Bird’s wife Sends a Tough Message to JJ Redick: “His first 9 years is the worst start to a career in the history of NBA,but he is still a…

Bill Simmons, renowned sports analyst, often makes bold statements about NBA legends. One such remark directed at Larry Bird emphasized the dichotomy in his career. Simmons praised Bird’s early achievements, saying, “His first 9 years is the greatest start to a career in the history of NBA,” highlighting Bird’s exceptional skills, three MVP awards, and three NBA championships during that period.

However, Simmons’s message wasn’t purely complimentary. He pointed out that Bird’s career, after the initial peak, was marred by injuries and a decline in performance. By the late 1980s, Bird struggled with chronic back issues, which significantly hampered his play and ultimately led to his retirement in 1992.

Simmons’s critique likely revolves around the notion that despite Bird’s unparalleled early success, his later years didn’t sustain the same level of dominance, preventing him from being considered the absolute greatest of all time. The physical toll on Bird’s body meant that his career, though illustrious, was shorter and more injury-ridden compared to other NBA legends like Michael Jordan or LeBron James, who maintained high performance levels over longer periods.

In essence, Simmons’s message is a blend of admiration and critique. He acknowledges Bird’s incredible start, perhaps the best ever, but he also underscores the reality that Bird’s career, as a whole, was truncated by injuries, which arguably prevented him from reaching an even higher echelon in the pantheon of NBA greats.