Who was the better player? Larry Bird or Magic Johnson?

Question

Yes, I know. This question has been asked several times, but I just want to see some more opinions.

I have seen a couple of games of both of them (wasn't alive when they played) and they were both amazing.

They are very similar. Both 12 time all-stars and 3 time mvps.

Who do you guys think was the better player? My vote goes to Magic, but I want to hear what you think.

Answer 1

larry bird.

Tyler: i think Hoopfan was referring to their passing skills being equal, not their career assists.

magic has more career assists cause he played point guard

Answer 2

magic was better

Answer 3

In my very own opinion, Earvin "Magic" Johnson.

Well even Larry himself shares my opinion when he said Magic is the greatest player he faced.

He was the pivotal player for Michigan State University's 1979 NCAA championship. Initially Earvin wanted to go to rival University of Michigan, but because the management and coaches promised him that he could have full control of the plays and the ball he opted to go to Michigan State and quickly transformed the school's fate by making them compete for the crown for the first time in years. Magic would then meet his rival Bird in NCAA's most watched Finals game, Magic would power Michigan for the win but without a valiant effort from Larry Legend the bottom line is Magic was the winner.

After arriving in the NBA, Magic would again propel the Lakers to a 60 and 22 win-loss record that in comparison to their record their previous year's record of 47-35. And we all know how he ended the 6 game struggle with Philadelphia in 1980.Not to mention this rookie getting the Finals MVP.

Bird would get his lone revenge in 1983, After Magic would collapse under pressure and Jabbar further weakening because of age, Johnson would term the series later: "the one championship we should have had but didn't get".

Johnson would exact revenge two years later in 1985, powered by Jabbar's 30.2 points, 11.3 rebounds, 6.5 assists and 2.0 blocks Finals averages the lakers would claim the gold in Boston's home floor, the first time it has ever happened. 1987 was much colder as Johnson would finally close out the difference betwwen them with his now famous "junior, junior, junior sky-hook" to clinch the series Johnson would again win Finals MVP.

The difference for Johnson was he went to Finals in 1991 without Jabbar proving that he can stand on his own that in comparison with the Bird's Celtics who never went back to the Finals after their loss to the Lakers in 1987. Johnson would win 5 championships during his prime years to Bird's 3, Magic would also win 3 NBA MVPs, 3 Finals MVPs for his career just to prove how great Magic was.

I maybe biased since Magic was my very first NBA idol, But I guess his career achievement more than covers for his greatness.

Hope this helps.

Answer 4

Its got to be Magic Johnson! He has 5 ring bird only 3

GO LAKERS!!!!

Answer 5

Personally i would have to say Magic. Although both of them had amazing all around games i would have to say Magics ability to seamingly play every position on the floor as well as anyone in the league puts him ahead for me. I mean take for example the finals when Magic played center for the Lakers and eventually took home the championship. Also i think Magic was the best passer of all time which made all that talent around him to be fully used. Magic all the way  

Answer 6

Two of my favorite players of all time...but in my own opinion, the greatest to ever play the game - Magic Johnson. Aside from the stats (which are truly amazing, averaging almost a triple double every season), Magic exemplifies what it is to be a leader, hard to do when you have a couple of other superstars in your team. He is one of the fiercest competitors ever, and his passion for the game is unrivaled: In his first ever NBA game, Kareem hit a hook shot to win the game for the Lakers, Magic ran and jumped at Jabbar in jubilation like he've won the Finals, Kareem looked at him nonchantly and said 'you realize that we have 81 more games left?'..that's Magic's passion.  Bird was versatile for sure but how can we forget the 1980 NBA Finals where Magic, a rookie, started at center (Kareem was injured), played forward and guard, and eventually handed the Lakers the championship scoring 42 pts grabbing 15 rebounds and handing out 7 assists. How's that for versatility and handling pressure?

Answer 7

I See That You Got Enough reasons I Say Magic

Answer 8

This is a good question, because both players are so good.  You're talking about two of the greatest players to ever play the game.  Having said that, I would choose Magic Johnson over Larry Bird.

Ultimately basketball is a team sport, and nobody was better at orchestrating an offense and making his teammates better than Magic.  Larry was a good team player as well, but Magic is simply the very best.  He would do whatever it took to win.

