Does Bird get downgraded for a Perceived lack of Longevity

[tontoz]

Bird was an old rookie at 23. If i remember right he hurt his back working at home.

Amazing player in his prime. His size, skills, IQ and drive would make him a star in any era.

Longevity is an important issue when judging great players and it should count against him.

[Stephonit]

Bird helped his team win. He's from the era before Michael Jordan and the consequent media fixation on individual greatness to boost marketing and sales. Magic gets props for the additional rings but his weaker opposition in the West at the time gets overlooked and he benefits from having a career that lasted a little longer into the 90s and still being in the news in the present.

[ClipperRevival]

Absolutely.

His body just failed him.

[FKAri]

Anybody who thinks that bird wouldn't dominate in a weak defensive era that revolves around threes is an idiot. I think he gets down graded for his lack of athleticism and flash. His dominance revolved around intelligence, heart and fundamentals. Tim Duncan has been downgraded for the same reason I believe.

Duncan, downgraded? He's barely out of the league

[Round Mound]

He put in more basketball practice than most, but he apparently did not condition himself quite as much? Fair call?

He did condition himself but he was not athletic enough to last that long because he also played the game too hard. He would dive for loose balls, hustle, tough rebounder and tough team defender. That's what made him amazing but he wasn't going to last that long because his lack of athletecism.

[ImKobe]

Bird and Magic both had very short careers when you think about it. Magic actually retired a year earlier due to HIV but did come back for 30 something games in 95. Those guys should have won more than they did, Magic was only 31 and had 9 Finals under his belt with 5 rings. Bird's issue is that he came into the league at 23, his longevity numbers would look a lot better if he came in at 20 like Magic. Magic should be #1 all-time in assists and Bird should be at least top 10 in scoring.

[SamuraiSWISH]

Yup.

Its why Magic is regarded as the "greater player". Well that and 5 championships.

People who watched Bird or at least know about his career talk about the healthy version. The guy better than every perimeter player not named Michael Jordan.

This ... and he was better than Magic.

[GimmeThat]

this is pretty much discussing the impact of George Bush Sr.

[Mr.GOAT2408]

His averages still look good but even that's because he started his career at age 23. If you compare his career averages to other all-timers from 23-35 he doesn't really stand out as much. So the lack of longevity kinda evens out. Still had a great 5 year stretch that stacks up with just about anyone. Still in the top 10 discussion

His style of play pretty much invited injuries too even if his biggest injuries occurred outside the court