SI: Bird better than Lebron

[LogicMan]

In SI ?Greatest?, LeBron James gets the Bird | Boston Herald

Worth a debate at these stages in their careers. Bird a better rebounder, better overall shooter. LBJ perhaps a better play maker. Splitting hairs?

I would take Larry still only because I always liked the way he handled himself on court and off, the intangibles. But I could see why some would lean the other way.

 

[HubertJubberman]

Larry was surround by HoFers....Lebron has a better skillset and playmaking ability. Lebron is better.

 

[Cyder]

Larry was surround by HoFers....Lebron has a better skillset and playmaking ability. Lebron is better.

Gotta agree. Both first ballot HOF'ers but Lebron in the better all around player. Can't go wrong with either guy.

 

[True Lakers Fan]

In SI ?Greatest?, LeBron James gets the Bird | Boston Herald

Worth a debate at these stages in their careers. Bird a better rebounder, better overall shooter. LBJ perhaps a better play maker. Splitting hairs?

I would take Larry still only because I always liked the way he handled himself on court and off, the intangibles. But I could see why some would lean the other way.

I just assumed everyone knew that Larry Bird was better than Lebron is now. Lebron would be crying when the game gets physical. Lebron has a good game, but Bird never gave up in the fourth quarter. Lebron by today's standards is in the top 15 to 20 players, but he is no Larry Bird.

 

[2Legit2Quit]

Love Bird but I have Lebron ahead of him now. Both had great supporting casts and both are incredible though. Closer to 1a and 1b.

 

[HuskerCradle2Grave]

Considering Bird played 13 seasons (1 he only played 6 games) and LBJ 11, their numbers project to be very similar after this season (again not considering the year Bird was out) in stats that are totals. Percentage wise, they are within .001% in FG. Bird better from three by .03, LBJ better by .03 in 2P shooting. There are only two stats where one is significantly better than the other. LBJ has more assists, Bird, a better FT%. Interesting, considering all the talk of LBJ's physical "gifts". Intangibles are what separate the two in my mind. Bird was tough as nails. I would take him over LBJ all day every day.

 

[HammerDown]

Considering Bird played 13 seasons (1 he only played 6 games) and LBJ 11, their numbers project to be very similar after this season (again not considering the year Bird was out) in stats that are totals. Percentage wise, they are within .001% in FG. Bird better from three by .03, LBJ better by .03 in 2P shooting. There are only two stats where one is significantly better than the other. LBJ has more assists, Bird, a better FT%. Interesting, considering all the talk of LBJ's physical "gifts". Intangibles are what separate the two in my mind. Bird was tough as nails. I would take him over LBJ all day every day.

This.

Anyone who says Lebron is better than Bird isn't old enough to have watched the Birdman.

1.) MJ
2.) Magic
3.) Bird
...everyone else.

Bird is superior to Lebron in every meaningful way.

 

[HammerDown]

Larry was surround by HoFers...

Because he made them HOFers.

 

[True Lakers Fan]

This.

Anyone who says Lebron is better than Bird isn't old enough to have watched the Birdman.

1.) MJ
2.) Magic
3.) Bird
4.) Kareem
...everyone else.

Bird is superior to Lebron in every meaningful way.

but can I add one name and fix this just a little?

 

[True Lakers Fan]

Correct if I'm off, but I think the number of championships is what really separates Bird from Lebron

 

[HuskerCradle2Grave]

Correct if I'm off, but I think the number of championships is what really separates Bird from Lebron

In all fairness, LBJ has two more seasons to match Bird.

 

[HammerDown]

Bird was a cold-blooded killer.

 

[True Lakers Fan]

In all fairness, LBJ has two more seasons to match Bird.

True, but we both know that's not going to happen. Right?

 

[gordontrue]

Stats are very similar....

LeBron has a slight edge everywhere except in rebounding.

As for shooting, Bird was a slightly better 3-pt shooter then LeBron but was also much more selective (Bird averaged < 2 attempts per game, LeBron averaging > 4).

LeBron actually has pretty decisive edges when it comes to advanced stats, PER, true shooting%, effective fg%, win shares, etc.


For every young NBA fan naively dismissing Bird... there is an old NBA fan whose nostalgia is inflating Bird's status.

 

[True Lakers Fan]

If was going to make a list of the all time best players including Lebron


1. Larry Bird
2. Bill Russell
3. Magic Johnson
4. Kareem Abdul Jabaar
5. Michael Jordan
6. Jerry West
7. Isaiah Thomas
8. Scottie Pippen
9. Shaq Oneal
10. Kobe Bryant
11. Elgin Baylor
12. Lebron James(mabe because I think Im forgetting a few)


Truthfully I think Lebron really belongs at about #19. He's a good player, but he's just not the best ever and in the top 5. He just isn't

 

[Nosferatu]

Larry was surround by HoFers....Lebron has a better skillset and playmaking ability. Lebron is better.

Without Bird how many HOFers are there on those Celtics teams? Probably ZERO. Like was said if you'd take LeBron over Bird you never seen Bird play.

 

[Nosferatu]

If was going to make a list of the all time best players including Lebron


1. Larry Bird
2. Bill Russell
3. Magic Johnson
4. Kareem Abdul Jabaar
5. Michael Jordan
6. Jerry West
7. Isaiah Thomas
8. Scottie Pippen
9. Shaq Oneal
10. Kobe Bryant
11. Elgin Baylor
12. Lebron James(mabe because I think Im forgetting a few)


Truthfully I think Lebron really belongs at about #19. He's a good player, but he's just not the best ever and in the top 5. He just isn't

Oscar Robertson???

 

[gordontrue]

Without Bird how many HOFers are there on those Celtics teams? Probably ZERO. Like was said if you'd take LeBron over Bird you never seen Bird play.

I'm gonna go out on a limb and say that Robert Parish, Kevin McHale, Dennis Johnson, & Bill Walton do all right for themselves... even without Bird being their teammate.

 

[HammerDown]

1. Larry Bird
2. Bill Russell
3. Magic Johnson
4. Kareem Abdul Jabaar
5. Michael Jordan
6. Jerry West
7. Isaiah Thomas
8. Scottie Pippen
9. Shaq Oneal
10. Kobe Bryant
11. Elgin Baylor
12. Lebron James(mabe because I think Im forgetting a few)

 

[Nosferatu]

I'm gonna go out on a limb and say that Robert Parish, Kevin McHale, Dennis Johnson, & Bill Walton do all right for themselves... even without Bird being their teammate.

Sure, but HOF, nope...