Larry Bird wasn’t one to talk about off-the-court matters, but he once expressed his candid thoughts after noticing that the NBA players had gone “soft.” The way “Larry Legend” sliced it, that sudden change in the league began with his fellow legends Magic Johnson and Isiah Thomas.
According to Bird, the friendship between Magic and Zeke softened the association, which was supposed to be the most competitive league in the world. Larry further pointed out that he viewed the public displays of affection between Johnson and Thomas back in their time as a stark contrast to the tough and gritty nature of NBA basketball.
“It was Magic and Isiah hugging and kissing before that [1988 NBA Finals] game,” Bird said with obvious disgust in 1999. “That changed this whole league. That’s all that goes on now. It’s a lovefest. It’s like Woodstock in 1969, everyone huggin’ and kissin.'”
“I tell guys, ‘I know I’m a little different than you guys, but I could never even speak to an opponent,'” he stressed. “I never could even look at him. Rick Robey was my best friend when I came into the league, but after he got traded I wouldn’t have anything to do with him. Now you see these guys, they get beat by 25, they’re out there hugging, talking, it’s sickening. This is supposed to be a competitive league.”
