Boston Celtics great Larry Bird once broke an NBA record that would be less than standard today.
On March 18, 1986, Bird became the all-time leader in 3-pointers made with … 247. To put that in perspective, Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry has made this season with 293.
It just shows how much the league has changed since. The 3-point shot was introduced during the 1979-80 season, so it was relatively new when Bird broke the record.
Surely, he would have had plenty more had he played in today’s game. The 3-point shot is arguably the most important aspect now.
Three-point arc or not, Bird remains one of the greatest shooters in NBA history. He showed his long-range game during the 3-point contest at All-Star Weekend for years.
It would have been interesting to see how Bird would have stacked up against the likes of Ray Allen, Curry and the Miami Heat’s Duncan Robinson. You can bet Bird would have had held his own in this era.
Some are unsure if his athleticism would have translated but shooting would not have been an issue. Shooters can play in any era.