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 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
As player:
As coach:
As executive:
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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 a famous American former professional basketball player, coach, and executive. He played in the National Basketball Association (NBA). People often called him "the Hick from French Lick" and "Larry Legend." Many believe he is one of the greatest basketball players ever.
Larry Bird is the only person in NBA history to win several top awards. He was named Rookie of the Year, Most Valuable Player, Finals MVP, All-Star MVP, Coach of the Year, and Executive of the Year.
Growing up in French Lick, Indiana, Bird was a local basketball star. He first planned to play college basketball for Indiana Hoosiers. But he left after a month and went to a local college. The next year, he joined Indiana State University. He played three years for the Sycamores.
The Boston Celtics picked Bird sixth in the 1978 NBA draft. He chose to finish college first. He led his team to an undefeated regular season. The season ended with a big game against Michigan State. This game featured a famous rivalry between Bird and Magic Johnson. Michigan State won, but their rivalry lasted for over ten years.
Bird joined the NBA for the 1979–80 season. He quickly made a huge impact. He played his entire 13-season career with the Celtics. He led them to five NBA finals and three NBA championships. Bird was a 12-time NBA All-Star. He won two NBA Finals MVP awards. He also won the NBA Most Valuable Player Award three times in a row (1984–1986). He is the only forward to do this.
Bird was part of the gold medal-winning "Dream Team" at the 1992 U.S. Olympic basketball team. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame twice. First in 1998 as a player, then in 2010 with the "Dream Team." He was also named to the NBA's 50 Greatest Players in NBA History and 75th Anniversary Team.
After retiring as a player, Bird coached the Indiana Pacers from 1997 to 2000. He was named NBA Coach of the Year in 1998. He later became the Pacers' president of basketball operations. He won NBA Executive of the Year in 2012. He continued to work as an advisor for the Pacers.
Early Life and High School Basketball
Larry Bird was born in West Baden Springs, Indiana. His parents were Georgia and Claude Joseph "Joe" Bird. His family had Irish, Scottish, and some Native American roots. He grew up in nearby French Lick. His mother worked two jobs to support Larry and his five siblings. Bird has said that being poor as a child still makes him want to work hard.
Basketball was a way for Larry to deal with family challenges. He became a star at Springs Valley High School. As a senior, he averaged 31 points, 21 rebounds, and 4 assists per game. He became the school's all-time scoring leader.
College Basketball Career
In 1974, Bird got a scholarship to play for the Indiana Hoosiers. But he left after less than a month. He found it hard to adjust from his small hometown to the big campus. He went back to French Lick and worked for a year.
In 1975, he enrolled at Indiana State University. He had a very successful three years there. He helped the Sycamores reach the NCAA tournament for the first time ever. They had a perfect 33–0 record. In the 1979 championship game, they played against Michigan State. Indiana State lost the game 75–64. Bird scored 19 points.
This game was watched by more people than any other college basketball game before. It was because of the exciting matchup between Bird and Michigan State's Magic Johnson. This started a famous rivalry that lasted throughout their professional careers. Even though they lost the championship, Bird won many awards for his great play. He won the Naismith College Player of the Year Award. For his college career, he averaged 30.3 points, 13.3 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game. He helped the Sycamores win 81 games and lose only 13. He graduated in 1979 with a degree in physical education.
Professional Career with the Boston Celtics
Joining the Celtics (1978–1979)
The Boston Celtics picked Bird sixth overall in the 1978 NBA draft. He didn't join them right away. He played his final season at Indiana State first. He led the Sycamores to the NCAA title game. Celtics General Manager Red Auerbach said he wouldn't pay Bird more than any other Celtic. But Bird's agent said Bird would wait for the next draft if the offer wasn't good enough.
On June 8, Bird signed a five-year, $3.25 million contract. This made him the highest-paid rookie in sports history at the time. After this, the NBA changed its rules. Teams could no longer draft players before they were ready to sign. This rule is known as the Bird Collegiate Rule.
Early Success (1979–1983)
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In his first season (1979–1980), Bird quickly made the Celtics a top team. They won 32 more games than the year before. They finished first in the Eastern Conference. In his first game, Bird had 14 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists. This helped them win against the Houston Rockets.
Bird was selected for the All-Star Team. He was also named Rookie of the Year. The Celtics lost in the Conference Finals that year.
Before the 1980–81 season, the Celtics added Kevin McHale and Robert Parish. This created a famous trio of players. Many people think Bird, McHale, and Parish formed one of the best groups of forwards and centers ever. With Bird's leadership, the Celtics reached the Finals. They beat the Houston Rockets in six games. This gave Bird his first championship.
In 1982, Bird won the All-Star Game MVP Award. He also made his first All-Defensive Team. The Celtics lost in the Conference Finals in 1982 and 1983.
Winning Three MVPs in a Row (1983–1986)
Bird was named MVP for the 1983–84 season. He averaged 24.2 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 6.6 assists per game. In the playoffs, the Celtics played the Los Angeles Lakers in the Finals. This was a big rivalry with Bird's college rival, Magic Johnson. Boston won the series in seven games. Bird was named Finals MVP.
On March 12, 1985, Bird scored a career-high 60 points against the Atlanta Hawks. This was a team record. Bird won MVP for the second year in a row for the 1984–85 season. The Celtics reached the Finals again but lost to the Lakers.
During the 1985 offseason, Bird hurt his back. This caused back problems for the rest of his career.
Before the 1985–86 season, the Celtics traded for Bill Walton. This helped Boston win 67 games, the most in the league. At the 1986 NBA All-Star Weekend, Bird won the first-ever Three-Point Shootout. He famously asked who was going to finish second before it even started.
