Magic Johnson was a better player than Larry Bird
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At 6'9", Magic Johnson possessed a physical profile and skill set that the NBA had never seen before and has rarely seen since. While Bird was an incredible shooter and passer, Magic redefined what was possible on a basketball court by playing center in the NBA Finals as a rookie and winning the Finals MVP. His ability to guard all five positions and facilitate the offense from a height that allowed him to see over defenses gave the Lakers a structural advantage that Boston could not replicate. This unique versatility allowed the "Showtime" Lakers to play at a pace and fluidity that overwhelmed opponents, proving that Magic's physical anomalies combined with his high basketball IQ made him the more impactful and revolutionary player.
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While Magic Johnson was a revolutionary playmaker, Larry Bird possessed a scoring arsenal and shooting touch that Johnson simply never matched. Bird was one of the greatest pure shooters in NBA history, boasting a career free-throw percentage of 88.6% and winning the first three Three-Point Contests, whereas Magic was often a reluctant outside shooter. Bird averaged 24.3 points per game for his career compared to Magic's 19.5, demonstrating a greater capacity to carry an offense as a primary scorer. Bird's ability to stretch the floor and score efficiently from anywhere—post, mid-range, or deep—forced defenses to guard him tightly at all times, opening up the floor for teammates in ways that Magic's drive-and-kick game could not replicate.