Larry Joe Bird was a well-known former basketball player born in 1956 in West Baden, Indiana.

Throughout his professional career, Bird played for 13 seasons in the NBA, all on the same team, the Boston Celtics. With a height of several inches over 6 feet, he found his place on the team in the well-known forward position.

  • You may be interested in: “45 basketball quotes from the best players”

Larry Bird’s Great Famous Quotes

The rivalry of this sportsman with the also famous Magic Johnson and his marked personality, made him one of the most charismatic players of the moment. All the fans of this legendary team know perfectly every detail of this legendary player. Would you like to meet them?

You can do this by enjoying Larry Bird’s 45 most famous quotes , which no fan of the NBA and competitive sport can miss.

1. An achiever is someone who knows the talents God has given him, strives hard to turn them into skills to achieve his goals.

Even if we are talented, it is our determination that will lead us to success.

2. I don’t know if I’ve trained more than anyone else, but I’m sure I’ve trained enough. I still wonder if anyone, anywhere, was training more than I was.

Without dedication, we will never achieve our goal.

3. Tonight I saw God disguised as a basketball player (over Michael Jordan after scoring, this one, 63 points).

Michael Jordan is recognized as the best player in history, Bird was able to appreciate the quality of this extraordinary player.

4. What matters is not who scores the points, but who can get the ball to the scorer.

Basketball is a team sport and matches are also won as a team.

5. Whenever I’ve played, I didn’t care who defended me. The only thing I didn’t want was a white player defending me, because it seemed like a disregard for my game.

Bird knew that the African-American players of the day were capable of a higher level of play; he wanted to play against the best.

6. When you’re labeled the best, if you want to stay there, you can’t do it by slacking off.

In order to be among the best, we must train like the best.

7. Coaches can talk and talk and talk about something, but if you get it on the court and show it to them, it’s much more effective.

Our actions speak louder than our words.

8. “Leadership” is fighting for a lost ball, having everyone involved, all the other players. It’s being able to assume and delegate. That’s the only way you can get the respect of your teammates. It’s getting everyone to believe in you and always give your best.

As team leaders, we must set an example by our own actions.

9. If you give 100% all the time, somehow things will work out in the end.

Our attitude and determination will determine our personal success.

10. Demand yourself over and over again. Don’t give an inch until the final horn sounds.

Giving our best can give us the opportunity to succeed.

11. He’s taller than me, he’s faster than me, he’s better looking than me, but still, I’m a much better basketball player.

We must never be intimidated by anyone, we must be aware of our worth.

12. “Leadership”, is throwing yourself for a lost ball, getting the crowd into the game, getting your teammates into the game. It’s the only way to get respect.

It’s up to us to get everyone around us really involved in our purpose.

13. To have been able to play with people like Magic Johnson or against the Lakers, it’s been an honor. Every game was a battle and you knew that if you didn’t play well, your team had no chance of winning.

In the NBA only the best are capable of winning, this league demands the maximum from all its players.

14. You should have stayed in prayer (to J.R. Reid, a player with deep religious convictions, after scoring his 50th point).

Bird was a man who knew how to instil fear in his adversary, psychological warfare is something that can work very well in these cases.

15. “Leadership” is about getting your teammates to believe in you. If you tell a partner to play as hard as he or she can, you better go out there and lead by example. Partners know if you’re a phony and can tell you if you’re giving it your all or not.

As Bird rightly tells us in this quote, our example is essential for others to believe in us.

16. Are you kidding me, rookie? I’m the best shooter ever.

Few were capable of coming face to face with this legendary player.

17. In Boston, there has been one player above the rest, it has been Bill Russell, he will always be number one because everyone stays away from his mark.

As a player for the legendary Celtics, Bird knew the people before him inside out.

18. Magic please leave my dreams now.

Magic Johnson was a player who gave good old Larry Bird more than one headache.

19. I think the best athletes in the world are African-American.

African-Americans have proven to possess a genetics that is very conducive to sport, being able to achieve great goals and being the best in countless disciplines.

