Larry Bird vs Magic Johnson - Who was the better player All Time?

[Pointguard]

Magic hit the floor running and was instantly ready for the spotlight and changing the look of the game. It took a minute before Bird got the playoff thing right (It wasn't until his fifth year til he got it right and then he was phenomenal). Magic had already won two finals MVP's by that time. Most of the responsibility of changing the league and putting a winning face on it was on Magic. He also had several key players that weren't so happy with his attention and fame. Whereas, Bird's team was built around him and Aurabach would have shipped you out of town if you had a problem with that.

When Bird did come of age he had one of the most complete games and was able to dominate with it. '84 to '86 was a display of beauty, skill and the perfect mentality to boot. The rivalry was in Bird's favor to me at this time.

In '87 the pendulum swung back to Magic as he showed the incredible ability to run a team to perfection. He was at the core of a team that just flourished unlike any other in terms of efficiency and attack.

It seemed weird that both players had this great all around game and came into the league at the same time. Nevermind their ability to take the game to new heights while increasing the fans ability to know and love the game. They took on a lot of responsibility and still flourished.

[Doctor Rivers]

Magic is a greatest of all time player.

Bird is an era-specific player.

you're just a dumbass all around

[PotOdds]

Magic was magic. There was a reason why his name was so apropos. Incredible passer, one of the best all-time, definitely better than Bird. Super efficient scorer. Well over 50% for most of his prime. He ended up .520 fg% lifetime. The shyt he did, like being the center in the championship game. Precursor to LeBron. Saying LeBron is Magic 2.0 might be stretching it but not unreasonable.

Bird was a better shooter from first to last, and a better scorer. Magic really wasn't better than Bird at anything. Maybe dribbling. Like I said earlier, this one is too close to call.

[fpliii]

I'm not sure, but if we're considering these guys at their respective bests, surely Doc deserves some play as well (though I think I'd go peak Bird, the two are very close IMO).

[1987_Lakers]

Magic had a more successful career & has the edge in longevity, but I believe Bird was the better player when both were at the top of their game.

Magic was a better transition player, ball handler, & passer (Bird was a fantastic passer as well), but that is where the advantages end for Magic.

Bird was a better shooter, he was a better scorer, better post game, better rebounder, he is the best passing forward in history, and he was a better overall defender than Magic. Bird could simply beat you in more ways.

[La Frescobaldi]

Magic was magic. There was a reason why his name was so apropos. Incredible passer, one of the best all-time, definitely better than Bird. Super efficient scorer. Well over 50% for most of his prime. He ended up .520 fg% lifetime. The shyt he did, like being the center in the championship game. Precursor to LeBron. Saying LeBron is Magic 2.0 might be stretching it but not unreasonable.

You won't get any argument from me about Magic Johnson.
I was in the stands, about 15000 rows behind "Shining Jack the Dull Boy's" seat when Kareem went back on court for the end of game 5 in that Finals.The whole of LA was cheering those last minutes!!
And then on tv tape delay while we went way out in the high desert drinking tequila .... the even more dramatic last game in Philly when Magic lined up for the tip, AND it was in the House that Wilt Built..... man the whole basketball world just went meltdown during that game!!

[SHAQisGOAT]

Bird was the better player, Magic did more winning but for the most part he had better teammates than Bird, the East was stronger (GOAT conference) and Sf's the same (GOAT era for Sf's), also that 1980 FMVP belonging to Kareem.

Bird was pretty much always the better player when they were both healthy, better peak also.
Bird was always considered the better player when they were both healthy, only time Magic beat him as far as MVP voting was in 1987.
When Bird got to the Celtics they were one of the worst teams in the league, Magic had a top3 GOAT in Kareem close to his peak, a really good and underrated PG in Nixon to learn from, and guys like Wilkes.
Bird got them from 2nd worst to best record, Finals in his 2nd year with the major addition of Parish, McHale only start to really break out like in 1984 and by 1987 had career ending injuries, Parish was pretty good, great longevity and consistent but you weren't getting more than his usual.

Well, Magic repeatedly outplayed Peak Bird in the Finals despite being 3 years younger so...

lmao
Bird killed the Lakers in the 1984 despite his teammates (worse than Magic's) underperforming like a lot, with Magic choking.
Still great in 1985 despite hand injury.
Still took them to 6 games in 1987, already with back issues, and no team to compete.

[SHAQisGOAT]

Bird couldn't guard ANYONE man to man. Magic could at least matchup with guys around his own size even if he had trouble with little guys....and he led the league in steals.

Lmao, how old are you, 11?

Bird was a really good post defender and he could hold his own on the perimeter, his team D was amazing.

