair to compare Magic to Boston's go to guy.

Jlauber spreading his disease everywhere... :facepalm

Btw good job on making everybody hate Wilt. :applause:

[QUOTE=Round Mound][B]:no: Why Wasn

[QUOTE=LAZERUSS]Bird was considered the greater player from '84 thru '86.

Magic was hurt in the MVP voting by two things. One, Kareem was taking votes from him, and two, his 80-81 regular season.

But, if you include post-season play, Magic was easily the better the player from '80 thru '83.

And then in the '85 Finals, Bird was the only the FIFTH best player on the floor in that series, and wasn't even the best player on his own team.

The reality was, Magic was a considerably better post-season player, outplayed Bird in their post-season series, and overall, had a greater career. Plain-and-simple.[/QUOTE]

The one thing where you are clearly wrong is Magic being the better player from 80 thru 83. Magic won the fmvp his first year due to one really all-time great game but kareem was and should have been the mvp.

Bird was by almost all measure the better player from 80 to 87. MVP votes ROY votes public perception all favored Bird and it wasn't even close.

When you are a all time great and you get drafted by a team with a all time great center, you should have a great career. Even when KAJ got older and it became Magic's team, he could still give you dominate moments in games and series that made a hugh impact.

[QUOTE=navy]Why do people say Bird was better than Magic?[/QUOTE]

Because they watched them both play.

[QUOTE=colts19]The one thing where you are clearly wrong is Magic being the better player from 80 thru 83. Magic won the fmvp his first year due to one really all-time great game but kareem was and should have been the mvp.

Bird was by almost all measure the better player from 80 to 87. MVP votes ROY votes public perception all favored Bird and it wasn't even close.

When you are a all time great and you get drafted by a team with a all time great center, you should have a great career. Even when KAJ got older and it became Magic's team, he could still give you dominate moments in games and series that made a hugh impact.[/QUOTE]

Absolutely NOT true. Not even close.

From '80 thru '83, Magic was CLEARLY the better POST-SEASON player. Bird repeatedly CHOKED in those post-seasons, while Magic was LEADING his team to THREE Finals, TWO titles, and TWO FMVPs. Oh, and he could carry a team to a clinching game win without Kareem, too.

I have said that Bird's PEAK was from '84-'86. Arguably a top-5 peak. However, Magic's PEAK, from '87 thru '89, was, worst case, VERY close. In fact, Magic outplayed Bird in the '85 Finals, while in Magic's Peak, he wiped the floor with Bird in '87.

Then, Bird's PRIME was from '84-'88. Magic's was from '85-'90. Now, Magic starts to pull away here. Even in MVPs, but Magic held a 4-3 edge in Finals, and a 3-2 edge in rings. And he was, quite simply, the better player.

Then, go to extended primes. Bird from '82-'88, while Magic's was from '85-'91. Magic just continues to pull away in every category at that point. Finally...CAREERs. Magic's '80-'91 just blows away Bird's '80-'92. Plain-and-simple. Magic was MUCH better in Bird's early career, than Bird was in Magic's later career.

Better H2H, better in post-season, better career.

Magic > Bird.

[QUOTE=LAZERUSS]Absolutely NOT true. Not even close.

From '80 thru '83, Magic was CLEARLY the better POST-SEASON player. Bird repeatedly CHOKED in those post-seasons, while Magic was LEADING his team to THREE Finals, TWO titles, and TWO FMVPs. Oh, and he could carry a team to a clinching game win without Kareem, too.

I have said that Bird's PEAK was from '84-'86. Arguably a top-5 peak. However, Magic's PEAK, from '87 thru '89, was, worst case, VERY close. In fact, Magic outplayed Bird in the '85 Finals, while in Magic's Peak, he wiped the floor with Bird in '87.

Then, Bird's PRIME was from '84-'88. Magic's was from '85-'90. Now, Magic starts to pull away here. Even in MVPs, but Magic held a 4-3 edge in Finals, and a 3-2 edge in rings. And he was, quite simply, the better player.

Then, go to extended primes. Bird from '82-'88, while Magic's was from '85-'91. Magic just continues to pull away in every category at that point. Finally...CAREERs. Magic's '80-'91 just blows away Bird's '80-'92. Plain-and-simple. Magic was MUCH better in Bird's early career, than Bird was in Magic's later career.

Better H2H, better in post-season, better career.

Magic > Bird.[/QUOTE]

Magic had the better career, I agree. It was due to injuries to Bird. Once again you can have your opinion. The fact is at the time the clear consensus was that bird was the better player. ROY 63 to 3, MVP votes the first seven years Bird by a solar system.

[QUOTE=colts19]Magic had the better career, I agree. It was due to injuries to Bird. Once again you can have your opinion. The fact is at the time the clear consensus was that bird was the better player. ROY 63 to 3, MVP votes the first seven years Bird by a solar system.[/QUOTE]

Both great players. And, I do respect your opinions.

:cheers:

[QUOTE=LAZERUSS]Absolutely NOT true. Not even close.

From '80 thru '83, Magic was CLEARLY the better POST-SEASON player. Bird repeatedly CHOKED in those post-seasons, while Magic was LEADING his team to THREE Finals, TWO titles, and TWO FMVPs. Oh, and he could carry a team to a clinching game win without Kareem, too.

I have said that Bird's PEAK was from '84-'86. Arguably a top-5 peak. However, Magic's PEAK, from '87 thru '89, was, worst case, VERY close. In fact, Magic outplayed Bird in the '85 Finals, while in Magic's Peak, he wiped the floor with Bird in '87.

Then, Bird's PRIME was from '84-'88. Magic's was from '85-'90. Now, Magic starts to pull away here. Even in MVPs, but Magic held a 4-3 edge in Finals, and a 3-2 edge in rings. And he was, quite simply, the better player.

Then, go to extended primes. Bird from '82-'88, while Magic's was from '85-'91. Magic just continues to pull away in every category at that point. Finally...CAREERs. Magic's '80-'91 just blows away Bird's '80-'92. Plain-and-simple. Magic was MUCH better in Bird's early career, than Bird was in Magic's later career.

Better H2H, better in post-season, better career.

Magic > Bird.[/QUOTE]

Laz, I just can't take you seriously as being unbiased in this argument if you maintain that "Bird repeatedly choked" in the post-season between '80 and '83.

The fact remains that the Celtics simply do not win the '81 title without Larry Bird, who carried them through the Philly series and came up big when it mattered most against Houston in the Finals.

This is documented in print, on video, and by those who were there to witness it.