Larry Bird, one of the most legendary NBA players ever, is always ready for basketball talk, even if it’s about hypotheticals.
The Boston Celtics icon, a symbol of 1980s grit and dominance, weighed in on such a conversation in 2012. When asked which modern player he’d most want to share the court with for a season, Bird didn’t hesitate. His answer bridged the fierce competitiveness of his era with the relentless drive of another icon.
Bird’s ultimate teammate
Larry, a three-time MVP and NBA champion, has always been open about the traits he values most in a teammate — grit, determination, and an unyielding will to win. Known for his relentless work ethic and mental toughness, Bird saw a kindred spirit in Kobe Bryant, a five-time champion and arguably the most gifted scorer ever whose “Mamba Mentality” became legendary.
Both players thrived on outworking their competition, elevating not just their own games but also demanding the best from those around them.
“Well, probably Kobe, because of the fact that… well, of course, he wouldn’t have been shooting as much as he does now… but his desire to win, his dedication, to always get better, uh, and he’s just, he’s just tough,” the Hall of Famer said when asked which current player he’d most like to play with. “He’s just a tough cat.”
Larry’s notion was not founded on flash or glamour but had more to do with an indomitable fighting spirit, determination, and an obsessive drive to constantly improve, all of which fitted into the mold of himself as a player.
Bryant had been somebody Bird thought of as one who went into every practice and every game and every moment with an obsessive belief in winning.
For Larry, Kobe wasn’t just a great scorer; he was the epitome of mental toughness, the kind of teammate who would push him to new heights simply through shared intensity.
The LeBron factor
Bird picked Bryant but couldn’t resist contrasting that choice with another NBA titan: LeBron James.
“But, if you want to have fun, like I did with Bill Walton, play with LeBron,” he said. “It would have probably been more fun to play with LeBron, but if you want to win and win and win, it’s Kobe. Not that LeBron’s not a winner, just that [Kobe’s] mindset is to go into every practice, every game, to get better.”
With his versatile playmaking and charismatic leadership, James represented a different kind of partnership — one filled with creativity and dynamic basketball experiences. Even when the late Los Angeles Lakers icon was asked about the idea of playing with James, he described the four-time MVP as the “player that would fit with me the most.”
“I was a real student of the game, and hearing that from Larry means a lot. I always respected how he approached basketball — with that edge, that focus. That’s what I tried to bring every day,” Bryant said, relishing in Bird’s comments about him.
The admiration between the two legends — who represent a pair of the most storied franchises in the NBA — reminds fans of the timeless truth about basketball. If Bird saw in Bryant a hint of himself and his own passion, the latter appreciated the recognition from one of the fiercest competitors the game has ever known.
