"I couldn't wrap my head around how he became that good" - Ice Cube admitted watching Bird dominate his Lakers used to frustrate him

“I couldn’t wrap my head around how he became that good” – Ice Cube admitted watching Bird dominate his Lakers used to frustrate him originally appeared on Basketball Network.

The NBA has had its fair share of rivalries throughout its 75+ years, but none compares to the one between the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers. Two of the most successful franchises in the Association have been going at it since the 1950s, creating some lifelong feuds between people.

For example, Larry Bird was enemy number one in Los Angeles during the 1980s, as his greatness and penchant for breaking the hearts of Purple & Gold fans made him extremely hated in Hollywood. To add insult to injury, Larry Legend wasn’t your usual superstar of that time, which made fans like Ice Cube puzzled over how this white dude from Indiana was killing his Lakers.

However, even though he couldn’t grasp it at first, Cube learned over that time that Bird deserved respect for his basketball skills despite it coming at the Lakers’ expense.

“I couldn’t wrap my head around how he became that good,” Cube said. “Yet, over time, I learned to respect him deeply. [It’s] something you just had to admire.”

Magic was there to fight back

While the Celtics had Bird, the Lakers could counter with their own star and his biggest rival, Magic Johnson. As opposed to Larry, who wasn’t your usual NBA superstar, Magic was flashy and glamorous like a true showman. While their styles differed, both were amazing players and winners, which resulted in one of the best rivalries in NBA history and the golden age of the Boston-Los Angeles battles in the 1980s.

“Back in the day, watching him was like a nightmare,” Cube said. “It was as if he had a personal vendetta against Laker fans. One moment, Magic would come out on top, and then the next, it would be Bird who’d steal the spotlight.”

While Bird was a nightmarish foe for Lakers fans, Magic still managed to get the best of him in their Finals duels, winning 2-1. While Larry would lead Boston to a thrilling Game 7 win in 1984, Johnson would respond in 1985 and 1987 to give the Purple & Gold their sweet payback.

However, watching his team try to stop Bird and the Celtics was no fun experience for Cube. In 19 Finals games versus the Purple & Gold, Larry Legend averaged 25.3 points, 11.1 rebounds and 4.6 assists per night. Playing against such a terrifying closer like the Hick from the French Lick on the biggest stage left life-long scars, but thankfully, they could at least brag they snatched two out of the three Finals duels they were in.

Larry’s greatness was often misunderstood

Many people, including Ice, were puzzled and had trouble understanding Larry’s abilities and the fact that, at the time, he was one of the greatest players in the world, despite being just a slow white dude from Indiana in a league full of athletic black players. But over time, Cube and the rest of the NBA fandom would slowly learn and appreciate Bird’s skills and abilities.

The Indiana native may not have been able to jump out of the gym or run fast, but he could score in any way possible, control the game with his IQ and make up for his lack of athleticism with his fire and winning mentality. When you mix in the immaculate trash-talking ability, it is no surprise that Larry Legend has become the icon he is, despite the odds.

This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Aug 21, 2025, where it first appeared.

“I couldn’t wrap my head around how he became that good” – Ice Cube admitted watching Bird dominate his Lakers used to frustrate him

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