Larry Bird Thinks Current NBA Era Could be the Greatest Ever

Larry Bird used to think that his NBA era was the greatest. Nowadays, not so much.

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Could this current NBA era be the greatest ever? Larry Bird thinks so. In a recent piece from the New Yorker that discusses the possibility of a four-point line with Bird and Reggie Miller, the Boston Celtics icon discusses his concerns over the "little guy" in the league. But Larry Legend quickly switches gears, complimenting the team play and talent of today's generation before admitting that his era may not be the greatest after all. 

“It’s funny how the game has changed,” Bird continued. “And my thinking about it. I was really worried—back sixteen, seventeen years ago—that the little guy didn’t have a spot in the N.B.A. anymore: it was just going to be the big guards like Magic Johnson. But then players started shooting more threes and spacing the court, and everyone wants small guards now. Watching these kids play now, I’m like everybody else: Wow, manThey can really shoot! They have more freedom to get to the basket. The ball moves a little better. These kids are shooting from farther, with more accuracy. Now some teams shoot up around thirty threes a game. My era, you always think that’s the greatest era. But I’m not so sure anymore.”

While many former NBA greats are quick to dismiss the accomplishments of today's era, Bird not only tackles the topic from a different angle but backs up his argument. As president of the Indiana Pacers, Bird certainly knows the game better than most. He's still heavily immersed in the NBA, and he's frequently seen watching the Pacers from the stands. If Larry Legend is starting to believe that the current era could be greatest, maybe it's time that other former superstars start giving today's NBA players the respect they deserve. 

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