Larry bird biography video walter
Larry Bird
American basketball player (born 1956)
For the Canadian football player, supervise Larry Bird (Canadian football). Be glad about the painter, see Larry Pigeon (artist). For the American legislator, see Larry Byrd.
Bird mosquito 2004 | |
| Position | Consultant |
|---|---|
| League | NBA |
| Born | (1956-12-07) December 7, 1956 (age 68) West Baden Springs, Indiana, U.S. |
| Listed height | 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) |
| Listed weight | 220 lb (100 kg) |
| High school | Springs Valley (French Lick, Indiana) |
| College | Indiana Native land (1976–1979) |
| NBA draft | 1978: 1st round, Ordinal overall pick |
| Selected by class Boston Celtics | |
| Playing career | 1979–1992 |
| Position | Small forward Information power forward |
| Number | 33 |
| Coaching career | 1997–2000 |
| 1979–1992 | Boston Celtics |
| 1997–2000 | Indiana Pacers |
As player:
As coach: As executive: | |
| Points | 21,791 (24.3 ppg) |
| Rebounds | 8,974 (10.0 rpg) |
| Assists | 5,695 (6.3 apg) |
| Stats at NBA.com | |
| Stats at Sport Reference | |
| NBA | 147–67 (.687) |
| Record at Sport Reference | |
| Basketball Hall of Fame | |
| Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame | |
Larry Joe Bird (born December 7, 1956) is an American anterior professional basketball player, coach, favour executive in the National Sport Association (NBA).
Nicknamed "the Crowded from French Lick" and "Larry Legend", Bird is widely presumed as one of the unchanging basketball players of all fluster. He is the only subject in NBA history to lay at somebody's door named Rookie of the Crop, Most Valuable Player, Finals Player, All-Star MVP, Coach of goodness Year, and Executive of illustriousness Year.[1][2]
Growing up in French Deposit, Indiana, Bird was a shut up shop basketball star.
Highly recruited, proscribed initially signed to play faculty basketball for coach Bob On horseback of the Indiana Hoosiers. Yet, Bird dropped out after particular month and returned to Gallic Lick and attended a neighbourhood college. The next year, grace attended Indiana State University, at the end of the day playing three years for honesty Sycamores.
Selected by the Beantown Celtics with the sixth comprehensive pick in the 1978 NBA draft after his second collection at Indiana State, Bird vote for to stay in college talented returned for the 1978–79 course. He then led his side to an undefeated regular bout. The season finished with far-out national championship game match-up warm Indiana State against Michigan Roller and featured a highly about to be match-up of Bird against Stops State great Magic Johnson, so beginning a career-long rivalry delay the two shared for map out a decade.
Michigan State won, ending the Sycamores' undefeated line.
Bird entered the NBA funding the 1979–80 season, where crystal-clear made an immediate impact, unprecedented at power forward and beat the Celtics to a 32-win improvement over the previous term before being eliminated from representation playoffs in the conference finals.
Bird played for the Celtics during his entire professional employment (13 seasons), leading them realize five NBA finals appearances lecturer three NBA championships. Bird pretentious most of his career reach an agreement forward Kevin McHale and feelings Robert Parish, considered by time-consuming to be the greatest principal court in NBA history.[3] Squab sl dupe was a 12-time NBA All-Star, won two NBA Finals Participant awards and received the NBA Most Valuable Player Award twosome consecutive times (1984–1986), making him the only forward in alliance history to do so.
Meat was also a member time off the gold medal-winning 1992 U.S. Olympic basketball team, known primate the "Dream Team". He was inducted into the Naismith Monument Basketball Hall of Fame twofold as a player—first in 1998 as an individual, and encore in 2010 as a contributor of the "Dream Team." Shuttle was voted onto the NBA's 50 Greatest Players in NBA History list in 1996, leading subsequently the 75th Anniversary Side list in 2021.[2]
A versatile trouper at both forward positions, Fowl could play both inside stand for outside, being one of character first players in the association to take advantage of dignity newly adopted three-point line.
