Jordan expresses interest in partnering with Bird of the Celtics, proposing a high-profile trade deal
Cha-ching, let's dive into some hoops history, shall we?
Back in the day, the Chicago Bulls had a chance to form the first true Avengers squad, way before LeBron's Heat and KD's Warriors were even on the radar. The man, the myth, the legend—Michael Jordan—was trying to team up with the legendary Larry Bird of the Boston Celtics.
MJ's Claws were reportedly hanging in the balance during the late 80s, and rumors swirled about a potential trade that would have sent stars like Scottie Pippen, B.J. Armstrong, and Stacey King to the Celtics in exchange for Bird. Jordan, then just a zeppelin-sized ball of greatness, deemed these talks as idiotic. But, if the Bulls had opened the door for a Bird trade, MJ was willing to take a pay cut to make it happen.
However, the grand trade never came to fruition as the C's, led by their president, Red Auerbach, decided to keep the dynamic duo of Bird and Kevin McHale in the Celtic green. Bird briefly considered a move to his hometown Pacers, but he always remained a Celtic—at least in public. As it turned out, the Bulls' decision to stay the course was a smart one.
With Pippen as his perfect sidekick, MJ and the Bulls stormed the NBA, winning a mighty three straight championships between '91 and '93. Pippen was essential to each championship run and provided the perfect counterbalance to MJ's dominance. In fact, Pippen finished his career with a whopping six world championship rings, far more than he'd likely have with an aging Celtics roster.
Fast forward to the '92 Olympics, and the two legends, Bird and Jordan, shared the court as teammates on the iconic 'Dream Team.' Bird's longtime rival, Magic Johnson, was also part of the unforgettable squad that captured the hearts of basketball fans worldwide and secured the gold. Post-Olympics, Bird hung up his kicks, handing the torch to MJ to lead the NBA into the stratosphere.
But, let's not forget that even the mighty Michael Jordan wasn't invincible every night. According to Bird's own words, MJ was only the best "not every night." Interesting tidbit, right?
Well, that's the basketball yarn for you! Sometimes, the trades that don't happen can have a massive impact on the sport's history. Keep it locked for more juicy NBA tales!
Source: TikTok, Instagram, ESPN, NBA, Bleacher Report
Enrichment Notes: The reported interest in a Michael Jordan-Larry Bird trade occurred in the 80s, and while there were discussions and rumors, it remains unclear if the Bulls and Celtics ever seriously pursued such a trade.
If Red Auerbach had agreed to the trade, Jordan might have teamed up with Larry Bird, combining basketball greatness with the potential for an even more dominant Chicago Bulls team. Moreover, the NBA world would have been abuzz with Boxing-style rivalries as Jordan and Magic Johnson shared the court in actual sports competition, not just the Dream Team Olympics.
