Magic & Larry Bird Are Most Important Figures In #nba history According To Charles Barkley

#SHOWTIMEBasketball #AllTheSmoke #charlesbarkley #shaq #kobe #magicjohnson #larrybird #michaeljordan #nba #insidethenba

[Steamedhams]

Facts. Alot of people don't seem to know that the NBA was in an awful financial situation before Magic and Bird were drafted.

[kevinmao]

Magic and Bird definitely saved the league. The league almost folded before these two came on the scene. In fact the crack epidemic almost ruined everything

[PInkW]

Larry was to receive a $1M bonus automatically. He quit 2 days before.
His GM told him “just wait 2 days ?”
Bird said “I can’t play, I don’t want money I didn’t earn.”

[michaelrollins]

I love Charles Barkley he's so humble and respectful of those who came before him.

[curiouslymavismade]

Real talk. Players really weren't getting major shoe deals until Magic and Bird signed with Converse.

[michellesassouni]

The men who saved the league Magic and Larry

[Fire_Storm]

That rivalry was EPIC!!! East vs West, Purple vs Green, Black vs White. Locals to LEGENDS!!!

[arakbmt]

Larry Legend and Magic Johnson! Those were the days!

[jeromemark]

The savior of the league, BIRD AND MAGIC!

[bickabraham]

What Bird & Magic did for the NBA is note worthy & phenomenal !!

[harrisasamoah]

In my opinion, this is the real reason they both have spots in the top 10 all-time list. This level of impact is literally why we still have basketball. This is why it's difficult to take them off top 10 lists. beyond the game itself..

[blackprix]

Being a huge Celtics fan since 1960, there is no doubt at all that bird and magic saved the NBA! They brought the skill and majesty to the game that others before them hadn’t done yet. They also brought the diversity to the game and in the fact that one was white and one was black and they both played like every game was there last! I think it brought people together watch the game and who played the game. Have no doubt that they were very prominent and lifting up the NBA

[havanascp]

The NBA wasn't even live back then. It was a replay. They changed that.

[christophercorsiga]

Larry and Magic saved the league and with great vision of DStern and global charisma of MJ they took to it globally, turned it into a hundred billion industry.

[JayDogTitan-hewo]

The NBA that players and fans enjoy today owe it all to Magic and Larry.

[dazzlewashington]

Magic and Bird popularize NBA WORLDWIDE, that generates income from every aspect. All modern nba players should never ever disrespect those guys.

[ericmarcos]

Not many pros today play because they love the game, they're just in it for the perks.

[kenhasibar]

Sir Charles is such a good dude.
Kind. Humble. Tough. No 🐂 💩 with him. Funny A/F.
Played hard. Living life on his terms.
One of my heroes. 🖖

[dwartfarquart]

David Stern, also.
They were the trifecta of the transformation of the NBA.

[redduklak]

Stern is on record saying how Magic and Bird saved a league that wasn't far from folding because of being labeled a "thug" league and from drug abuse. The Lakers/Celtics rivalry made people want to watch the NBA again and especially watch those teams play. Then Jordan came behind them and took the game global by building off the foundation that they laid. These LeBron followers want to use individual stats as his claim to being the G.O.A.T and in other leagues that method would definitely hold some water. But in this case what Magic and Bird did with the foundation they laid out for Jordan to build on can't be measured. It can't be broken down to a stat or a legendary type of year. Without the 1979 draft that included 2 of the best to ever play we wouldn't have the league that we do now.