Bird, Larry

From New World Encyclopedia
(→‎External links: Added categories)
 
(90 intermediate revisions by 7 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
−
{{epname|Bird, Larry}}
+
{{epname|Bird, Larry}}{{Approved}}{{Submitted}}{{Images OK}}{{2Copyedited}}
 +
 
 
{{Infobox NBAretired
 
{{Infobox NBAretired
 
|image=Larrybird.jpg
 
|image=Larrybird.jpg
Line 6: Line 7:
 
|position=[[Small forward]]
 
|position=[[Small forward]]
 
|number=33
 
|number=33
−
|birthdate={{birth date and age|1956|12|7}}<BR>[[West Baden Springs, Indiana]]
+
|birthdate={{birth date and age|1956|12|7}}<BR>[[West Baden Springs]], [[Indiana]]
 
|deathdate=
 
|deathdate=
 
|debutyear=1979
 
|debutyear=1979
Line 15: Line 16:
 
|college=[[Indiana State University|Indiana State]]
 
|college=[[Indiana State University|Indiana State]]
 
|teams=<nowiki></nowiki>
 
|teams=<nowiki></nowiki>
−
* [[Boston Celtics]] (1979&ndash;1992)
+
*[[Boston Celtics]] (1979–1992)
 
|stat1label=[[Point (basketball)|Points]]
 
|stat1label=[[Point (basketball)|Points]]
 
|stat1value=21,791
 
|stat1value=21,791
Line 38: Line 39:
 
* [[50 Greatest Players in NBA History|NBA's 50th Anniversary All-Time Team]]
 
* [[50 Greatest Players in NBA History|NBA's 50th Anniversary All-Time Team]]
 
* 1979 [[USBWA College Player of the Year]]
 
* 1979 [[USBWA College Player of the Year]]
−
|HOF=larry-bird
 
 
}}
 
}}
−
'''Larry Joe Bird''' (born December 7 1956) is a retired [[United States|American]] [[National Basketball Association|NBA]] [[basketball]] player, widely considered one of the best players of all time, and one of the best [[clutch (sports)|clutch]] performers in the history of sports.<ref name=birdsummary>[http://www.nba.com/history/players/bird_summary.html Larry Bird summary] NBA.com. Retrieved June 2, 2008.</ref> [[NBA Draft|Drafted]] into the NBA sixth overall by the [[Boston Celtics]] in [[1978 NBA Draft|1978]], Bird started [[small forward]] and [[power forward (basketball)|power forward]] for thirteen seasons, teaming with legendary center [[Robert Parish]] and forward [[Kevin McHale]]. Due to back problems, he retired as a player from the NBA in [[1991-92 NBA season|1992]]. Bird was voted to the [[NBA's 50th Anniversary All-Time Team]]<ref name=birdsummary/> in 1996 and inducted into the [[Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame]]<ref>http://www.hoophall.com/halloffamers/bird.htm. Retrieved June 2, 2008.</ref> in 1998.
 
−
Bird served as head coach of the [[Indiana Pacers]] from [[1997-98 NBA season|1997]] to [[1999-2000 NBA season|2000]]. In 2003, he assumed the role of president of basketball operations for the Pacers, which he currently still holds.
 
  
−
== Biography ==
+
'''Larry Joe Bird''' (born December 7, 1956) is an American former professional basketball player, former coach, and former executive who most recently served as President of Basketball Operations for the [[Indiana Pacers]] in the [[National Basketball Association]] (NBA). Nicknamed "The Hick from French Lick," Bird is widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all time.
 +
 
 +
[[NBA Draft|Drafted]] into the NBA by the [[Boston Celtics]] with the sixth overall pick in the [[1978 NBA draft]], Bird started at [[small forward]] and [[Power forward (basketball)|power forward]] for the Celtics for 13 seasons. Bird was a 12-time [[NBA All-Star]] and received the [[NBA Most Valuable Player Award]] three consecutive times ([[1983–84 NBA season|1984]]–[[1985–86 NBA season|1986]]). He played his entire professional career for Boston, winning three [[NBA championship]]s and two [[NBA Finals MVP]] awards. Bird was also a member of the gold-medal-winning [[1992 United States men's Olympic basketball team]] known as "The Dream Team". He was voted to the [[NBA's 50th Anniversary All-Time Team]] in 1996, was inducted into the [[Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame]] in 1998, and was inducted into the Hall of Fame again in 2010 as a member of "The Dream Team."
 +
{{toc}}
 +
After retiring as a player, Bird served as head coach of the [[Indiana Pacers]] from [[1997–98 NBA season|1997]] to [[1999–2000 NBA season|2000]]. He was named NBA Coach of the Year for the 1997-1998 season and later led the Pacers to a berth in the [[2000 NBA Finals]]. In 2003, Bird was named President of Basketball Operations for the Pacers, holding the position until retiring in 2012. He was named NBA Executive of the Year for the 2012 season. Bird returned to the Pacers as President of Basketball Operations in 2013<ref>Jeff Tzucker, [https://www.nba.com/pacers/news/bird-returns Bird Returns] NBA'', June 26, 2013. Retrieved December 11, 2019.</ref> and remained in that role until 2017.
  
−
Bird was born in [[West Baden Springs, Indiana]], the son of Georgia Kerns and Claude Joseph "Joe" Bird. He grew up in both West Baden and the adjacent town [[French Lick, Indiana|French Lick]], which earned him the nickname "the Hick from French Lick" in his later basketball career. Financial troubles would plague the Bird family for most of Larry's childhood. In a 1988 interview with ''[[Sports Illustrated]]'', Bird recalled how his mother would make do on the family's meager earnings: "If there was a payment to the bank due, and we needed shoes, she'd get the shoes, and then deal with them guys at the bank. I don't mean she wouldn't pay the bank, but the children always came first."<ref name=1988flash>[http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/nba/1998/bird/flashbacks/1988flash.html CNN/SI - 33: Larry Bird enters the Hall of Fame<!-- Bot generated title —>]. Retrieved June 2, 2008.</ref>  Bird sometimes was sent to live with his grandmother due to the family's struggles. Bird told ''Sports Illustrated'' that being poor as a child "motivates me to this day."<ref name=1988flash/>
+
==Life==
 +
Bird was born in West Baden Springs, [[Indiana]], the son of Georgia Kerns and Claude Joseph "Joe" Bird. He grew up in both West Baden and the adjacent town [[French Lick, Indiana|French Lick]], which earned him the nickname "the Hick from French Lick" in his later basketball career. Financial troubles would plague the Bird family for most of Larry's childhood. Bird sometimes was sent to live with his grandmother due to the family's struggles.  
  
 
The Bird family's struggle with [[poverty]] was compounded by the [[alcoholism]] and personal difficulties of Joe Bird. In 1975, after Bird's parents [[divorce]]d, his father committed [[suicide]].
 
The Bird family's struggle with [[poverty]] was compounded by the [[alcoholism]] and personal difficulties of Joe Bird. In 1975, after Bird's parents [[divorce]]d, his father committed [[suicide]].
  
−
In spite of his domestic woes, by the time he was a [[high school]] [[wiktionary:sophomore|sophomore]], Bird had become one of the better basketball players in French Lick. He starred for French Lick/West Baden's high school team, [[Springs Valley High School]], where he left as the school's all-time scoring leader. His picture hangs in the school, which is located on what is now Larry Bird Boulevard in French Lick.  
+
In spite of his domestic woes, Bird had become one of the better basketball players in French Lick by his sophomore year in high school. He starred for Springs Valley High School, where he left as the school's all-time scoring leader. His picture hangs in the school, which is located on what is now Larry Bird Boulevard in French Lick.  
  
 
=== Collegiate career===
 
=== Collegiate career===
−
{{seealso|List of college men's basketball players with 2000 points and 1000 rebounds}}
+
Bird received a basketball scholarship to [[Indiana University (Bloomington)|Indiana University]] in 1974. However, he was overwhelmed by the size of the campus and number of students and, as he would later admit in his biographies, wasn't mentally ready for this stage of life. In his own words, he said, "My problems really began when classes started. I wasn't much of a scholar to begin with, although I had gotten a good enough grade-point average to get into college. But I certainly wasn't ready for a school the size of Indiana University." <ref name=drive>Larry Bird and Bob Ryan, ''Drive: the Story of my Life'' (New York: Doubleday, 1989).</ref> He dropped out of Indiana, went home to French Lick, and worked for the sanitation department for a year. He still played basketball in community leagues and, after that year, decided to enroll at [[Indiana State University]], where he was coached by [[Bob King]].
−
Bird received a basketball scholarship to [[Indiana University (Bloomington)|Indiana University]] in 1974. However, he was overwhelmed by the size of the campus and number of students and, as he would later admit in his biographies, wasn't mentally ready for this stage of life. He dropped out of Indiana, went home to French Lick, and worked for the sanitation department for a year. He still played basketball in community leagues and, after that year, decided to enroll [[Indiana State University]], where he was coached by [[Bob King]].
 
  
−
King suffered a stroke prior to the 1978–79 season and assistant Bill Hodges was promoted to
+
Bird led the ISU Sycamores to the NCAA championship game in 1979, his senior season, only to lose to the [[Michigan State University]] Spartans, who were led by his future [[NBA]] rival, [[Magic Johnson|Earvin "Magic" Johnson, Jr.]]. The Sycamores finished the season 33–1. That year Bird won the [[USBWA College Player of the Year]], [[Naismith College Player of the Year|Naismith]] and [[John R. Wooden Award|Wooden Award]]s, given to the year's top male college basketball player. After playing only three years at Indiana State, he left as the fifth-highest scorer in [[National Collegiate Athletic Association|NCAA]] history. Bird finished his collegiate career with an average of 30.3 points per game.
−
head coach. Bird led the ISU Sycamores to the NCAA championship game in 1979, his senior season, only to lose to the [[Michigan State University]] Spartans, who were led by his future NBA rival, [[Magic Johnson|Earvin "Magic" Johnson]]. The Sycamores finished the season 33–1. That year, Bird won the [[USBWA College Player of the Year]], [[Naismith College Player of the Year|Naismith]] and [[John R. Wooden Award|Wooden Award]]s, given to the year's top male college basketball player. After playing only three years at Indiana State, he left as the fifth-highest scorer in [[National Collegiate Athletic Association|NCAA]] history. Bird finished his collegiate career with an average of 30.3 points per game.
 
