Steve Lipofsky www.Basketballphoto.com, Larry Bird Lipofsky, CC BY-SA 3.0
Steve Lipofsky www.Basketballphoto.com, 1987 NBA Finals Lipofsky, CC BY 3.0
The 1980s NBA landscape was dominated by its two flagship teams, the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers, who combined for eight championships over the course of the decade. While each team was loaded with All-Stars and future Hall of Famers, the rivalry was defined by two of the most iconic players in NBA history – Larry Bird of the Celtics and Earvin “Magic” Johnson of the Lakers. As linchpins for their respective franchises, their careers have been inexorably intertwined in history and their personal rivalry is highlighted by many of their stark differences (white vs. black, East Coast vs. West Coast, shooter/scorer vs. playmaker, grit vs. flash, etc.). Though it has been more than 25 years since the two players last set foot on a basketball court together, not as rivals, but as teammates on the legendary 1992 Olympic Dream Team, the question continues to be asked and debated today:
Who was better – Larry Bird or Magic Johnson?
