{"id":1394483,"date":"2021-08-12T08:48:00","date_gmt":"2021-08-12T12:48:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sports7.us\/?p=1394483"},"modified":"2021-08-12T08:48:01","modified_gmt":"2021-08-12T12:48:01","slug":"larry-bird-worked-everything-said-he-had-3-god-given-traits","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sports7.us\/news\/larry-bird-worked-everything-said-he-had-3-god-given-traits\/","title":{"rendered":"Larry Bird Worked for Everything He Achieved but Said He Had 3 ‘God-Given' Traits"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Larry Bird <\/a>wasn't blessed with pure athletic ability, yet the former Boston Celtics<\/a> star was one of the best to ever play in the NBA. Bird made a living with clutch shooting<\/a>, crisp passing, and getting in great position for a rebound. Outjumping an opponent was never an option. Outhustling one was.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Back in his playing days, Bird admitted he had to work hard to enjoy success in the NBA. He also said he was blessed with three God-given traits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Larry Bird had to outwork and outhustle everyone on the basketball court<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Larry
Larry Bird of the Boston Celtics practices before a game on January 22, 1986, in Boston, Massachusetts. | Ronald C. Modra\/Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

If it seemed like Bird was always one step ahead of his opponent, it was because he had to be. Bird's greatest gift wasn't running or jumping. Athletically speaking, he was below average by NBA standards. Bird made up for it in many other ways.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Larry is the best passing big man I've ever seen,” said Celtics President Red Auerbach<\/a> to Sports Illustrated<\/a> in 1981. “Barry was damn good, but he wasn't in a class with Bird. This guy is unique. He's like a Bob Cousy up front, and Cousy, without question, was the greatest passer who ever played the game. Larry will probably go down in history as one of the great forwards of all time, if not the greatest.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His passing skills were a direct result of his court awareness. He knew where people were and where they were going to be. He anticipated well and that more than made up for his lack of speed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“What Larry does doesn't surprise me because our minds think alike,” Celtics Hall of Famer John Havlicek<\/a> said in 1981. “When I watch a game, I know what should be done, but 99 percent of the time it isn't. When Larry's in there, 99 percent of the time it is.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Larry Bird admitted he had 3 ‘God-given' traits<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n