In a dispute with J.J. Redick, former Laker Michael Cooper defended Larry Bird.

In a dispute with J.J. Redick, former Laker Michael Cooper defended Larry Bird.

A free throw is made by Larry Bird during a 1984 Celtics vs. Lakers game. Merlin Image

Michael Cooper, who spent his whole career as a passionate opponent of the Boston Celtics, fiercely supported Larry Bird in a recent dispute regarding the legendary Celtics’ place in NBA history.

After a recent conversation on the greatest three-point shooters of all time, Cooper defended Bird. In an argument with Chris “Mad Dog” Russo, J.J. Redick, an ESPN analyst and former NBA player, claimed that he did not believe Bird to be among the top five all-time three-point shooters.

It seems that Cooper, who devoted a significant portion of his career to trying to stop Bird, took offense at this.

During an interview with “The Showtime Podcast With Michael Cooper,” the former guard for the Lakers delivered a scathing refutation.

As quoted by NESN’s Lauren Willand, Cooper stated, “J.J. Redick, who’s a journeyman, played for six different teams, and all his accolades came in college.” “He spent fifteen years as an NBA player, constantly changing teams since his only skill was shooting, and he wasn’t a very good shooter. He was Danny Ainge for the underprivileged.

Redick’s assertion that Warriors guard Stephen Curry encounters the same level of physicality from opponents as Bird did during his playing days was referenced by Cooper.

“You can’t touch the man in today’s NBA game—I don’t know what game he’s looking at,” Cooper remarked. “It’s a foul if you come near to a three-point shooter during their landing or touch them.”

“J.J. Redick needs to be quiet, and stop trying to compare,” Cooper continued.

He later made his thoughts on Bird’s role in history plain.

Cooper clarified, “One of the best three-point shooters in history was Larry Bird.” “F*** percentages—that’s not the point.” It’s all about making big shots, which is something that [Redick] was unable to accomplish as a player until a pick was made for him.

People make generational comparisons. And I love and respect basketball,” Cooper went on. Every decade is enjoyable to me. I’ve respected you so much, ever since I watched Bob Cousy in the 1960s.”

Cooper defended yet another Celtic after it was brought to light that Redick had similarly disparaged Cousy’s status in NBA history, saying in a 2022 debate that the player was being guarded by “plumbers and firemen.”

Cooper remarked, “It’s sad because you have to respect the origins of this game.” “Everyone in today’s game, from five years ago to the future direction it will take, is living and breathing off the shoulders of players who came [through], like Bob Cousy, Wilt Chamberlain, and Bob Petit.”

Cooper went on to say that, despite his dislike for Bird, he was standing up for him.

“What do you know? He said, “I despise Larry Bird, but I respect the hell out of that man because I faced him in all those championship games and because all we did as a team this season was focus on the Boston Celtics.”

In his farewell remarks, the NBA Defensive Player of the Year for 1986–1987 expressed a scathing opinion of Redick.