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Dennis Rodman thinks Larry Bird would play in Europe in today's era

DSprofileby:Dustin Schutte•06/26/23•

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larry bird dennis rodman
(Photo by Manny Millan /Sports Illustrated/Getty Images) (Set Number: X34849 )

Dennis Rodman is playing some of the classic hits when it comes to his comments on Larry Bird. Although both are Hall of Famers, Rodman doesn’t believe Bird’s game would fit in today’s NBA.

In a recent interview shared by VLAD TV, Rodman said he believes Bird wouldn’t even make the cut for the NBA these days. Instead, he thinks the Celtics legend would be playing overseas.

“If Larry Bird played in this era, I think he’d be in Europe,” Rodman said. “Like I say, he’d be somewhere over there. His game was fit for Boston at that time in the 80s and stuff like that. But, today’s world? Oh hell no. That’s not downplaying him, because he’s a great player at that time, like I was. But there’s no way. No way.”

That’s a pretty bold take for a player considered to be one of the greatest of all-time. But it’s not the first time Rodman has taken a shot at Bird.

In 1987, Rodman — then with the Pistons — said he believed if Bird “was Black, he’d be just another player.” That comment then drew support from teammate and Detroit legend Isiah Thomas.

“Larry Bird is a very, very good basketball player. I think he’s an exceptional talent,” Thomas said. “But I’d have to agree with Rodman, if he was black he’d be just another good guy.”

Obviously, Rodman’s opinion of Bird hasn’t changed much. Maybe he wouldn’t be quite as dominant in this era of basketball, but saying he’d be in Europe? That feels like a pretty big stretch.

Bird played for the Celtics from 1979-92. He earned 12 NBA All-Star appearances, received three MVP awards and won three NBA championships. For his career, he averaged 24.3 points, 10 rebounds and 6.4 assists per game.

Those numbers would probably hold up in today’s game.

Rodman believes Nikola Jokic is better than Bird

Rodman closed out his comments about Bird by saying he thinks “the kid from Denver (Nikola Jokic) is way better” than Bird. That’s quite the hot take, isn’t it?

Jokic is a 7-foot superstar with two NBA MVP honors to his name at the age of 28. He’s capable of doing anything on the floor, an impressive feat for a player of his stature.

This past season, he led the Denver Nuggets to their first-ever NBA championship.

We’ll never know who the better player was between Bird and Jokic, since their careers come three decades apart. But, even if Jokic is deemed the more talented star, it certainly shouldn’t demote Bird from the NBA.