Quinn Buckner reveals Larry Bird only watches Nikola Jokic play: "Larry said there is only one guy that he watches play"
Quinn Buckner reveals Larry Bird only watches Nikola Jokic play: "Larry said there is only one guy that he watches play" originally appeared on Basketball Network.
There's always been a quiet link between Larry Bird and Nikola Jokic. Two guys who move at their own speed, see plays before they happen, and do most of their damage without ever breaking a sweat. They're not flashy, not fast, not built like Greek statues, but they control the game in a way very few ever have. Everything slows down when they touch the ball because their mind is already a few frames ahead of everyone else.
Advertisement
It's not just fans or analysts drawing the comparison anymore — Bird himself has made it. According to Quinn Buckner, the only active player "The Hick from French Lick" actually watches is "The Joker." And if you know anything about the Indiana native, you know that kind of endorsement means something.
Bird doesn't hand out compliments, and he definitely doesn't go out of his way to hand the torch off to someone who hasn't earned it. So, for him to put Jokic in his orbit says more than any quote ever could.
Larry's admission that he only watches the Serbian center
Buckner isn't throwing around second-hand stories. The former Boston Celtics guard played a decade in the league, made four All-Defensive teams, and won the 1984 title next to Bird. He knows what greatness looks like up close — not from the outside looking in but from the trenches. So when he joined "The Dan Patrick Show" and was asked about Bird's legacy, the conversation quickly shifted toward who brought the championship to the Denver Nuggets.
Advertisement
"I don't know about that. I don't know about that one, Dan," said Q.B. when asked if there was ever going to be a time when "Kodak" drops out of the Top 10 players of all time.
It wasn't just a regular compliment. Buckner explained the similarities go deeper than the numbers or the highlights. It's about the way both guys affect everyone around them. The way their teammates elevate just by sharing the floor with them. The Serbian center knows very well how to make the most out of the guys around him, but he has a feeling when he needs to take over as the primary scorer. Just like the three-time MVP knew.
"Larry is, that's a uniqueness about him, but I'll tell you who he is comparable to. And Larry said there is only one guy that he watches play. It's Jokic," the retired guard revealed.
'And if you look at 'em, the difference is Jokic is longer. That's about it. He is longer and taller. Whatever the talent they have on their team, those guys play at a higher level for having played with Larry. I know it 'cause I did. And I watch Jokic do that,' he added. 'Larry Bird is as pure a basketball player as you're ever going to find.'
Advertisement
Related: Luc Longley on why he and Michael Jordan couldn't get along: "Mike was doing what he did to rookies, what he was doing to me"
The comparison that makes a perfect sense
"Larry Legend" isn't the type to hype up the next generation. He's not trying to stay relevant or attach his name to the current stars. If anything, he's been content staying out of the spotlight. So when the Indiana native goes out of his way to call someone the only guy he watches — and when that someone plays a position Bird never did — that speaks volumes.
While the Jokic-Bird comps might seem like a stretch at first glance, they actually make perfect sense. Two players who elevate everyone around them, who value the right read over the loud play, and who keep piling up wins without caring much for the spotlight.
Advertisement
They do everything without looking like they're doing too much. Just pure basketball IQ with a side of unselfishness. And in a league that's often fueled by flash, that kind of substance still stands out — especially to a guy who built his legacy on it.
Related: "God, if you let me get through this, I won't play no more" - Larry Bird describes the moment that made him retire for good
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jun 6, 2025, where it first appeared.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Russell Westbrook Makes Career Decision After First Season With Nuggets
Russell Westbrook Makes Career Decision After First Season With Nuggets originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Russell Westbrook, one of the most well-known names in the NBA, has spent the last few years as a journeyman, playing various roles on different teams. Advertisement Westbrook is coming off his first season with the Denver Nuggets, marking the sixth different team during his NBA career. Before landing with the Nuggets, he previously played for the Washington Wizards, Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, Houston Rockets and Oklahoma City Thunder. Heading into the offseason, Westbrook had a player option where he had the decision to opt in/opt out to determine his future with the Nuggets. Westbrook previously signed a two-year, $6.7 million deal with the Nuggets. During his first year in Denver, Westbrook earned just over $3.3 million and he was set to earn nearly $3.5 million during the 2025-26 season. According to NBA reporter Marc Stein, Westbrook has declined his player's option for the 2025-26 season and will become an unrestricted free agent on June 30, playing out one year of his contract with Denver. Russell Westbrook is a seasoned veteran who may be at the latter half of his NBA career, but the former league MVP continues to bring tenacity and energy that's unmatched. Advertisement During his 17-year NBA career, Westbrook has been named a two-time scoring champion, nine-time All-Star and nine-time All-NBA member while winning the 2016-17 NBA MVP. Denver Nuggets guard Russell Westbrook (4)© Kyle Ross-Imagn Images Last season with the Denver Nuggets, Russell Westbrook posted 13.3 points, 4.9 rebounds and 6.1 assists per game. He's now preparing for his 18th season in the league, with many believing he's already earned himself a spot in the Hall of Fame. Related: LeBron James' Wife Savannah James' Change in Physical Appearance Catches Attention Related: Steph Curry Makes Personal Announcement on Wednesday This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 13, 2025, where it first appeared.
