Larry Bird is one of the greatest players of all time. Larry Legend rivaled Magic Johnson and the Showtime Lakers during the iconic 80s, as he was a three-time champion, three-time MVP, two-time Finals MVP, and 12-time All-Star.
Because of his accomplishments, many have Bird in the Top 10 of their greatest of all-time lists. However, Larry could have ended up higher on those lists if he played in today's generation.
That's because, at 6'9'', Bird was an excellent three-point shooter during an era when it wasn't considered a weapon yet. Given how Stephen Curry revolutionized the game with the three-point shot, former Celtics teammate Danny Ainge believes that Larry would have thrived in today's NBA.
"If Larry grew up in the world today," said Ainge. "I'm pretty confident that he would be shooting nine or ten 3-point shots per game and shooting them at a very, very high clip."
Bird led the league in three-point makes in 1986 and 1987
The three-point shot was introduced during Larry's rookie season in 1979-80. Right off the bat, he was one of the best in the league in that department, ranking 5th in makes (58) and third in 3P% (.406).
The Indiana native went on to lead the league in three-pointers made during the 1985-86 and 1986-87 seasons and had four straight campaigns from 1984-85 to 1987-88 where he shot above .400 from deep. Larry won the first three installments of the 3-Point Shootout and was the first player to join the 50-40-90 club.
"Most of us would get hot, get in the zone for a game," continued Ainge. "Larry would get in the zone for a month. He would have these 35-point and 40-point games, just these long stretches of games where he was just on fire. He just was a great, great shooter."
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Larry would have been an even greater player
Bird is a .375 career three-point shooter, ranking just 181st all-time. But considering some of today's sweet-shooting guards have a worse carer average than Larry, Donte DiVincenzo (.376), Fred VanVleet (.375), Evan Fournier (.374), Damian Lillard (.371), D'Angelo Russell (.370), you can just imagine how good the C's legend would be in today's game. That said, unlike most of the names above, the 'Hick from French Lick' could do more than just shoot threes.
"He was just a great, great shooter who was also a good post-up player, a great passer, great midrange shooter, great left-handed shooter," added Ainge. "He was a great rebounder. He was just great in so many facets of the game on top of being such a brilliant player."
Long before Dirk Nowitzki ushered the era of the stretch four, Bird was a big man with elite shooting range. Larry was also a great all-around player and one of the best big-game performers. Plus, 'Larry Legend' was an anomaly because he was a power forward who played the three position. Put all that into today's game, and the greatest of all-time debate takes a different turn.
Related: "You never know until you're out there" - Larry Bird on playing in today's NBA in his prime
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