After Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain's intense rivalry in the 1960's caused widespread attention to gravitate towards the NBA, the 1970's saw a significant lack of energy in comparison to the prior decade. However, coming out of college, the Larry Bird and Magic Johnson rivalry drastically soared public attention to the NBA to new levels, and not only made the NBA an interesting league again, but also created a well-known friendship between the pair.
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On-Court Personalities |
Where They Are Now |
Magic Johnson and Larry Bird had many on-court clashes throughout their careers. They first faced each other in an NCAA championship game: Bird's Indiana State vs Johnson's Michigan State. Launching them into the public eye, their rivalry culminated through many games in the NBA and multiple championships, with each of them going nearly back and forth on who would be taking home the Larry O'Brien Trophy. All of this competition garnered millions of eager fans, both old and new.
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The only thing that remains between the two of them now is respect. After years of countless battles on the court, Bird and Johnson were able to create a budding friendship between one another over work ethic and other similarities between the two. Even through Magic's HIV diagnosis, Bird stayed as a loyal friend, exemplifying all of the good things about him. Even after a decade of enmity between them, decades worth of admiration of one another was able to grow.
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