The Number Of Times Larry Bird Defeated Magic Johnson?

Larry Bird and Magic Johnson were two of the most dominant basketball players in the 1980s, playing in each NBA Finals of the decade. Bird scored 27.4 points on 48.4% shooting, while Johnson had a record of 11-8 against him in the NBA Finals. In the championship series, they faced off three times, with Johnson winning two of the three matchups.

Both teams reached the height of their respective careers, with Bird scoring 24 points in the win and Bird scoring 19 points in the loss. The rivalry between Bird and Johnson reached its peak in the Finals of 1984, 1985, and 1987, with the Celtics winning the first and the Lakers winning the last two.

Magic Johnson has a 22-15 winning record over Bird, including an 11-8 record in Playoffs. They faced off each other a total of 37 times in NBA games, with Johnson having a 22-15 winning record and Bird having an 11-7 record.

Bird’s rivalry with Magic Johnson is often credited with popularizing the NBA. He beat Bird in 1985 and 1987, and they faced off eight times in the regular season during those years but never once in the Playoffs. The Lakers have a 5-3 record, and they even faced off in the NBA Finals on three occasions in 1984, 1985, and 1987.

How many times did Magic Johnson win?

Magic Johnson, born on August 14, 1959, is an American basketball player who led the Los Angeles Lakers to five NBA championships. He earned the nickname “Magic” in high school for his creative and entertaining ballhandling. Johnson was an intense competitor who led his high school team to a state championship in 1977 and Michigan State University to the National Collegiate Athletic Association championship in 1979. After leaving Michigan State, he was selected by the Lakers with the first overall pick in the 1979 NBA draft.

Johnson achieved his greatest success in the professional ranks, leading the Lakers to NBA championships in 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, and 1988. His first championship came in his rookie season, and he became the first rookie to win the NBA finals Most Valuable Player (MVP) award. He was also named the league MVP in 1987, 1989, and 1990.

At 6 feet 9 inches (2. 06 meters), Johnson was a dangerous scorer and a capable rebounder, averaging 19. 5 points and 7. 2 rebounds per game over his 13-year career. His innovative no-look and bounce passes and big plays in the clutch contributed to the NBA’s prosperity.

Was Larry Bird the greatest of all time?

Bird is a legendary basketball player and shooter who has been selected to 12 NBA All-Star teams, won three NBA championships with the Celtics, and won two NBA Finals MVP Awards. He was also a four-time regular season MVP runner-up in 1981, 1982, 1983, and 1988. Bird is known for his excellent play in high-stakes, high-pressure situations and was honored as one of the 75 greatest players of all time by being named to the NBA’s 75th Anniversary All-Time Team in October 2021.

Bird scored 24. 3 points per game in his career, with an average of 10. 0 rebounds per game and 6. 3 assists. He was the first player in NBA history to shoot 50 or better on field goals, 40 on three-pointers, and 90 on free-throws in a single NBA season while achieving the league minimum for makes in each category. Bird won NBA three-point-shooting contests in three consecutive years and sometimes practiced shooting three-point shots with his eyes closed.

Bird was also an excellent passer and defender, with 1, 556 career steals and being named to three All-Defensive Second Teams. He was widely considered one of Red Auerbach’s favorite players, and his humble roots were the source of his most frequently used moniker, “The Hick from French Lick”. Bird was also referred to as “Larry Legend”.

How many finals did Larry Bird have?

Bird, a former NBA player, made a significant impact in the 1979–80 season, leading the Celtics to a 32-win improvement before being eliminated from the playoffs. He played for the Celtics for 13 seasons, leading them to five NBA finals appearances and three NBA championships. Bird was a 12-time NBA All-Star, won two NBA Finals MVP awards, and received the NBA Most Valuable Player Award three consecutive times. He was also a member of the gold medal-winning 1992 U. S. Olympic basketball team, known as the “Dream Team”.

Bird was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame twice as a player, first in 1998 as an individual and again in 2010 as a member of the “Dream Team”. He was voted onto the NBA’s 50 Greatest Players in NBA History list in 1996 and subsequently the 75th Anniversary Team list in 2021.

