Article
Atlas
Videos
Sports
Popular
pet world
Funny
Larry Bird explains why he never trash-talked to Julius Erving
25/02/2023

 was known in the NBA as one of the best trash-talkers to play the game, but apparently, he never trash-talked to one NBA legend — , a.k.a. DR. J.

An iconic rivalry impacted their careers

If you are an older NBA fan, you probably remember the fierce rivalry between the  and  throughout the majority of the '80s. These two teams were stacked with great players and, during that period, were constantly exchanging with each other as the number one team in the eastern conference. The main guys on these squads were two forwards, Larry Bird and Julius Erving, who had some epic battles that were often on the verge of a physical confrontation.

In his autobiography, Bird details what made his rivalry against Erving so special and how he had a lot of respect for his game. When Bird came to the NBA, Erving was already an experienced player, still in his athletic prime, and considered the best player in the league. Bird had to observe and study his habits because he knew it would be almost impossible to stop him but only slow him down at best.


Erving was one of the first highflyers that could do almost anything when he was in the air, and when he jumped, there wasn't much you could do about him. His shooting wasn't elite, but Bird noticed after playing against him the first few times he could make jump shots from the left side.

Bird never trash-talked Julius

These two legends even got into a fight one time that got really ugly, and even though Bird was a notorious trash talker who could back it down, contrary to some beliefs, he never said a word to Erving.

When you talk about true professionals and legends of the game, Erving and Bird perfectly epitomize that to the full extent. They put on a show every time they stepped on a basketball court, and even though they had several heated moments between each other during that epic rivalry, mutual respect was always there. Bird always spoke highly of Erving and his impact on the game and vice versa; Erving acknowledges Bird is one if not the best player he had to go up against in his HOF career.

Many people talk about the rivalry between Magic Johnson and Larry Bird. Still, the rivalry between Bird and Erving was equally exciting and almost similarly impactful on the NBA and their respective fanbases.

“I like to mind my business, but it just looks really bad." — Shaquille O’Neal is not a fan of Larsa Pippen’s relationship with Michael Jordan’s son Marcus
02/12/2022
Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson Rages On Will Smith After Slapping Chris Rock On Oscar 2022
13/04/2022
“Dennis Rodman, I Don’t Want You to Die”: With an $850,000 Debt, Phil Jackson Worried for the Worm’s Life
08/12/2022
Dwayne Johnson Reacts To Kevin Hart’s Car Crash
15/04/2022
Shaquille O’Neal, Despite Beating Patrick Ewing 15 Times, Cried On National TV Over Knicks Legend Being Disrespected
08/12/2022
Tyrese GOES OFF on The Rock AGAIN,said "Rock Can't Afford Christmas Gifts" then Breaks down CRYING after threatening to quit 'Fast & Furious'
11/05/2022
'Sexist' Shaquille O’Neal, Who Paid Shaunie O'Neal $300,000 to Not Work, Claims Nobody In the WNBA Could Beat Him 1-on-1
06/12/2022
Kevin Hart Sides With Tyrese Clowns The Rock For Breaking Up Fast & Furious Family
09/05/2022
"Larry Bird Can't Jump and He's Not Quick!": When Michael Jordan Paid Celtics Legend the Highest Respect in 1987
03/01/2023
Camilla Ludington Shares Stories About 'Grey's Anatomy' And Her Baby Daughter
16/06/2022
Atlas
Article
Videos