And I don't like to just look at statistics or accomplishments when making such comparisons, but since both players are so good, I think there is merit in taking such things into consideration.  Magic does have 5 championships and 3 Finals MVP's over Larry's 3 championships and 2 Finals MVP's (they both have 3 league MVP's).

Answer 9

They were both two of the greatest players who ever lived. I would give the slight edge to Bird though.

From 1980 till about 1987, there is no question that Bird was the best player in the league. He is the only non-center to win the league MVP award 3 years in a row (84-86), and he probably should have won it in 82 and possibly 1980 as well.

Magic played in the shadow of Kareem, who was the teams primary scorer and leader. It wasn't until Kareem was close to retirement that Magic began to take over a more active role.

After Bird sat out 1989 due to a heel injury, Magic took over as the best player in the league where he remained until he retired in 1992.

Shooting: Bird has the big edge here. He had one of the deadliest outside shots of anyone. He could score from anywhere on the floor, and was great at drawing fouls. Magic developed a decent shot later in his career, but nowhere near as good as Birds.

Rebounding: Magic was terrific at grabbing the rebound and taking it the length of the court. Bird was a fantastic rebounding forward, averaging 10 rpg for his career. I'd give Bird the edge here as well.

Passing: This one is close. It's been said that "Magic made the easy passes look hard & Bird made the hard passes look easy". They were both two of the best at setting up teammates and could see the floor as well as anyone who ever played. Magic, at 6'8", was able to see over smaller guards and Bird was probably the best passing forward ever. This one's a draw.

Yes, Magic one more championships, but Boston always had to get past Philly, and later Detroit to even make the finals. The Lakers, it seemed, had an easier road than the Celtics. Plus, Magic played alongside one of the greatest players ever in Kareem.

They were both incredible to watch, and they both helped save the NBA. But after all is said, Bird was the slightly better player between the two.

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Folks - Magic did NOT play center in Game 6 of the 1980 Championship!  He did JUMP center at the opening tip, but then went back to playing guard/forward. A great performance nonetheless.

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Tyler - you weren't alive when they played and you're LOL'ing at me???  Now that's funny ....

Answer 10

Magic

Answer 11

larry bird

Answer 12

Magic Johnson...............hes a laker, all celtics are crooks

Answer 13

Magic Johnson.

Magic = 5 rings

Bird = 3 rings.

Answer 14

Magic Johnson, because he's not a selfish doosh. And naming him "Magic" was obviously for a reason.  

Answer 15

This is basically a toss up. Since both were 12 time all-stars, 3 time mvps, and both played a simular amount of games, to me theres one thing that puts magic over bird and thats championships. Magic had 5 rings ('80, '82, '85, '87, '88) while Bird had 3 ('81, '84, '86).

Answer 16

magic cus he was ***** magic

Answer 17

Larry Bird, Magic Johnson had Karrem, top 3-4 center of all time.  You can't say that about Parish, not even close.  Larry Bird also had to deal with Jordan in the east which he fended off a couple of times but in the 90's, forget it.  Just look at the stats, Larry Bird was better.

Answer 18

magic johnson, because magic was a all around player who could shoot, drive, rebound, play defense, and of course pass. At 6-9 he played point guard and dominated the position. magic athletic ablility was out of birds range.

The only thing bird can do was shoot threes. with aids in the 1992 all star game magic shut down michael jordan and isiah thomas. I dont think bird can do that

Answer 19

They were both equally great and performed different roles.  Magic, a point guard, ran the offense and mainly dished out passes while Larry, a forward,  was a shooter and rebounder and also a great passer.

Answer 20

Magic.

As a point guard, he obviously had to shoulder more responsibilities as a team member than Larry.

Answer 21

Larry has the outside shots.

Magic has the ball-handling.

Honestly, they're about equal to me.

Answer 22

I like Magic over Bird, but the better player is Larry becuase he didn't have quite the superstar supportin cast that Magic did...   Thats the lone difference between the two!!    

Answer 23

Larry Bird was the all around player  he coud hit the 3 when needed play insied the pint pass the ball like know outher player he the best Baskettball player i ever seen