Bird Calls LeBron The Best, Even Without Kobe’s Rings
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By DERON SNYDER
The NBA’s best player visits Verizon Center on Friday night, but don’t take my word for it. That’s the opinion of none other than Larry Bird.
“You know, Kobe [Bryant] was always my favorite since I got out,” Bird told ESPN’s Bill Simmons recently. “But LeBron James is by far our best player in this league. I don’t really think there’s anyone next to him. I think he’s there, and then you go down the list.”
It’s hard to argue with Bird, one of the league’s all-time greats. But James is a debate magnet. Arguments follow with speed and fury whenever his name is broached — especially since he left Cleveland for Miami and became a bad guy to many previous fans.
There was no ambiguity in Bird’s claim that James is the best player “by far,” but Cleveland.com found a way to create some. The headline on a blog post put it this way: “Larry Bird says LeBron James might be best player in NBA, but Kobe Bryant would be the teammate to win with.”
That’s not exactly what Bird said. He didn’t express uncertainty on who’s the best or declare James a loser. The headline plays well to the Cleveland Cavaliers fans who remain depressed over James‘ departure, but it’s a bit misleading.
