"He could do it all" - Bill Walton argued Larry Bird was a 'better' all-around player than any NBA superstar

For obvious reasons, Larry Bird grew quite a fan base, and one of his staunchest admirers was his former Boston Celtics teammate Bill Walton. The "Big Red" had witnessed a wide array of multi-talented players, having played from the '70s to the '80s and worked as a sportscaster for decades.

However, Walton passionately argued that Bird was superior to any other NBA superstar in every facet of the game. Bill's admiration for "Larry Legend" was deeply rooted in the way he set the standards for playing high-level all-around basketball in the league.

"His ability to just bring it out every single day, you know, he could outscore you, he could outrebound you, he can pass better than you, he can defend better than you, he could lead better, he can dribble better, he could set up plays better, he could be the decoy," the late Hall of Famer once said of Bird's game. "He could do it all."

Bird was arguably better than Jordan

Walton may be right or wrong, but what remains a fact is that Bird was a player like no other. He solidified his name as one of the greatest players of all time by beating his opponents in various ways besides scoring.

Though his game wasn't "sexy," Larry is still adored by fans and revered by his teammates. In fact, another former Celtic, Kevin McHale, even once declared that Bird was a better player than MJ.

"His time came. But I'll tell you he had a hell of a run. Say whatever you want about the man; he had a hell of a run when he was out there playing. He was the best I've ever played with, against, or anything I've ever seen. People dive on Michael Jordan now and stuff; Michael Jordan can do a ton of stuff, but I don't think anyone was as good in the last few seconds as Larry was," McHale once said .

Bird was never the most gifted player there was

Only a few names resonate as powerfully as Bird in NBA history. His impact on the game transcends mere statistics and accolades. Moreover, "The Hick from French Lick" defied the norms in basketball and shut down racial stereotypes in the league with his distinct qualities as a player.

Admittedly, Bird was neither the most gifted nor the most athletic player of his generation. However, "Larry Legend" still managed to beat and dominate everybody in front of him with his exceptional basketball IQ, competitiveness, and grit.

Bird may have lacked the charisma of Jordan or LeBron James, but many would agree with Walton that Larry, indeed, did everything better than everybody else.

Related: "Of course, me, you know?!" - When Larry Bird couldn't miss a shot even when he was intending to