Larry Bird facts for kids
Bird in 2004
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| Indiana Pacers | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Consultant | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | December 7, 1956 West Baden Springs, Indiana, U.S. |
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| High school | Springs Valley (French Lick, Indiana) |
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| Listed height | 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Listed weight | 220 lb (100 kg) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| College | Indiana State (1976–1979) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| NBA Draft | 1978 / Round: 1 / Pick: 6th overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Selected by the Boston Celtics | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pro career | 1979–1992 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Coaching career | 1997–2000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| League | NBA | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career history | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| As player: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1979–1992 | Boston Celtics | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| As coach: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1997–2000 | Indiana Pacers | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Career NBA statistics | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Points | 21,791 (24.3 ppg) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rebounds | 8,974 (10.0 rpg) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Assists | 5,695 (6.3 apg) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medals
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Larry Joe Bird (born December 7, 1956) is an American former professional basketball player, coach, and executive in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was nicknamed "the Hick from French Lick" and "Larry Legend". Many people consider Bird to be one of the greatest basketball players ever. He is the only person in NBA history to win the Rookie of the Year, Most Valuable Player, Finals MVP, All-Star MVP, Coach of the Year, and Executive of the Year awards.
Contents
Early Life and College Basketball
Growing Up in Indiana
Larry Bird was born on December 7, 1956, in West Baden Springs, Indiana. He grew up in nearby French Lick, Indiana. His mother worked hard to support Larry and his five brothers and sisters. Bird has said that being poor as a child made him want to work even harder.
Basketball became a way for Bird to deal with challenges. He became a star player at Springs Valley High School. In his senior year, he averaged 31 points, 21 rebounds, and 4 assists per game. He became the school's all-time leading scorer. Bird wore jersey number 33 in high school, and he kept that number throughout his college and professional career.
College Journey and the Big Game
Bird first received a scholarship to play college basketball for the Indiana Hoosiers in 1974. However, he left after less than a month because the large campus felt overwhelming. He returned to French Lick and attended a local college for a year.
In 1975, Bird enrolled at Indiana State University. He played for the Sycamores for three successful years. In 1979, he led his team to the NCAA tournament for the first time in school history. They had an amazing 33–0 record.
The season ended with a national championship game against Michigan State. This game featured a highly anticipated matchup between Bird and Michigan State's star, Magic Johnson. This was the start of a famous rivalry that lasted for over ten years. Michigan State won the game, ending Indiana State's perfect season.
Even though his team lost, Bird won many awards for his great play. These included the Naismith College Player of the Year Award. During his college career, Bird averaged 30.3 points, 13.3 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game. He helped the Sycamores achieve an 81–13 record during his time there.
Professional Basketball Career
Joining the Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics chose Larry Bird with the sixth pick in the 1978 NBA draft. He did not join the Celtics right away. Instead, he played his final season at Indiana State, leading them to the NCAA title game.
After some talks, Bird signed a five-year, $3.25 million contract with the Celtics on June 8, 1979. This made him the highest-paid rookie in sports history at the time. Soon after, the NBA changed its rules to prevent teams from drafting players before they were ready to sign. This rule became known as the "Bird Collegiate Rule."
Immediate Impact and First Championship
In his first season (1979–80), Bird quickly made the Celtics a top team. The team won 32 more games than the year before he joined. They finished first in the Eastern Conference. In his first NBA game, Bird scored 14 points, grabbed 10 rebounds, and made 5 assists.
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Bird averaged 21.3 points, 10.4 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 1.7 steals per game that season. He was chosen for the All-Star Team and named Rookie of the Year.
Before the 1980–81 season, the Celtics added Kevin McHale and Robert Parish. These three players—Bird, McHale, and Parish—became known as one of the greatest groups of front-court players in NBA history. With Bird's leadership and the new players, the Celtics reached the Conference Finals again. They won their first championship in six games against the Houston Rockets.
Three MVP Awards in a Row
Bird was named the MVP (Most Valuable Player) for the 1983–84 season. He averaged 24.2 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 6.6 assists per game. In the playoffs, the Celtics faced the Los Angeles Lakers in the Finals. The Lakers were led by Bird's college rival, Magic Johnson. Boston won the series in seven games, and Bird was named Finals MVP.
On March 12, 1985, Bird scored a career-high 60 points against the Atlanta Hawks. This was a new record for the Celtics. At the end of the year, Bird won his second straight MVP award.
During the 1985–86 season, the Celtics traded for Bill Walton, a talented center. This helped Boston win a league-best 67 games. Bird also won the first-ever Three-Point Shootout at the 1986 NBA All-Star Weekend. He famously asked who was going to finish second before the contest began.
Bird won his third straight MVP Award that season. He became only the third player in NBA history to do so. In the playoffs, the Celtics lost only one game before reaching the Finals against the Rockets. Bird helped the Celtics win the championship in six games. The 1985–86 Celtics team is often called one of the greatest basketball teams of all time.
Later Career and Retirement
The 1987 season was the last time the Celtics reached the NBA Finals with Bird. They lost to a very strong Lakers team. In 1988, the Celtics lost to the Detroit Pistons in the Eastern Conference Finals.
Bird's 1988–89 season was cut short because he needed surgery on his heels. When he returned in 1989, he faced ongoing back problems. Even with these issues, Bird remained a top player. In his last three seasons, he still averaged over 20 points, 9 rebounds, and 7 assists per game.
