Are Magic Johnson And Larry Bird Still Friends
For many years, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird had one of the greatest rivalries in sports. As leaders of the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics, respectively, they faced each other numerous times in the NBA Finals, with both players delivering some of the most memorable performances in basketball history. However, despite their intense on-court battles, the two legends have always had a deep respect for each other, and have even formed a close friendship over the years. But are Magic Johnson and Larry Bird still friends today? Let's take a closer look.
The Early Years: Rivals on the Court
Magic Johnson and Larry Bird first met on the basketball court in the 1979 NCAA Championship game, when Johnson's Michigan State Spartans faced off against Bird's Indiana State Sycamores. Johnson's team won the game, but the two young players had already established a mutual respect for each other's skills. A few months later, they were both drafted into the NBA, with Johnson going to the Lakers and Bird to the Celtics.
Over the next decade, Magic and Bird would become the faces of their respective franchises, leading their teams to multiple championships and earning numerous individual accolades along the way. They had vastly different playing styles - Magic was a flashy point guard with incredible passing skills, while Bird was a hard-nosed forward with an unmatched shooting touch - but they both shared a fierce competitive spirit and a desire to win at all costs.
The Height of the Rivalry
The peak of the Magic-Bird rivalry came in the 1980s, when they faced each other in three NBA Finals matchups in a four-year span. In 1984, Bird's Celtics defeated Magic's Lakers in seven games, with Bird earning Finals MVP honors. The next year, Magic and the Lakers got revenge, winning the championship in six games and earning Magic the Finals MVP award. In 1987, the two teams met again in the Finals, with Magic's Lakers prevailing once more.
Off the court, however, Magic and Bird had a different kind of relationship. They frequently appeared in commercials together, poking fun at their rivalry while also showing a mutual admiration for each other's abilities. They also played together on the 1992 United States men's Olympic basketball team, known as the "Dream Team," which dominated the competition and is widely regarded as the greatest basketball team ever assembled.
Life After Basketball
Both Magic and Bird retired from the NBA in the early 1990s, but their friendship continued to grow. They frequently appeared at events together, such as the NBA All-Star Game and the annual NBA Awards ceremony, and even collaborated on a book in 2009 called "When the Game Was Ours," which chronicled their rivalry and their friendship.
However, there have been times when the friendship has been tested. In 2017, Magic, who had become the president of basketball operations for the Lakers, criticized the way Bird ran the Indiana Pacers, saying that the team was "stuck in the '90s." Bird fired back, saying that he didn't care what Magic thought and that he was more concerned with building a winning team.
The Current State of the Friendship
Despite the occasional disagreements, Magic and Bird remain close friends to this day. They both have immense respect for each other's accomplishments both on and off the court, and they continue to work together to promote the game of basketball around the world. In fact, in 2020, the two legends were honored with the NBA's Lifetime Achievement Award, further cementing their place in basketball history.
In conclusion, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird may have been fierce rivals on the basketball court, but off the court, they have always had a deep respect and admiration for each other. Their friendship has endured for over 40 years, and it shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon.
