Why Larry Bird was unique among players is explained by Wilt Chamberlain.
Back then, there was a lot of skepticism about Larry Bird and the game, even though he is now considered one of the greatest basketball players of all time, and for good reason. Unusual for a simple reason. It was all about his skin tone and race.
As fewer white players ruled the NBA in the 1980s, fans were dubious and questioned whether Bird’s abilities were being overstated. Bird was therefore the ideal player for the NBA at the moment in order to attract more white fans and have diversity at the top. However, it was obvious to all those who faced Bird that this interpretation was incorrect.
At 6’9”, Bird was the perfect example of a basketball player that could do it all on the basketball hardwood. When necessary, he played defense, rebounded, distributed the ball, scored from all angles, and in his early years, he even possessed good athleticism. However, his opponents were intimidated by his great basketball IQ and confidence, which made his skills significant. Even some of the greatest basketball players that had come before him were impressed by that kind of game; Wilt Chamberlain, for example, had nothing but love for Bird.
In an attempt to elicit a contentious response, Wilt was once questioned if Larry Bird’s greatness as a player was only due to his race as a white man while making a guest appearance on the Howard Stern Show. However, Wilt swiftly dispelled that myth and expressed his admiration for Bird.
Wilt’s statement was succinct but straightforward. It was a unique experience for him to commend a specific player because he never really liked to speak well of anyone other than himself. A fundamentally sound and skilled player like Bird was the key to his Hall of Fame career, which included three titles, twelve All-Star selections, and numerous other honors.