  
 
===Marriage and fatherhood===
 
===Marriage and fatherhood===
−
Prior to attending [[Indiana University]], Bird married his high-school girlfriend, Janet Condra.<ref>[http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=940DEED6163AF932A25751C1A96E948260 A Rhinoceros Among The Gazelles - New York Times<!-- Bot generated title —>]. Retrieved June 2, 2008.</ref> The marriage lasted only 11 months, but produced a daughter, Corrie. In 1998, Corrie Bird appeared on ''[[The Oprah Winfrey Show]]'' and revealed that she was Bird's daughter from his first marriage though Larry had denied paternity until the mid 80's. She discussed her longing to connect with her father, who she had not seen in 17 years. Corrie's story was also shown on ''[[20/20]]'' and was run as an article in the September 4 1998 issue of ''[[Sports Illustrated]]''. Corrie, like her father, played basketball in high school and attended [[Indiana State University]], graduating with a degree in elementary education.
+
Aside from basketball, Larry Bird was a typical high school student. He dated several girls but ended up marrying Janet Condra. Although the couple was very young they married prior to attending [[Indiana University]].<ref>Carrie Rickey, [https://www.nytimes.com/1988/12/11/books/a-rhinoceros-among-the-gazelles.html A Rhinoceros Among The Gazelles] ''The New York Times'', December 11, 1988. Retrieved December 11, 2019.</ref> According to Bird, "Janet was a really nice girl, but I knew already that that we were just too different from each other to make it a really happy, meaningful relationship."<ref name=drive/> The results were disastrous as the marriage lasted only 11 months, but produced a daughter, Corrie. In 1998, Corrie Bird appeared on ''[[The Oprah Winfrey Show]]'' and revealed that she was Bird's daughter from his first marriage though Larry had denied paternity until the mid 1980s. Corrie, like her father, played basketball in high school and attended [[Indiana State University]], graduating with a degree in elementary education.
 +
 
 +
Although there is no correlation between the two events, Bird met his second wife, Dinah Mattingly, about the same time as the divorce with Janet. The two would later adopt a son, Connor, and have their own child, Mariah.
  
−
=== 1979–1981: Immediate impact ===
+
==Pro Career==
−
The [[Boston Celtics]] selected the 6'9," 220-pound Bird 6th overall in the [[1978 NBA Draft]], even though they were uncertain whether he would enter the NBA or remain at Indiana State to play his senior season. Bird ultimately decided to play his final college season, but the Celtics retained their exclusive right to sign him until the [[1979 NBA Draft]], because of the NBA's "junior eligible" rule that existed at that time (allowing a collegiate player to be drafted when the player's original "entering" class was graduating and giving them one calendar year to sign them, even if they went back to college). Shortly before that deadline, Bird agreed to sign with the Celtics for a [[United States dollar|US $]]650,000 a year contract, making him at the time the highest-paid [[rookie]] in the history of the NBA. Shortly afterwards, the NBA draft eligibility rules were changed to prevent teams from drafting players before they were ready to sign. The rule is called the Bird Collegiate Rule.
+
The [[Boston Celtics]] selected the 6'9," 220-pound Bird 6th overall in the 1978 [[NBA Draft]], even though they were uncertain whether he would enter the [[National Basketball Association|NBA]] or remain at Indiana State to play his senior season. Bird ultimately decided to play his final college season at Indiana; however, the Celtics retained their exclusive rights to sign him until the 1979 Draft due to the NBA's "junior eligible" rule that existed at the time. The rule essentially allowed a collegiate player to be drafted when the player's original "entering" class was graduating and giving them one calendar year to sign them, regardless of whether they entered the NBA or decided to stay in college. Shortly before that deadline, Bird agreed to sign with the Celtics for a $650,000 a year contract, making him the highest-paid rookie in the history of the NBA up to that point. Soon thereafter, the NBA draft eligibility rules were changed to prevent teams from drafting players before they were ready to sign. The rule is called the ''Bird Collegiate Rule.''
  
−
Larry Bird's impact on the Celtics was immediate. The Celtics were 29–53 during the [[1978-79 NBA season|1978–79 season]], but with Bird the team improved to 61–21 in the [[1979-80 NBA season|1979–80 season]], posting the league's best regular season record. Bird's collegiate rival, [[Magic Johnson]], also had entered the NBA in 1979, joining the [[Los Angeles Lakers]]. In 1980, despite a strong rookie season from Johnson, Bird was named the league's [[NBA Rookie of the Year Award|Rookie of the Year]] and was voted onto the [[Eastern Conference (NBA)|Eastern Conference]] All-Star team (an honor he would receive for each of his 12 full seasons in the [[National Basketball Association|NBA]]). For the 1980 season, Bird led the Celtics in scoring (21.3 points/game), rebounding (10.4 rebounds/game), steals (143), and minutes played (2,955) and was second in assists (4.5 assists/game) and three-pointers (58). Though Boston was beaten by the more athletic [[Philadelphia 76ers]] in the Eastern Conference finals that year, Bird's addition to the team had renewed the promise of Celtic glory.  
+
Larry Bird's impact on the Celtics was immediate. The Celtics were 29–53 during the 1978–79 season, but with Bird the team improved to 61–21 in the 1979–80 season, posting the league's best regular season record. Bird's collegiate rival, [[Magic Johnson]], also had entered the NBA in 1979, joining the [[Los Angeles Lakers]]. In 1980, despite a strong rookie season from Johnson, Bird was named the league's [[Rookie of the Year]] and was voted onto the Eastern Conference All-Star team (an honor he would receive for each of his 12 full seasons in the NBA). For the 1980 season, Bird led the Celtics in scoring (21.3 points/game), rebounding (10.4 rebounds/game), steals (143), and minutes played (2,955) and was second in assists (4.5 assists/game) and three-pointers (58). Though Boston was beaten by the more athletic [[Philadelphia 76ers]] in the Eastern Conference finals that year, Bird's addition to the team had renewed the promise of Celtic glory.  
  
−
Following Bird's first season, the Celtics acquired [[center (basketball)|center]] [[Robert Parish]] and the 3rd pick in the [[1980 NBA Draft]] via a trade with the [[Golden State Warriors]] (in exchange for the 1st and 13th picks in the draft). After the Warriors took [[Joe Barry Carroll]] with the 1st pick and the [[Utah Jazz]] chose [[Darrell Griffith]] second, the Celtics selected [[University of Minnesota]] [[power forward (basketball)|power forward]] [[Kevin McHale]]. With Bird at [[small forward]], the additions of Parish and McHale gave Boston one of the most formidable frontcourts in the history of the NBA. The three would anchor the Celtics throughout Bird's career.
+
Following Bird's first season, the Celtics acquired center [[Robert Parish]] and the 3rd pick in the 1980 NBA Draft via a trade with the [[Golden State Warriors]] (in exchange for the 1st and 13th picks in the draft). After the Warriors took [[Joe Barry Carroll]] with the 1st pick and the [[Utah Jazz]] chose [[Darrell Griffith]] second, the Celtics selected [[University of Minnesota]] [[power forward]] [[Kevin McHale]]. With Bird at small forward, the additions of Parish and McHale gave Boston one of the most formidable frontcourts in the history of the NBA. The three would anchor the Celtics throughout Bird's career.
  
−
In his [[1980-81 NBA season|second season]], Bird led the Celtics into the playoffs, where they faced off for a second consecutive year with [[Julius Erving]]'s [[Philadelphia 76ers]]. Bird helped the Celtics overcome a 3–1 deficit by winning the last 3 games by 2, 2, and 1 point margins, propelling them into the [[1981 NBA Finals|NBA Finals]], where they defeated the [[Houston Rockets]] in six games. It would be the first of three championships in Bird's career, as well as the first of his five Finals appearances.
+
In his second season, Bird led the Celtics into the playoffs, where they faced off for a second consecutive year with [[Julius Erving]]'s [[Philadelphia 76ers]]. Bird helped the Celtics overcome a 3–1 deficit by winning the last 3 games by 2, 2, and 1 point margins, propelling them into the NBA Finals, where they defeated the [[Houston Rockets]] in six games. It would be the first of three championships in Bird's career, as well as the first of his five Finals appearances.
  
−
=== 1982–1987: MVPs, championships and the rivalry ===
+
=== 1982–1987: The Golden Age: MVPs, championships and the rivalry ===
−
{{seealso|Lakers-Celtics rivalry}}
+
The additions of Bird and Johnson rejuvenated the [[National Basketball Association|NBA]], which had suffered from low attendance and minimal [[television]] interest through much of the 1970s. Immediately upon their entry into the league, the two players became repeating presences in the NBA Finals. Johnson's Lakers won the championship in 1980, while Bird's Celtics captured the NBA title in 1981. On cue, Johnson's Lakers wrested it back in 1982. Lakers versus Celtics, and specifically Bird versus Magic, quickly became one of the greatest rivalries in the history of professional sports as they faced off in 1984, 1985, and 1987.
−
The additions of Bird and Johnson rejuvenated the [[National Basketball Association|NBA]], which had suffered from low attendance and minimal television interest through much of the 1970s. Immediately upon their entry into the league, the two players became repeating presences in the NBA Finals. Johnson's Lakers won the championship in [[1980 NBA Finals|1980]], Bird's Celtics captured the NBA title in [[1981 NBA Finals|1981]], and Johnson's Lakers wrested it back in [[1982 NBA Finals|1982]]. Bird and Johnson first dueled in the 1979 NCAA title game; as professional basketball players, they would face off numerous times during the 1980s, including the NBA Finals of [[1984 NBA Finals|1984]], [[1985 NBA Finals|1985]] and [[1987 NBA Finals|1987]]. Lakers versus Celtics, and specifically Bird versus Magic, quickly became one of the greatest rivalries in the history of professional sports.
 
  
−
In 1984, the Celtics defeated the Lakers in a seven-game Finals, winning game seven 111–102. Bird averaged 27 points and 14 rebounds a game during the series, earning the [[NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award|award of Finals Most Valuable Player]] (MVP). Bird was also named the league regular season MVP for that year. In 1985, however, the Lakers avenged the loss, defeating the Celtics in game 6 of the Finals in the [[Boston Garden]]. That year, the NBA again named Bird the league MVP.
+
In 1984, the Celtics defeated the Lakers in a seven-game Finals, winning game seven 111–102. Bird averaged 27 points and 14 rebounds a game during the series, earning the Finals [[Most Valuable Player]] (MVP) honor. Bird was also named the league regular season MVP for that year. In 1985, however, the Lakers avenged the loss, defeating the Celtics in game six of the Finals in the [[Boston Garden]]. That year, the NBA again named Bird the league MVP.
  
−
Boston would have another great season the next year, with help from another Hall of Famer, [[Bill Walton]]. Walton had been refused by the Lakers, and as a last chance, called Celtics president and general manager [[Red Auerbach]]. Auerbach was initially unwilling to take a risk on Walton, who had been plagued for years by foot injuries. But Bird, who happened to be in Auerbach's office at the time of Walton's call, urged him to sign Walton, saying that if Walton felt he was healthy enough to play, it was all Bird needed to hear.  
+
Boston would have another great season the next year, with help from another Hall of Famer, [[Bill Walton]]. Walton had been refused by the Lakers, and as a last chance, called Celtics president and general manager [[Red Auerbach]]. Auerbach was initially unwilling to take a risk on Walton, who had been plagued for years by foot injuries. However, Bird, who happened to be in Auerbach's office at the time of Walton's call, urged him to sign Walton, saying that if Walton felt he was healthy enough to play, it was all Bird needed to hear.  
  