20. First thing I do every morning is look at the stats from the last few games to see what Magic did. I don’t care about anything else.

Bird was well aware that the only player who could overshadow him was this Los Angeles Lakers legend.

21. Change Chuck Person, because if he’s still on track, I swear I’ll destroy you (the Pacers’ coach).

Not content with scaring his opponents, Bird was capable of verbally threatening the coach of the opposing team.

22. Which one of you is going to come in second?

Psychology can help us reach our goal, with a losing mentality we will never reach victory.

23. I really don’t like to talk about money. All I can say is, the Lord must have wanted me to have so much.

Money was something that Bird didn’t pay much attention to, he put many other things before personal wealth.

24. I can’t believe my team was so soft. B-L-A-N-D-O-S! I’m disappointed, I never thought anything like this could happen. This is all I’m gonna say.

In order for our team to be able to give their all, we must sometimes know how to motivate them.

25. No matter how good I am, I’m still just a French Lick hillbilly.

Having our roots very clear and present, can help us know what we want in the future.

26. Basketball is a black man’s game and always will be.

Bird had no qualms about speaking his mind, and as we all know, African Americans are truly talented in almost any sport, with a special emphasis on basketball.

27. They may have beaten us, yes. I haven’t played for 20 years and we’re all too old now.

At this meeting, Bird joked about which was the best Dream Team in history, an answer he gave referring to the much loved one, Kobe Bryant.

28. I’ve dedicated my life to basketball. And I’ve dedicated my life to the Boston Celtics.

For Bird, the Celtics were much more than just a team, they were home.

29. I don’t miss it at all. I’m glad to be out.

This mythical player has known how to enjoy and value his well-deserved retirement.

30. I won this championship for Terre Haute.

With this appointment, Bird dedicated the championship to this idyllic city in Indiana, USA.

31. He’s just a phenomenal partner.

This forward was always a much-loved and admired player in the Celtics.

32. It’s like watching the cat playing with the mouse.

Its size and quality made this player one of the best in the world.

33. I’m not afraid of anyone, except Larry Bird. Because if he gets the chance, he’ll win the game.

Fighting for every ball allowed Larry Bird to win games that otherwise would not have been possible.

34. I’ve had the honor of training the best players. But if I had to start a team today, the best player and the first one I would choose would be Larry Bird.

The Boston Celtics eavesdropper is one of those people we always wish we had on our side.

35. Larry Bird never gives up, never loses hope. He always thinks he has a chance to win.

As this player teaches us with his way of playing, we must be persistent and fight to the end.

36. For the greatest basketball player of all time. But even more important: a friend forever.

The most important thing in any basketball team is the personal relationships that are created between the players.

37. Larry wants any advantage: physical or tactical. But more importantly, a psychological advantage.

Using psychology to win is something that only the most intelligent athletes know how to do.

38. If a team wins by 2, and they go 2 under, Bird will get a 3-point basket. And you wait for him with bated breath.

People admired this player, the stadiums were filled just to see him play.

39. He was the most motivated player I’ve ever seen in my life. He wasn’t a redneck.

Motivation is a fundamental aspect of any sport, without it we will be much more mediocre in our game.

40. That’s pretty smart. He’s got a lot of eyes around his head.

Intelligence is fundamental in basketball, one must be very intelligent to know how to see and direct a play correctly.

41. One way or another, Bird… KILLS YOU!

The commentators were going completely crazy with the Larry Bird game.

42. Bird is free. Bird makes a tray!

This player could surprise you at any time, perhaps even at the least expected moment.

43. Bird on the shoulder.

Facing one of the most energetic players of all time did not have to be an easy task for his rivals.

44. Bird steals it! And passes it to Johnson at the last second!

No doubt Bird was a specialist in springing a surprise at the last second. The nightmare of his rivals.

45. On the board!

Commentators greatly enjoyed the game of perhaps one of the greatest players of all time.