Magic Johnson and Larry Bird In Today’s NBA? Former Warriors Coach Provides Insider Perspective

Magic Johnson and Larry Bird are the two brightest luminaries in the NBA. These two stepped into opposite sides of one of the fiercest rivalries ever seen in the NBA. However, they are responsible for making the game how it is now. They have had a great impact on their teams. Just recently, an ex-Golden State Warriors coach in a show explained the duo’s impact if they played in the current NBA.

The former NBA star Mark Jackson was asked about whether the former NBA players Johnson and Bird could have dominated in the present like they did in the past. In response, Jackson agreed and said, “I believe that if you are an all-time great no matter whether you played in the 60s.. 80s or 2024 I believe that your game translates.  He added, “We talking about Magic Johnson and Larry Bird we are talking about two guys that’s in a special room with anybody that’s played this game they were in that room so in my opinion the impact would be even greater.”

Furthermore, he even cited an example naming LeBron James and said, “They’re all-time greats no matter when they play the same way if you took LeBron James and put him in 1970 or 1980 or when at any point in the history of this game he’d be LeBron James and we’d recognize his greatness so those two guys certainly would have a similar impact and I believe even greater playing in today’s game.”

Regardless of which era, they are playing, Jackson believes these two would have still dominated the game. His statement is understandable given how even Johnson and Bird’s first encounter sent ripples through the basketball world in the past.

READ MORE: 48 Hours After Partying With Michael Jordan and Samuel L. Jackson, Magic Johnson Runs Into $850 Million Rich Artist During His Italy Vacation

Magic Johnson and Larry Bird’s rivalry and friendship

The two first faced off against each other in the NCAA title game in 1979. The game saw Magic Johnson and Michigan State clinch a win over Bird-led Indiana State. This game was largely responsible for garnering fans’ attention in college basketball and was widely watched by American audiences. While Johnson won against Bird during their first encounter, it was only the beginning.

Soon the basketball legends’ fates took them to two biggest rivals in the NBA. While the 5x champion was with the Los Angeles Lakers, Bird was with the Celtics. During the 1980s, the Boston Celtics had a record of defeating the Lakers 7 times, and that constantly fueled the Lakers’ passion and hence the rivalry.

However, back in 1985, the two basketball giants got together for a commercial shoot. That’s when the duo got to know each other and became friends and have shared a great relationship since then. The Celtics legend Bird was one of the special guests present during Johnson’s jersey retirement in 1992. What are your thoughts on Jackson’s opinion? Let us know in the comments section below.

READ MORE: “NBA Analyst Thrashes LeBron James’ Agent Rich Paul’s Comments on Pressure of ‘Following’ Michael Jordan: “He Had to Follow Magic (Johnson)”