−
With Walton backing up Kevin McHale and Robert Parish, the Celtics would return to the finals in [[1986 NBA Finals|1986]], albeit not against Johnson and the Lakers, who lost in the Western Conference Finals to the [[Houston Rockets]]. The 1986 Celtic team, which finished the regular season 67–15 and defeated the Rockets in six games, is generally considered to be the best of Bird's career. Bird again was named the Finals' MVP for that year, averaging 24 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists per game for the series. He also won his third consecutive league MVP award, a feat matched only by the great Celtic center [[Bill Russell]] and the dominant [[Wilt Chamberlain]], who played for Philadelphia and Los Angeles.
+
With Walton backing up Kevin McHale and Robert Parish, the Celtics would return to the finals in 1986, albeit not against Johnson and the Lakers, who lost in the Western Conference Finals to the [[Houston Rockets]]. The 1986 Celtic team, which finished the regular season 67–15 and defeated the Rockets in six games, is generally considered to be the best of Bird's career. Bird again was named the Finals' MVP for that year, averaging 24 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists per game for the series. He also won his third consecutive league MVP award, a feat matched only by the great Celtic center [[Bill Russell]] and the dominant [[Wilt Chamberlain]], who played for Philadelphia and Los Angeles.
  
−
In 1987, the Celtics made their last Finals appearance of Bird's career, fighting through difficult series against the [[Milwaukee Bucks]] and [[Detroit Pistons]] but as they reached the NBA Finals, the Celtics, plagued by devastating injuries, lost to a dominant Lakers team which had won 65 games during the season. The Celtics ended up losing to the Lakers in six games. The Celtics would fall short in 1988 losing to the Pistons in 6 games in the Eastern Conference Finals as the Pistons made up from the heartbreak the previous season. Between them, Bird and Johnson captured eight NBA championships during the 1980s, with Magic getting five and Bird three. During the 1980s, either Boston or Los Angeles appeared in every NBA Finals.
+
In 1987, the Celtics made their last Finals appearance of Bird's career, fighting through a difficult series against the [[Milwaukee Bucks]] and [[Detroit Pistons]] but as they reached the NBA Finals, the Celtics, plagued by injuries, lost to a dominant Lakers team which had won 65 games during the season. The Celtics ended up losing to the Lakers in six games. The Celtics would fall short in 1988 losing to the Pistons in six games in the Eastern Conference Finals as the Pistons made up from the heartbreak the previous season.  
  
−
Throughout the 1980s, contests between the Celtics and the Lakers—both during the regular season and in the Finals—attracted enormous television audiences. The first regular season game between the Celtics and the Lakers in the 1987-88 season proved to be a classic with Magic Johnson banking in an off balance shot from near the 3-point line at the buzzer for a 115-114 Lakers win at Boston Garden. The historical rift between the teams, who faced each other several times in championship series of the 1960s, fueled fan interest in the rivalry. Not since Russell squared off against Chamberlain had professional basketball enjoyed such a marquee matchup. The apparent contrast between the two players and their respective teams seemed scripted for television: Bird, the introverted small-town hero with the blue-collar work ethic, fitted perfectly with the throwback, hard-nosed style of the Celtics, while the stylish, gregarious Johnson ran the Lakers' fast-paced "Showtime" offense amidst the bright lights and celebrities of [[Los Angeles, California|Los Angeles]]. A 1986 [[Converse]] commercial for its "Weapon" line of basketball shoes (endorsed by both Bird and Johnson) reflected the perceived dichotomy between the two players. In the commercial, Bird is practicing alone on a rural basketball court when Johnson pulls up in a sleek [[limousine]] and challenges him to a one-on-one match.
+
During the 1986-1987 season Bird became the first player ever to shoot at least .500 from the floor (.525) and .900 from the free throw line (.910) in the same season. He repeated the feat in 1987-1988  with .527 and .916. Also, in 1987-88, Bird was the first Celtic ever to record a 40-20 game, with a 42-point, 20-rebound effort against Indiana. He averaged a career-high 29.9 points that year, falling just five points short of averaging 30 per contest. Bird also won his third consecutive NBA Long Distance Shootout title, a feat later matched by [[Chicago Bulls]]' [[Craig Hodges]] from 1990-1992.
  
−
Despite the intensity of their rivalry, Bird and Johnson became friends off the court. Their friendship blossomed when the two players worked together to film the 1986 Converse commercial, which depicted them as archenemies. Johnson appeared at Bird's retirement ceremony on February 4 1993 and emotionally described Bird as a "friend forever."
+
===Bird vs Magic===
 +
Throughout the 1980s, contests between the Celtics and the Lakers, both during the regular season and in the Finals, attracted enormous television audiences. The first regular season game between the Celtics and the Lakers in the 1987-1988 season proved to be a classic with Magic Johnson banking in an off balance shot from near the 3-point line at the buzzer for a 115-114 Lakers win at [Boston Garden]]. The historical rift between the teams, who faced each other several times in championship series of the 1960s, fueled fan interest in the rivalry. Not since Russell squared off against Chamberlain had professional basketball enjoyed such a marquee matchup. The apparent contrast between the two players and their respective teams seemed scripted for television: Bird, the introverted small-town hero with the blue-collar work ethic, fitted perfectly with the throwback, hard-nosed style of the Celtics, while the stylish, gregarious Johnson ran the Lakers' fast-paced "Showtime" offense amidst the bright lights and celebrities of [[Los Angeles, California|Los Angeles]]. A 1986 [[Converse]] commercial for its "Weapon" line of basketball shoes (endorsed by both Bird and Johnson) reflected the perceived dichotomy between the two players. In the commercial, Bird is practicing alone on a rural basketball court when Johnson pulls up in a sleek [[limousine]] and challenges him to a one-on-one match.
  
−
=== 1988–1992: The twilight years ===
+
Despite the intensity of their rivalry, Bird and Johnson became friends off the court. Their friendship blossomed when the two players worked together to film the 1986 Converse commercial, which depicted them as archenemies. Johnson appeared at Bird's retirement ceremony on February 4, 1993 and emotionally described Bird as a "friend forever."
−
In 1988, Bird had the best statistical season of his career, but the Celtics failed to reach the NBA Finals for the first time in four years, losing to the Pistons in six games during the Eastern Conference Finals. Bird started the [[1988-89 NBA season|1988–89 season]] with Boston, but ended his season after six games to have bone spurs surgically removed from both of his heels. He returned to the Celtics in 1989, but debilitating back problems and an aging Celtic roster prevented him from regaining his mid-1980s form. Nonetheless, through the final years of his career, Bird maintained his status as one of the premier players in the game. He averaged over 20 points, 9 rebounds and 7 assists a game in his last three seasons with the Celtics, and shot better than 45% from the field in each. Bird led the Celtics to playoff appearances in each of those three seasons.  
 
  
−
Bird's body, however, continued to break down. He had been bothered by back problems for years, and his back became progressively worse. After leading the Celtics to a 29-5 start to the [[1990-91 NBA season|1990-91 season]], he missed 22 games due to a compressed nerve root in his back, a condition that would eventually lead to his retirement. He had off-season surgery to remove a disc from his back, but his back problems continued and he missed 37 games during the [[1991-92 NBA season|1991–92 season]]. During the 1992 [[Eastern Conference (NBA)|Eastern Conference]] semi-finals against the [[Cleveland Cavaliers]] Bird missed 4 of 7 games in the series due to his back problems.  
+
==Final years==
 +
In 1988, Bird had the best statistical season of his career, but the Celtics failed to reach the NBA Finals for the first time in four years, losing to the Pistons in six games during the Eastern Conference Finals. Bird started the 1988–1989 season with Boston, but ended his season after six games to have [[bone spur]]s surgically removed from both of his heels. He returned to the Celtics in 1989, but debilitating back problems and an aging Celtic roster prevented him from regaining his mid-1980s form. Nonetheless, through the final years of his career, Bird maintained his status as one of the premier players in the game. He averaged over 20 points, 9 rebounds and 7 assists a game in his last three seasons with the Celtics, and shot better than 45 percent from the field in each. Bird led the Celtics to playoff appearances in each of those three seasons.
 +
 
 +
Bird's body, however, continued to break down. He had been bothered by back problems for years, and his back became progressively worse. After leading the Celtics to a 29-5 start to the 1990-91 season, he missed 22 games due to a compressed [[nerve]] root in his back, a condition that would eventually lead to his retirement. He had off-season surgery to remove a disc from his back, but his back problems continued and he missed 37 games during the 1991–92 season. During the 1992 [[Eastern Conference (NBA)|Eastern Conference]] semi-finals against the [[Cleveland Cavaliers]] Bird missed 4 of 7 games in the series due to his back problems.  
  
 
{{MedalTop}}  
 
{{MedalTop}}  
Line 96: Line 101:
 
{{MedalGold|[[1992 Summer Olympics|1992 Barcelona]] | [[Basketball at the 1992 Summer Olympics|National team]]}}
 
{{MedalGold|[[1992 Summer Olympics|1992 Barcelona]] | [[Basketball at the 1992 Summer Olympics|National team]]}}
 
{{MedalBottom}}
 
{{MedalBottom}}
−
In the summer of 1992, Bird joined [[Magic Johnson]], [[Michael Jordan]] and other [[National Basketball Association|NBA]] stars to play for the [[United States]] [[United States men's national basketball team|basketball team]] in that year's [[1992 Summer Olympics|Olympics]] in [[Barcelona]], [[Spain]]. It was the first time in America's Olympic history that the country sent professional basketball players to compete. The "[[United States national basketball team#1992 The Dream Team|Dream Team]]" easily won the men's basketball gold medal.
+
In the summer of 1992, Bird joined [[Magic Johnson]], [[Michael Jordan]] and other [[National Basketball Association|NBA]] stars to play for the [[United States]] [[United States men's national basketball team|basketball team]] in that year's [[1992 Summer Olympics]] in [[Barcelona]], [[Spain]]. It was the first time in America's [[Olympics|Olympic]] history that the country sent professional basketball players to compete. The "[[United States national basketball team#1992 The Dream Team|Dream Team]]" easily won the men's basketball gold medal.
  
−
Following his Olympic experience, on August 18, 1992, Bird announced his retirement as an [[National Basketball Association|NBA]] player. He finished his career with averages of more than 24 points, 10 rebounds and 6 assists per game, while shooting 49.6% from the field, 88.6% from the free throw line and 37.6% from three-point range. Following Bird's departure, the Celtics promptly retired his jersey number "33."
+
Following his Olympic experience, on August 18, 1992, Bird announced his retirement as an [[National Basketball Association|NBA]] player. He finished his career with averages of more than 24 points, 10 rebounds and 6 assists per game, while shooting 49.6 percent from the field, 88.6 percent from the free throw line and 37.6 percent from three-point range. Following Bird's departure, the Celtics promptly retired his jersey number "33."
  
 
=== NBA career after retirement ===
 
=== NBA career after retirement ===
−
The Celtics employed Bird as a special assistant in the team's front office from 1992 until 1997. In 1997, Bird accepted the position of coach of the [[Indiana Pacers]]. Despite having no previous coaching experience, Bird led the Pacers to an Eastern Conference championship in 2000 and two Eastern Conference runner-up finishes the previous two seasons. He was named the [[NBA Coach of the Year Award|NBA Coach of the Year]] for the [[1997-98 NBA season|1998 season]].
+
The Celtics employed Bird as a special assistant in the team's front office from 1992 until 1997. In 1997, Bird accepted the position of coach of the [[Indiana Pacers]]. Despite having no previous coaching experience, Bird led the Pacers to an Eastern Conference championship in 2000 and two Eastern Conference runner-up finishes the previous two seasons. He was named the [[NBA Coach of the Year Award|NBA Coach of the Year]] for the 1997-1998 NBA season.
  
