‘I’d take a cut’ – Michael Jordan wanted to team up with Celtics icon Larry Bird in blockbuster trade
The Chicago Bulls could have been even more dominant. Before LeBron James‘ Miami Heat ‘Big Three’ and Kevin Durant‘s Golden State Warriors ‘Big Four’, Michael Jordan almost formed The Association’s first real Avengers-esque squad. Jordan and Larry Bird were dominant forces whose careers overlappedGetty The year was 1990 and the Boston Celtics were reportedly looking towards the future. Franchise icon Larry Bird had re-energised the league and the organization in the 1980s en route to three titles, two Finals MVPs and three MVPs. But the C’s last championship came in 1986 and Boston’s management felt changes were needed to improve their postseason performances. The 1987–88 season was the highest-scoring season of Bird’s career, but the following year his campaign ended after six games when he had bone spurs surgically removed from both of his heels. ‘The Hick from French Lick’ was still one of the best players in the league in 1989-90, but at 33-years-old he wasn’t getting any younger and the Celtics needed a succession plan. The trade rumor mill went into overdrive at the time, and reports in the spring of 1990 had the Bulls trading younger stars Scottie Pippen, B.J. Armstrong, and Stacey King for ‘Larry Legend’. A young Michael Jordan deemed the rumors idiotic. However, even His Airness admitted that if there was an opportunity for the Bulls to land Bird via a trade, then he’d willing to take a salary cut to make it happen. “If they want to trade him, we’ll take him,” Jordan said via the San Francisco Examiner. “The Celtics would be crazy to trade Larry Bird. He is still one of the best players in the league, as far as I’m concerned, and I would love to see him on the Bulls. I would love to play beside him. I’d take a cut…I make enough money on outside stuff.” Celtics legend Bird could have ended up with MJ on the BullsGetty Jordan said he was willing to take a salary cut to make the Bird trade happenAFP The blockbuster trade ultimately failed to materialize as former Celtics team president Red Auerbach decided to keep the likes of Bird and Kevin McHale in the famous green and white. Bird briefly entertained a move to his hometown Indiana Pacers, who would have inherited his contract and had to pay $6 million for his services in the ’94 season. However, he never openly flirted with the idea of joining MJ. Bird always professed his loyalty, at least publicly, to the team that drafted him 6th overall in the 1978 NBA Draft. “I can’t see (a trade) ever happening, but if it does, I’ll make the best of it,” Bird said in June 1990. “I want to finish my career there. I’m a Celtic. I’ll be a Celtic for life,” Bird added. NBA's Greatest Greatest NBA players in the world right now – from Luka Doncic to Spurs phenom Victor Wembanyama Best players in NBA history to never win a championship – James Harden and Carmelo Anthony to Allen Iverson and Karl Malone 10 richest owners in the NBA – family empires, media moguls and investment gurus Michael Jordan’s top 10 scoring games – counting down MJ’s most extraordinary totals In the end it turned out to be a savvy decision by the Bulls not to pursue Bird more forcefully. They won three straight NBA championships between 1991-1993. Pippen, who likely would have been part of a trade for Bird, was integral to each and the perfect foil to Jordan’s greatness. He was the Robin to MJ’s Batman during the entirety of the Bulls’ dynasty, including their second three-peat in 1996, 1997, and 1998. Pippen ended his career with six world championship rings – far more than he ever would have won on an ageing Celtics roster. Any trade involving Bird would likely have had to include Pippen (right)Getty Bird, meanwhile, eventually got the chance to play with Jordan. The pair suited up for Team USA at the 1992 Olympics in Spain, although co-captain Bird only played a bit part role. Bird’s longtime Lakers rival Magic Johnson was also on the iconic ‘Dream Team’ that captured a gold medal and, more importantly, the hearts of basketball fans around the world. Bird retired later that summer, and in doing so passed the torch to Jordan to take the NBA to even greater heights. By that point as Bird admitted to Magic Johnson, “Magic, you know, you and I were then, and Michael Jordan is now.”. ‘The Hick from French Lick’ knew he was the past and MJ was the present but in his 1999 book, ‘Bird Watching,’ the Indiana native revealed that MJ was far from invincible on a nightly basis. “As usual, Michael and I were cracking on Magic. At one point, Ahmad asked us who we thought was the best basketball player ever. After a lot of discussion, we all concluded that Michael was the best — not every night, though,” the Celtics legend wrote. Bird and Magic passed the torch to Jordan in the early ’90sGetty Bird got to witness a 23-year-old MJ’s greatness fir
The Chicago Bulls could have been even more dominant.
