Kinda-sorta.

Earvin "Magic" Johnson's teammates at Michigan State heard all the stories of this virtuoso at tiny little Indiana State and admit they all thought it was a black guy...until said virtuoso, Larry Bird, appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated. Magic and the other Spartan players had no issue with him otherwise, though, and today, Magic and Bird are best friends.

In the NBA, Dennis Rodman, then on the Detroit Pistons, once said that Larry Bird got lots of praise and accolades, but wouldn't be getting them if he was black. Teammate Isiah Thomas repeated and agreed with Rodman's sentiment: "If he was black, he'd be just another good guy."

Dennis Rodman eventually turned things around and saw the light. Isiah Thomas never did.

Kinda-sorta.

Earvin "Magic" Johnson's teammates at Michigan State heard all the stories of this virtuoso at tiny little Indiana State and admit they all thought it was a black guy...until said virtuoso, Larry Bird, appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated. Magic and the other Spartan players had no issue with him otherwise, though.

In the NBA, Dennis Rodman, then on the Detroit Pistons, once said that Larry Bird got lots of praise and accolades, but wouldn't be getting them if he was black. Teammate Isiah Thomas repeated and agreed with Rodman's sentiment: "If he was black, he'd be just another good guy."

Dennis Rodman eventually turned things around and saw the light. Isiah Thomas never did.