Sporting News Puts Larry Bird's 1983-84 Season on All-Time First Team, Leaving Bill Russell Off
Updated
Updated · NESN · May 19
Sporting News Puts Larry Bird's 1983-84 Season on All-Time First Team, Leaving Bill Russell Off
4 articles · Updated · NESN · May 19
Larry Bird’s 1983-84 campaign was named one of the five greatest single seasons ever in Sporting News’ all-time All-NBA project, earning a First Team spot alongside Michael Jordan, Stephen Curry, LeBron James and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
24.2 points, 10.1 rebounds and 6.6 assists helped drive Bird’s case, along with MVP, Finals MVP, All-NBA First Team and All-Defensive Second Team honors as he led Boston past the Lakers in a seven-game 1984 Finals.
The ranking used position-based teams, counted playoff performance and barred repeat appearances, a format that elevated Bird’s peak while limiting stars such as Jordan to one season.
Bill Russell was omitted entirely, with Sporting News saying centers were squeezed most; Kareem, Hakeem Olajuwon and Wilt Chamberlain took the three center spots, leaving out Russell, Shaquille O’Neal and Nikola Jokic.
Boston’s footprint still ran through the list: Kevin Garnett’s 2003-04 season and Kobe Bryant’s 2007-08 season made the Second Team, the latter carrying the reminder that the Celtics beat the Lakers for the 2008 title.
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