−
Bird resigned as Pacers coach shortly after the end of the [[1999-2000 NBA season|2000 season]]. In 2003, he returned as the Pacers' President of Basketball Operations, where he oversees team personnel and coaching moves, as well as the team's draft selections.
+
Bird resigned as Pacers coach shortly after the end of the 1999-2000 NBA season. In 2003, he returned as the Pacers' President of Basketball Operations, where he oversees team personnel and coaching moves, as well as the team's draft selections.
  
 
==== Coaching record ====
 
==== Coaching record ====
Line 111: Line 116:
 
* 2000: 56–26, Eastern Conference Champions
 
* 2000: 56–26, Eastern Conference Champions
  
−
== Legacy ==
+
==Achievements==
−
:"''Larry, you only told me one lie. You said there will be another Larry Bird. Larry, there will never, ever be another Larry Bird.''"—Magic Johnson, as quoted at Bird's retirement party.<ref>[http://www.nba.com/history/Classic_NBA_Quotes_Index.html NBA.com]. Retrieved June 2, 2008.</ref>
+
Bird is remembered as one of the foremost clutch performers in the history of the [[National Basketball Association|NBA]]. Few players have performed as brilliantly in critical moments of games.  
  
−
Bird's humble roots led to his most frequently used moniker, "'''The Hick From French Lick'''." Other observers called him "The Great White Hope." [[Bill Simmons]] of ESPN's Page Two column refers to Bird as "the Basketball Jesus."
+
* In Game 7 of the 1981 Eastern Conference finals against the rival [[Philadelphia 76ers]], The Sixers led all game. Inside the final minute, Boston and Philadelphia were tied 89–89 when Bird sank a fast-break mid-range pull-up bank shot with his left hand. That basket put the Celtics up 91-89. The Sixers had a chance to win the game, but threw away the lob inbounds pass intended for [[Julius Erving]]. The Celtics' 91-90 win put them into the NBA finals for the first time since 1976 and they would go on to win the NBA championship in the Finals, beating the [[Houston Rockets]] in six games. In the late stages of the game, Bird also had two key steals, two free throws made, a rebound, and a blocked shot.  
  
−
== Player profile ==
+
* In 1985 (January 27th), Larry Bird hit a baseline jumper at the buzzer while falling out of bounds to give the Celtics a 128-127 win over Portland.
−
Bird, a versatile wing man who played the power forward and small forward positions, is considered as one of the greatest wing players of all time, to which his twelve All-Star team nominations are a testament. The versatile, sharpshooting Bird made his name stepping up his performance in critical situations, and is credited with a long list of dominating games, [[buzzer beater]]s and clutch defensive plays. He won two NBA Finals MVP and three regular-season MVP awards, something only five other players in the history of the NBA have accomplished. He won them all in a row a feat only shared by [[Bill Russell]] and [[Wilt Chamberlain]].
 
  
−
Bird possessed an uncanny and unparalleled ability to anticipate and react to the strategies of his opponents. His talent for recognizing the moves of opponents and teammates prompted his first coach with the Celtics, [[Bill Fitch]], to nickname him "[[Eastman Kodak|Kodak]]," because he seemed to formulate mental pictures of every play that took place on the court.
+
* In the series-clinching Game 6 of the 1986 Finals, Bird recorded a [[triple-double]] of 29 points, 11 rebounds and 12 assists.
  
−
Bird scored 24.3 points per game in his career on a high .496 field goal average, a stellar .886 free throw average (9th best all-time) and a 37.6 percentage on 3-point shots. Bird was also a good rebounder (10.0 rebound career average) and an excellent playmaker (6.3 assist career average). His multidimensional game made him a consistent [[triple-double]] threat; Bird currently ranks fifth all-time in triple-doubles with 59, not including the 10 he recorded in the playoffs. Bird's lifetime player efficiency rating (PER) is 23.5, 16th all-time, a further testament to his all around game.<ref>[http://www.basketball-reference.com/leaders/PER_career.html Career Leaders and Records for Player Efficiency Rating - Basketball-Reference.com<!-- Bot generated title —>]. Retrieved June 2, 2008.</ref> Bird's high free throw percentage is due in no small part to the fact that when he was a boy, he used to shoot 200 free throws before school, ''every day,'' according to a late 1990s Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance commercial with Larry himself.
+
* In Game 5 of the 1987 Eastern Conference Finals against the [[Detroit Pistons]], with six seconds remaining in the fourth quarter and Boston trailing the Pistons 107–106, Bird stole the inbounds pass from [[Isiah Thomas]]. Falling out of bounds, Bird turned and passed the ball to teammate [[Dennis Johnson]], who was cutting to the basket and converted a 2-point layup with less than a second left. The Pistons called a timeout but had no chance of getting off a shot. The dramatic play saved the series for the Celtics who won in 7 games, and they advanced to the Finals.
−
 
−
Bird is also remembered as an excellent defender. While he was neither fast or quick-footed, and could not always shut down an individual player one-on-one, he consistently displayed a knack for anticipating the moves of his opponent, allowing him to intercept passes and create turnovers. His 1,556 career steals ranks 27th all-time.<ref>[http://www.basketball-reference.com/leaders/STL_career.html Career Leaders and Records for Steals - Basketball-Reference.com<!-- Bot generated title —>]. Retrieved June 2, 2008.</ref> Unspectacular but effective defensive moves, such as jumping into a passing lane to make a steal or allowing his man to step past and drive to the hoop, then blocking the opponent's shot from behind, were staples of Bird's defensive game. In recognition of his defensive abilities, Bird was named to three All-Defensive Second Teams.  
 
  
−
Statistics aside, Bird was perhaps best known as a fierce competitor and outstanding team leader. His former teammates frequently said that he elevated their level of play through his selflessness and leadership.{{Fact|date=August 2007}} 
+
* In a game in [[Washington, D. C.]] against the [[Washington Wizards|Bullets]] in 1987, the Celtics trailed the Bullets by 3 points with 6 seconds remaining in regulation. A three-pointer by Bird had been waved off because their coach, [[K. C. Jones]], had already called a timeout. Bird then made another three-pointer to send the game into overtime. When the Celtics trailed by two points near the end of the first overtime, Bird was fouled and converted both free throws. In the second overtime, trailing by 1 point with 2 seconds remaining, Bird made a buzzer-beating running shot to win the game, 140–139.
  
−
Bird's competitive nature often emerged in nearly constant [[trash-talk]]ing on the court. Some notable examples follow:
+
* In Game 7 of the 1988 Eastern Conference semifinals against the [[Atlanta Hawks]], Bird shot 9 of 10 from the floor in the fourth quarter, scoring 20 points in that quarter and lifting the Celtics to a series-clinching victory over Atlanta. This effort foiled a 45 point performance by [[Dominique Wilkins]] in the same game.
  
−
* During the three-point shooting contest on All-Star Weekend 1986, Bird entered the locker room, looked around without saying a word, then finally said, "I'm just looking around to see who's gonna finish up second." He won the shooting contest.
+
* On March 31, 1991, the Celtics played a double overtime game with the [[Chicago Bulls]] in their last meeting of the season. In the second overtime period, Bird scored 9 points on 4 of 5 shooting from the field and helped the Celtics beat the Bulls, 135–132. Many called this particular game Bird's finest performance against [[Michael Jordan]].
  
−
* [[Reggie Miller]] recalled his encounter with Larry Bird's legendary trash talking ability in his book "I Love Being The Enemy." Reggie tried to disrupt Larry's concentration when he was shooting free throws late in a game. Larry glared at him, made the first free throw and said, "Rook, I am the best shooter in the league. In the league, understand? And you're up here trying to tell me something?" Then Larry buried the second free throw.
+
* In the last seconds of a nationally-televised regular season game with the [[Portland Trail Blazers]] in March 1992, Bird sent the game into overtime with an off balance running one-handed three-point shot. Bird tallied 49 points, 14 rebounds, 12 assists and 4 steals for his 59th and final career triple-double in what many fans called his last great game in the NBA. The Celtics won in double overtime over the Blazers, 152–148. Bird's 49 points stands as the NBA record for most points scored while registering a triple-double.  
  
−
* Late in a tied game against the [[Seattle SuperSonics]], Bird told Supersonics forward [[Xavier McDaniel]], who was guarding him, exactly where he would hit the game winning shot. After a timeout, Bird made two baseline cuts, then posted in the exact spot he had indicated to McDaniel, paused, turned, and hit the shot in his face.<ref>[http://www.nba.com/news/birdat50.html NBA.com Happy 50th, Larry Legend<!-- Bot generated title —>]. Retrieved June 2, 2008.</ref>
+
* On March 30, 1983, Bird scored 53 points against the [[Indiana Pacers]] to set the Celtic record for highest scoring output in a game by an individual player (the previous record belonged to [[Sam Jones (basketball)|Sam Jones]] who scored 51 points against the [[Detroit Pistons]] on October 29, 1965). Bird also set the franchise record for most points scored in a quarter with 24 points in the third quarter which has since been equaled by [[Todd Day]] against the [[Minnesota Timberwolves]] on December 22, 1995.  
  
−
* On November 9, 1984, Bird was ejected along with [[Julius Erving]] in the third quarter after an on court scuffle. At the point of both ejections, Bird had outscored Erving 42 to 6. Eventually a shoving match ensued, then swings taken by both players, and finally a bench-clearing brawl.{{Fact|date=August 2007}}
+
* On February 18, 1985, Bird registered a triple double (30 points, 12 rebounds, 10 assists) and also had 9 steals in three quarters of play against the [[Utah Jazz]]. Bird sat out the fourth quarter, as the Celtics led 90–66 after the third quarter and won the game 110–94. When asked by reporters if he actually wanted to play in the 4th quarter to get the quadruple double, Bird said "What for? I already did enough damage to them."
  
−
== Memorable moments ==
+
* On March 12, 1985, Bird scored 60 points against the Atlanta Hawks to reclaim the record for highest scoring output in a game by a Celtic, just nine days after teammate Kevin McHale broke Bird's previous record by scoring 56 points against the Detroit Pistons.
−
Bird is remembered as one of the foremost clutch performers in the history of the [[National Basketball Association|NBA]]. Few players have performed as brilliantly in critical moments of games.  
 
  
−
* In Game 7 of the 1981 Eastern Conference finals against the rival [[Philadelphia 76ers]], The Sixers led all game. Inside the final minute, Boston and Philadelphia were tied 89–89 when Bird sank a fast-break mid-range pull-up bank shot with his left hand, a very difficult shot to execute under intense pressure. That basket put the Celtics up 91-89. The Sixers had a chance to win the game, but threw away the lob inbounds pass intended for Julius Erving. The Celtics' 91-90 win put them into the NBA finals for the first time since 1976 and they would go on to win the NBA championship in the Finals, beating the Houston Rockets in 6 games. In the late stages of the game, Bird also had two key steals, two free throws made, a rebound, and a blocked shot.  
+
* On April 1, 1987, Bird registered a triple double (17 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists) by halftime against the Washington Bullets. He finished the game with 30 points, 17 rebounds, and 15 assists.
  
