For years, NBA fans have debated how Larry Bird would fare in today’s NBA.
Deemed one of the greatest small forwards of all time, Gilbert Arenas recently claimed that Bird could even beat LeBron James one-on-one if they were both in their prime.
That’s why NBA legend Dennis Rodman had to step in and share his thoughts on the matter, taking a big shot at his former rival by stating that he would play in Europe and that there’s just no way he would’ve beaten LeBron, adding that Nikola Jokic is a much better player than Bird ever was.
SportsCenter shared the comments on Twitter.
Agree or disagree with Rodman? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/6dEN04Odfb
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) June 26, 2023
Notably, this feels kind of personal, as Rodman had also said that LeBron was easy to stop and that he had no moves, so it’s not like he holds him in high regard.
Truth be told, Bird’s game would be perfectly suited for today’s NBA.
He didn’t strike as an athletic guy, but he had some hops, was very quick laterally, and was a much better defender than most people credited him for.
He was arguably the first great three-point shooter, even in a time when the three-pointer wasn’t much of a weapon.
Bird could score efficiently from all three levels while being a volume scorer, and he had a sweet and smooth touch with both hands.
He was also quite cold in isolation, not to mention an elite playmaker and crafty passer, and it seems like any team would still pick him in the top 10 or even top 5 as a stretch forward today.
NEXT: Stats Show How Zion Williamson Is In An Elite Category By Himself
