Could Larry Bird still dominate today’s NBA? Or would he be a role player?
Bird’s Potential in the Modern NBA
The answer is yes, he could still run the league. Bird was a basketball savant. Other basketball greats like Charles Barkley, Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Isaiah Thomas, and James Worthy could play today too, and they all said Bird was the one whom they feared most.
A primary criticism of Bird is that he was slow and couldn’t jump. Neither can Nikola Jokić or Luka Dončić, and both of those guys will be in the Hall of Fame, because they, like Bird, can force the game to adapt to them, rather than vice-versa.
Bird’s Skills and the Modern Game
Bird’s passing ability was off the charts, and his hand-eye coordination was superb. He also had the ability to keep track of everything happening on the court: he didn’t have to see his teammates to know where they were.
In Bird’s heyday, the NBA was far more physical than it is today. The NBA in the 1980s could be brutal. Players knew they were going to get a beating every game.
The game is far more open now, and Bird would either drive, pass, or hit jumpers at will.
Factors Working in Bird’s Favour
Bird’s desire to dominate would propel him in today’s game, too. His mindset is far different from anyone in today’s NBA. He would sneer at 90 percent of the players in the league now.
Advances in training, nutrition, equipment, and medical care would have really helped him. A back problem ended Bird’s career, and the treatment options today are far better.