It's typical for current NBA players to say it's an honor when they're compared to true legends of the game, but it's been the other way around for Larry Bird and Dirk Nowitzki.
Bird recently told reporters that it was a true honor for him to be compared to Nowitzki. Wait, what?
"He's had a great run (in the playoffs), but I've always been very impressed with him," Bird said. "His work ethic, his loyalty to his country. It's really an honor for me to have people compare us.
"He rebounds. He plays at his own pace. He sort of controls the tempo on offense. It'd be nice to be 7 foot and when they run plays and switch (defenders) on him, it doesn't bother him at all. He can see over everybody." (via ESPN)
It's true that there are quite a few comparisons between Bird and Nowitzki and their styles of play. Yet Nowitzki has never won an NBA title while Bird won three. Nowitzki is a top 50 player all-time. Bird is arguably a top-five player.
The final verdict on the comparison between Bird and Nowitzki can't be delivered until Nowitzki's career is finished, but one thing's for sure -- he's definitely not better than Bird. That's a fact.