Former NBA champion John Salley dismissed comparisons between Luka Doncic and Larry Bird during an appearance on The OGs podcast with Udonis Haslem and Mike Miller.
Salley argued that Bird’s all-around skillset, particularly on defense, separates him from the Dallas Mavericks star.
“The difference between Larry and Luka, cuz somebody tried to tell me that, is Larry played defense,” Salley said on the show, via HoopsHype.
He added, “Larry was so smart and can just… he never missed, I’ve never seen him miss.”
The conversation also touched on a controversial quote from Dennis Rodman, who once claimed that Bird would be viewed as “just another black guy” if he weren’t white.
Haslem asked Salley whether he agreed with Rodman’s comment, prompting a firm denial.
“No, I totally don’t agree,” Salley responded. “Larry Bird could have been green, he could have been purple… with Larry Bird, color had nothing to do with it.”
“He was better than all the black guys I know,” Salley added.
Bird, a three-time NBA MVP and Hall of Famer, remains one of the most respected forwards in league history, known for his shooting, passing, and basketball IQ.
Doncic, now in his seventh season and recently traded to the Los Angeles Lakers, has drawn frequent comparisons to Bird due to his offensive versatility, size, and court vision.
However, critics have pointed out differences in defensive intensity and athleticism between the two stars.
