“Kobe Bryant! If I Wanna Have Fun, I’ll Pick LeBron James”: Larry Bird Once Picked The Mamba as His Teammate Over The King

Nithin Joseph | 04/12/2022
“Kobe Bryant! If I Wanna Have Fun, I'll Pick LeBron James”: Larry Bird Once Picked The Mamba as His Teammate Over The King

In the early 2010s, the two best players in the league were none other than Kobe Bryant and LeBron James. The two men were leagues above the rest.

Kobe was a dominant scorer and elite defender. Whereas LeBron’s game was very much that of an all-rounder, as he excelled in various areas.

If you had to pick between the two, it would be a tough choice to make. But, for Hall of Famer Larry Bird, the decision was simple.

Also Read: “Kobe Bryant and LeBron James Are Different, But..”: Dwight Howard Reveals the Key Similarity in Lakers Icons

Larry Bird chose to play with Kobe Bryant over LeBron James

When it comes to expert opinions about basketball, there are few you can turn to. One of them is Larry Bird, the Celtics legend who lives and breathes ball, winning every major trophy possible and cementing his place in the Hall of Fame.

So, in 2012 when Larry Legend was asked to pick between LeBron James and Kobe Bryant, he knew exactly what he was going. Bird made it clear. If he wanted to have fun he’d pick The King, and if he wanted to win, he’d pick the Black Mamba.

“Probably Kobe. Well of course he wouldn’t be shooting as much, but his desire to win, his dedication to get better, and he’s just tough, he’s just a tough cat! But if you wanna have fun like I did with Bill Walton, then I’d play with LeBron. But if you want to win and win and win, then Kobe!”
An interesting choice from Larry, but at the time, it was understandable. After all, at that point, Kobe had five rings, and LeBron had none.

Kobe won his fifth championship against Larry Bird’s Boston Celtics

Larry Bird was and is a big fan of Kobe Bryant. However, his Boston Celtics will always come first. He spent 13 seasons with the team and won it all. Which is why it must have hurt seeing the Black Mamba win his fifth ring against the Celtics in 2010.

It certainly was an iconic moment. Especially for the Black Mamba, as he established his legacy as one of the greatest to ever play.

Also Read: “Damn! Kobe Bryant Thinks Different!”: When Lou Williams Was in Awe of the Black Mamba For Figuring Out How to Stop Steph Curry

Post Edited By: Raahib Singh
Kobe Bryant Larry Bird LeBron James

About the author

Nithin Joseph

Nithin is a content writer at The SportsRush. Like his favorite athlete Kobe Bryant, the company has helped Nithin elevate his writing skills to a whole new level, especially as an NBA content writer. With over 1500 articles to his name, Nithin's love for the sport knows no bounds. And, as he continues to watch the sport on a daily basis, he hopes his fascination with the NBA, especially the Miami Heat will inspire more and more readers to give the sport a chance. Perhaps, one day making basketball in India as big as it is in the United States.

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