“He’s the greatest player ever to put on a uniform” – Red Auerbach explains why Larry Bird’s greatness required seeing beyond statistics.

Larry Legend, according to a former Celtics general manager, was “the greatest ever to put on a uniform.”

 

While Larry Bird may not be a frontrunner in the GOAT debate, which is frequently dominated by renowned figures such as Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul Jabbar, and LeBron James owing to their individual exploits, Red Auerbach had a unique perspective.

 

The former Boston Celtics general manager considered Bird as the ‘best player ever to put on a uniform’ and provided analytical explanation for why fans may overlook the grandeur exhibited by ‘Larry Legend.’

 

Red Auerbach discusses Bird’s impact.

Bird established himself as one of the most lethal and efficient scorers of the 1980s, as well as possibly the best passing forward, yet he never led the league in scoring, rebounding, or assists. However, Bird consistently rose to the occasion whenever the Celtics needed a 40-point show, including other teammates or being a dominant force on the boards.

For those who are obsessed with numbers, including the three-time MVP in the GOAT conversation becomes difficult, as Auerbach pointed out. He highlighted that to understand Bird’s greatness, one must look beyond the stats.

 

“The one thing you must avoid when discussing Bird is statistics,” Auerbach stated. “It’s his presence, the total way he commands attention on the court, that counts.”

 

Auerbach offered Bird the biggest compliment.

After witnessing the Indiana native change the fate of the Celtics franchise from the moment he arrived as a rookie, consistently propelling them into championship contention and steering them to four consecutive Finals appearances, securing three championships in six years, Auerbach bestowed the ultimate compliment on Bird.

“I’ve done a lot of soul-searching,” Auerbach explained. “I’ve decided, quite frankly, that he’s the greatest player ever to put on a uniform.”

 

In an era where the amount of NBA championships and MVP honors is frequently used to determine a player’s greatness, the two-time Finals MVP used a different approach. Without a question, Bird worked tirelessly to develop the Boston Celtics into a dangerous force throughout the 1980s.