“One of Them GOAT’s”: LeBron James Digs Out Larry Bird’s Masterclass, Hours After Celtics’ Dominant Game 1 Win

The NBA World seems to have only one entity in their minds right now: the Boston Celtics. Making use of their home-court advantage and star filled roster, the franchise managed to secure a win in Game 1 of the NBA Finals by a score of 107-89. With Jaylen Brown and Kristaps Porzingis coming out on top, an early lead helped to build momentum, which the Dallas Mavericks were unsuccessful in catching up to. With the chances increasing for the Celtics to secure their first championship ring after 16 years, Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James has gone into nostalgia mode, remembering that legend who once elevated the franchise to another level.

A few hours after the conclusion of the Mavericks-Celtics clash, the All-Time leading scorer took to his official X account. He reposted a clip featuring a game between the Boston Celtics and the Atlanta Hawks that took place on March 12, 1985. The matchup was a historical moment for Celtics legend Larry Bird, who secured a jaw-dropping 60 points within 43 minutes of playtime. This was the highest score the player would ever record in his 13-year career as an NBA player.

LeBron highlighted his appreciation of the GOAT’s performance by writing, “Man, just look at the Hawks bench from the 1:30 mark and on! Larry Legend was SOOOOOOOOO DAMN NICE! One of them (goat emoji)’s”. Given that the tweet was sent out late, around midnight, you know that the Celtics were certainly on LeBron’s mind at night.

Larry Bird’s 60 points were accomplished as the player went 22-36 with his field goals, 1-4 with his three-pointers, and over 15-16 with his free throws. By going up against Hawks stars like Eddie Johnson and Dominique Wilkins, the legend managed to create one of the best nights of his career. Being the GOATs of their respective generation, Larry Bird and LeBron James share a bond that is built on mutual respect and admiration.

Bird famously came to the Lakers star’s defense a couple of months ago after he felt that many fans, including those who hold the Celtics in high regard, did not respect the 39-year-old enough. “Quit whining about LeBron,” said Bird in a statement. “Enjoy him while he’s here. He’s unbelievable. He’s one of the greatest, if not the greatest ever.”

LeBron James expresses confidence in the Boston Celtics for the NBA Finals

Since he was eliminated from the NBA tournament during the first round of the playoffs, LeBron James has been keeping a close eye on the other franchises. Over the past few weeks, he has come to realize that the Boston Celtics have the potential to recreate history. During the recent episode of his ‘Mind the Game’ podcast, the Lakers star touched base upon the Celtics’ passing capabilities by stating, “They do it with the pass that a lot of people don’t really give them credit for. I think their dribble penetration, and once they see the defense start to rotate, they do it with the pass.”

He later discussed the starting lineup, feeling confident with the fact Kristaps Porzingis has returned. With a string of star players standing against Luka Doncic and co, LeBron felt, “There’s not one person you can roam off of that Boston puts out on the floor. They are well equipped.” From singing the praise of the Celtics to calling their head coach a “f***ing genius” and then featuring the highlights of their most significant player on his X feed, LeBron James may have indicated his favourite pick for the NBA Finals.

Before leaving, be sure to check out some insights that Shaquille O’Neal’s ex-agent, Leonard Armato, shared about WNBA star rookies Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark.