--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A lot of black guys always ask me, 'Did…" description: "\"A lot of black guys always ask me, 'Did Larry Bird really play that good?' I said, 'Larry Bird is so good it's frightening.'\" — Magic Johnson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5fd/magic-johnson-2707_always_a-lot-of-black-guys-always-ask-me-did-la_2332689.jpg" --- # A lot of black guys always ask me, 'Did Larry Bird really… ![“A lot of black guys always ask me, 'Did Larry Bird really play that good?' I said, 'Larry Bird is so good it's frightening.'” quote by Magic Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5fd/magic-johnson-2707_always_a-lot-of-black-guys-always-ask-me-did-la_2332689.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5fd/magic-johnson-2707_always_a-lot-of-black-guys-always-ask-me-did-la_2332689.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5fd/magic-johnson-2707_always_a-lot-of-black-guys-always-ask-me-did-la_2332689.jpg) > “A lot of black guys always ask me, 'Did Larry Bird really play that good?' I said, 'Larry Bird is so good it's frightening.'” [Magic Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magic-johnson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Larry Bird's skill was so extraordinary it could be intimidating. **In simple terms:** Bird was exceptionally good. Key Takeaway Recognize and respect true talent. Themes sports confidence humor Mood lighthearted respectful Type humorous observational When to use this quote - team meetings - talent scouting - public speaking - media interviews Key Concepts competitive excellence psychology of awe Questions to Reflect On - What makes a talent seem intimidating? - How can you celebrate excellence without intimidation? A Different Perspective Exaggerating talent can create unnecessary pressure on peers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Always](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always/) [Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bird/) [Bird Really](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bird-really-5616818/) [Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black/) [Black guys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black-guys/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Frightening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/frightening/) [Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good/) [Good Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-said-632768/) [Larry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/larry/) [Larry Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/larry-bird/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said/) [Said Larry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said-larry-903154/) ## Related quotes > [Larry, you only told me one lie. You said there will be another Larry Bird. Larry, there will never, ever be another Larry Bird.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magic-johnson/larry-you-only-told-me-one-lie-you-said-there-will-be-another-larry/) [Magic Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magic-johnson/) > [The saddest day in Pixar history was when some guy said 'get Larry the Cable Guy on the phone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-kindler/the-saddest-day-in-pixar-history-was-when-some-guy-said-get-larry-the/) [Andy Kindler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-kindler/) > [ Tony Kushner has said that Larry \[Kramer\] thinks everyone always has to agree with him. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-sessums/tony-kushner-has-said-that-larry-kramer-thinks-everyone-always-has-to/) [Kevin Sessums](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-sessums/) > [Doug Christie, what skill, what strenght, what power, what quickness. The visionof Magic Johnson, the athletisicm of Michael Jordan, the toughness of larry Bird.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-walton/doug-christie-what-skill-what-strenght-what-power-what-quickness-the/) [Bill Walton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-walton/) > [Look at guys like Larry Bird and George Brett and John McEnroe; that's what they did in their careers. They all wanted to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-gretzky/look-at-guys-like-larry-bird-and-george-brett-and-john-mcenroe-that-s/) [Wayne Gretzky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-gretzky/) > [Larry Bird just throws the ball in the air and God moves the basket underneath it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howie-chizek/larry-bird-just-throws-the-ball-in-the-air-and-god-moves-the-basket/) [Howie Chizek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howie-chizek/) > [I have always wanted to be part of something special, and when I got to Boston.. actually, when I bought, begged and pleaded my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-walton/i-have-always-wanted-to-be-part-of-something-special-and-when-i-got/) [Bill Walton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-walton/) > [People say that, but I think the NBA was bigger than Larry Bird and Magic Johnson.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-robertson/people-say-that-but-i-think-the-nba-was-bigger-than-larry-bird-and/) [Oscar Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-robertson/) > [Larry Bird is overrated in a lot of areas. ... Why does he get so much publicity? Because he's white. You never hear about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-rodman/larry-bird-is-overrated-in-a-lot-of-areas-why-does-he-get-so-much/) [Dennis Rodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-rodman/) > [It was okay for Wayne Gretzky's dad, for instance, to give him a hockey stick, or Joe Montana's dad to give him a football,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-connors/it-was-okay-for-wayne-gretzky-s-dad-for-instance-to-give-him-a-hockey/) [Jimmy Connors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-connors/) > [Dirk Nowitzki will be better than Larry Bird. I'm a legend killer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-jackson/dirk-nowitzki-will-be-better-than-larry-bird-i-m-a-legend-killer/) [Mark Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-jackson/) > [I like to use my Larry Bird analogy, because I'm from Boston. It must have been frustrating playing behind Larry Bird. Because no matter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-hasselbeck/i-like-to-use-my-larry-bird-analogy-because-i-m-from-boston-it-must/) [Matt Hasselbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-hasselbeck/) > [I love Larry Bird, but I don't agree with him. I love him and respect everything about him. I learned a long time ago,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-carroll/i-love-larry-bird-but-i-don-t-agree-with-him-i-love-him-and-respect/) [Pete Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-carroll/) > [I've got to give Larry Bird his due; he was a great player. He knew the game and he was smart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-rodman/i-ve-got-to-give-larry-bird-his-due-he-was-a-great-player-he-knew-the/) [Dennis Rodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-rodman/) > [And I have been very blessed, having coached some of the greatest that have ever played the game. But if I had to start…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-auerbach/and-i-have-been-very-blessed-having-coached-some-of-the-greatest-that/) [Red Auerbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-auerbach/) ## More by Magic Johnson > [I really want people to know that I've worked hard, very hard, to get to where I am today.. this didn't just happen overnight.