−
* In 1985 (January 27th), Larry Bird hit an amazing baseline jumper at the buzzer while falling out of bounds to give the Celtics a 128-127 win over Portland.
+
* On November 11, 1987, Bird completed the first 40 point–20 rebound game in Celtics history against the Indiana Pacers.
−
 
 
−
* In the series-clinching Game 6 of the 1986 Finals, Bird recorded a [[triple-double]] of 29 points, 11 rebounds and 12 assists.
 
  
−
* In Game 5 of the 1987 Eastern Conference Finals against the [[Detroit Pistons]], with six seconds remaining in the fourth quarter and Boston trailing the Pistons 107–106, Bird stole an inbound pass from [[Isiah Thomas]] that was intended for [[Bill Laimbeer]]. Falling out of bounds, Bird turned and passed the ball to teammate [[Dennis Johnson]], who was cutting to the basket and converted a 2-point layup with less than a second left. The Pistons called a timeout but had no chance of getting off a shot. The dramatic play saved the series for the Celtics who won in 7 games, and they advanced to the Finals.
+
* On November 10, 1989, Bird scored 50 points against the [[Atlanta Hawks]] to register his fourth and final 50 point game in his career. Bird's four career 50 point games stand as the record for most 50 point games by a Celtic.  
  
−
* In a game in [[Washington, D.C.|Washington]] against the [[Washington Wizards|Bullets]] in 1987, the Celtics trailed the Bullets by 3 points with 6 seconds remaining in regulation. A three-pointer by Bird had been waved off because their coach, [[K. C. Jones]], had already called a timeout. Bird then made another three-pointer to send the game into overtime. When the Celtics trailed by two points near the end of the first overtime, Bird was fouled and converted both free throws. In the second overtime, trailing by 1 point with 2 seconds remaining, Bird made a buzzer-beating running shot to win the game, 140–139.
+
* Bird recorded three 40 point triple double games in his professional career. The first was on February 14, 1986 in an overtime win against the Portland Trailblazers. He finished that game with 47 points, 14 rebounds, and 11 assists. The second occurred on December 13, 1989 in a win over the [[Seattle Supersonics]] (40 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists). The last was in a double overtime win against the Portland Trailblazers on March 15, 1992 where Bird finished with 49 points (the record for most points scored while recording a triple double), 14 rebounds, and 12 assists.  
  
−
* In Game 7 of the 1988 Eastern Conference semifinals against the [[Atlanta Hawks]], Bird shot 9 of 10 from the floor in the fourth quarter, scoring 20 points in that quarter and lifting the Celtics to a series-clinching victory over Atlanta. This effort foiled a 45 point performance by Dominique Wilkins in the same game.
+
Bird also totaled 69 triple doubles (59 regular season and 10 postseason) which stands behind [[Oscar Robertson]], Magic Johnson, [[Wilt Chamberlain]], and [[Jason Kidd]] for 5th most all-time.
  
−
* On March 311991, the Celtics played a double overtime game with the Chicago Bulls in their last meeting of the season. In the second overtime period, Bird scored 9 points on 4 of 5 shooting from the field and helped the Celtics beat the Bulls, 135–132. Many called this particular game Bird's finest performance against Michael Jordan.
+
==Legacy==
 +
During Bird's retirement ceremony [[Magic Johnson]] said, ''Larry, you only told me one lie. You said there will be another Larry Bird. Larry, there will never, ever be another Larry Bird.''<ref>[https://nesn.com/2011/08/relive-the-moment-larry-birds-retirement-ceremony/ Relive the Moment: Larry Bird Enjoys Retirement Ceremony Alongside Long-Time Rival Magic Johnson at Boston Garden] ''NESN'', August 20, 2011. Retrieved December 11, 2019.</ref>
  
−
* In the last seconds of a nationally-televised regular season game with the [[Portland Trail Blazers]] in March 1992, Bird sent the game into overtime with an off balance running one-handed three-point shot. Bird tallied 49 points, 14 rebounds, 12 assists and 4 steals for his 59th and final career triple-double in what many fans called his last great game in the NBA. The Celtics won in double overtime over the Blazers, 152–148. Bird's 49 points stands as the NBA record for most points scored while registering a triple-double.  
+
During his career, he was featured on the cover of ''Sports Illustrated'' [[magazine]] 11 times, including the cover of the special "40 For the Ages" commemorative issue, featuring the best 40 athletes in the last 40 years.<ref name=aei>[https://aeispeakers.com/speakers/larry-bird/ Larry Bird] ''Aie Speakers Bureau''. Retrieved December 11, 2019.</ref>
  
−
* [[Michael Jordan]], who may have followed Bird as the league's most feared clutch player through his heroics with the [[Chicago Bulls]], once was asked who he would want to take a shot with the game on the line, other than himself. Before the question could be finished, Jordan quickly responded, "Larry Bird."<ref>''Sports Illustrated'', June 212005. Retrieved June 2, 2008.</ref>
+
Larry's inspiring accomplishments, dedication to excellence and personal drive were featured prominently in the television programming presented by the NBA in their 50th Anniversary celebration during the 1996-1997 basketball season.  
  
−
* On August 181992, Larry Bird announced his retirement during the day. At Fenway Park the [[Red Sox]] were playing the Anaheim Angels, [[Roger Clemens]] had a very small 33 on his hat as a mark of respect. Angels manager John Wathan immediately protested, saying the hat did not meet regulations. The crowd booed relentlessly, chanting "Larry, Larry, Larry."  Clemens threw his hat into the dugout in disgust when told it was not allowed. He then proceeded to throw a 4-hit complete game for an 8-0 victory.<ref>[http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/BOS/BOS199208180.shtml August 18, 1992 California Angels at Boston Red Sox Play by Play and Box Score - Baseball-Reference.com<!-- Bot generated title —>]. Retrieved June 2, 2008.</ref>
+
He was inducted into the Indiana State University Hall of Fame in August of 1999, and in that same month he was honored as an ''Indiana Living Legend'' by the Indiana Historical Society.
  
−
== Memorable games ==
+
Larry Bird worked as hard off the court as on, becoming a highly desirable corporate and commercial spokesman for a selected number of major business and brand names, including: [[McDonald's]], [[H.J. Heinz]], [[Microsoft]], [[Gatorade]], [[Hewlett Packard]], [[Nestle]], [[Kraft]], [[Kellogg's]], [[General Mills]], and [[Pepsi]]/Mountain Dew.  
−
* On March 30, 1983, Bird scored 53 points against the Indiana Pacers to set the Celtic record for highest scoring output in a game by an individual player (the previous record belonged to [[Sam Jones (basketball)|Sam Jones]] who scored 51 points against the Detroit Pistons on October 29, 1965). Bird also set the franchise record for most points scored in a quarter with 24 points in the third quarter which has since been equaled by Todd Day against the Minnesota Timberwolves on December 22, 1995.  
 
  
−
* On February 18, 1985, Bird registered a triple double (30 points, 12 rebounds, 10 assists) and also had 9 steals in three quarters of play against the Utah Jazz. Bird sat out the fourth quarter, as the Celtics led 90–66 after the third quarter and won the game 110–94. When asked by reporters if he actually wanted to play in the 4th quarter to get the quadruple double, Bird said "What for?  I already did enough damage to them."
+
He also worked on behalf of numerous charities, including the [[Boys and Girls Club]] of Terre Haute, Indiana and the Daniel Marr Boys and Girls Club in [[Boston]]. Additionally, Bird requested that all of the proceeds from his successful retirement ceremony held at the [[Boston Garden]] in 1992 be shared among 25 Boston charities, thus generating well over a million dollars in revenues to be distributed among them.<ref name=aei/>
  
−
* On March 12, 1985, Bird scored 60 points against the Atlanta Hawks to reclaim the record for highest scoring output in a game by a Celtic, just nine days after teammate Kevin McHale broke Bird's previous record by scoring 56 points against the Detroit Pistons.
+
NBA TV devoted a whole day's worth of programming to chronicling Bird's career on his 50th birthday in 2006.
  
−
* On April 1, 1987, Bird registered a triple double (17 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists) by halftime against the Washington Bullets. He finished the game with 30 points, 17 rebounds, and 15 assists.
+
==Notes==
 +
<references/>
  
−
* On November 11, 1987, Bird completed the first 40 point–20 rebound game in Celtics history against the Indiana Pacers.
 
−
 
−
* On November 10, 1989, Bird scored 50 points against the Atlanta Hawks to register his fourth and final 50 point game in his career. Bird's four career 50 point games stand as the record for most 50 point games by a Celtic.
 
−
 
−
* Bird recorded three 40 point triple double games in his professional career. The first was on February 14, 1986 in an overtime win against the Portland Trailblazers. He finished that game with 47 points, 14 rebounds, and 11 assists. The second occurred on December 13, 1989 in a win over the Seattle Supersonics (40 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists). The last was in a double overtime win against the Portland Trailblazers on March 15, 1992 where Bird finished with 49 points (the record for most points scored while recording a triple double), 14 rebounds, and 12 assists. Bird also totaled 69 triple doubles (59 regular season and 10 postseason) which stands behind [[Oscar Robertson]], Magic Johnson, [[Wilt Chamberlain]], and [[Jason Kidd]] for 5th most all-time.
 
−
 
−
==In popular culture==
 
−
{{trivia|date=February 2008}}
 
−
* In October 2005, a man in [[Oklahoma City]], Eric James Torpy, was convicted of shooting with intent to kill and robbery. He asked that his sentence be changed from 30 years imprisonment to 33 so that it would match Bird's jersey number. His request was granted.<ref>[http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2198534 Felon gets longer sentence to match Bird jersey], published October 20, 2005. Retrieved June 2, 2008.</ref>
 
−
* Bird has his own shoe brand named "33's," or Birds, made by [[Skechers]]. They have a logo of him shooting on the back and the number 33 on each side.<ref>[http://www.zappos.com/gs/bird-33-boys-shoes.shtml Bird 33 Boys - Athletic - Free Shipping Both Ways & 365-Day Return Policy<!-- Bot generated title —>]. Retrieved June 2, 2008.</ref>
 
−
* Bird has appeared in three movies, ''[[Blue Chips]]'', released in 1994 by [[Paramount Pictures|Paramount]], the [[Warner Brothers]] film ''[[Space Jam]]'' with [[Michael Jordan]] and [[Bill Murray]] in 1996, and ''[[Celtic Pride]]'' with Dan Aykroyd, Daniel Stern, and Damon Wayans, which was also released in 1996.<ref>[http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0083399/ Larry Bird - IMDB.com Profile]. Retrieved June 2, 2008.</ref>
 
−
* Bird has appeared in several video games. In [[NBA 2K]] and [[NBA Live Series]], he is a member of the 80's Legends Team. In [[College Hoops 2K7]] and NCAA 7 March Madness, Bird appears on the historic team as a member of the 1978-79 Indiana State Sycamores team. In [[One on One: Dr. J vs. Larry Bird]] (a popular 1983 title for the Apple II and Commodore 64) Bird plays opposite Julius Erving in a game of one-on-one. [[Jordan vs Bird: One on One]] was a 1988 basketball video game for the Mega Drive/Genesis, the Nintendo Entertainment System, the Commodore 64, and the PC. It was the sequel to One on One: Dr. J vs. Larry Bird.
 
