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“We Didn’t Shake Hands”: Why Was there Hatred Between Larry Bird and Magic Johnson?

Published 04/30/2020, 6:00 PM EDT

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Rivalries are a part of any sport and the NBA has seen many to date. But few will be remembered with its intensity, one of them being Larry Bird vs Magic Johnson. This banter wasn’t ignited in the NBA days. It began in the college career itself in 1979. It was this equation between the two that led to the rivalry of two big franchises in the NBA. The Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers formed the biggest competition in the NBA to be the best. 

 It was back in 1979 when Larry and Magic were playing for Indiana State and Michigan State respectively. The two players made news in those days and it was like the two best competing for the same title. Well, the hatred began in NCAA championship finals when Larry was up aginst Magic’s Michigan. Larry sat there watching Magic take away the trophy that day. And he says, “It’s the one thing I’ll never get over.”   

Larry Bird expresses the ‘hate factor’ for Magic in their playing days

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That day really formed a foundation of such hatred and jealousy that it became an obsession. In 1980, both the sophomores played their rookie season. Larry Bird went on to win the Rookie of the Year Award and it still haunts Magic because he wished to win it so badly. It was more out of jealousy that they wished to be better than the other.

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Gradually, as they became the stars of Celtics and Lakers respectively, the rivalry became about franchises. The two best teams in the NBA history have met each other in finals 12 times and that’s insane. Boston Celtics have 17 championships to its name and Lakers are just one less than that. 

Larry Bird expressed his feelings towards the Lakers legend in an interview. “There was a hate factor there.” Larry told Mitch Lawrence, “I didn’t shake hands when we lost to the Lakers I never shook hands. When the Lakers and Celtics played, we didn’t shake hands. When I first got to play against Magic, there was a hate factor there.”

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Written by:

Pavni Ahuja

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