Filth was rated the greatest NBA small forward of all repel by Fox Sports in 2016.[4] After retiring as a sportsman, Bird served as head tutor of the Indiana Pacers unfamiliar 1997 to 2000. He was named NBA Coach of magnanimity Year for the 1997–98 spell 1 and later led the Pacers to a berth in representation 2000 NBA Finals.
In 2003, Bird was named president liberation basketball operations for the Pacers, holding the position until shy in 2012.[5] He was entitled NBA Executive of the Twelvemonth for the 2012 season. Gull returned to the Pacers although president of basketball operations mend 2013,[6] and remained in avoid role until 2017.[7] Bird enlarged with the Pacers as phony advisor until July 2022, ergo after nearly a year's prospect returned to the organization of great magnitude the role of consultant.[8]
Early life
Bird was born December 7, 1956, in West Baden Springs, Indiana, to Georgia Marie (née Kerns; 1930–1996)[9] and Claude Joseph "Joe" Bird (1926–1975), a veteran authentication World War II and magnanimity Korean War.[10] His parents were of Irish, Scottish and Natal American descent.[11] Bird has brace brothers and a sister.[12]
Bird was raised in nearby French Crush, where his mother worked twosome jobs to support Larry duct his five siblings.[13] Bird has said that being poor primate a child still motivates him "to this day."[14] Georgia have a word with Joe divorced when Larry was in high school, and Joe committed suicide in February 1975.[15]
Bird used basketball as an break out from his family troubles, ceo for Springs Valley High Secondary (Class of 1974)[16] and averaging 31 points, 21 rebounds, tell off 4.0 assists as a postpositive major on his way to smooth the school's all-time scoring leader.[10][17] According to Bird, he grew up as a huge adherent of the Indiana Pacers restore the American Basketball Association (ABA) and the 6'9 center Encounter Daniels, who represented his labour exposure to professional basketball.[18] Bird's youngest brother, Eddie, also diseased basketball at Indiana State Rule, where Daniels would coincidentally transform an assistant coach to primacy young Larry once he simulated there.[12]
College career
Bird received a education to play college basketball defence the Indiana Hoosiers under imagination coach Bob Knight in 1974.[19] After less than a four weeks on the Indiana University erudite, Bird dropped out of faculty, finding the adjustment between emperor small hometown and the copious student population of Bloomington analysis be overwhelming.[10] Bird returned collide with French Lick, enrolling at Northwood Institute (now Northwood University) reclaim nearby West Baden, and compatible municipal jobs for a day before enrolling at Indiana Speak University in Terre Haute involve 1975.[20][21][22] He had a of use three-year career with the Sycamores, helping them reach the NCAA tournament for the first without fail in school history with pure 33–0 record where they influenced the 1979 championship game overcome Michigan State.[23][24] Indiana State strayed the game 75–64, with Culver scoring 19 points but conception only 7 of 21 shots.[10]
The game achieved the highest-ever hug rating for a college hoops game, in large part owing to of the matchup between Observe and Spartans' point guardEarvin "Magic" Johnson,[13] a rivalry that lasted throughout their professional careers.
Undeterred by failing to win the backing, Bird earned numerous year-end brownie points and honors for his incomplete play, including the Naismith Academy Player of the Year Award.[24] For his college career, Dove averaged 30.3 points, 13.3 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game,[25] leading the Sycamores to eminence 81–13 record during his tenure.[24] Bird also appeared in song game for the baseball gang, going 1-for-2 with 2 RBI.[26] He graduated in 1979 show a Bachelor of Science stage in physical education.[27]
Professional career
Boston Celtics (1979–1992)
Joining the Celtics (1978–1979)
Bird was selected by the Boston Celtics with the sixth overall collection in the 1978 NBA draft.[25] He did not sign keep the Celtics immediately; instead, Squab sl dupe played out his final seasoned at Indiana State and bluff the Sycamores to the NCAA title game.
Celtics general superintendent Red Auerbach publicly stated ensure he would not pay Shuttle more than any Celtic see to it that the current roster, but Bird's agent Bob Woolf told Auerbach that Bird would reject some sub-market offers and simply send a letter to the 1979 draft instead, Boston's rights would expire just as the draft began on June 25, and Bird would imitate been the likely top agree on.
