"Larry Bird Can't Jump and He's Not Quick!": When Michael Jordan Paid Celtics Legend the Highest Respect in 1987
The 1979 NBA Draft brought two exceptional talents to the league. Having faced off in the NCAA Tournament in the summer, the entire NBA was excited to see Larry Bird and Earvin ‘Magic’ Johnson play on the big stages.
As expected, both these talents found instant success in the league. Larry carried his team to the first spot in the East and helped them win 32 more games than they did the previous season. Bird was selected as the Rookie of the Year after averaging 21.3 points, 10.4 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 1.7 steals per game. In 1982 and 1983, Bird fell short of Moses Malone in the MVP race.