New York Post
an hour ago
- New York Post
Sky GM ‘needs more' from Angel Reese as losses pile up in ugly start to season
It's been a tough start to the season for Angel Reese and the Sky. With Chicago sitting near the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings at 2-6, Sky general manager Jeff Pagliocca said the team 'needs more' out of its second-year pro. 'She's had some great games, and she's had some games like everybody else that haven't been her best,' Pagliocca told the Chicago Sun-Times Tuesday. 'But she's our best chance at versatility on this roster. We need more production out of her, but we need her to help us in other ways, too.' Reese's stats have regressed in almost every statistical category from last season, when she was an All-Star and averaged 13.6 points and 13.1 rebounds per game. 3 Sky forward Angel Reese during a June 10 game against the Liberty. Getty Images This year, she's scoring just 10.1 points a night on poor efficiency – 35.8 percent from the field and just 36 percent from two-point range. Reese's rebound numbers have dipped to 12.1 per game, and she's averaging 3.9 turnovers a night – a huge rise over last season's mark of 2.2. 3 Sky general manager Jeff Pagliocca (right) said the team 'needs more' out of Angel Reese. NBAE via Getty Images 'She's been putting the time in,' Pagliocca said. 'She's been a great teammate. She knows we need to use her in a variety of ways. We're still trying to pinpoint the most advantageous part of that.' The Sky and Reese had been striving to improve her shooting and play-making ability following a stellar first season, when she was named to the All-Rookie Team. 3 Angel Reese in action for the Chicago Sky in May 2025. Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images However, the 23-year-old Reese has struggled to truly break through in either area, even as her three-point percentage is up to 33 percent from last season's 18.8 percent mark, and her assist averages have jumped from 1.9 to 2.6. 'That's something that has yet to come together,' Pagliocca said, 'but it's a necessity for us to win.' There have been some encouraging signs of late. Reese notched her best game of the season so far with a 17-point, seven-rebound effort Tuesday against the undefeated Liberty, albeit in an 85-66 loss. 'I put my head down and work every single day — I don't give up on anything,' Reese told the Sun-Times before the game Tuesday. 'I critique myself the most. I know it's going to translate. . . . I'm just going to put my head down and work, and I know the results will show.'
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Cubs' Pete Crow-Armstrong Draws Barry Bonds Comparison
Cubs' Pete Crow-Armstrong Draws Barry Bonds Comparison originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Chicago Cubs breakout star, Pete Crow-Armstrong, has displayed all the talents of an MVP-caliber five-tool player. In his second full year on the Major League, PCA is hitting .271/.305/.545 with 17 home runs and 21 steals. His combination of speed, power, and superb defense may even be reminiscent of another superstar in his days as a Pittsburgh Pirate. Advertisement When discussing the potential All-Star rosters, ESPN's David Schoenfield rated PCA's season higher than that of Corbin Carrol, James Wood, Fernando Tatis Jr., and teammate Kyle Tucker. But his praise of PCA didn't stop short of comparing his numbers to those of Barry Bonds. 'The first [All-Star] outfield selection is easy: Pete Crow-Armstrong, who is making a strong case for NL MVP thanks to his spectacular defense, baserunning and surprising power at the plate (he leads the NL in Baseball-Reference and FanGraphs WAR) and could have an incredible 10-WAR season,' Schoenfield wrote. 'The last NL player to do that: Barry Bonds in 2004. I don't know whether Crow-Armstrong can keep hitting this well, considering his chase rate (third worst in the majors), but pitchers haven't exploited that aggressiveness yet.' Chicago Cubs outfielder Ian Happ (8), outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong (4) and outfielder Seiya Suzuki (27) celebrate win against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. Eric Hartline-Imagn Images In the 2004 season Schoenfield referred to, Bonds hit 45 home runs to the tune of a .362 batting average and drew an all-time high 232 walks, leading to an unheard of .609 on-base percentage. This was long after Bonds' Gold Glove base-stealing days, but his 10.6 WAR (stat from Baseball Reference) that season has remained an untouchable mark in the NL. The only current players to eclipse that mark since then are Aaron Judge, Shohei Ohtani (Los Angeles Angels), and Mookie Betts (Boston Red Sox). Advertisement PCA doesn't draw many walks, which hinders his ability to reach a WAR value of 10 by offense alone, but his glove could be the key to reaching such a milestone. To make a more comparable analysis, we will use Mookie Betts in 2018. That year, Betts hit .342/.438/.640 with 32 home runs and 30 steals. His defense in the outfield won him a Gold Glove, culminating in a WAR value of 10.7, slightly higher than Bonds' in 2004. Currently, PCA has accumulated a WAR of 3.8, third in MLB behind Aaron Judge and Jeremy Pena. Related: Cubs Trade Idea Grabs Recent Cy Young Winner From Braves Amid Pitching Injuries This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 12, 2025, where it first appeared.
