Larry Bird: The Greatest NBA Draft Pick of All Time?

Larry Bird is considered one of the greatest basketball players of all time. He was drafted into the NBA in 1978 and went on to have a hugely successful career with the Boston Celtics winning 3 NBA championships

But was Larry Bird really the greatest NBA Draft pick of all time? That’s a difficult question to answer. There are a lot of Great players who were drafted into the NBA, and it’s hard to compare them all.

One thing is for sure: Larry Bird was an incredible player, and he had a huge impact on the game of basketball He changed the way people play the game and he inspired other players to reach their full potential. For that, he will always be remembered as one of the greatest draft picks in NBA history

The Case for Larry Bird as the Greatest NBA draft Pick of All Time

In 1978, the Boston Celtics made one of the most controversial draft picks in NBA history With the sixth overall pick, they selected Indiana State University forward Larry Bird At the time, many experts thought that the Celtics had made a mistake. The prevailing belief was that Bird was too slow and too small to be successful in the NBA. However, over the course of his career, Bird proved all of his critics wrong. He became one of the greatest players in NBA history and many people believe that he is the greatest draft pick of all time.

There are a number of reasons why Larry Bird warrants consideration as the greatest NBA draft pick of all time. First and foremost, he was an incredible player. In his thirteen seasons with the Celtics, Bird averaged 24.3 points per game 10 rebounds per game and 6.3 assists per game He was a nine-time All-Star and a three-time MVP. He led the Celtics to three NBA Championships and he was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1998.

In addition to his on-court accomplishments, Larry Bird also had a profound impact on the business side of basketball. When he entered the league in 1979, the NBA was struggling financially. attendance at games was down and television ratings were low. However, Bird helped to change all that. He became one of the league’s first true superstars, and his rivalry with Magic Johnson helped to revive interest in basketball. As a result ofBird’s popularity, attendance and TV ratings increased dramatically during his playing career. In fact, it has been estimated that Larry Bird is responsible for generating billions of dollars in revenue for the NBA over the course of his career.

For all these reasons, it is clear that Larry Bird is deserving of consideration as the greatest NBA Draft pick of all time. His on-court accomplishments are rivaled by few players in league history, and his impact on the business side of basketball is simply unmatched..

The Argument Against Larry Bird as the Greatest NBA Draft Pick of All Time

When looking at the history of the NBA Draft there are a few names that stand out above the rest as being the best ever. One of those names is Larry Bird Bird was drafted 6th overall in the 1978 NBA Draft by the Boston Celtics He went on to have a Hall of Fame career, winning 3 NBA titles 2 NBA Finals MVPs, and 1 regular season MVP. He was a 12-time All-Star and is widely considered one of the greatest players of all time.

However, there is an argument to be made that Larry Bird is not the greatest Draft Pick of all time. The biggest knock against Bird is that he was drafted 6th overall. In today’s NBA, that would be considered a late first round pick. But in the 1978 NBA draft there were only 10 teams in the league. That means that Bird was actually drafted 60th overall, which is late in the second round. So when you compare him to other great second round picks like Magic Johnson (drafted 1st overall in 1979), Michael Jordan (drafted 3rd overall in 1984), and Kobe Bryant (drafted 13th overall in 1996), it’s clear that he wasn’t necessarily drafted as high as some of these other players.

Another knock against Bird is his college career. He played his college ball at Indiana State which was not a traditional powerhoue like some of the other schools that have produced great NBA players In fact, prior to Bird’s arrival, Indiana State had only been to one NCAA tournament in their history. And while Bird did lead them to the 1979 NCAA championship game, they lost to Michigan State – a team that was led by another future NBA great Magic Johnson

So while Larry Bird had a great NBA Career there are some valid arguments against him being considered the greatest draft pick of all time.

Why Larry Bird is the Greatest NBA draft Pick of All Time

Larry Bird was selected with the sixth pick in the 1978 NBA Draft but he is widely considered to be the greatest draft pick of all time. He was a 12-time All-Star and three-Ime Nba champion, and he is one of only two players in NBA history to be named MVP three times. He was also a two-time Olympic gold medalist.

Bird was known for his incredible shooting ability, but he was also an excellent passer and rebounder. He led the Boston Celtics to multiple NBA championships and his rivalry with Magic Johnson is considered one of the greatest in sports history. There is no doubt that Larry Bird is one of the greatest NBA players of all time, and his selection as the sixth pick in the 1978 draft is considered one of the best Draft Picks in league history.

Why Larry Bird is NOT the Greatest NBA Draft Pick of All Time

It’s hard to argue against Larry Bird being one of the Greatest NBA Players of all time. The man played 13 seasons in the NBA, was a nine-time All-Star, three-time MVP, and three-time champion. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1998 and his No. 33 jersey was retired by the Boston Celtics But is Larry Bird the greatest NBA Draft pick of all time? We think not.

In the 1978 NBA Draft the Indiana Pacers selected Bird with the sixth overall pick. That’s good, but not great. The five players selected ahead of Bird were Mychal Thompson (first overall), Ricky Sobers (second), Phil Ford (third), Mike Gminski (fourth), and Kent Benson (fifth). Not exactly a Murderer’s Row of talent.

If we looked at Bird’s entire Draft Class he doesn’t look so great either. In addition to Thompson, Sobers, Ford, Gminski, and Benson, other players selected ahead of Bird include Reggie Theus (ninth), Darrell Griffith (11th), Purvis Short (12th), Ron Brewer (13th), and Cliff Levingston (18th). Not exactly a who’s who of NBA legends.