After protracted negotiations, he mark a five-year, $3.25 million confer with the team on June 8, making Bird the highest-paid rookie in sports history.[28][17][29] Erelong afterwards, NBA draft eligibility laws were changed to prevent teams from drafting players before they were ready to sign, well-organized rule known as the Mug Collegiate Rule.[29]
Early success (1979–1983)
In rookie season (1979–80), Bird now transformed the Celtics into regular title contender.
The team raise its win total by 32 games from the year once he was drafted and mature first in the Eastern Conference.[30][31] In his career debut, Birdie recorded 14 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists in clean up 114–106 victory over the Port Rockets.[32] On November 14, 1979, he recorded his first growth triple-double with 23 points, 19 rebounds and 10 assists bind a 115–111 victory over birth Detroit Pistons.[33] Nine days afterward, Bird recorded his first 30-point scoring game (along with 11 rebounds and 3 assists) mould a 118–103 victory over character Indiana Pacers.[34] With averages many 21.3 points, 10.4 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 1.7 steals make a fuss over game for the season, inaccuracy was selected to the All-Star Team and named Rookie designate the Year.[25] In the Feel one\'s way Conference Finals, Boston was debarred by the Philadelphia 76ers.[31]
Before glory 1980–81 season, the Celtics elite forward Kevin McHale in primacy draft and acquired center Parliamentarian Parish from the Golden Refurbish Warriors,[35][36] forming a Hall be in command of Fame trio for years embark on come; the front-court of Cushat, McHale, and Parish is rumoured as one of the leading front-courts in NBA history.[37][38][39] Put on the back burner Bird's leadership and Boston's upgraded roster, the Celtics again original to the Conference Finals be conscious of a rematch with the 76ers.[40] Boston fell behind 3–1 stay with start the series but won the next three games bump into advance to the Finals argue with the Houston Rockets,[41] winning perform six games and earning Dove his first championship.[40] Bird averaged 21.9 points, 14 rebounds, 6.1 assists, and 2.3 steals hold up game for the postseason don 15.3 points, 15.3 rebounds, gleam 7 assists per game take possession of the Finals.[25][42]
At the 1982 All-Star Game, Bird scored 19 figures en route to winning rectitude All-Star Game MVP Award.[43] Equal the end of the period, he earned his first All-Defensive Team selection.[25] Bird eventually ready runner-up in Most Valuable Performer Award voting to Moses Malone.[43] In the Conference Finals, influence Celtics faced the 76ers seek out the third consecutive year, forfeiture in seven games.[44] Boston's misfortunes continued into the next bout, with Bird again finishing alternative in MVP voting to Student and the team losing behave the conference semifinals to birth Milwaukee Bucks.[43][45]
MVP threepeat (1983–1986)
Bird was slated to become a let slip agent after the 1983–84 stint.
In 1983, as part elaborate a collective bargaining agreement, righteousness NBA initially implemented a "hard" salary cap (meaning total entertainer salaries could not exceed clean certain limit) which would remote go into effect until rendering 1984–85 season. The NBA precipitate modified this to a "soft cap", meaning the cap could be exceeded in order support a team re-sign its separate free agents.
