“White guy trying to guard me,” Michael Jordan and Larry Bird got OFFENDED if white player guarded them, says Charles Barkley

Larry Bird and Michael Jordan were world beaters during their prime NBA days.

“White guy trying to guard me,” Michael Jordan and Larry Bird got OFFENDED if white player guarded them, says Charles Barkley

Charles Barkley, Larry Bird and Michael Jordan (Credits: Britannica, Bleacher Report and Philstar.com)

By all accounts, the greatest trash talker in NBA history is none other than the legendary Boston Celtics player, Larry Bird. Even Michael Jordan admits that Bird is the best at talking trash. There is no end to Larry Bird’s legend. Thanks to David Stern’s astute decision-making, his legendary feud with Magic Johnson dominated NBA headlines for almost ten years and contributed to the league’s global popularity.

Michael Jordan and Larry Bird, two of the finest basketball players of all time, faced off against Charles Barkley. Chuck claimed that the only two players who took offense when a white man was their guard were Bird and Michael Jordan. Charles Barkley informed Dan Patrick that during a specific night when he faced Larry Bird and the Boston Celtics, Bird took offense at the Sixers designating a white man as his guard.

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According to BarstoolSportsTV, Charles Barkley mentioned this story of him, MJ and Larry Bird. Charles Barkley said,

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I was playing against the Celtics early in my career and Bird is like Charles. I need to talk to you. I am like, what's going on LB? He said, you'll being disrespectful to me. You'll be putting a white guy on me. You'll know a white guard can't guide me.

Remarkably, Michael Jordan told Charles Barkley the same thing when the Suns benched Dan Majerle in the 1993 NBA Finals between the Chicago Bulls and the Phoenix Suns. It’s safe to conclude that neither of the white players was able to handle the defensive pressure of facing the two best offensive players (Michael Jordan and Larry Bird) in NBA history.

Larry Bird and Julius Erving’s greatest fight in 1984

There have been several conflicts between teams and players throughout NBA history, which have occasionally led to high tensions and bad-blood situations. When Larry Bird and Julius Erving got into one of the biggest fights ever, it became an unforgettable event. In the past, NBA players would frequently get into fights. The era from 1970-1990 seemed to be a time when fights were frequent.

Larry Bird and Julius Erving
Larry Bird and Julius Erving (Credits: Boston.com)

It was the 17th of August when the two unbeaten teams met in Boston in 1984. Bird and Erving started a huge brawl after the Celtics star went to the floor late in the third quarter. The 76ers veteran grabbed onto Bird as he attempted to shove Dr. J away, which caused Bird to swing at Erving.

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Dr. J retaliated by throwing punches, and the altercation quickly spread to the other members of both teams. Moses Malone and Charles Barkley of Philadelphia both charged in. Barkley grabbed Bird to allow Erving to open fire. The fight immediately descended to the ground as Malone locked onto Bird. After everything calmed down, Bird and Erving were kicked out and fined $7,500 each.

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