On August 18, 1992, Larry Bird announced his retirement from the NBA. The Celtics immediately retired his jersey number 33 to honor him.
Rivalry with Magic Johnson
The rivalry between Larry Bird and Magic Johnson is one of the most famous in sports history. It started in college when Bird's Indiana State team lost to Johnson's Michigan State team in the NCAA Championship. Their rivalry continued in the NBA, especially with the famous Celtics–Lakers rivalry.
During the 1980s, either Bird's Celtics or Magic's Lakers played in every NBA Finals. They met three times in the Finals. Magic's Lakers won in 1985 and 1987, while Bird's Celtics won in 1984.
Their rivalry helped make the NBA much more popular. It turned the league from a small sport into a huge success. People loved watching the contrast between them: Bird was a quiet player from a small town, while Magic was outgoing and played in glamorous Los Angeles. Their teams also had different styles of play.
Despite their intense competition, Bird and Johnson became good friends off the court. Magic Johnson even spoke at Bird's retirement ceremony, calling him a "friend forever."
National Team Career
In the summer of 1992, Larry Bird joined other NBA stars like Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan to play for the United States men's national basketball team in the Olympics in Barcelona, Spain. This was the first time the U.S. sent NBA players to the Olympics. This team became known as the "Dream Team."
The Dream Team won the gold medal in men's basketball. The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame called them "the greatest collection of basketball talent on the planet."
Player Skills and Legacy
Bird's Playing Style
Larry Bird is known as one of the greatest basketball players and shooters ever. He was chosen for 12 NBA All-Star teams. He won three NBA championships and two NBA Finals MVP awards. He also won three regular season MVP awards in a row, a rare achievement.
Bird averaged 24.3 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 6.3 assists per game in his career. He was the first player in NBA history to shoot 50% or better on field goals, 40% on three-pointers, and 90% on free throws in a single season. He did this twice! Bird also won the NBA three-point shooting contest three years in a row.
He was famous for making important shots in tough situations. Pat Riley, who coached against Bird in the Finals, once said that if he needed a shot to save his life, he would choose Larry Bird. Bird was also a great passer and defender, known for anticipating his opponents' moves.
Trash Talk and Respect
Bird was known for his "trash-talking" on the court. He would sometimes tell opponents exactly how and where he would score against them. Even Michael Jordan called Bird "the greatest trash-talker and mind-game player of all time." Jordan said Bird taught him everything he knew about getting into opponents' heads.
Despite his trash-talking, Bird was highly respected. After a game where Jordan scored 63 points against the Celtics, Bird famously said it was "God disguised as Michael Jordan." Jordan later said Bird's comments gave him credibility as a player.
Lasting Impact
Bird was chosen for the NBA's 50th Anniversary All-Time Team in 1996 and the NBA 75th Anniversary Team in 2021. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame twice: once as an individual player in 1998, and again in 2010 as a member of the "Dream Team."
In 2019, Bird received the NBA Lifetime Achievement Award along with Magic Johnson. Since 2022, the trophy for the Eastern Conference Finals MVP is named in Bird's honor.
Coaching and Executive Careers
After retiring as a player, Bird worked for the Celtics in their front office from 1992 to 1997.
In 1997, Bird became the head coach of the Indiana Pacers. Even though he had no coaching experience, he led the Pacers to a great 58–24 record in his first season. He was named the NBA Coach of the Year. He led the Pacers to the 2000 NBA Finals, where they lost to the Los Angeles Lakers. Bird kept his promise to coach for only three years and then stepped down in 2000.
In 2003, Bird became the president of basketball operations for the Pacers. He made smart decisions to improve the team. After the 2011–2012 NBA season, Bird was named NBA Executive of the Year. This made him the only person in NBA history to win NBA MVP, Coach of the Year, and Executive of the Year.
Bird left his role in 2012 due to health reasons but returned in 2013. He stepped down again in 2017 but stayed as an advisor. As of 2025, Larry Bird continues to work as a consultant for the Indiana Pacers.
Awards and Honors
- 3× NBA champion (1981, 1984, 1986)
- 2× NBA Finals MVP (1984, 1986)
- 3× NBA Most Valuable Player (1984–1986)
- 12× NBA All-Star (1980–1988, 1990–1992)
- NBA All-Star Game MVP (1982)
- 9× All-NBA First Team (1980–1988)
- NBA Rookie of the Year (1980)
- 3× NBA Three-Point Contest Champion (1986–1988)
- AP Athlete of the Year (1986)
- Member of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History (1996)
- Member of the NBA 75th Anniversary Team (2021)
- Number 33 retired by Boston Celtics
- NBA Coach of the Year (1998)
- NBA Executive of the Year (2012)
- NBA Lifetime Achievement Award (2019)
- 1992 Olympic gold medal (as part of the "Dream Team")
- Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inductee (1998 as player, 2010 as Dream Team member)
Personal Life
Larry Bird married Janet Condra in 1975, but they were married for less than a year. They later had a daughter named Corrie in 1977.
In 1989, Bird married Dinah Mattingly. They have two adopted children, Conner and Mariah. During his time with the Celtics, Bird lived in Brookline, Massachusetts.
Images for kids
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Bird in 1983
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Bird playing for the Celtics in the 1985 NBA playoffs
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See also
In Spanish: Larry Bird para niños
