’86 Larry Bird vs ’23 Nikola Jokic

[Matt15]

Who was the better player?

[iggymcfrack]

Jokic is a better scorer, a much better rebounder, and a much, much better passer. Bird was a better defender. Pretty clearcut for Jokic.

[tsherkin]

Hard for me to pick Bird here. Larry was great, but Jokic is something else.

[DQuinn1575]

Bird is a better outside shooter, better defender,
Jokic better inside scorer, rebounder.
I really dont think Jokic is better passer, just is used more in offense that way.
Right now Bird has more history of making plays, so will go with Bird, but that may change in the future.

[70sFan]

I prefer Jokic, due to his scoring resiliency.

Jokic is a better scorer, a much better rebounder, and a much, much better passer. Bird was a better defender. Pretty clearcut for Jokic.

That's ridiculous...

[Heej]

Jokic is literally Big Bird to me at this point. Does literally everything Bird can do in a bigger frame.

[No-more-rings]

Jokic is literally Big Bird to me at this point. Does literally everything Bird can do in a bigger frame.

I’m mostly with that, though I think Bird is a better and smarter defender.

[70sFan]

Jokic is literally Big Bird to me at this point. Does literally everything Bird can do in a bigger frame.

Bird was still more potent weapon off-ball and more consistent defender (at least until 1987). I also have Jokic ahead, but there are some differences between them.

[homecourtloss]

Who was the better player?

I hear footsteps.

[Heej]

Jokic is literally Big Bird to me at this point. Does literally everything Bird can do in a bigger frame.

Bird was still more potent weapon off-ball and more consistent defender (at least until 1987). I also have Jokic ahead, but there are some differences between them.

Well yeah if you wanna nitpick but imo he's been the best comparison to Bird and Bird has been the best comparison to him out of anyone in NBA history I'm sure most of us can agree.