J J Reddick reiterates his denial that Larry Bird ranks among the all-time great three-point shooters….

JJ Redick has reiterated his stance that Larry Bird does not rank among the all-time great three-point shooters, despite acknowledging Bird’s overall greatness as a player. Redick’s argument primarily hinges on the evolution of the three-point shot in the NBA and statistical comparisons across eras.

Redick emphasizes that while Bird was an exceptional shooter, his three-point statistics do not match those of contemporary specialists. Bird made 649 three-pointers at a 37.6% shooting percentage over his career, a number significantly lower than modern three-point leaders like Stephen Curry and Ray Allen, who have both far surpassed 2,000 made threes with higher accuracy [[❞]](https://thesportsrush.com/nba-news-jj-redick-shockingly-elaborates-on-his-controversial-larry-bird-take/) [[❞]](https://nesn.com/2023/02/jj-redick-stands-by-questionable-larry-bird-take-after-backlash/).

The context of Bird’s era is also critical to Redick’s argument. In the 1980s, the three-point shot was not as integral to the game as it is today. Bird averaged about 1.9 three-point attempts per game, reflecting a different strategic emphasis compared to the current NBA, where high-volume three-point shooting is a norm [[❞]](https://www.sportscasting.com/jj-redick-tried-to-clarify-his-stance-on-larry-bird-and-80s-basketball-but-dug-a-deeper-hole/). Redick argues that Bird’s three-point shooting, while effective, was not a focal point of his game or of his era’s style of play.

Critics of Redick’s view, including former NBA stars like Dominique Wilkins and Michael Cooper, argue that such comparisons fail to account for the differences in game strategy and physicality between the eras. They contend that players like Bird would likely excel in today’s three-point-centric game just as they did in their own time [[❞]](https://www.sportscasting.com/jj-redick-tried-to-clarify-his-stance-on-larry-bird-and-80s-basketball-but-dug-a-deeper-hole/).

Redick acknowledges these differences but maintains that when strictly comparing three-point shooting performance and volume, Bird does not measure up to today’s greatest three-point shooters. He stresses that this does not diminish Bird’s overall legacy or his status as one of the game’s greatest players [[❞]](https://nesn.com/2023/02/jj-redick-stands-by-questionable-larry-bird-take-after-backlash/).

Ultimately, Redick’s position highlights the challenges in cross-era comparisons in sports, where changes in rules, strategies, and player roles can significantly impact statistical achievements.