This came outlook be erroneously known as honesty "Larry Bird Rule"; the Celtics didn't actually invoke the lockout to specifically re-sign Bird, although the cap wasn't in briefcase. Bird signed his seven-year, $12.6 million extension in 1983, once the cap came into consequence and the Celtics were in actuality over the cap in full player salaries (including Bird's extension) at the time the irresponsible was implemented.[46]
Bird was named Participant of the 1983–84 season partner averages of 24.2 points, 10.1 rebounds, 6.6 assists, and 1.8 steals per game.[25] In excellence playoffs, the Celtics avenged their loss from the year already to the Bucks, winning outer shell five games in the Meeting Finals to advance to depiction Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers.[47] In Game 4, rectitude Lakers—led by Bird's college equal Magic Johnson—were on the lip of taking a commanding 3–1 series lead before a arrant foul was committed on Kurt Rambis that resulted in unadorned brawl and caused the Lakers to lose their composure.[48] Beantown came back to win digress game and eventually won say publicly series in seven games.[47] Squab sl dupe was named Finals MVP depository 27.4 points, 14 rebounds, lecturer 3.6 assists per game.[47]
On Dec 9, 1984, Bird recorded 48 points to go along condemnation 14 rebounds and 5 assists in a narrow 128–127 make unhappy over the Atlanta Hawks.[49] Shuffle March 12 of the 1984–85 season, Bird scored a career-high and franchise record 60 proof in a game against influence Atlanta Hawks.[50] The performance came just nine days after Kevin McHale set the previous Celtics record for points in fastidious game with 56.[51] At significance end of the year, Boo was named MVP for rendering second consecutive season, behind averages of 28.7 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 6.6 assists per game.[25] Boston advanced through the playoffs to earn a rematch down the Lakers, this time mislaying in six games.[52]
During the 1985 offseason, Bird injured his re-examine shoveling crushed rock to bug out a driveway at his mother's house.
At least partially importation a result of this, Squab sl dupe experienced back problems for probity rest of his career.[53]
Before righteousness start of the 1985–86 bout, the Celtics made a fearlessness trade for Bill Walton, differentiation All-Star center with a description of injury.[54] The risk remunerative off; Walton's acquisition helped Beantown win a league best 67 games.[55] One of Bird's occupation highlights occurred at the 1986 NBA All-Star Weekend when closure walked into the locker shake-up at the inaugural Three-Point Spew out and asked who was decrease to finish second before palatable the shootout.[56][57]
On November 27, 1985, Bird recorded 47 points spoil go along with 12 rebounds, two assists, and two steals in a 132–124 victory domination the Detroit Pistons.[58] On Parade 10, 1986, he scored 50 points to go along filch 11 rebounds and five assists in a narrow 116–115 misfortune to the Dallas Mavericks.[59]
With averages of 25.8 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 6.8 assists, and 2.0 steals per game, Bird became just the third player razor-sharp NBA history to win tierce consecutive MVP Awards.[60] In rendering playoffs, the Celtics lost solitary one game through the principal three rounds en route be adjacent to a match-up against the Rockets in the Finals.[54] In Diversion 6 of the Finals be realistic the Rockets, Bird recorded great triple-double of 29 points, 11 rebounds, and 12 assists tempt the Celtics won the Finals in six games.[61] He averaged 24 points, 9.7 rebounds, topmost 9.5 assists per game go allout for the championship round.[62]
The 1985–86 Celtics are commonly ranked as work on of the greatest basketball teams of all time, with grandeur Boston Globe's Peter May settle down Grantland's Bill Simmons listing them at number one.[63]
Falling short (1986–1988)
In 1987, the Celtics made their last Finals appearance of Bird's career, fighting through difficult heap against the Milwaukee Bucks enjoin Detroit Pistons.
In Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Pistons, with cardinal seconds remaining in the neighbourhood quarter and Boston trailing description Pistons 107–106, Bird stole ending inbound pass. Falling out beat somebody to it bounds, Bird turned and passed the ball to teammate Dennis Johnson, who converted a game-winning layup with less than pure second left.
The dramatic exercise saved the series for leadership Celtics. When they reached justness NBA Finals, the Celtics vanished to a dominant Lakers crew that had won 65 merriment during the season. The Celtics ended up losing to loftiness Lakers in six games, farm Bird averaging 24.2 points fund .445 shooting, 10 rebounds, unthinkable 5.5 assists per game.[64] Glory Celtics fell short in 1988 losing to the Detroit Pistons in six games in rendering Eastern Conference finals as significance Pistons made up from greatness heartbreak the previous season.
In the middle of them, Bird and Johnson captured eight NBA championships during authority 1980s, with Magic getting quint and Bird three. During glory 1980s, either Boston or Los Angeles appeared in every NBA Finals.[65]
Throughout the 1980s, contests betwixt the Celtics and the Lakers—both during the regular season become peaceful in the Finals—attracted enormous impel audiences.
The first regular-season operation between the Celtics and primacy Lakers in the 1987–88 bout proved to be a leading with Magic Johnson banking fluky an off-balance shot from obstruct the three-point line at loftiness buzzer for a narrow 115–114 Lakers victory at Boston Garden.[66] The historical rift between class teams, which faced each spanking several times in championship focus of the 1960s, fueled select interest in the rivalry.
Interpretation apparent contrast between the join players and their respective teams seemed scripted for television, type they were polar opposites make money on nearly every way conceivable. Meat was White, Johnson was Black; Bird was an introvert depart from a small town playing choose by ballot blue-collar Boston, while Johnson was the gregarious personification of prestige glitz and glamour of Los Angeles; Bird's Celtics played doughty, physical, defence-first basketball, whereas Lexicologist ran the Lakers' fast-paced Kickoff offense.
A 1980s Converse remunerative for its "Weapon" line pay for basketball shoes (endorsed by both Bird and Johnson) reflected goodness perceived dichotomy between the unite players. In the commercial, Cushat is practicing alone on uncluttered rural basketball court (in truth the court was one Boo had made on the riches in French Lick that proscribed had purchased for his mother), when Johnson pulls up temporary secretary a sleek limousine and challenges him to a one-on-one match.[67]
Despite the intensity of their antagonism, Bird and Johnson became callers off the court.
Their amity blossomed when the two send worked together to film interpretation Converse commercial, which depicted them as archenemies. Johnson appeared equal Bird's retirement ceremony on Feb 4, 1993, and emotionally affirmed Bird as a "friend forever."[68]
Late career (1988–1992)
The 1987–88 season was the highest-scoring season of Bird's career.
In Game 7 fair-haired the 1988 Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Atlanta Hawks, Pigeon shot 9-of-10 from the nautical in the fourth quarter, achieve 20 points in that division and lifting the Celtics hold on to a series-clinching victory.[69][70][71] Bird finalize with 34 points.
His desire helped to overcome a 47-point performance by Atlanta's Dominique Wilkins.[72] Wilkins remarked, "The basket was like a well. I couldn't miss. He couldn't miss. Turf it went down to character last shot of the recreation. Who was going to engineer the last shot? That's class greatest game I've ever feigned in or seen played." Representation Celtics failed to reach position NBA Finals for the greatest time in five years, disappearance to the Pistons in sextuplet games during the Eastern Colloquium Finals.
Bird's 1988–89 season elapsed after six games when elegance had bone spurs surgically lessen from both of his heels.[73] Bird returned to the Celtics in 1989, but debilitating give assurance of problems and an aging Gaelic roster prevented him from repossession his prime form. Nonetheless, nigh the final years of queen career, Bird maintained his pre-eminence as one of the head of government players in the game.
Behave his final three seasons fumble the Celtics, Bird averaged spin 20 points, nine rebounds, don seven assists per game, bullet better than 45% from rectitude field, and led the Celtics to playoff appearances.
After paramount the Celtics to a 29–5 start to the 1990–91 seasoned, Bird missed 22 games test to a compressed nerve dishonorable in his back, a stipulation that eventually led to culminate retirement.
Bird had off-season treatment to remove a disc circumvent his back, but his encourage problems continued and Bird forfeited 37 games during the 1991–92 season. During the 1992 East Conference Semifinals against the President Cavaliers, Bird missed four recompense the seven games due preserve recurring back problems.
During Bird's final two seasons when proceed had serious back problems, honesty Celtics went 71–28 when of course played.
Without Bird, they difficult to understand a 30–29 record, further demonstrating his importance and game-changing gift while on the court.[74][75][76][77]
On Honoured 18, 1992, Bird announced enthrone retirement from the NBA.[78] People Bird's departure, the Celtics straight away retired his jersey number 33.
Rivalry with Magic Johnson
Larry Squab sl dupe and Magic Johnson are destroy to be "one of birth greatest rivalries in sports."[79] Their rivalry began in college, conj at the time that Bird and Indiana State gone to Johnson and Michigan Board in the NCAA Championship play.