−
* Shortly after his retirement, McDonald's featured the "Big 33" burger, celebrating Bird's legacy.{{Fact|date=August 2007}}
 
−
* [[World Wrestling Entertainment]] (WWE) wrestler [[John Cena]] often wore a [[Boston Celtics]] jersey with Bird on the back during his 2004 tenure.
 
−
* In the [[Adult Swim]] cartoon, ''[[Squidbillies]]'', the sheriff tells the titular characters that Larry Bird invented the [[Slam Dunk]], calling it a "signature white move." He uses a tattoo of Bird delivering a slam dunk (which covers his entire right leg) to further articulate his story.
 
−
*In the Adult Swim Cartoon ''[[The Boondocks]]'' Uncle Ruckus taunts Riley saying all the best basketball players have always been white and then makes mention of Larry Bird.
 
−
* In an episode of ''[[It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia]]'', Charlie and Dennis keep insulting Dee by calling her Larry Bird. When Dee shoots back that they are Larry Bird, they take it as a compliment.
 
−
* In boy band LFO's hit, "[[Summer Girls]]," the lyrics refer to "the great Larry Bird jersey 33".<ref>[http://www.lyricscafe.com/l/lfo/summergirls.html LFO "Summer Girls"]. Retrieved June 2, 2008.</ref>
 
−
* In the movie ''Space Jam'', Bill Murray ponders why he can't play in the NBA. Bill Murray: "It's because I'm white, isn't it?" Michael Jordan: "Larry's white..." Bill Murray: "Larry's not white. Larry's clear."
 
−
* In an episode of ''[[The Larry Sanders Show]]'', late-night talk show host Larry Sanders cracks a joke during his monologue about Larry Bird's retirement: "Larry Bird announced that he is retiring because he realized he was white."
 
−
* In an episode of ''[[Family Guy]]'', after beating Chris at basketball Peter Griffin remarks "Hey, I'm the white Larry Bird!"
 
−
* The band [[Dispatch (band)]] has a song called "Just Like Larry" about Larry Bird, who is their hometown hero from his days as a member of the [[Boston Celtics]].<ref>[http://www.songmeanings.net/lyric.php?lid=19990 SongMeanings | lyrics | Dispatch - Just Like Larry<!-- Bot generated title —>]. Retrieved June 2, 2008.</ref>
 
−
* Bird was one of the several NBA legends mentioned in [[Kurtis Blow]]'s song [[Basketball]]
 
−
 
−
==See also==
 
−
{{portalpar|Indiana|Flag of Indiana.svg|50}}
 
−
* [[List of National Basketball Association players with 60 or more points in a game]]
 
−
 
−
==Notes==
 
−
{{reflist}}
 
 
==References==
 
==References==
 +
*Bird, Larry, and Bob Ryan. ''Drive: The Story of My Life.'' New York: Doubleday, 1989. ISBN 0385249217
 +
*Bird, Larry, and Jackie MacMullan. ''Bird Watching: On Playing and Coaching the Game I Love.'' New York: Warner Books, 1999. ISBN 0446524646
 +
*Bird, Larry, and John Bischoff. ''Bird on Basketball: How-to Strategies from the Great Celtics Champion''. Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley, 1986. ISBN 0201106671
 +
*Connelly, Michael. ''Rebound!: Basketball, Busing, Larry Bird, and the Rebirth of Boston.'' Minneapolis: MBI Pub. Co., 2008 ISBN 9780760335017
 +
*''Larry Bird, An Indiana Legend.'' Champaign, IL: Sports Pub., 1999. ISBN 1582610088
 +
*Levine, Lee Daniel. ''Bird: The Making of an American Sports Legend.'' New York: McGraw-Hill, 1988. ISBN 0070374775
  
 
==External links==
 
==External links==
−
{{wikiquote}}
+
All links retrieved October 22, 2022.
−
* [http://espn.go.com/sportscentury/features/00014096.html Sportscentury's 30th greatest athlete of all time] provided by ESPN.com. Retrieved June 2, 2008.
+
* [http://www.espn.com/sportscentury/features/00014096.html Plain and simple, Bird one of the best] by Larry Schwartz, ''ESPN.com''.
−
*[http://www.nba.com/playoffs2005/legendsseries_bird.html NBA.com: Where Legends Are Born]. Retrieved June 2, 2008.
+
* [http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/birdla01.html Career Stats] ''Basketball-reference.com.''
−
*[http://www.nba.com/history/players/bird_bio.html NBA History]. Retrieved June 2, 2008.
 
−
*[http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/nba/1998/bird/flashbacks/1988flash.html CNN/Sports Illustrated: A Player for the Ages]. Retrieved June 2, 2008.
 
−
* 1979 [http://www.oscarrobertsontrophy.org/content/view/14/17/ Oscar Robertson Trophy]. Retrieved June 2, 2008.
 
−
* [http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/birdla01.html Career Stats], courtesy of basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 2, 2008.
 
−
*[http://www.mreplay.com/search_result.php?search_id=larry+bird&search_typ=search_videos&x=47&y=3 Videos of Larry Bird on mReplay.com]. Retrieved June 2, 2008.
 
  
−
{{start box}}
 
−
{{succession box|title=[[Naismith College Player of the Year]] (Men)|years=1979|before=[[Alfred Lee (basketball)|Alfred Lee]]|after=[[Mark Aguirre]]}}
 
−
{{succession box|title=[[John R. Wooden Award]] (Men)|years=1979|before=[[Phil Ford]]|after=[[Darrell Griffith]]}}
 
−
{{succession box|title=[[NBA Rookie of the Year Award|NBA Rookie of the Year]]|years=[[1979-80 NBA season|1979-80]]|before=[[Phil Ford]]|after=[[Darrell Griffith]]}}
 
−
{{succession box|title=[[National Basketball Association All-Star Game|NBA All-Star Game Most Valuable Player]]|years=1982|before=[[Nate Archibald]]|after=[[Julius Erving]]}}
 
−
{{succession box|title=[[NBA Most Valuable Player Award|NBA Most Valuable Player]] |years=[[1983-84 NBA season|1983-84]]<br/>[[1984-85 NBA season|1984-85]]<br/>[[1985-86 NBA season|1985-86]]|before=[[Moses Malone]]|after=[[Magic Johnson]]}}
 
−
{{succession box|title=[[NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award|NBA Finals Most Valuable Player]] |years=1984<br/>1986|before=[[Moses Malone]]<br/>[[Kareem Abdul-Jabbar]]|after=Kareem Abdul-Jabbar<br/>[[Magic Johnson]]}}
 
−
{{succession box | before = [[Dwight Gooden]] | title = [[Associated Press Athlete of the Year|Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year]] | years = [[1986 in sports|1986]] | after = [[Ben Johnson (sprinter)|Ben Johnson]]}}
 
−
{{succession box | title=[[Indiana Pacers]] Head Coach | before=[[Larry Brown (basketball)|Larry Brown]] | years=1997&ndash;2000| after= [[Isiah Thomas]]
 
−
}}
 
−
{{end box}}
 
  
 
{{NBA50}}
 
{{NBA50}}
  
−
 
−
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bird, Larry}}
 
 
[[Category:Biography]]
 
[[Category:Biography]]
 
[[Category:Art, music, literature, sports and leisure]]
 
[[Category:Art, music, literature, sports and leisure]]
 
[[Category:Basketball]]
 
[[Category:Basketball]]
−
[[Category:Professional athletes]]
+
[[Category:Athletes and sports professionals]]
 +
[[Category:Living people]]
 
{{Credit|216587312}}
 
{{Credit|216587312}}

Latest revision as of 22:36, 22 October 2022

Larry Bird
Larrybird.jpg
Larry Bird
Position(s):
Small forward 		Jersey #(s):
33
Born: December 7 1956 (1956-12-07) (age 67)
West Baden Springs, Indiana
Career information
Year(s): 1979–1992
NBA Draft: 1978 / Round: 1 / Pick: 6
College: Indiana State
Professional teams
  • Boston Celtics (1979–1992)
Career stats
Points     21,791
Assists     5,695
Steals     1,556
Stats @ Basketball-Reference.com
Career highlights and awards
  • 3x NBA Champion (1981, 1984, 1986)
  • 3x NBA MVP (1984-1986)
  • 2x NBA Finals MVP (1984, 1986)
  • 9x All-NBA First Team Selection (1980-1988)
  • 1x All-NBA Second Team Selection (1990)
  • 3x NBA All-Defensive Second Team Selection (1982-1984)
  • 1980 NBA Rookie of the Year
  • 1980 NBA All-Rookie Team
  • 12x All-Star (1980-1988, 1990-1992)
  • 1x NBA All-Star Game MVP (1982)
  • 3x NBA Three-Point Shootout winner (1986-1988)
  • NBA's 50th Anniversary All-Time Team
  • 1979 USBWA College Player of the Year

Larry Joe Bird (born December 7, 1956) is an American former professional basketball player, former coach, and former executive who most recently served as President of Basketball Operations for the Indiana Pacers in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Nicknamed "The Hick from French Lick," Bird is widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all time.

Drafted into the NBA by the Boston Celtics with the sixth overall pick in the 1978 NBA draft, Bird started at small forward and power forward for the Celtics for 13 seasons. Bird was a 12-time NBA All-Star and received the NBA Most Valuable Player Award three consecutive times (1984–1986). He played his entire professional career for Boston, winning three NBA championships and two NBA Finals MVP awards. Bird was also a member of the gold-medal-winning 1992 United States men's Olympic basketball team known as "The Dream Team". He was voted to the NBA's 50th Anniversary All-Time Team in 1996, was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1998, and was inducted into the Hall of Fame again in 2010 as a member of "The Dream Team."

After retiring as a player, Bird served as head coach of the Indiana Pacers from 1997 to 2000. He was named NBA Coach of the Year for the 1997-1998 season and later led the Pacers to a berth in the 2000 NBA Finals. In 2003, Bird was named President of Basketball Operations for the Pacers, holding the position until retiring in 2012. He was named NBA Executive of the Year for the 2012 season. Bird returned to the Pacers as President of Basketball Operations in 2013[1] and remained in that role until 2017.

Life

Bird was born in West Baden Springs, Indiana, the son of Georgia Kerns and Claude Joseph "Joe" Bird. He grew up in both West Baden and the adjacent town French Lick, which earned him the nickname "the Hick from French Lick" in his later basketball career. Financial troubles would plague the Bird family for most of Larry's childhood. Bird sometimes was sent to live with his grandmother due to the family's struggles.

