Those who played with and against Larry Bird — and watched his career unfold — know that he deservedly should be mentioned as an all-time great. Fans often overlook the three-time NBA champion in the ageless GOAT debate. However, basketball legends have a very different take.

On this day in 1987, Boston's Larry Bird went shot for shot with Atlanta's Dominique Wilkins in that year's Eastern Conference Finals.

The NBA of Magic and Bird, of MJ and Pip, of Kobe and Shaq -- those days appear to be gone, replaced by a more competitive group of teams that don't depend on a few superstars.

"He just really wanted to motivate himself," Ainge said of Larry's trash-talking. "But the most characteristic one was he didn't usually trash-talk to like Magic [Johnson], Dr. J [Julius Erving], guys like that. He had so much respect for them."

Chris Mullin thought he had Larry Bird beat in a Dream Team shooting contest — until Bird caught up and ended the game in style.

Despite earning over $20 million during his career, NBA legend Larry Bird says he still can’t justify luxury spending—staying true to his humble French Lick roots.

At the height of his career, Bird was one of the highest-paid players in the league. Between NBA salaries and endorsement deals, he earned well over $20 million during his playing days — a substantial sum in the '80s and early '90s.