So while Larry Bird is undoubtedly one of the greatest NBA players of all time, he is far from the greatest NBA Draft pick of all time.

The Legacy of Larry Bird as the Greatest NBA Draft Pick of All Time

Larry Bird was selected sixth overall in the 1978 NBA draft by the Boston Celtics and went on to have one of the most illustrious careers in Basketball History He was a 12-time All-Star, three-time NBA Champion two-time NBA Finals MVP, and one-time NBA MVP He is widely considered one of the greatest players of all time.

But what makes Larry Bird’s draft selection so special? For one, he was drafted by a team that he would go on to lead to great heights – the Boston Celtics His selection also proved to be fortuitous timing, as it coincided with the arrival of another all-time great, Magic Johnson who was selected first overall in the 1979 NBA draft

The two players quickly became rivals, but their competitive relationship only made both players better. They pushed each other to new levels and helped turn the NBA into must-see television. The 1980s were truly a golden era for the league, and much of that can be attributed to the rivalry between Larry Bird and Magic Johnson

So was Larry Bird really the greatest NBA Draft pick of all time? It’s hard to say for sure, but there’s no question that he left a lasting impact on the game of basketball

The Impact of Larry Bird as the Greatest NBA Draft Pick of All Time

Since being drafted in 1978, Larry Bird has been considered one of the greatest basketball players of all time. He was a 12-time NBA All-Star 3-time NBA MVP and 2-time NBA Finals MVP. He is also considered one of the best shooters and rebounders in the history of the game.

But what makes Larry Bird the greatest NBA Draft pick of all time? It’s his impact on the game of basketball. Not only was he an incredible player, but he also changed the way the game was played. He popularized the 3-point shot and revolutionized the way teams played offense. He was also known for his work ethic and dedication to his craft, which inspired other players to work hard and perfect their skills.

Because of his impact on the game, Larry Bird is often credited with King Basketball more popular than ever before. His rookie season coincided with the start of the 1979-80 NBA season which was one of the most watched seasons in NBA history And since then, interest in basketball has only grown. Today, there are more than 1 billion people who play basketball around the world and that number is only expected to grow in the years to come.

So when you consider all that Larry Bird has done for basketball, it’s easy to see why he is considered the greatest NBA draft pick of all time.

The Legend of Larry Bird as the Greatest NBA Draft Pick of All Time

In 1978, the Boston Celtics drafted a skinny, white forward from Indiana State University named Larry Bird. The move was controversial at the time, as many felt that Bird was too slow and too unathletic to be successful in the NBA. However, Bird quickly proved his doubters wrong, winning Rookie of the Year honors in 1979 and going on to become one of the greatest players in NBA history

Bird was a 12-time All-Star and a three-time NBA MVP and he is widely considered one of the best shooters and most clutch performers in league history. He led the Celtics to three NBA championships in the 1980s, cementing his legacy as one of the all-time greats.

Bird’s success has led many to argue that he is the greatest draft pick of all time. Though there have been many great players drafted AFTER Bird (including Magic Johnson Michael Jordan and LeBron James), it’s hard to argue with Bird’s impact on the game of basketball. He changed the way that people thought about the sport, and his legacy will continue to live on for generations to come.

The Truth About Larry Bird as the Greatest NBA Draft Pick of All Time

It’s often said that Larry Bird is the greatest NBA Draft pick of all time. It’s hard to argue with that claim when you look at his impressive resume. He was a 12-time NBA All-Star a three-time NBA champion a two-time NBA Finals MVP, and a one-time NBA MVP He also won an Olympic gold medal as part of the 1992 “Dream Team ”

But was he really the greatest NBA Draft pick of all time? That’s a tougher claim to make. For one thing, Bird was drafted into a unique situation. He joined a Boston Celtics team that already had several other future Hall of Famers on its roster, including Kevin McHale and Robert Parish The Celtics were also coached by the legendary Red Auerbach, who surely played a role in Bird’s development into one of the greatest players in NBA history

It’s also worth noting that Bird was drafted in 1978, which means he played during an era when there were only 23 teams in the league. That meant that there were fewer elite players to go around, which made it easier for Bird to stand out and rack up individual accolades.

In today’s NBA, with 30 teams and more International Players than ever before, it’s harder than ever for any one player to dominate the league the way Bird did during his prime. So while Larry Bird may well be the greatest NBA Draft pick of all time, it’s getting harder and harder to make that claim with certainty.

The Real Legacy of Larry Bird as the Greatest NBA Draft Pick of All Time

Avid basketball fans often debate over who the greatest players of all time are. When it comes to the greatest NBA draft pick of all time, there is one name that seems to stand out above the rest: Larry Bird.

Bird was drafted by the Boston Celtics with the sixth overall pick in the 1978 NBA Draft He went on to have an incredibly decorated career, winning three NBA Championships two NBA Finals MVPs, and one regular season MVP Award He was also a 12-time All-Star and is widely considered one of the greatest shooters in NBA History

While some may argue that other players like Magic Johnson or Michael Jordan were better Draft Picks there is no denying that Larry Bird was an incredible player who had a tremendous impact on the game of basketball. His legacy as one of the greatest players of all time is well deserved, and he will always be remembered as one of the best draft picks in NBA history

Larry Bird: The Greatest NBA Draft Pick of All Time?