We’ve talked periodically about the Larry Bird-Magic Johnson rivalry which was ultimately a subset of the Boston Celtics-LA Lakers rivalry which started in the 1960s and has endured to this day.
It may have peaked out in the 1980s though with Bird vs. Magic, two pure 6-9 basketball players from the Midwest.
In 1984, the Celtics had Bird, Kevin McHale, Robert Parish, Danny Ainge, Dennis Johnson and Gerald Henderson, who famously stole a James Worthy pass in the very same 1984 Finals. Later he had a son, Gerald Jr., who gave Duke fans many thrills.
In 1984, the Celtics were able to force the Lakers out of Showtime and into a more halfcourt game more suited to Bird’s strengths.