Owner Real Deal Posted February 7, 2012 Owner Report Share Posted February 7, 2012 Whenever this happens, it has to be news...anyone that has ever played for the Celtics should never give props to a Laker. http://www.slamonline.com/online/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/larry-bird-action11.jpg Boston Celtics great Larry Bird saw the Los Angeles Lakers as the enemy during his playing days, but there's one current Laker he'd like on his side if he were playing today -- Kobe Bryant. Appearing on "The B.S. Report" with Grantland.com's Bill Simmons, Bird said that LeBron James is one of the greatest players and we should all sit back and enjoy what he can do on the basketball court. He even calls him the best player in the league, but he's not the player he would go into battle with. If he could choose any current player that he'd like to play a season with, who would it be, Bird was asked. "Well, probably Kobe, because of the fact that ... well, of course he wouldn't have been shooting as much as he does now ... but his desire to win, his dedication, to always get better, uh, and he's just, he's just tough," Bird said. "He's just a tough cat. "But, if you want to have fun, like I did with Bill Walton, play with LeBron. It would have probably been more fun to play with LeBron, but if you want to win and win and win, it's Kobe. Not that LeBron's not a winner, just that [Kobe's] mindset is to go into every practice, every game, to get better." Bryant has won five championships with the Lakers, one short of the legend he's most often compared to, Michael Jordan. James joined the Miami Heat last season and fell short in the NBA Finals, leaving him searching for his first title. Bird, who is currently president of basketball operations for the Pacers, won three titles, two of them over the Lakers. He was inducted to the Hall of Fame in 1998.http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/story/_/id/7551496/larry-bird-love-play-los-angeles-lakers-kobe-bryant 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sħãlïq™ Posted February 7, 2012 Report Share Posted February 7, 2012 I'm stunned. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nitro Posted February 7, 2012 Report Share Posted February 7, 2012 That's a strong compliment, though it's not anywhere near as stunning as when Celtics fan were giving Kobe 'MVP' chants in Boston. Players like Bird tend to be somewhat level-headed and objective, but for a Laker to get 'MVP' chants in Boston is something really special. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owner Real Deal Posted February 8, 2012 Author Owner Report Share Posted February 8, 2012 That's a strong compliment, though it's not anywhere near as stunning as when Celtics fan were giving Kobe 'MVP' chants in Boston. Players like Bird tend to be somewhat level-headed and objective, but for a Laker to get 'MVP' chants in Boston is something really special.The MVP chants were the most ridiculous thing I've ever seen from the Boston crowd, and while there were a few Lakers fans there, you can actually watch that over again and see fans, in their Celtic shirts and jerseys, chanting "MVP" for him. Most teams were doing it during the second half of the season, but when Boston did it, it was pretty sad. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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