'I don't know about that': Why Quinn Buckner keeps Larry Bird high on his all-time players list
Quinn Buckner pushed back on the notion that Larry Bird would ever fall out of the top 10 of all-time basketball players.
The national champ at Indiana who was a teammate of Bird's for three seasons with the Boston Celtics appeared Wednesday on the "Dan Patrick Show" to talk Pacers (he's the local TV broadcast analyst), and about an upcoming documentary on the 1983-84 Celtics.
Patrick suggested that some of today's stars could someday move Bird down the list of all-time greats.
"I don't know about that," Buckner responded.
"Larry has a uniqueness about him, but I'll tell you who is comparable," Buckner continued. "Larry has said there's only one guy he watches play. It's (Nikola) Jokic. (Teammates) play at a higher level for having played with them, because I did. I may be biased, but I don't this so.
"If you look at pure basketball players, Larry is as pure a basketball player as you're ever going to find. There's nothing he could not do.
"Larry's staying in the top 10."
Buckner has watched Tyrese Haliburton since his trade to the Pacers, and has seen what he offers on the court, and off.
"He's a young man, but he really gets what winning basketball is about. It's important for him to share it with his teammates, and that's one of the reasons this team can run. Guys will run if you know you're going to get the ball. ...
"That's why he can play with his teammates, and they're not jealous. He's not trying to take the limelight and carry it for himself."
Haliburton had 32 points, 15 assists, 12 rebounds, 4 steals and 0 turnovers in Indiana's 130-121 win over the New York Knicks on Tuesday night that puts the Pacers within one game of the NBA Finals.
Buckner said he has also seen Haliburton's humanity up close.
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