I want to start off by saying Mark Jackson’s comments were blown way out of proportion simply because many people want to play off the bitter ex-coach angle. In any event, Larry Bird was asked about the comments and didn’t berate Jackson but also spoke up to Curry’s greatness.
First here’s Mark Jackson’s comments:
“He’s hurting the game,” Jackson said while commentating the broadcast. “And what I mean by that is that I go into these high school gyms, I watch these kids, and the first thing they do is they run to the 3-point line. You are not Steph Curry. Work on the other aspects of the game.”
He also called Curry “great,” “the MVP,” and “a champion.”
Larry Bird went on the Colin Cowherd radio show to speak up for Curry. (via Contra Costa Times)
“I think he loves Steph Curry,” Bird said. “But if you walk in any gym, if there are kids in there, they’re all shooting 3-pointers. That’s the way it was when I walked in gyms years ago. I don’t see anything wrong with it.
“I just think Steph Curry is probably right now our best player and what a champion. He (Jackson) said `what a champion.’ That team out there is a real champion. Because if you win a championship and then come out and go 28-1, that’s pretty special.”
