Larry Bird
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| Larry Bird | |
|---|---|
| Name | Larry Bird |
| Caption | Bird with the Boston Celtics in 1990 |
| Position | Small forward / Power forward |
| Weight lb | 220 |
| Birth date | 7 December 1956 |
| Birth place | West Baden Springs, Indiana |
| High school | Springs Valley High School (French Lick, Indiana) |
| College | Indiana State University (1976–1979) |
| Draft year | 1978 |
| Draft team | Boston Celtics |
| Career start | 1979 |
| Career end | 1992 |
| Years1 | 1979–1992 |
| Team1 | Boston Celtics |
| Highlights | 3× NBA champion (1981, 1984, 1986), 3× NBA Most Valuable Player (1984–1986), 12× NBA All-Star (1980–1988, 1990–1992), 2× NBA Finals MVP (1984, 1986), 9× All-NBA First Team (1980–1988), NBA Rookie of the Year (1980), 3× NBA Three-Point Shootout champion (1986–1988), NBA 50th Anniversary All-Time Team, NBA 75th Anniversary Team, No. 33 retired by Boston Celtics, Consensus first-team All-American (1978), Naismith College Player of the Year (1979), Wooden Award (1979), No. 33 retired by Indiana State Sycamores |
| Hoophall | Larry Bird |
| Bbr | birdla01 |
Larry Bird is an American former professional basketball player, coach, and executive widely regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of the NBA. He spent his entire 13-year professional career with the Boston Celtics, leading the franchise to three NBA championships and earning three consecutive Most Valuable Player awards. Known for his exceptional shooting, passing, basketball intelligence, and fierce competitiveness, his rivalry with Magic Johnson is credited with revitalizing the league's popularity during the 1980s.
Early life and college career
Born in West Baden Springs, Indiana, he was a standout at Springs Valley High School in French Lick, Indiana. He initially attended the University of Indiana but withdrew before playing, later enrolling at Indiana State University. At Indiana State, he led the Sycamores to the 1979 NCAA Championship game, where they lost to Michigan State and Magic Johnson. He was named the Naismith College Player of the Year and won the Wooden Award that season, finishing as the fifth-leading scorer in NCAA history at the time.
NBA career
Drafted by the Boston Celtics with the sixth overall pick in the 1978 NBA draft, he joined the team for the 1979–80 season and immediately won Rookie of the Year honors. Alongside teammates like Robert Parish and Kevin McHale, he formed the core of the Celtics' dynasty. He won championships in 1981, 1984, and 1986, earning Finals MVP honors in 1984 and 1986. His intense rivalry with the Los Angeles Lakers and Magic Johnson defined the era, culminating in multiple meetings in the NBA Finals. A 12-time NBA All-Star and nine-time All-NBA First Team selection, he also won the first three Three-Point Shootout competitions at the NBA All-Star Weekend. Chronic back injuries forced his retirement in 1992.
Post-playing career
After retiring, he served as a special assistant in the Boston Celtics front office. In 1997, he was hired as head coach of the Indiana Pacers, winning Coach of the Year in his first season and leading the team to the 1998 Eastern Conference championship and the 2000 NBA Finals. He later served as President of Basketball Operations for the Pacers from 2003 to 2012, earning Executive of the Year in 2012, and again from 2013 to 2017. He was also part of the coaching staff for the United States gold medal-winning 1992 Olympic "Dream Team".
Legacy and honors
He is consistently listed among the greatest basketball players of all time, named to both the NBA 50th and 75th Anniversary Teams. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1998 and the FIBA Hall of Fame in 2010. His number 33 was retired by the Boston Celtics and Indiana State University. The MVP trophy for the NBA All-Star Game was named in his honor in 2022. His rivalry with Magic Johnson is a central narrative in the history of the NBA, documented in films like HBO's "Magic & Bird: A Courtship of Rivals".
Personal life
He married Janet Condra in 1975, and they had a daughter before divorcing. He later married Dinah Mattingly in 1989, and they have two adopted children. He has been open about struggles with alcoholism early in his career. Since retirement, he has lived primarily in Naples, Florida, and remains a prominent, though private, figure in the basketball world. He has been involved in various philanthropic efforts and business ventures in Indiana.
Category:1956 births Category:Living people Category:Boston Celtics players Category:Indiana Pacers coaches Category:Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inductees