A versatile player at both forward positions, Bird could play both inside and outside, and was rated the greatest NBA small forward of all time by Fox Sports in 2016. After retiring as a player, Bird served as head coach of the Indiana Pacers from 1997 to 2000, where he was named NBA Coach of the Year for the 1997–98 season and later led the Pacers to a berth in the 2000 NBA Finals. In 2013, he returned to the Pacers as president of basketball operations and remained in that role until 2017.

Bird was born on December 7, 1956, in West Baden Springs, Indiana, to Georgia Marie and Claude Joseph “Joe” Bird. He has four brothers and a sister.

Is Magic Johnson the greatest passer of all-time?

Basketball legend Ray Johnson is widely considered the greatest passer in NBA history, with his ability to make thread-the-needle passes that few others could have made. However, some argue that fellow Hall of Famers Isiah Thomas or John Stockton are the greatest distributors of the ball in the game. Thomas responded to a question on X by stating that Johnson was indeed the greatest passer in NBA history, citing his 6-foot-9 frame and sublime court vision, which allowed him to recognize when a teammate was open even before they realized it.

Is Larry Bird the greatest shooter ever?

The reputation of Larry Bird as an NBA legend may be more substantial than suggested by his statistical record, particularly given the limited number of three-point shots he attempted during his prime. Bird attempted a minimum of three three-pointers per night on three occasions throughout his career, yet achieved a mere 37% success rate. From the area, he attempted to shoot 6 times. In the estimation of H/H analyst Per Urbina, Ray Allen is regarded as the foremost candidate for the designation of the second-greatest shooter in NBA history.

Did Larry Bird ever average 30 points?

In 1987-88, Celtics forward John Bird made history by recording a 40-20 game with a 42-point, 20-rebound effort against Indiana. He averaged 29. 9 points that year, a career-high, and won his third consecutive 3-point shootout title. In the 1988 Eastern Conference semifinals against Atlanta, Bird scored 20 points in a memorable shootout with Dominique Wilkins, leading the Celtics to victory despite bronchial pneumonia. However, the Celtics fell to the Pistons in the conference finals.

Bird’s surgery to remove bone spurs from both heels limited him to six games in 1988-89. The following year, he posted the third-longest free-throw streak in NBA history. In 1990-91, he missed 22 games due to a compressed nerve root in his back, which eventually forced his retirement. Despite a bruised face and back, Bird returned in the third period to lift the Celtics to an emotional 124-121 victory.

What did Shaq think of Larry Bird?

Despite his ability to dominate the game, Guy was never afforded the opportunity to play against Larry Bird, whom he held in high contempt.

How many times has Michael Jordan beaten Larry Bird?

Michael Jordan’s career record against Larry Bird was 11-17.

Who was more successful Larry Bird or Magic Johnson?

Larry Bird, a conventional small forward, was a key player in the NBA, but his team, the Magic, revolutionized the point guard position and the game. Magic was a tall all-around point guard who handled the ball with great talent, passing it perfectly, taking it to the rim, and rebounding. He paved the way for today’s all-around players like Kevin Durant and LeBron James. Magic also transformed the game from a solid half-court game to one played on a full court, on the run, and above the rim.

Larry Bird played with a group of players whose collective talent was not as high as Magic’s teammates. Magic played with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and James Worthy, who were No. 1 draft picks and NBA champions. Bird, himself, was what made the Celtics great, as his spirit and mentality positively affected the entire team. Bird had less to work with, and without him, the Celtics would likely be a mediocre team, which cannot be said about Magic.

Who was a better player Larry Bird or Michael Jordan?

Larry Bird demonstrated proficiency in a multitude of athletic disciplines, including shooting, rebounding, and passing. This made him a valuable teammate, as he was able to adapt his skills to the needs of the team. His abilities were more transferable to other players, and his ability to perform under pressure was on a par with Jordan’s.

What did Mj think of the Larry Bird?

Michael Jordan once lauded Larry Bird as the most proficient trash talker and strategist in the history of the sport, a claim that may be unexpected by some.