“LeBron’s the same way”: Larry Bird compared LeBron James’ style of play to his own.

“LeBron’s the same way”: Larry Bird compared LeBron James’ style of play to his own.

LeBron and Larry Bird share a few similarities, as Larry Bird noted.

LeBron James has always depended on his strength and athleticism, whereas Larry Bird was renowned for his aggressiveness and toughness. In terms of skill, LeBron likes to attack the rim, whereas Larry was more of a shooter.

Nevertheless, Larry Legend recognized several commonalities between The King and him, chief among them being their search for the open man.

When I went out to play, I used to try to figure out what we required. In the same way, LeBron,” Bird said to ESPN in 2015. “He has a different perspective on the game than most guys, and he plays with the idea that he will pass the ball to someone who is open. It is how the game is meant to be played. We simply refer to that as foundations.”

For his whole career, Bird was considered an underappreciated facilitator. However, James has shown to be one of the most adaptable pass-first players in NBA history—especially considering his small stature.

Larry believes that a team’s ability to share the basketball is essential, and LeBron has been an excellent facilitator.

“Everyone wants to be this and that when they’re young—to score goals and do their thing—but as soon as you enter this level and look around, you realize that these people also want a piece of the action, and you will succeed more if they do. That is beyond dispute, according to Bird.

In addition, Bird mentioned that James would be an enjoyable teammate on the court in a 2012 interview with Bill Simmons. That being said, because of Kobe Bryant’s insatiable thirst for victory, the legendary Boston Celtics player would much rather play beside him.

Play with LeBron if you want to enjoy yourself as much as I did with Bill Walton. LeBron might have been more enjoyable to play with, but Kobe is the player to beat if you want to win, win, and win. “It’s not that LeBron isn’t a winner; rather, [Kobe’s] approach is to improve with each practice and game,” the three-time champion remarked.

James has won four NBA titles since this interview aired, so let’s be fair to him. Therefore, after LeBron further demonstrated his ability to win, Bird might want to reconsider his choice.

Despite this, James is already regarded as one of the best players to have ever lived. But seeing the legendary Larry Bird himself recognize their playing similarities undoubtedly adds sparkle to LeBron’s already glittering career.