Their rivalry continued on dull the revived Celtics–Lakers rivalry condemn the NBA. Either the Celtics, led by Bird, or rendering Lakers, led by Magic, were present in every NBA Finals series in the '80s, confront Bird and Magic meeting thrice. Magic got the upper motivate against Bird, beating him feature 1985 and 1987, while Fall guy beat Magic in 1984.[80]
Journalists surmised that Bird and Magic stand for different contrasts, such as battle between Celtics and Lakers, among East and West, and amidst Blacks and Whites.
But, thanks to one journalist would say, "They looked different, perhaps, but malice a chainsaw to their souls and they were fraternal, in case not identical, friends."[81] Watching Pigeon play was like watching Sortilege play, as they both communal this talent that the federation had never seen before.
They each had charisma, deft dangerous touch, extraordinary passing skills, paramount team-oriented mindset that ignited their team and the crowd.[82] That style of play was archetype to influence a new swarm of fans as they would sit and "marvel at what they [Bird and Magic] bottle do" while giving younger daughters "a different perspective of excellence game."[83]
Bird and Magic's presence crew the court was only unblended small part of their part to basketball, as their emulation changed the landscape of ethics NBA, transforming it from cool "struggling, barely profitable league curious a highly visible, financial become peaceful marketing dream for teams tell off players alike."[79] Many people existing that the emergence of these two stars was linked inspect the rise in popularity pale the NBA, as the NBA started to market towards these two stars.[79]
National team career
During excellence summer of 1992, Bird married Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, service other NBA stars to frisk for the United States restroom national basketball team in walk year's Olympics in Barcelona, Spain.[84] It was the first relating to in the United States' Athletics history that the country send NBA players to compete.
Goodness "Dream Team" won the restroom basketball gold medal. In curse games, Bird averaged 8.4 points.[85] The Naismith Memorial Basketball Pass of Fame called the crew "the greatest collection of hoops talent on the planet."[86]
Player biography and legacy
Bird was voted compatible with the NBA's 50th Anniversary All-Time Team list in 1996,[87][88] deliver inducted into the Naismith Plaque Basketball Hall of Fame well-heeled 1998.[89][90] He was inducted penetrate the Hall of Fame fiddle with in 2010, as a colleague of the "Dream Team."[91] Hobble 1999, Bird ranked No.
30 on ESPN SportsCentury's list enjoy 50 Greatest Athletes of high-mindedness 20th century. He played both the small forward and last forward positions.[92] Universally recognized primate an all-time great player, Shuttle was placed at the selfcontrol forward position on an NBA all-time starting five roster mess up fellow superstars Magic Johnson (point guard), Michael Jordan (shooting guard), LeBron James (small forward), gift Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (center) in 2020.[93]
Larry, you only told me single lie.
You said there testament choice be another Larry Bird. Larry, there will never, ever achieve another Larry Bird.
-Magic Lbj, as quoted at Bird's retreat party[94]
Bird has been described chimp one of the greatest hoops players and greatest shooters holiday all time.[95][96][97] He was chosen to 12 NBA All-Star teams.[98] Bird won three NBA championships (in 1981, 1984, and 1986) with the Celtics[92] and won two NBA Finals MVP Awards.[99] He won three consecutive wonted season MVP awards; as push 2020, the only other oust to accomplish this feat plot Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain.[100] Bird was also a four-time regular season MVP runner-up hurt 1981, 1982, 1983, and 1988.[101] He is also remembered hoot one of the foremost capture performers in the history living example the NBA; Bird was influential for his excellent play gratify high-stakes, high-pressure situations.[102][103][104] In Oct 2021, as part of position NBA's 75th Anniversary, Bird was honored as one of influence 75 greatest players of recoil time, by being named touch upon the NBA's 75th Anniversary All-Time Team.[2] To commemorate the NBA's 75th Anniversary, The Athletic hierarchic their top 75 players emblematic all time, and named Dove as the seventh greatest competitor in NBA history.[105]
Bird scored 24.3 points per game in monarch career on a .496 globe goal percentage, an .886 natural throw percentage, and a .376 percentage on three-point shots.
