Larry Bird: Michael Jordan 'would kill me' in game of 1-on-1

There was a time when Michael Jordan would score 63 in a playoff game, but Larry Bird would still come out on top.

That time, however, is long gone.

As age and a bad back caught up to Bird in the early 90's, Jordan grew into his indomitable prime. Jordan went on to become the best player of all time, while Bird topped out somewhere in the top-10 in the NBA hierarchy.

The two megastars have since settled comfortably into retirement, but Jordan still holds the advantage, Bird told the Dan Patrick Show.

"I hate to admit this, but (Jordan) would kill me," a jovial Bird said. "I'm forty pounds more than I was when I played, I'm broken down, I really don't care like I used to ... I have a fight in me but it's not the fight that I once had."

However, the hyper-competitive Bird did give himself some rightful credit.

"But it would be a pretty close game," Bird added.

All due respect to Bird, but he's absolutely right. Jordan keeps in fantastic shape and can still dunk, despite topping the half-century mark. With plenty of athleticism left in the tank, Jordan could easily overpower Bird.

Jordan, who serves as a part owner of the Charlotte Hornets, went as far as to brag that even today, he could defeat his own players, but that he didn't want to bruise anybody's ego.