'I would love to play against him' - Larry Bird gets honest about Nikola Jokic

Larry Bird is widely recognized for his candidness, particularly when discussing topics about today's NBA. In fact, his straightforward nature is one of the many qualities that have endeared him to basketball fans and analysts alike.

That said, it's no surprise that "Larry Legend" got brutally honest when asked to comment about Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic. Like many NBA royalties, Bird, too, is in awe of Jokic's talent. In fact, the Boston Celtics icon admitted that he would have relished the opportunity to compete against "The Joker" to see what the big man is truly capable of as a player.

"I would love to play against him," the Hall of Famer said on "Basketball Stories: Indiana Glory" on NBA on TNT earlier this year. "He is good. There are so many great centers in the history of our game… but man, is he good. I hope he stays healthy and continues to do what he does, cause he is fun to watch."

Jokic turned Bird into a Nuggets fan

Larry has always had a deep admiration for a wide array of NBA stars from the current era. However, he equally enjoys watching great teams play high-level basketball.

In recent years, "The Hick from French Lick" revealed that he closely followed the Golden State Warriors, particularly during the time when their dynamic trio Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green were performing at the peak of their health and prowess.

However, Bird admitted that he has somewhat become a bandwagon fan as he has been enjoying watching the Nuggets as of late. This change is no surprise, as the Celtics legend is captivated by the extraordinary talent of none other than Jokic.

"When Golden State was healthy, they were really fun to watch. Now I switched over to Denver," Bird added.

Larry's competitive fire is still burning

The hypothetical matchup between Bird and Jokic surely sparks the fans' imagination as both players are known for their multifaceted game and playing styles. While that epic showdown is never happening in a lifetime, it is genuinely fascinating to see that the Indiana native's competitive spirit remains intact even after many years of being away from the game.