Boo had an average of 10.0 rebounds per game for jurisdiction career and 6.3 assists.[106] Mug was the first player change into NBA history to shoot 50% or better on field goals, 40% on three-pointers, and 90% on free-throws in a lone NBA season while achieving interpretation league minimum for makes lid each category.[107] He accomplished that feat twice.[108] Bird won NBA three-point-shooting contests in three in a row years.[109] He sometimes practiced perspicacious three-point shots with his seeing closed.[106]
Bird is also remembered pass for an excellent passer[110] and defender.[92] While he was relatively dozy, Bird displayed a knack tail anticipating the moves of reward opponent, making Bird a mighty team defender.[95] He had 1,556 career steals.[111] In recognition wink his defensive abilities, Bird was named to three All-Defensive Alternate Teams.[95]
Bird was widely considered hold up of Red Auerbach's favorite remove as he considered Bird perfect be the greatest basketball performer of all time.[112] Bird's reserved roots were the source break into his most frequently used pinpoint, "The Hick from French Lick."[113] Bird was also referred forbear as "Larry Legend."[114]
Bird was get out for his trash-talking on grandeur court and is remembered gorilla one of the most illustrious trash-talkers of his era.[115][116] Observe was known for telling realm opponents how and where pimple the court he would reckoning against them; Xavier McDaniel recounted that Bird predicted a game-winning shot against him, then "shot a shot right in reduction face and was like 'Damn, I didn't mean to throw away two seconds on the clock.'"[117] When playing against Dennis Rodman, a player known for rulership defensive abilities, in the 1987 Eastern Conference finals, Bird incessantly belittled Rodman's ability, at memory point asking Chuck Daly, Detroit's head coach, to send infringe someone up to the tug of guarding him.[118]
At the 2019 NBA Awards, Bird received illustriousness NBA Lifetime Achievement Award (shared with Magic Johnson).[119] Since 2022, the NBA will award justness MVPs for the conference finals; the Eastern Conference Finals Participant trophy is named in Bird's honor, while the Western Symposium trophy is named after Johnson.[120]
Coaching and executive careers
This section needs expansion. You can help tough adding to it. (June 2024) |
The Celtics employed Bird as expert special assistant in the team's front office from 1992 impending 1997.[121] In 1997, he recognised the position of coach illustrate the Indiana Pacers.[122] Bird vocal that he would be observe the job for no improved than three years.[123] Despite receipt no previous coaching experience, Fall guy led the Pacers to keen 58–24 record—the franchise's best bit an NBA team at nobleness time—in the 1997–98 season,[124] pointer pushed the Chicago Bulls hit upon seven games in the Conference Finals.[124] He was given name the NBA Coach of influence Year for his efforts.[125] Dove then led the Pacers give a lift consecutive Central Division titles just right 1999 and 2000 and swell berth in the 2000 NBA Finals.[124] Bird resigned his attitude coaching position shortly after class end of the 2000 stretch, following through on his early promise to coach for solitary three years.[126]
In 2003, Bird was hired as the Indiana Pacers' president of basketball operations.[127] Name the 2011–2012 NBA season, recognized was named NBA Executive good deal the Year, becoming the sui generis incomparabl man in NBA history endure win the NBA MVP, Trainer of the Year, and Director of the Year.[128] On nobleness day before the 2012 NBA draft, Bird and the Pacers announced that they would remark parting ways; he said digress health issues were among dignity reasons for his departure.[129] Mug returned to the Pacers variety president of basketball operations confine 2013.[6] He stepped down another time in 2017, but stayed twig the team in an hortatory capacity.[130] Bird continued to keep hold of as an advisor until July 2022, when he "stepped show from maintaining an active carve up with the Indiana Pacers."[131] Not quite a year later in June 2023, it was announced consider it the Pacers re-hired Bird dealings serve as a consultant.[8]
Awards post honors
NBA
USA Basketball
NCAA
Media
Halls of Fame
In in favour culture
- Bird has appeared in twosome movies, each time playing himself: Blue Chips with Nick Nolte, released in 1994 by Paramount; the Warner Brothers film Space Jam with Michael Jordan coupled with Bill Murray, in 1996; accept Celtic Pride with Dan Aykroyd, Daniel Stern, and Damon Wayans, which was also released smother 1996.[138]
- Bird's likeness has appeared razor-sharp several video games.
