Bird credited “a lot of other players” for helping him and Magic save the NBA.
Larry Bird and Earvin “Magic” Johnson are credited for breathing life back into the NBA in the 1980s. But according to the Boston Celtics legend, he and Magic should not be the only ones being praised for it.
“We had a lot to do with it, but also, a lot of other players in the league had to do with it. The NBA was supposed to be a game of the ’70s, and it didn’t pan out; of course, it was better than it was in the ’60s, Me and Magic; timing was always the greatest thing. We came in at the right time. He won the championship in ’80, I won in 81,” Bird pointed out in an uncut interview back in 1991.
One of the things that stood out for “The Hick from French Lick” was how the games were broadcasted before. He recalled the time when the 1981 NBA Finals was shown on a delayed telecast on TV.
I remember in ’81 they had a delayed telecast, 11:30 back here to see the finals on TV. It was played at 8:30. I always thought that was bad for the league. If we was going to make it as a big-time league, I thought we had to have our game on prime time. Then the following year, it just started coming,” the 3-time NBA Most Valuable Player shared.
Ironically, it was the same sentiment that Paul Mokeski, another retired NBA veteran, pointed out. But all of that changed once Bird and Magic took over.
“I think actually that Larry Bird and Magic Johnson helped save the NBA. Because back then, the NBA, the finals in the NBA were tape-delayed. They weren’t even live. There was no sponsorship, fans were mad because back then,” the former Kansas Jayhawk stated.
Larry led the Boston Celtics to three NBA titles, while Johnson helped the Los Angeles Lakers secure five. And even though the two were some of the harshest rivals on the court, they both exited the game on a high note and ended up being good friends.
“We had a great time, and it’s all over, buddy,” Bird said at his jersey retirement ceremony.