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magic-johnson/i-really-want-people-to-know-that-i-ve-worked-hard-very-hard-to-get/) [Magic Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magic-johnson/) > [I'm gonna love my son until the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magic-johnson/i-m-gonna-love-my-son-until-the-end/) [Magic Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magic-johnson/) > [It's a burden trying to keep a secret. It's hard. It probably takes more out of you trying to hold it and keep it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magic-johnson/it-s-a-burden-trying-to-keep-a-secret-it-s-hard-it-probably-takes/) [Magic Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magic-johnson/) > [I'm the one who will take chances, not worry about the backlash.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magic-johnson/i-m-the-one-who-will-take-chances-not-worry-about-the-backlash/) [Magic Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magic-johnson/) > [I love putting people to work of color.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magic-johnson/i-love-putting-people-to-work-of-color/) [Magic Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magic-johnson/) > [I thank Him every chance I get - on my knees praying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magic-johnson/i-thank-him-every-chance-i-get-on-my-knees-praying/) [Magic Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magic-johnson/) > [Don't give up! Be friends with people who help you work hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magic-johnson/don-t-give-up-be-friends-with-people-who-help-you-work-hard/) [Magic Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magic-johnson/) > [I like to take walks in the park by myself, where no one can bother me and I can think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magic-johnson/i-like-to-take-walks-in-the-park-by-myself-where-no-one-can-bother-me/) [Magic Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magic-johnson/) > [If you come to me and say, 'Hey look I'm a racist,' or 'I discriminate against blacks,' or 'I don't like you because you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magic-johnson/if-you-come-to-me-and-say-hey-look-i-m-a-racist-or-i-discriminate/) [Magic Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magic-johnson/) > [My work ethic is from sports.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magic-johnson/my-work-ethic-is-from-sports/) [Magic Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magic-johnson/) > [I want to be here for a long time, so I am going to do everything I have to do to be here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magic-johnson/i-want-to-be-here-for-a-long-time-so-i-am-going-to-do-everything-i/) [Magic Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magic-johnson/) > [Because if you're going to lose, lose. I'm serious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magic-johnson/because-if-you-re-going-to-lose-lose-i-m-serious/) [Magic Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magic-johnson/) > [When I first found out I had HIV, I had to find somebody who was living with it, who could help me understand my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magic-johnson/when-i-first-found-out-i-had-hiv-i-had-to-find-somebody-who-was/) [Magic Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magic-johnson/) > [I learned to give him the ball…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magic-johnson/i-learned-to-give-him-the-ball/) [Magic Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magic-johnson/) > [“All kids need is a little help, a little hope and someone who believes in them”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magic-johnson/all-kids-need-is-a-little-help-a-little-hope-and-someone-who-believes/) [Magic Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magic-johnson/) [Explore all 153 Magic Johnson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magic-johnson/) ## More Always quotes > [I think performing has pretty much always been a part of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isa-briones/i-think-performing-has-pretty-much-always-been-a-part-of-me/) [Isa Briones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isa-briones/) > [I always thought if I was born 2000 years earlier, I would be a monk, probably carving a monastery or some giant pantheon buildings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenova-chen/i-always-thought-if-i-was-born-2000-years-earlier-i-would-be-a-monk/) [Jenova Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenova-chen/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [It's always great to see old friends, especially those I have not been able to see in 15 months.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-regal/it-s-always-great-to-see-old-friends-especially-those-i-have-not-been/) [William Regal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-regal/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I have really good lateral movement. I've always had quick lateral movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-rivers/i-have-really-good-lateral-movement-i-ve-always-had-quick-lateral/) [Austin Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-rivers/) > [There is something magical about being able to feel somebody. And that is something that has always moved me with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brink/there-is-something-magical-about-being-able-to-feel-somebody-and-that/) [Maria Brink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-brink/) > [Mythology is something that always has opportunities to explore. 'It' has been on Earth for millions of years. He's been in contact with humans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-muschietti/mythology-is-something-that-always-has-opportunities-to-explore-it/) [Andy Muschietti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-muschietti/) > [It's not writing in the traditional sense, but I've always said that the writing process continues on the set and even into the editing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-weide/it-s-not-writing-in-the-traditional-sense-but-i-ve-always-said-that/) [Robert B. Weide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-weide/) > [I always watch my matches back 100 times afterwards because that's how I improve. This is something I've always done, even in NXT.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-rose/i-always-watch-my-matches-back-100-times-afterwards-because-that-s/) [Mandy Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-rose/) > [I've always been of the idea that is doesn't really matter where you are geographically - with 'Lonerism,' we made half the album in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-parker/i-ve-always-been-of-the-idea-that-is-doesn-t-really-matter-where-you/) [Kevin Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-parker/) > [It's very easy to fool yourself that you're working, you know, when you're really not working very hard. I mean, I'm very lazy. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/it-s-very-easy-to-fool-yourself-that-you-re-working-you-know-when-you/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [Whether it was Little League or playing with your brothers or sisters, that was always a problem. If I would lose - because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-ripken-jr/whether-it-was-little-league-or-playing-with-your-brothers-or-sisters/) [Cal Ripken, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-ripken-jr/) > [I always say if you put someone from a small town into a big city for ten years, then when they go back, they'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-colter/i-always-say-if-you-put-someone-from-a-small-town-into-a-big-city-for/) [Mike Colter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-colter/) > [Bayern is always a team that can win the Champions League title in Europe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lothar-matthaus/bayern-is-always-a-team-that-can-win-the-champions-league-title-in/) [Lothar Matthaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lothar-matthaus/) [Browse all 36,048 Always quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A lot of black guys always ask me, 'Did Larry Bird really play that good?' 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