'He'd be in Europe': Dennis Rodman assesses Larry Bird's game for today's NBA

More than three decades later, Dennis Rodman still has something provocative to say about Larry Bird.

In a recent interview, the former Detroit Pistons Bad Boy said Bird — who won three NBA MVP awards on the way to a Hall-of-Fame career — couldn't compete in today's NBA.

"If Larry Bird played in this era, he'd be in Europe," Rodman said. "His game fit for Boston at that time ... Today's world: Oh, hell no."

During the late 1980s Pistons-Boston Celtics rivalry, Rodman said if Bird was Black, he would be considered an average player. Rodman has acknowledged that comment was a mistake.

Back with the Pacers: Larry Bird returns as a consultant

"I'm not downplaying him because he was a great player at that time, just like I was," Rodman said in the new interview.

Bird scored 21,719 points and was a 12-time All-Star in 13 seasons, three of which resulted in Celtics championships. Rodman is also a Hall of Famer, leading the NBA in rebounding seven seasons in a row, winning Defensive Player of the Year twice and earning five titles in a 14-year career.

"I think the kid from Denver is way better than him," Rodman added, referring to Nikola Jokic.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Larry Bird would be in Europe today, not the NBA, Dennis Rodman says