Even though Larry Bird 's Boston Celtics swept Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls in the 1986 and 1987 playoffs, MJ was incredible in both series, averaging 43.7 and 35.7 points per game, respectively. However, Bird was right there numbers-wise, averaging 28.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 8.0 assists against Chicago in 1986 and 26.0 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 9.0 assists in 1987.
As Larry got older, he could no longer produce such incredible stats on the court. The same can't be said about Mike, who averaged 20.0 points per game with the Washington Wizards as a 40-year-old.
That said, Bird was fine with his skills fading with time. On the other hand, Jordan didn't want to accept that reality. The legendary guard even felt that he shouldn't.
Larry knew he had no chance against MJ
While Bird had a multifaceted influence on the court—be it through scoring, playmaking, or rebounding—he was never a great one-on-one player. Mike, meanwhile, excelled in such situations, maneuvering his way to the rim or fiddling his way past defenders using his elite athleticism and speed.
Naturally, Jordan lost his athletic abilities toward the end of his career, especially during his run in Washington. However, the confidence was always there, so much so that Michael felt he could beat anyone on the Charlotte Hornets roster in one-on-one games despite being over a decade removed from retirement.
"I'm pretty sure I can," Mike, the then Hornets owner told L'Equipe in 2015. "I don't want to do that and demolish their confidence. So I stay away from them. I let them think they're good."
Jordan's comments generated so much buzz that Dan Patrick felt compelled to ask the Celtics legend if he believed he could stop MJ if the two played against each other. Although Bird never doubted his abilities on the court, he kept it real this time.
"I hate to admit this, but he'd kill me. I'm 40 pounds more than I was when I played, I'm broken down, I really don't care like I used to. I have a fight in me, but it's not the fight that I once had," the Celtics legend said . "But it'd be a pretty close game."
Larry has never hesitated to praise MJ
Even during their playing days, Bird has never shied away from praising Jordan. Whether it was labeling him the GOAT during his first retirement or predicting Mike would be the next big thing as early as his rookie season, Larry always gave MJ the respect he deserved
That said, the Celtics legend didn't believe Jordan could beat the guy on the 2015 Hornets roster. Antawn Jamison, on the other hand, had no doubt "His Airness" would be able to compete in the NBA at 50 . There's no doubt Mike would agree with the former Wizard.
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