Larry Bird's 45 Best Famous Quotes

Larry Joe Bird was a well known former basketball player born in the year 1956 in West Baden, Indiana.

Throughout his professional career, Bird played 13 seasons in the NBA, all of them on the same team, the Boston Celtics. With a height that exceeded 2 meters by several centimeters, this player found his place within the team in the well-known forward position.

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Larry Bird's famous quotes

The rivalry of this athlete with the also famous Magic Johnson and his marked personality made him one of the most charismatic players of the moment. All the fans of this mythical team know perfectly every detail of this legendary player, would you like to know them?

Then you can do it enjoying the 45 most famous phrases of Larry Bird, some phrases that no fan of the NBA and competitive sports can miss.

1. An achiever is someone who knows their God-given talents and works hard to turn them into abilities to achieve their goals.

Although we are talented, our determination will be what leads us to success.

2. I don't know if I've trained more than anyone, but I'm sure I've trained a lot. I still wonder if anyone, anywhere, was training more than me.

Without dedication, we will never achieve our goal.

3. Tonight I have seen God disguised as a basketball player (on Michael Jordan after putting, this one, 63 points).

Michael Jordan he is recognized as the best player in history, Bird knew how to appreciate the quality of this extraordinary player.

4. What matters is not who scores the points, but who can get the ball to the scorer.

Basketball is a team sport and matches are also won as a team.

5. Whenever I have played I have not cared who defended me. The only thing I didn't want was a white player defending me, because it seemed like a contempt for my game.

Bird knew that the African-American players of the moment were capable of presenting a higher level of play, he wanted to always face the best.

6. When you're labeled the best, if you want to stay there, you can't do it by slacking off.

In order to be among the best, we must train like the best.

7. Coaches can talk and talk and talk about something, but if you get it on the court and show it to them, it's much more effective.

Our actions say much more than our words.

8. "Leadership" is fighting for a lost ball, having everyone involved, all the other players. It is being able to assume and delegate. That's the only way you can get the respect of your peers. It is getting everyone to believe in you and always give your best.

As team leaders, we must know how to set an example with our own actions.

9. If you give 100% all the time, somehow things work out in the end.

Our attitude and determination will determine our personal success.

10. Push yourself over and over again. Don't give an inch until the final horn sounds.

Giving the maximum of ourselves can give us the opportunity to succeed.

11. He's taller than me, he's faster than me, he's more handsome than me, but still, I'm a much better basketball player.

We must never be intimidated by anyone, we must be aware of our worth.

12. "Leadership" is jumping for a lost ball, getting the public into the game, getting your teammates into the game. It's the only way to get respect.

It is up to us that everyone around us is really involved in our purpose.

13. Being able to play with people like Magic Johnson or against the Lakers has been an honor. Every game was a battle and you knew that if you didn't play well, your team had no chance of winning.

In the NBA, only the best are capable of winning, this league demands the most from all its players.

14. You should have been praying (to J.R. Reid, a player with deep religious convictions, after scoring his 50th point).

Bird was a man who knew how to instill fear in his opponent, psychological warfare is something that can work very well in these cases.

15. "Leadership" is getting your peers to believe in you. If you tell a teammate to play as hard as he can, you better go out there and lead by example. Peers know if you're a phony and can tell you if you're giving it your all or not.

As Bird tells us very well in this quote, our example is essential for others to believe in us.

16. Are you kidding me newbie... I am the best shooter in history.

Few were able to come face to face with this legendary player.

17. In Boston, there has been a player above the rest, it has been Bill Russell, he will always be number 1 because everyone stays far from his mark.

As a player for the mythical Celtics, Bird knew perfectly well those who came before him.

18. Magic please, go away from my dreams.

Magic Johnson was a player who gave good old Larry Bird more than a headache.

19. I think the best athletes in the world are African American.

African-Americans have shown that they have genetics that are very conducive to sports, being able to achieve great goals and being the best in countless disciplines.

20. The first thing I do every morning is look at the stats from the last few games to see what Magic did. I don't care about anything else.

Bird was fully aware that the only player who managed to overshadow him was this Los Angeles Lakers legend.

21. He changes Chuck Person, because if he stays on the court, I swear I'll destroy you (the Pacers coach).

Not content with getting to intimidate his rivals, Bird was capable of verbally threatening the rival team's coach.

22. Which of you will be second?

Psychology can help us reach our goal, with a losing mentality we will never achieve victory.

23. I really don't like talking about money. All I can say is that the Lord must have wanted me to have so much.

Money was something that Bird did not pay much attention to, he put many other things before personal wealth.

24. I can't believe my team was so soft. B-L-A-N-D-O-S! I'm disappointed, I never thought something like this could happen. This is all I'm going to say.

In order for our team to be able to give their best, on certain occasions we must know how to motivate them.

25. No matter how good I am, I'm still just a French Lick redneck.

Having our roots very clear and present can help us know what we want in the future.

26. Basketball is a black men's game and always will be.

Bird was not shy about speaking his mind, and as we all know, African-Americans are truly talented in almost any sport, especially basketball.

27. They might beat us, yes. I haven't played for 20 years and we are all very old now.

In this quote, Bird joked about what has been the best Dream Team in history, an answer that he gave referring to the much loved by all, Kobe Bryant.

28. I have dedicated my life to basketball. And I have dedicated my life to the Boston Celtics.

For Bird, the Celtics were much more than just a team, they were home.

29. I don't miss it at all. I'm glad to be out.

This mythical player has been able to enjoy and value his well-deserved retirement.

30. I have won this championship for Terre Haute.

With this quote, Bird dedicated the championship to this idyllic city in Indiana, USA.

31. He is just a phenomenal partner.

This forward was always a much loved and admired player on the Celtics.

32. It's like watching the cat playing with the mouse.

His size and quality made this player one of the best in the world.

33. I'm not afraid of anyone except Larry Bird. Because if he has the opportunity, he will win the game.

Fighting for every ball allowed Larry Bird to win games that otherwise would not have been possible to win.

34. I have had the honor of coaching the best players. But if I were to start a team today, the best player and the first one I would pick would be Larry Bird.

The Boston Celtics forward is one of those people we always wish we had on our side.

35. Larry Bird never gives up, never gives up hope. He always believes that he has a chance to win.

As this player teaches us with his way of playing, we must persevere and fight until the end.

36. For the best basketball player of all time. But even more important: a friend forever.

The most important thing in any basketball team is the personal relationships that are created between its players.

37. Larry wants any advantage: whether it's physical or tactical. But more importantly: a psychological advantage.

Using psychology to win is something that only the most intelligent athletes know how to do.

38. If a team leads by 2, and they go 2 down, Bird will get a 3 point basket. And you wait for it with bated breath.

People admired this player, the stadiums filled up just to see him play.

39. He was the most motivated player I have ever seen. He wasn't a redneck.

Motivation is a fundamental aspect in any sport, without it we will be much more mediocre in our game.

40. He is very intelligent. He has many eyes around his head.

Intelligence is fundamental in basketball, he must be very intelligent to know how to see and direct a play correctly.

41. One way or another, Bird... IT KILLS YOU!

The commentators went completely crazy over Larry Bird's game.

42. Bird is free. Bird makes a layup!

This player could surprise you at any time, perhaps even at the least expected moment.

43. Bird over the shoulder.

Going up against one of the most energetic players of all time shouldn't have been an easy task for his opponents.

44. Bird steals it! And he passes it to Johnson at the last second!

Without a doubt, Bird was a specialist in giving surprise at the last second. The nightmare of his rivals.

45. On the board!!!

The commentators were greatly enjoying the game of perhaps one of the greatest players of all time.