From the Bookshelf of Topeka & Shawnee Co. Public Library…

[close] Larry Bird and Magic Johnson were credited with changing the game of basketball. So much so that you cannot think of one man without mentioning the other. What began as a fierce rivalry and jealousy dating to their college days grew over the years from hatred and jealousy to a begrudging respect, to finally a friendship.
A Highlight of the book is a detailed story regarding the 1992 Olympic Basketball Dream Team. The chapters are must reading for all basketball fans. A scene between the greatest players in the world relaxing at the Olympic Village speaks volumes about the respect these two men garnered from their peers. During a game of pool with Michael Jordan, Magic, Larry, Charles Barkley, Patrick Ewing the question of who was the greatest who is the greatest, and who "would-have" been the greatest... if time had been shuffled differently... is one of the greatest behind the scenes look at these famous stars I've ever come across.
The rabid rivalry that was Magic and Bird raised each of these legendary "team-first" ballplayers to levels... that in this retrospection... they publicly agree... they would have never reached without the other. It's left to the imagination how much higher Jordan may have gone if he had had his own Larry or Magic in their prime. Basketball is forever greater because of this rivalry... and no discussion of one... will ever take place without a discussion of the other... for all eternity!