The Bird family's struggle with poverty was compounded by the alcoholism and personal difficulties of Joe Bird. In 1975, after Bird's parents divorced, his father committed suicide.

In spite of his domestic woes, Bird had become one of the better basketball players in French Lick by his sophomore year in high school. He starred for Springs Valley High School, where he left as the school's all-time scoring leader. His picture hangs in the school, which is located on what is now Larry Bird Boulevard in French Lick.

Collegiate career

Bird received a basketball scholarship to Indiana University in 1974. However, he was overwhelmed by the size of the campus and number of students and, as he would later admit in his biographies, wasn't mentally ready for this stage of life. In his own words, he said, "My problems really began when classes started. I wasn't much of a scholar to begin with, although I had gotten a good enough grade-point average to get into college. But I certainly wasn't ready for a school the size of Indiana University." [2] He dropped out of Indiana, went home to French Lick, and worked for the sanitation department for a year. He still played basketball in community leagues and, after that year, decided to enroll at Indiana State University, where he was coached by Bob King.

Bird led the ISU Sycamores to the NCAA championship game in 1979, his senior season, only to lose to the Michigan State University Spartans, who were led by his future NBA rival, Earvin "Magic" Johnson, Jr.. The Sycamores finished the season 33–1. That year Bird won the USBWA College Player of the Year, Naismith and Wooden Awards, given to the year's top male college basketball player. After playing only three years at Indiana State, he left as the fifth-highest scorer in NCAA history. Bird finished his collegiate career with an average of 30.3 points per game.

Marriage and fatherhood

Aside from basketball, Larry Bird was a typical high school student. He dated several girls but ended up marrying Janet Condra. Although the couple was very young they married prior to attending Indiana University.[3] According to Bird, "Janet was a really nice girl, but I knew already that that we were just too different from each other to make it a really happy, meaningful relationship."[2] The results were disastrous as the marriage lasted only 11 months, but produced a daughter, Corrie. In 1998, Corrie Bird appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show and revealed that she was Bird's daughter from his first marriage though Larry had denied paternity until the mid 1980s. Corrie, like her father, played basketball in high school and attended Indiana State University, graduating with a degree in elementary education.

Although there is no correlation between the two events, Bird met his second wife, Dinah Mattingly, about the same time as the divorce with Janet. The two would later adopt a son, Connor, and have their own child, Mariah.

Pro Career

The Boston Celtics selected the 6'9," 220-pound Bird 6th overall in the 1978 NBA Draft, even though they were uncertain whether he would enter the NBA or remain at Indiana State to play his senior season. Bird ultimately decided to play his final college season at Indiana; however, the Celtics retained their exclusive rights to sign him until the 1979 Draft due to the NBA's "junior eligible" rule that existed at the time. The rule essentially allowed a collegiate player to be drafted when the player's original "entering" class was graduating and giving them one calendar year to sign them, regardless of whether they entered the NBA or decided to stay in college. Shortly before that deadline, Bird agreed to sign with the Celtics for a $650,000 a year contract, making him the highest-paid rookie in the history of the NBA up to that point. Soon thereafter, the NBA draft eligibility rules were changed to prevent teams from drafting players before they were ready to sign. The rule is called the Bird Collegiate Rule.

Larry Bird's impact on the Celtics was immediate. The Celtics were 29–53 during the 1978–79 season, but with Bird the team improved to 61–21 in the 1979–80 season, posting the league's best regular season record. Bird's collegiate rival, Magic Johnson, also had entered the NBA in 1979, joining the Los Angeles Lakers. In 1980, despite a strong rookie season from Johnson, Bird was named the league's Rookie of the Year and was voted onto the Eastern Conference All-Star team (an honor he would receive for each of his 12 full seasons in the NBA). For the 1980 season, Bird led the Celtics in scoring (21.3 points/game), rebounding (10.4 rebounds/game), steals (143), and minutes played (2,955) and was second in assists (4.5 assists/game) and three-pointers (58). Though Boston was beaten by the more athletic Philadelphia 76ers in the Eastern Conference finals that year, Bird's addition to the team had renewed the promise of Celtic glory.

Following Bird's first season, the Celtics acquired center Robert Parish and the 3rd pick in the 1980 NBA Draft via a trade with the Golden State Warriors (in exchange for the 1st and 13th picks in the draft). After the Warriors took Joe Barry Carroll with the 1st pick and the Utah Jazz chose Darrell Griffith second, the Celtics selected University of Minnesota power forward Kevin McHale. With Bird at small forward, the additions of Parish and McHale gave Boston one of the most formidable frontcourts in the history of the NBA. The three would anchor the Celtics throughout Bird's career.

In his second season, Bird led the Celtics into the playoffs, where they faced off for a second consecutive year with Julius Erving's Philadelphia 76ers. Bird helped the Celtics overcome a 3–1 deficit by winning the last 3 games by 2, 2, and 1 point margins, propelling them into the NBA Finals, where they defeated the Houston Rockets in six games. It would be the first of three championships in Bird's career, as well as the first of his five Finals appearances.

1982–1987: The Golden Age: MVPs, championships and the rivalry

The additions of Bird and Johnson rejuvenated the NBA, which had suffered from low attendance and minimal television interest through much of the 1970s. Immediately upon their entry into the league, the two players became repeating presences in the NBA Finals. Johnson's Lakers won the championship in 1980, while Bird's Celtics captured the NBA title in 1981. On cue, Johnson's Lakers wrested it back in 1982. Lakers versus Celtics, and specifically Bird versus Magic, quickly became one of the greatest rivalries in the history of professional sports as they faced off in 1984, 1985, and 1987.

In 1984, the Celtics defeated the Lakers in a seven-game Finals, winning game seven 111–102. Bird averaged 27 points and 14 rebounds a game during the series, earning the Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP) honor. Bird was also named the league regular season MVP for that year. In 1985, however, the Lakers avenged the loss, defeating the Celtics in game six of the Finals in the Boston Garden. That year, the NBA again named Bird the league MVP.

Boston would have another great season the next year, with help from another Hall of Famer, Bill Walton. Walton had been refused by the Lakers, and as a last chance, called Celtics president and general manager Red Auerbach. Auerbach was initially unwilling to take a risk on Walton, who had been plagued for years by foot injuries. However, Bird, who happened to be in Auerbach's office at the time of Walton's call, urged him to sign Walton, saying that if Walton felt he was healthy enough to play, it was all Bird needed to hear.

With Walton backing up Kevin McHale and Robert Parish, the Celtics would return to the finals in 1986, albeit not against Johnson and the Lakers, who lost in the Western Conference Finals to the Houston Rockets. The 1986 Celtic team, which finished the regular season 67–15 and defeated the Rockets in six games, is generally considered to be the best of Bird's career. Bird again was named the Finals' MVP for that year, averaging 24 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists per game for the series. He also won his third consecutive league MVP award, a feat matched only by the great Celtic center Bill Russell and the dominant Wilt Chamberlain, who played for Philadelphia and Los Angeles.

In 1987, the Celtics made their last Finals appearance of Bird's career, fighting through a difficult series against the Milwaukee Bucks and Detroit Pistons but as they reached the NBA Finals, the Celtics, plagued by injuries, lost to a dominant Lakers team which had won 65 games during the season. The Celtics ended up losing to the Lakers in six games. The Celtics would fall short in 1988 losing to the Pistons in six games in the Eastern Conference Finals as the Pistons made up from the heartbreak the previous season.

During the 1986-1987 season Bird became the first player ever to shoot at least .500 from the floor (.525) and .900 from the free throw line (.910) in the same season. He repeated the feat in 1987-1988 with .527 and .916. Also, in 1987-88, Bird was the first Celtic ever to record a 40-20 game, with a 42-point, 20-rebound effort against Indiana. He averaged a career-high 29.9 points that year, falling just five points short of averaging 30 per contest. Bird also won his third consecutive NBA Long Distance Shootout title, a feat later matched by Chicago Bulls' Craig Hodges from 1990-1992.

Bird vs Magic

Throughout the 1980s, contests between the Celtics and the Lakers, both during the regular season and in the Finals, attracted enormous television audiences. The first regular season game between the Celtics and the Lakers in the 1987-1988 season proved to be a classic with Magic Johnson banking in an off balance shot from near the 3-point line at the buzzer for a 115-114 Lakers win at [Boston Garden]]. The historical rift between the teams, who faced each other several times in championship series of the 1960s, fueled fan interest in the rivalry. Not since Russell squared off against Chamberlain had professional basketball enjoyed such a marquee matchup. The apparent contrast between the two players and their respective teams seemed scripted for television: Bird, the introverted small-town hero with the blue-collar work ethic, fitted perfectly with the throwback, hard-nosed style of the Celtics, while the stylish, gregarious Johnson ran the Lakers' fast-paced "Showtime" offense amidst the bright lights and celebrities of Los Angeles. A 1986 Converse commercial for its "Weapon" line of basketball shoes (endorsed by both Bird and Johnson) reflected the perceived dichotomy between the two players. In the commercial, Bird is practicing alone on a rural basketball court when Johnson pulls up in a sleek limousine and challenges him to a one-on-one match.

Despite the intensity of their rivalry, Bird and Johnson became friends off the court. Their friendship blossomed when the two players worked together to film the 1986 Converse commercial, which depicted them as archenemies. Johnson appeared at Bird's retirement ceremony on February 4, 1993 and emotionally described Bird as a "friend forever."

Final years

In 1988, Bird had the best statistical season of his career, but the Celtics failed to reach the NBA Finals for the first time in four years, losing to the Pistons in six games during the Eastern Conference Finals. Bird started the 1988–1989 season with Boston, but ended his season after six games to have bone spurs surgically removed from both of his heels. He returned to the Celtics in 1989, but debilitating back problems and an aging Celtic roster prevented him from regaining his mid-1980s form. Nonetheless, through the final years of his career, Bird maintained his status as one of the premier players in the game. He averaged over 20 points, 9 rebounds and 7 assists a game in his last three seasons with the Celtics, and shot better than 45 percent from the field in each. Bird led the Celtics to playoff appearances in each of those three seasons.

Bird's body, however, continued to break down. He had been bothered by back problems for years, and his back became progressively worse. After leading the Celtics to a 29-5 start to the 1990-91 season, he missed 22 games due to a compressed nerve root in his back, a condition that would eventually lead to his retirement. He had off-season surgery to remove a disc from his back, but his back problems continued and he missed 37 games during the 1991–92 season. During the 1992 Eastern Conference semi-finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers Bird missed 4 of 7 games in the series due to his back problems.

Olympic medal record
Men's basketball
Competitor for the Flag of United States United States
Gold 1992 Barcelona National team

In the summer of 1992, Bird joined Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan and other NBA stars to play for the United States basketball team in that year's 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain. It was the first time in America's Olympic history that the country sent professional basketball players to compete. The "Dream Team" easily won the men's basketball gold medal.

Following his Olympic experience, on August 18, 1992, Bird announced his retirement as an NBA player. He finished his career with averages of more than 24 points, 10 rebounds and 6 assists per game, while shooting 49.6 percent from the field, 88.6 percent from the free throw line and 37.6 percent from three-point range. Following Bird's departure, the Celtics promptly retired his jersey number "33."

