Rumors

“The 1984 series was the first finals confrontation between (Larry) Bird and Magic (Johnson) and that fabled personal rivalry, and when I called those kind of games, I never projected the ultimate meaning of them,” Stockton said. “I never got ahead of myself because then you are assuming something and it becomes dangerous. I called that Game 7 as I called the others: the ebb and flow of the contest, the concentration to be accurate, making sure my partner would get to be the expert. My job was to do the ‘who and what,’ his was to do the ‘why and how.’ The roles would be mixed at times, but all I aimed to do was deliver the happenings and let it play out. It carried more significance than the others, but those watching knew it. They didn’t need me to overdo the scenario.”

New York Times

Tom Haberstroh: Jalen WIlliams just did something -- score 40+ in a Finals game -- that the following players have never done: Larry Bird Hakeem Olajuwon Karl Malone Kawhi Leonard Dirk Nowitzki

Twitter

In 2000, Bryant did the same to ignite a new generation of Lakers dominance. He wasn’t smiling, though. He didn’t use words. He laced jumpers like daggers into the hearts of the Pacers. Then Bryant gestured to his teammates, to the fans, to everyone who had yet to fully comprehend the level of No. 8. Everybody, calm down. Kobe is here.  A superstar was born. “You only get a few of those players,” Ron Harper, Bryant’s Lakers teammate, said to The Athletic this week. “You can count on a few of them: Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Isiah Thomas. They get to those special moments when the game slows down in their eyes, when it speeds up for everybody else. “He went and got the game. He allowed the game to come to him, but he went and got the game.”

New York Times

Scott Agness: Rick Carlisle, asked about Larry Bird, notes that he expects to see him at the facility tomorrow for a pre-draft workout. Bird is still a team consultant and enjoys the player evaluation process. He’s now back for the summer.

x.com

As someone who's played in both Europe and NBA, to you, who are the greatest five NBA players and who are the five best European players? Goran Dragic: I’m going to start with Nikola Jokic at the five position. I have to go with my guy, Luka [Doncic], as the point guard. Then, of course, Michael [Jordan] as the two-guard. I played a conference finals against Kobe [Bryant], and he really dismantled us. So I’m going to put Kobe as a three-guard. And then at the four, you have LeBron [James], you have Larry Bird. You know what, I’m going to go old school, and I’m going to put Bird in, you know?

HoopsHype

Netflix: Shaq reveals his top 10 greatest NBA players of all time 👀 Watch one of the all-time greats make his next play on Power Moves with Shaquille O'Neal premieres June 4.

Twitter

Promoting a documentary series streaming on Netflix, Power Moves with Shaquille O’Neal, Shaquille O’Neal went into revealing his all-time Top 10 list. Sharing his opinion on the best-ever NBA players, 53-year-old Shaq initially listed himself in tenth place, but quickly moved on to present his ten favorites. The turned-basketball analyst reserved first place for Michael Jordan. In addition, he did not name his partner in the brand new Netflix series, Allen Iverson. Shaq’s all-time Top 10: 1. Michael Jordan 2. Kobe Bryant 3. LeBron James 4. Magic Johnson 5. Bill Russell 6. Wilt Chamberlain 7. Larry Bird 8. Hakeem Olajuwon 9. Tim Duncan 10. Julius Erving

EuroHoops.net

It's been an explosion in 3-point shooting for a variety of reasons. No matter where you start the measurement, like 3-point shots have become exponentially more popular now than they were 20 years ago, 30 years ago, wherever you start that. Now, the NBA added the 3-point line in 1979. Larry Bird and Magic Johnson's rookie year in fact. Larry Bird's teammate Chris Ford made the first 3-point shot in NBA history as Larry made his debut. And back then, they only shot 2 or 3, 3-point shots in an entire game. And this year, as you mentioned in the open, an average team is shooting over 37. An average NBA game then has 75 3-point tries in 48 minutes. And in many cases, we're seeing more 3s than 2s. And I always joke, why don't we call it the 2-point line in that case?

WBUR

While his stat line isn't comparable to Michael Jordan's or Larry Bird's, Horry says people need to realize the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame highlights more than just one's NBA career. "It's about your basketball career not what you did in the NBA," he said. "I know what I did throughout my career as a basketball player, those are Hall of Fame stats."

TMZ.com

NBA Communications: Indiana Pacers forward Pascal Siakam is the recipient of the Larry Bird Trophy as the Most Valuable Player of the 2025 Eastern Conference Finals.

x.com

Josh Lewenberg: Players to win MVP and an NBA championship in the same season: Steph, LeBron (x2), Duncan, Shaq, Jordan (x4), Hakeem, Magic, Bird (x2), Moses Malone, Kareem (x2), Willis Reed, Wilt, Bill Russell (x4), Bob Cousy Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is 4 wins away from joining that group.

x.com

“You look at Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Shaq, LeBron, Steph, what did they all have in common?” Perkins asked. “While they was all playing in the league, they all were family men. They all were married with kids. And if you think that don’t play a role as far as the role model, this is facts. This is not something that I’m making up. Now, what happened to them after they retired, that’s their business. But while they were playing, they were family men. Married with kids.”

Awful Announcing

StatMuse: Nikola Jokic is the first player since Larry Bird to be top two in MVP voting for five consecutive years.

x.com

Who’s the most Jordan-like guy in the league right now? Kenny Smith: Zero. Not Anthony Edwards? KS: Ant is a very good, talented player. But, O.K.: are you into music? Yes. KS: Is there anyone who has touched the fibre of music the way Michael Jackson has? Prince? KS: No, I’m talking about today. It’s not even close. Michael Jordan touched the fibre of basketball that no one will ever touch today. Larry Bird touched the fibre of basketball that no one’s touching today. Maybe LeBron. LeBron is touching the Larry Bird–Magic Johnson fibre. He’s not touching the Jordan fibre.

The New Yorker