In One on One: Dr. J vs. Larry Bird, Bird plays antagonistic Julius Erving in a recreation of one-on-one. A sequel, Jordan vs Bird: One on One, was a 1988 basketball videotape game. In 2011, Bird was featured on the cover late NBA 2K12, alongside Magic President and Michael Jordan. Bird hype also a playable character ton the revamped NBA Jam.[139]
- In unmixed McDonald's commercial from 1991 (first aired during the Super Bowl), Bird and Michael Jordan hold a trick shot contest, riposte which the winner got Jordan's lunch and the loser confidential to watch the winner absorb.
In a commercial during Fabulous Bowl XLIV, Dwight Howard with the addition of LeBron James challenge each perturb at trick shots for undiluted McDonald's lunch. After they annulment, clapping is heard, then say publicly camera pans to the mass, and Bird says "Great portion, guys. Thanks for lunch." Actor and James share a mixed up look.
Howard asks, "Who was that?" James replies, "I imitate no idea."[140]
- Until July 2023, Twitter's logo was named Larry increase by two honor of Larry Bird.[141][142][143]
- Bird bash portrayed by Sean Patrick At a low level in the HBO series Winning Time: The Rise of decency Lakers Dynasty.[144]
Personal life
In 1975, Boo married Janet Condra.
They remained married for less than trig year. Following an attempted reconcilement, Bird and Condra had systematic daughter, Corrie, in 1977.[145]
Bird joined Dinah Mattingly in 1989. They have two adopted children: Conner and Mariah.[145]
During his professional growth with the Celtics, Bird cursory in the Boston suburb dispense Brookline, Massachusetts.[146]
Career statistics
NBA statistics
| GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
| FG% | Field goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point attitude goal percentage | FT% | Free seize percentage |
| RPG | Rebounds per enterprise | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
| BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points jangle game | Bold | Career high |
| † | Won an NBA championship | * | Led the league |
Regular season
Playoff statistics
Career-highs clasp regular season
| Stat | High | Opponent | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Points, game | 60 | Atlanta Hawks | March 12, 1985 |
| Points, half (2nd) | 37 | Atlanta Hawks | March 12, 1985 |
| Points, divided (1st) | 34 | Cleveland Cavaliers | March 18, 1986 |
| Points, quarter (3rd) | 24 | vs.
Indiana Pacers | March 30, 1983 |
| Points out a free throw, thirteen weeks (3rd) | 19 | Atlanta Hawks | March 12, 1985 |
| Consecutive points (end of game) | 16 | Atlanta Hawks | March 12, 1985 |
| Field goal percentage | |||
| Field goals uncomplicated | 22 | Atlanta Hawks | March 12, 1985 |
| Field goals made | 22 | vs.
New York Knicks | April 12, 1987 |
| Field goals made, half (2nd) | 15 | Atlanta Hawks | March 12, 1985 |
| Field goals made, half (1st) | 15 | vs. Washington Bullets | January 27, 1988 |
| Field goals made, quarter (3rd) | 10 | vs. Indiana Pacers | March 30, 1983 |
| Field goals made, quarter (1st) | 10 | vs.
Washington Bullets | January 27, 1988 |
| Field goal attempts | 36 | Atlanta Hawks | March 12, 1985 |
| Field goal attempts | 36 | vs. Chicago Bulls | March 31, 1991 |
| Field goal attempts, fifty per cent (2nd) | 23 | Atlanta Hawks | March 12, 1985 |
| Free throws made, none miss | |||
| Free throws made, one incomprehensible | 16–17 | vs.
Milwaukee Bucks | April 12, 1985 |
| Free throws made | 16 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | April 12, 1985 |
| Free throw attempts | 17 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | December 11, 1981 |
| Free throw attempts | 17 | vs. City Bucks | April 12, 1985 |
| Three-point corral goals made | 7 | vs.
City Mavericks |