NBA career after retirement

The Celtics employed Bird as a special assistant in the team's front office from 1992 until 1997. In 1997, Bird accepted the position of coach of the Indiana Pacers. Despite having no previous coaching experience, Bird led the Pacers to an Eastern Conference championship in 2000 and two Eastern Conference runner-up finishes the previous two seasons. He was named the NBA Coach of the Year for the 1997-1998 NBA season.

Bird resigned as Pacers coach shortly after the end of the 1999-2000 NBA season. In 2003, he returned as the Pacers' President of Basketball Operations, where he oversees team personnel and coaching moves, as well as the team's draft selections.

Coaching record

Indiana Pacers

  • 1998: 58–24, Eastern Conference Runner-Up
  • 1999: 33–17, Eastern Conference Runner-Up (note: season was shortened due to lockout)
  • 2000: 56–26, Eastern Conference Champions

Achievements

Bird is remembered as one of the foremost clutch performers in the history of the NBA. Few players have performed as brilliantly in critical moments of games.

  • In Game 7 of the 1981 Eastern Conference finals against the rival Philadelphia 76ers, The Sixers led all game. Inside the final minute, Boston and Philadelphia were tied 89–89 when Bird sank a fast-break mid-range pull-up bank shot with his left hand. That basket put the Celtics up 91-89. The Sixers had a chance to win the game, but threw away the lob inbounds pass intended for Julius Erving. The Celtics' 91-90 win put them into the NBA finals for the first time since 1976 and they would go on to win the NBA championship in the Finals, beating the Houston Rockets in six games. In the late stages of the game, Bird also had two key steals, two free throws made, a rebound, and a blocked shot.
  • In 1985 (January 27th), Larry Bird hit a baseline jumper at the buzzer while falling out of bounds to give the Celtics a 128-127 win over Portland.
  • In the series-clinching Game 6 of the 1986 Finals, Bird recorded a triple-double of 29 points, 11 rebounds and 12 assists.
  • In Game 5 of the 1987 Eastern Conference Finals against the Detroit Pistons, with six seconds remaining in the fourth quarter and Boston trailing the Pistons 107–106, Bird stole the inbounds pass from Isiah Thomas. Falling out of bounds, Bird turned and passed the ball to teammate Dennis Johnson, who was cutting to the basket and converted a 2-point layup with less than a second left. The Pistons called a timeout but had no chance of getting off a shot. The dramatic play saved the series for the Celtics who won in 7 games, and they advanced to the Finals.
  • In a game in Washington, D. C. against the Bullets in 1987, the Celtics trailed the Bullets by 3 points with 6 seconds remaining in regulation. A three-pointer by Bird had been waved off because their coach, K. C. Jones, had already called a timeout. Bird then made another three-pointer to send the game into overtime. When the Celtics trailed by two points near the end of the first overtime, Bird was fouled and converted both free throws. In the second overtime, trailing by 1 point with 2 seconds remaining, Bird made a buzzer-beating running shot to win the game, 140–139.
  • In Game 7 of the 1988 Eastern Conference semifinals against the Atlanta Hawks, Bird shot 9 of 10 from the floor in the fourth quarter, scoring 20 points in that quarter and lifting the Celtics to a series-clinching victory over Atlanta. This effort foiled a 45 point performance by Dominique Wilkins in the same game.
  • On March 31, 1991, the Celtics played a double overtime game with the Chicago Bulls in their last meeting of the season. In the second overtime period, Bird scored 9 points on 4 of 5 shooting from the field and helped the Celtics beat the Bulls, 135–132. Many called this particular game Bird's finest performance against Michael Jordan.
  • In the last seconds of a nationally-televised regular season game with the Portland Trail Blazers in March 1992, Bird sent the game into overtime with an off balance running one-handed three-point shot. Bird tallied 49 points, 14 rebounds, 12 assists and 4 steals for his 59th and final career triple-double in what many fans called his last great game in the NBA. The Celtics won in double overtime over the Blazers, 152–148. Bird's 49 points stands as the NBA record for most points scored while registering a triple-double.
  • On March 30, 1983, Bird scored 53 points against the Indiana Pacers to set the Celtic record for highest scoring output in a game by an individual player (the previous record belonged to Sam Jones who scored 51 points against the Detroit Pistons on October 29, 1965). Bird also set the franchise record for most points scored in a quarter with 24 points in the third quarter which has since been equaled by Todd Day against the Minnesota Timberwolves on December 22, 1995.
  • On February 18, 1985, Bird registered a triple double (30 points, 12 rebounds, 10 assists) and also had 9 steals in three quarters of play against the Utah Jazz. Bird sat out the fourth quarter, as the Celtics led 90–66 after the third quarter and won the game 110–94. When asked by reporters if he actually wanted to play in the 4th quarter to get the quadruple double, Bird said "What for? I already did enough damage to them."
  • On March 12, 1985, Bird scored 60 points against the Atlanta Hawks to reclaim the record for highest scoring output in a game by a Celtic, just nine days after teammate Kevin McHale broke Bird's previous record by scoring 56 points against the Detroit Pistons.
  • On April 1, 1987, Bird registered a triple double (17 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists) by halftime against the Washington Bullets. He finished the game with 30 points, 17 rebounds, and 15 assists.
  • On November 11, 1987, Bird completed the first 40 point–20 rebound game in Celtics history against the Indiana Pacers.
  • On November 10, 1989, Bird scored 50 points against the Atlanta Hawks to register his fourth and final 50 point game in his career. Bird's four career 50 point games stand as the record for most 50 point games by a Celtic.
  • Bird recorded three 40 point triple double games in his professional career. The first was on February 14, 1986 in an overtime win against the Portland Trailblazers. He finished that game with 47 points, 14 rebounds, and 11 assists. The second occurred on December 13, 1989 in a win over the Seattle Supersonics (40 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists). The last was in a double overtime win against the Portland Trailblazers on March 15, 1992 where Bird finished with 49 points (the record for most points scored while recording a triple double), 14 rebounds, and 12 assists.

Bird also totaled 69 triple doubles (59 regular season and 10 postseason) which stands behind Oscar Robertson, Magic Johnson, Wilt Chamberlain, and Jason Kidd for 5th most all-time.

Legacy

During Bird's retirement ceremony Magic Johnson said, Larry, you only told me one lie. You said there will be another Larry Bird. Larry, there will never, ever be another Larry Bird.[4]

During his career, he was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated magazine 11 times, including the cover of the special "40 For the Ages" commemorative issue, featuring the best 40 athletes in the last 40 years.[5]

Larry's inspiring accomplishments, dedication to excellence and personal drive were featured prominently in the television programming presented by the NBA in their 50th Anniversary celebration during the 1996-1997 basketball season.

He was inducted into the Indiana State University Hall of Fame in August of 1999, and in that same month he was honored as an Indiana Living Legend by the Indiana Historical Society.

Larry Bird worked as hard off the court as on, becoming a highly desirable corporate and commercial spokesman for a selected number of major business and brand names, including: McDonald's, H.J. Heinz, Microsoft, Gatorade, Hewlett Packard, Nestle, Kraft, Kellogg's, General Mills, and Pepsi/Mountain Dew.

He also worked on behalf of numerous charities, including the Boys and Girls Club of Terre Haute, Indiana and the Daniel Marr Boys and Girls Club in Boston. Additionally, Bird requested that all of the proceeds from his successful retirement ceremony held at the Boston Garden in 1992 be shared among 25 Boston charities, thus generating well over a million dollars in revenues to be distributed among them.[5]

NBA TV devoted a whole day's worth of programming to chronicling Bird's career on his 50th birthday in 2006.

Notes

  1. ↑ Jeff Tzucker, Bird Returns NBA, June 26, 2013. Retrieved December 11, 2019.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Larry Bird and Bob Ryan, Drive: the Story of my Life (New York: Doubleday, 1989).
  3. ↑ Carrie Rickey, A Rhinoceros Among The Gazelles The New York Times, December 11, 1988. Retrieved December 11, 2019.
  4. ↑ Relive the Moment: Larry Bird Enjoys Retirement Ceremony Alongside Long-Time Rival Magic Johnson at Boston Garden NESN, August 20, 2011. Retrieved December 11, 2019.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Larry Bird Aie Speakers Bureau. Retrieved December 11, 2019.

References
ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

  • Bird, Larry, and Bob Ryan. Drive: The Story of My Life. New York: Doubleday, 1989. ISBN 0385249217
  • Bird, Larry, and Jackie MacMullan. Bird Watching: On Playing and Coaching the Game I Love. New York: Warner Books, 1999. ISBN 0446524646
  • Bird, Larry, and John Bischoff. Bird on Basketball: How-to Strategies from the Great Celtics Champion. Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley, 1986. ISBN 0201106671
  • Connelly, Michael. Rebound!: Basketball, Busing, Larry Bird, and the Rebirth of Boston. Minneapolis: MBI Pub. Co., 2008 ISBN 9780760335017
  • Larry Bird, An Indiana Legend. Champaign, IL: Sports Pub., 1999. ISBN 1582610088
  • Levine, Lee Daniel. Bird: The Making of an American Sports Legend. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1988. ISBN 0070374775

External links

All links retrieved October 22, 2022.


National Basketball Association | 50 Greatest Players in NBA History

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | Nate Archibald | Paul Arizin | Charles Barkley | Rick Barry | Elgin Baylor | Dave Bing | Larry Bird | Wilt Chamberlain | Bob Cousy | Dave Cowens | Billy Cunningham | Dave DeBusschere | Clyde Drexler | Julius Erving | Patrick Ewing | Walt Frazier | George Gervin | Hal Greer | John Havlicek | Elvin Hayes | Magic Johnson | Sam Jones | Michael Jordan | Jerry Lucas | Karl Malone | Moses Malone | Pete Maravich | Kevin McHale | George Mikan | Earl Monroe | Hakeem Olajuwon | Shaquille O'Neal | Robert Parish | Bob Pettit | Scottie Pippen | Willis Reed | Oscar Robertson | David Robinson | Bill Russell | Dolph Schayes | Bill Sharman | John Stockton | Isiah Thomas | Nate Thurmond | Wes Unseld | Bill Walton | Jerry West | Lenny Wilkens | James Worthy

Credits

New World Encyclopedia writers and editors rewrote and completed the Wikipedia article in accordance with New World Encyclopedia standards. This article abides by terms of the Creative Commons CC-by-sa 3.0 License (CC-by-sa), which may be used and disseminated with proper attribution. Credit is due under the terms of this license that can reference both the New World Encyclopedia contributors and the selfless volunteer contributors of the Wikimedia Foundation. To cite this article click here for a list of acceptable citing formats.The history of earlier contributions by wikipedians is accessible to researchers here:

The history of this article since it was imported to New World Encyclopedia:

Note: Some restrictions may apply to use of individual images which are separately licensed.

Retrieved from https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/p/index.php?title=Larry_Bird&oldid=1083404

Content is available under Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License; additional terms may apply. See Terms of Use for details.
Copyright Logo
Powered by MediaWiki