The Reason Larry Bird Would Dominate in 2026, Nikola Jokic, Jeff Teague
The debate between NBA eras it doesn’t look like it’s going to end anytime soon. Everyone from fans, media and the players themselves gave reasons why one era is better than another. Former NBA player Jeff Teague was one of the latest voices to enter the debate, citing the Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic like his the main reason why someone like Boston Celtics legend Larry Bird he would have no problem in today’s game.
During a recent episode of the Club 520 podcast, Jeff Teague expressed his belief that Larry Bird will be just as dominant as he was with the Celtics, due to the perceived notion that Nikola Jokic and Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic isn’t very athletic, so to speak.
“Sometimes I’d watch older people play, and I’d say, ‘he’s not athletic, he’s not this one.’ “But then when I watch Jokic, like he’s walking around, he just makes it look so easy,” Teague said. “If Larry Bird was playing now, Luka and Jokic are just walking around. Larry Bird would be averaging 30, 10 and eight.”
Teague also clarified his ‘walk-through’ a bit further by stating that Jokic and Doncic don’t really rely on athleticism to be great, they use skill.
Either way, Bird is already considered one of the greatest players to ever play the game. He played 13 years in the NBA, all with the Celtics, before injuries began to affect his career. He helped lead the Celtics to three NBA championships, won three MVP awards, was Rookie of the Year in 1979-80 and was named an All-Star in all but one season.
He holds career averages of 24.3 points, 10.0 rebounds, 6.3 assists and 1.7 steals while shooting 49.6 percent from the field, 37.6 percent from the 3-point line and 88.6 percent from the free throw line.
2026-03-02 21:01:00