Before LeBron James‘ Miami Heat ‘Big Three’ and Kevin Durant‘s Golden State Warriors ‘Big Four’, Michael Jordan almost formed The Association’s first real Avengers-esque squad.
The year was 1990 and the Boston Celtics were reportedly looking towards the future.
Franchise icon Larry Bird had re-energised the league and the organization in the 1980s en route to three titles, two Finals MVPs and three MVPs.
But the C’s last championship came in 1986 and Boston’s management felt changes were needed to improve their postseason performances.
The 1987–88 season was the highest-scoring season of Bird’s career, but the following year his campaign ended after six games when he had bone spurs surgically removed from both of his heels.
‘The Hick from French Lick’ was still one of the best players in the league in 1989-90, but at 33-years-old he wasn’t getting any younger and the Celtics needed a succession plan.
The trade rumor mill went into overdrive at the time, and reports in the spring of 1990 had the Bulls trading younger stars Scottie Pippen, B.J. Armstrong, and Stacey King for ‘Larry Legend’.
A young Michael Jordan deemed the rumors idiotic.
However, even His Airness admitted that if there was an opportunity for the Bulls to land Bird via a trade, then he’d willing to take a salary cut to make it happen.
“If they want to trade him, we’ll take him,” Jordan said via the San Francisco Examiner.
“The Celtics would be crazy to trade Larry Bird. He is still one of the best players in the league, as far as I’m concerned, and I would love to see him on the Bulls. I would love to play beside him. I’d take a cut…I make enough money on outside stuff.”
The blockbuster trade ultimately failed to materialize as former Celtics team president Red Auerbach decided to keep the likes of Bird and Kevin McHale in the famous green and white.
Bird briefly entertained a move to his hometown Indiana Pacers, who would have inherited his contract and had to pay $6 million for his services in the ’94 season.
However, he never openly flirted with the idea of joining MJ.
Bird always professed his loyalty, at least publicly, to the team that drafted him 6th overall in the 1978 NBA Draft.
“I can’t see (a trade) ever happening, but if it does, I’ll make the best of it,” Bird said in June 1990.
“I want to finish my career there. I’m a Celtic. I’ll be a Celtic for life,” Bird added.
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Michael Jordan’s top 10 scoring games – counting down MJ’s most extraordinary totals
In the end it turned out to be a savvy decision by the Bulls not to pursue Bird more forcefully.
They won three straight NBA championships between 1991-1993. Pippen, who likely would have been part of a trade for Bird, was integral to each and the perfect foil to Jordan’s greatness.
He was the Robin to MJ’s Batman during the entirety of the Bulls’ dynasty, including their second three-peat in 1996, 1997, and 1998.
Pippen ended his career with six world championship rings – far more than he ever would have won on an ageing Celtics roster.
Bird, meanwhile, eventually got the chance to play with Jordan.
The pair suited up for Team USA at the 1992 Olympics in Spain, although co-captain Bird only played a bit part role.
Bird’s longtime Lakers rival Magic Johnson was also on the iconic ‘Dream Team’ that captured a gold medal and, more importantly, the hearts of basketball fans around the world.
Bird retired later that summer, and in doing so passed the torch to Jordan to take the NBA to even greater heights.
By that point as Bird admitted to Magic Johnson, “Magic, you know, you and I were then, and Michael Jordan is now.”.
‘The Hick from French Lick’ knew he was the past and MJ was the present but in his 1999 book, ‘Bird Watching,’ the Indiana native revealed that MJ was far from invincible on a nightly basis.
“As usual, Michael and I were cracking on Magic. At one point, Ahmad asked us who we thought was the best basketball player ever. After a lot of discussion, we all concluded that Michael was the best — not every night, though,” the Celtics legend wrote.
Bird got to witness a 23-year-old MJ’s greatness first-hand when Mike dropped a playoff record 63 points in Game 2 of the Chicago Bulls‘ 1986 first-round series defeat against Boston.
MJ was 0-6 against Larry the Legend in the playoffs, which meant that Bird was an MJ-esque 6-0 against Jordan when it mattered.
Jordan blanked 6-0 in the postseason against Bird. Bird won the overall personal series between the two 17-11.
Larry Legend served as head coach of the Indiana Pacers from 1997 to 2000, and came closer than anyone to beating Jordan’s Bulls in the postseason during that stretch.
The 67-year-old was named president of basketball operations for the Pacers in 2003, a position he held until 2012, the year he was named NBA Executive of the Year.
He returned in 2013 until 2017, and continued as an advisor until 2022.
