Larry Bird and Julius Erving were fierce rivals during their prime in the NBA when the Boston Celtics and the Philadelphia 76ers went to battle. In fact, both had their share of brawls on the court, a result of the heated action in the NBA in the 1980s.
These skirmishes were inevitable, given that the Celtics and 76ers were consistently part of a fiercely competitive Eastern Conference. Larry Legend and Dr. J were also competing for bragging rights about who was the better forward. But as most know, their games were pretty different. Larry did his damage, hitting it from afar, while Erving was best known for taking it hard to the basket.
"Larry and I, we had a legitimate rivalry. It was always tough, you know, playing against them because it seemed they were next in line,” Erving said on “The Old Man and the Three” podcast.
Teaming up
However, the two legendary forwards also had the chance to play side-by-side during the league's annual All-Star Games.
In the 1984 ASG edition, Erving paid Bird a huge compliment. The 1983 NBA champion branded the Celtics star as a consummate player and the best the league had at the time. The Doctor would go on to add that Bird’s competitiveness and drive reminded him a lot of himself during his prime.
“He eats, sleeps, and drinks basketball. I used to be that way a long time ago, but not anymore. He's willing to pay the price, something a lo t of players don't want to do,” the 6'7" forward said via the New York Times.
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Bird’s secret to success
Like most players, Bird’s recipe to success was a pretty simple one – practice and hard work. Then-Celtics head coach K.C. Jones attested to this, witnessing how “The Hick from French Lick” played with a lot of determination and intensity.
“I have yet to find anyone who has Larry's determination or plays with more intensity. He is a student of the game and a perfectionist,” Jones said of the 1980 Rookie of the Year.
Although Bird made his mark as a great shooter, the 6-foot-9 forward worked on all aspects of his game, including passing and rebounding, to evolve into a well-rounded player. For the C's legend, compensating for his lack of speed was essential. Despite his the hours he put in the gym, Bird credited his basketball success to exceptional coaching.
“Jim Jones, my high school coach, probably had more influence on my game than anyone else. He believed in the teaching fundamentals, leadership and the importance of team play. He taught there was more to basketball than just running up and down the court,” Bird added in the same article.
That season, Bird secured his first MVP award, repeating the honor in 1985 and 1986. Over those three years, he was the NBA’s top player and also claimed two of his three NBA titles. If not for injuries, Larry Legend might have added more MVP awards and championships to his resume.
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