Majic Johnson-Bird had an innate ability to read the game, anticipate plays and good passing skills. Nobody has surpassed....

If there was someone who could break down how good Larry Bird was as a player, it's his biggest rival, Magic Johnson...

 According to Johnson, Bird had an innate ability to read the game, anticipate plays, and make split-second decisions that left opponents and even his teammates in awe. He also recognized Larry's court vision and passing skills, which earned him a reputation as one of the greatest playmakers in NBA history... 

 In addition to the basketball IQ, Magic also lauded Bird's unselfish style of play, as he admittedly admired how "The Hick from French Lick" always involved his teammates and elevated their performance...

 "I knew that Larry Bird could beat us at any time," Johnson told Inside Hoops in 2008. "I knew that he was one player, nothing we could do with him because he was gonna score, he was gonna get his rebounds, his assists. Then, his will to win was higher than everybody else's. The thing that I tell people that Larry had that was probably unmatched with anybody, he knew how to make his other players better. I think that still today nobody has surpassed him when it comes to that."... 

 Also, being so smart at the game, knowing how to play the angles, knowing how to always be on balance," he added.. Magic is thankful for the rivalry The rivalry between Johnson and Bird is one for the history books. After dueling in a historic battle in college, both players quickly emerged as stars of their respective teams in the NBA, capturing the imagination of fans with their remarkable skills and charisma...

 Magic established himself as a dynamic point guard for the Los Angeles Lakers, while Bird took the league by storm as a sharpshooting forward for the Boston Celtics. Throughout the '80s, the two engaged in a fierce yet respectful competition that defined an era, something Johnson has always been thankful for... 

 "I think we both, when we came into the NBA, into our respective teams, we probably both didn't know that we would jump-start the NBA to what it is today, that we would be able to play for two storied and historical franchises like Boston and Los Angeles," the legendary point guard reflected... 

 "When I first played in my rookie year in the championship, it was tape-delayed. The league has really moved upwards and forward. It was just great to be able to play against Larry so many times, as well as the Celtics," he added... 

 Larry knew he and Magic were similar Despite the rivalry, Johnson frequently raves about Bird's qualities as a player whenever he gets the chance. Unsurprisingly, "Larry Legend" does the same thing whenever the media quizzes him for comments about the Showtime Lakers superstar... 

 According to Bird, people often see the differences between him and Magic but in reality, they had a lot in common as competitors. He and Johnson did it differently, but they both played unselfish basketball and made their teammates better. More importantly, Bird reckoned that he and Magic were both "winners."...