As part of a continuing commitment to educating the masses, The Wicked Pissah Website is proud to present:

JORDAN vs. BIRD
Dispelling the myths about
"The Greatest Player in NBA History"

Now that Michael Jordan has retired (again), it's time to re-examine what was once a heated debate in basketball circles: "Who is better, Michael Jordan or Larry Bird?". There was a time that this was as divisive an issue as "Is professional wrestling real or staged?". Much like the wrestling question, debate over the greatest player in NBA history has subsided amid a general acceptance that the answer is obvious. A look at the numbers will show, however, that the title of "NBA's All-Time Greatest Player" is still very much in dispute.

.
Stat
JORDAN
BIRD
Comments
Shooting
10962 / 21686 
  (51%)
8591/ 17334 
  (50%)
Although Bird's numbers are slightly lower, his was a world without the high percentage slam-dunk.
Free Throws
6798 / 8115
  (84%)
3960 / 4471
  (89%)
Jordan played a mere 33 more games than Bird. Why so many more trips to the line? Jordan was notorious for drawing 'excessive sympathy' from referees. Average trips to the line per game - MJ 8, Bird 4.
3-pt. Shooting
555 / 1670 
  (33%)
649 / 1727 
  (38%)
Birds's numbers are better in every manner of analysis.
Rebounds
5836 rebounds
  (6 per game)
8974 rebounds
  (10 per game)
Again, Bird's numbers are clearly superior.
Assists
5012 assists
  (5 per game)
5695 assists
  (6 per game)
Bird with more lifetime numbers in fewer games; a familiar theme.
Steals
2306 steals
  (2 per game)
1556 steals
  (2 per game)
Both round out to two steals per game, although Jordan had slightly better numbers. Bet you didn't think it was that close, did you?
Blocks
828 blocks
  (.89 per game)
755 blocks
 (.87 per game)
Practically identical, but both with an insignificant number. Not what you'd expect from a guy who calls himself "Air", is it?
Points Per Game
31 Pts/game
24 Pts/game
The only game stat where Jordan has a decisive edge; However, when you take away free throws...
PPG (from the field)
24 Pts/game
20 Pts/game
...you take away some of the 'air' in the Jordan mystique. As the league's undisputed primadonna, MJ inflated his scoring stats from the stripe. If he hit those freebies with Bird's accuracy, MJ would have averaged 32 PPG.
NBA Titles
6 NBA Titles
3 NBA Titles
Bird's titles were won in an NBA that boasted at least two powerhouse teams, plus the oft-overlooked 76'ers; it would be ludricous to suggest that the Bulls faced the same level of league parity.
Conference Titles
6 Conf. Titles
5 Conf. Titles
How many NBA titles would Bird have won if he enjoyed the flimsy Western Conference opposition that MJ has faced?
Division Titles
6 Div. Titles
10 Div. Titles
Although Bird's trips to the playoffs didn't yeild as many NBA titles as MJ's, he kept the Celtics on top in their division throughout his career.
Retirements
2 (so far)
1
When Larry said he was done, that was it. He wore #33 from beginning to end.

CONCLUSIONS:

So what does it all mean? Was Larry better than Michael? Not necessarily. Was Jordan the greatest player in the history of the game? Perhaps. Then again, perhaps not.

Michael Jordan filled the "greatness void" left by such players as Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, and Julius Erving. He has been coddled by referees and has amassed trophies and accolades in a league where no one could challenge him. While the argument could be made that this is the reason MJ is the best there ever was, I don't see it that way. Jordan has made his mark in an era where expansion and million-dollar salaries for mediocre players have watered down the overall talent in the league beyond comparison to Bird's era.

DON'T GET ME WRONG: Jordan is surely among the all-time greatest players in the history of the NBA. The point of this statistical comparison is to demonstrate that the answer to the question "Who is the all-time best" is not as self-evident as one may think. As a die-hard Celtic fan, even I was ready to relinquish that crown to Jordan at one point. Yet when you look at their statistics and consider them in terms of the makeup of the league during the heights of their careers... I think the argument could be made either way.

That having been said, as a clear partisan for Celtic Pride I will state my opinon, supported by the facts articulated above. Larry Bird is the greatest player in the history of the NBA. That's my story and I'm sticking with it.

RETURN to the Wicked Pissah Website Homepage.