Quinn Buckner reveals Larry Bird only watches Nikola Jokic play: "Larry said there is only one guy that he watches play"
Quinn Buckner reveals Larry Bird only watches Nikola Jokic play: "Larry said there is only one guy that he watches play" originally appeared on Basketball Network.
There's always been a quiet link between Larry Bird and Nikola Jokic. Two guys who move at their own speed, see plays before they happen, and do most of their damage without ever breaking a sweat. They're not flashy, not fast, not built like Greek statues, but they control the game in a way very few ever have. Everything slows down when they touch the ball because their mind is already a few frames ahead of everyone else.
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It's not just fans or analysts drawing the comparison anymore — Bird himself has made it. According to Quinn Buckner, the only active player "The Hick from French Lick" actually watches is "The Joker." And if you know anything about the Indiana native, you know that kind of endorsement means something.
Bird doesn't hand out compliments, and he definitely doesn't go out of his way to hand the torch off to someone who hasn't earned it. So, for him to put Jokic in his orbit says more than any quote ever could.
Larry's admission that he only watches the Serbian center
Buckner isn't throwing around second-hand stories. The former Boston Celtics guard played a decade in the league, made four All-Defensive teams, and won the 1984 title next to Bird. He knows what greatness looks like up close — not from the outside looking in but from the trenches. So when he joined "The Dan Patrick Show" and was asked about Bird's legacy, the conversation quickly shifted toward who brought the championship to the Denver Nuggets.
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"I don't know about that. I don't know about that one, Dan," said Q.B. when asked if there was ever going to be a time when "Kodak" drops out of the Top 10 players of all time.
It wasn't just a regular compliment. Buckner explained the similarities go deeper than the numbers or the highlights. It's about the way both guys affect everyone around them. The way their teammates elevate just by sharing the floor with them. The Serbian center knows very well how to make the most out of the guys around him, but he has a feeling when he needs to take over as the primary scorer. Just like the three-time MVP knew.
"Larry is, that's a uniqueness about him, but I'll tell you who he is comparable to. And Larry said there is only one guy that he watches play. It's Jokic," the retired guard revealed.
'And if you look at 'em, the difference is Jokic is longer. That's about it. He is longer and taller. Whatever the talent they have on their team, those guys play at a higher level for having played with Larry. I know it 'cause I did. And I watch Jokic do that,' he added. 'Larry Bird is as pure a basketball player as you're ever going to find.'
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Related: Luc Longley on why he and Michael Jordan couldn't get along: "Mike was doing what he did to rookies, what he was doing to me"
The comparison that makes a perfect sense
"Larry Legend" isn't the type to hype up the next generation. He's not trying to stay relevant or attach his name to the current stars. If anything, he's been content staying out of the spotlight. So when the Indiana native goes out of his way to call someone the only guy he watches — and when that someone plays a position Bird never did — that speaks volumes.
While the Jokic-Bird comps might seem like a stretch at first glance, they actually make perfect sense. Two players who elevate everyone around them, who value the right read over the loud play, and who keep piling up wins without caring much for the spotlight.
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They do everything without looking like they're doing too much. Just pure basketball IQ with a side of unselfishness. And in a league that's often fueled by flash, that kind of substance still stands out — especially to a guy who built his legacy on it.
Related: "God, if you let me get through this, I won't play no more" - Larry Bird describes the moment that made him retire for good
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jun 6, 2025, where it first appeared.
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