> 1st in the league in DWS and 6th in DRtg in 1980, no McHale or Parish on the team, got them from one of the worst defensive teams to one of the best, with the same team, no bigman blocking more than 1 shot or something like that, no other teammate even remotely close to him as far as DWS and DRtg

> 4 times led the league in DWS, 7 times in the top5
> 6 times in the top10 in DRtg, 2nd in 1984
> 1.7 spg and 0.8 bpg for his career

McHale never was top10 in DWS or DRtg, Parish in the mid 80's was not even blocking more than 1.5 shots pergame.
If it was today people would go wild over those advanced stats, he would make the all-defensive team everytime, to say the least of the crazyness.

Bird made 3 all-defensive teams and could've should've made more even though the league had some great defensive forwards with already established rep.
Magic never made the all-defensive team once, average defender in his best days, Bird always really good, not even comparable.

How underrated can this guy get defensively? Just crazy.

[SHAQisGOAT]

Larry was the better shooter from everywhere, better scorer, even better postgame, better rebounder, better defensive player, higher intangibles.
Magic was the better passer (and Bird's one of the GOAT passers), better handler and better finisher.

Bird was definitely the better player.
Magic got 2 more titles and won more FMVP but like I've said, he played in a weaker conference, had better teammates for the most part (wasn't even the clear cut man for plenty of time), Sf's better than Pg's in the league at that time, and Kareem deserved 1980 FMVP.
Bird was always above in MVP voting except for 1987 when they were healthy, was always 1st all-nba when he was healthy, 3 all-defensive also.

Magic's hype grew bigger because he's one of the most flashiest ever, really outspoken and always everywhere unlike Bird, black man in a black men's sport, played in LA...
People who know their shit or were alive back then know that when they were both healthy Bird was pretty much always the better player, better peak also.

[jzek]

Larry Legend

[SHAQisGOAT]

Clearly not the case. Better, perhaps, but in Bird's greatest regular season, he had a horrible post-season, culminated by a pathetic performance against the Pistons, in which he shot .341 in a six game series loss. How did Magic perform against that Piston team? 21.6 ppg on .550 shooting.

If anything, the separation was much greater from '87 on, than what it was before that.

And people tend to forget that Magic could have been a much higher scorer. I believe Psileas commented that later in his career, Magic had a streak of 11 straight games of 30+ points. Of course, how about his game six of the '80 Finals, and without Kareem, when he scored 42 on 14-23 shooting (and 14-14 from the line)? Or a clinching game three against Hakeem's Rockets in the late 80's, in which he scored 38 points on 14-20 shooting.

Furthermore, Magic was a much more efficient shooter, particularly in the post-season. Bird never had a Finals in which he shot above .488 (and one in which he shot .419.) Magic had FIVE in which he shot over 50% including .573, .560, .550, and .541.

Talking about 1988? His better RS as far as raw stats only maybe, he already had plenty of severe injuries, had to carry all the load since 1986 when players where getting old, lots of injuries, Celtics had virtually no bench... He couldn't do more than he did between 1987 and 1988.

Bird's peak definitely tops Magic, and again when they were healthy he was the best player for the most part easily. Magic only was above him as far as MVP voting in 1987. Magic arrived at a great Lakers team with Kareem a top3 GOAT close to his peak, Nixo a great PG to learn from, Wilkes, adding other guys, Kareem was having one of the GOAT Finals in 1985 still.
Bird walked into a terrible Celtics team and made them one of the best and by 1987 they were done, not because of Bird.
Bird absolutely went crazy in the 1984 PS and go look at what his teammates did, absolutely underperforming.
Again Magic had better teammates, considering the years and their level, for the most part and played in a weaker conference and had weaker PG competition than Bird at Sf

You're underrating Bird here.

[La Frescobaldi]

Magic is a greatest of all time player.

Bird is an era-specific player.

9erempiree is an ISH specific poster.

Would not last 10 minutes on a moderated forum.

If KBlaze,RMWG or those guys could actually moderate this board I doubt you'd make the full 10 minutes. Too much foul stench swirling round the history of your posts.

[Pushxx]

Bird.

[Djahjaga]

9erempiree is an ISH specific poster.

Would not last 10 minutes on a moderated forum.

If KBlaze,RMWG or those guys could actually moderate this board I doubt you'd make the full 10 minutes. Too much foul stench swirling round the history of your posts.

There are moderated forums?! Someone point me to one, cuz ISH is getting annoying.

[ProfessorMurder]

Magic hit the floor running and was instantly ready for the spotlight and changing the look of the game.

Biggest one season turnaround ever (until 08 Celtics). That was Bird in his rookie year.