Bird won his third straight MVP Award. He became only the third player in NBA history to do this. In the playoffs, the Celtics easily reached the Finals. They played the Rockets. Boston won the Finals in six games. Bird had a triple-double in the final game. The 1986 Celtics team is often called one of the greatest basketball teams ever.
Later Career (1986–1992)
In 1987, the Celtics made their last Finals appearance with Bird. They had tough series against the Milwaukee Bucks and Detroit Pistons. In a key game against the Pistons, Bird stole a pass with seconds left. He then passed to Dennis Johnson, who scored the winning basket. This play saved the series for the Celtics. But in the NBA Finals, the Celtics lost to the Lakers in six games.
Bird and Magic Johnson's rivalry was huge in the 1980s. They played against each other in many big games. Their games brought in huge TV audiences. Their different styles and teams made the rivalry even more exciting. Bird was seen as the hard-working small-town hero. Magic was the flashy star from Los Angeles. Despite their rivalry, they became good friends off the court. Magic even spoke at Bird's retirement ceremony, calling him a "friend forever."
The 1987–1988 season was Bird's highest-scoring season. In a playoff game against the Atlanta Hawks, Bird scored 20 points in the fourth quarter. This helped the Celtics win the game and the series. But the Celtics lost to the Pistons in the Eastern Conference Finals.
Bird's 1988–89 season ended early because of heel surgery. He came back in 1989, but back problems continued to bother him. Even with his injuries, Bird remained a top player. In his last three seasons, he averaged over 20 points, 9 rebounds, and 7 assists per game. He led the Celtics to the playoffs.
In the 1990–91 season, Bird missed 22 games due to a nerve issue in his back. This problem eventually led to his retirement. He had surgery, but his back problems continued. He missed 37 games in the 1991–92 season.
On August 18, 1992, Larry Bird announced his retirement. The Celtics honored him by retiring his jersey number 33.
National Team Career: The Dream Team
In the summer of 1992, Bird joined other NBA stars like Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan. They played 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 was called the "Dream Team." They 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 Profile and Legacy
Larry Bird is known as one of the greatest basketball players and shooters of all time. He was chosen for 12 NBA All-Star teams. He won three NBA championships (1981, 1984, and 1986) with the Celtics. He also won two NBA Finals MVP Awards. Bird won three regular season MVP awards in a row. Only Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain have done this too.
Bird was known for playing well in important, high-pressure situations. He was a "clutch performer." In 2021, he was named to the NBA's 75th Anniversary All-Time Team.
Bird scored 24.3 points per game in his career. He was also a great rebounder and passer. 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 won the NBA three-point shooting contest three years in a row. He sometimes practiced shooting three-pointers with his eyes closed.
He was also a good defender. Even though he wasn't very fast, he was good at guessing what his opponents would do. This made him a strong team defender. He had 1,556 steals in his career. He was named to three All-Defensive Second Teams.
Bird was known for his "trash-talking" on the court, which means he would talk to his opponents to try and get in their heads. In 2019, Bird received the NBA Lifetime Achievement Award along with Magic Johnson. Since 2022, the Eastern Conference Finals MVP trophy 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, he became the coach of the Indiana Pacers. Bird said he would only coach for three years. Even though he had no coaching experience, he led the Pacers to a great 58–24 record in his first season (1997–98). He pushed the Chicago Bulls to seven games in the Eastern Conference Finals. He was named the NBA Coach of the Year for his efforts.
Bird then led the Pacers to win their division in 1999 and 2000. He also led them to the 2000 NBA Finals. He resigned as coach after the 2000 season, keeping his promise to coach for only three years.
In 2003, Bird was hired as the Indiana Pacers' president of basketball operations. After the 2011–2012 NBA season, he 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. He left the Pacers in 2012 due to health reasons.
Bird returned to the Pacers as president of basketball operations in 2013. He stepped down again in 2017 but stayed as an advisor. He continued as an advisor until July 2022. In June 2023, the Pacers hired him again as a consultant.
Awards and Honors
NBA
- 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)
- All-NBA Second Team (1990)
- 3× NBA All-Defensive Second Team (1982–1984)
- NBA Rookie of the Year (1980)
- NBA All-Rookie First Team (1980)
- 3× Three-point Shootout champion (1986–1988)
- Named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History in 1996
- Selected on the NBA 75th Anniversary Team in 2021
- No. 33 retired by Boston Celtics
- Trophy named in Bird's honor (Larry Bird Trophy) awarded to Eastern Conference finals MVP (established in 2022)
- NBA All-Star Game head coach (1998)
- NBA Coach of the Year (1998)
- NBA Executive of the Year (2012)
USA Basketball
- 1992 Olympic gold medal (U.S. national team)
NCAA
- John R. Wooden Award (1979)
- Naismith College Player of the Year (1979)
- Oscar Robertson Trophy (1979)
- Adolph Rupp Trophy (1979)
- NABC Player of the Year (1979)
- 2× MVC Player of the Year (1978–1979)
- 2× Consensus first team All-American (1978–1979)
- No. 33 retired by Indiana State Sycamores
Media
- AP National Player of the Year (1979)
Halls of Fame
- Two-time Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame inductee:
- 1998 – individual
- 2010 – member of "The Dream Team"
- College Basketball Hall of Fame (class of 2006)
- U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame (class of 2009 as a member of "The Dream Team")
- FIBA Hall of Fame (class of 2017 as a member of "The Dream Team")
Personal Life
In 1975, Bird married Janet Condra. They were married for less than a year. They later had a daughter named Corrie in 1977.
Bird married Dinah Mattingly in 1989. They adopted two children, Conner and Mariah.
During his time with the Celtics, Bird lived in Brookline, Massachusetts, a suburb of Boston.
Images for kids
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A Larry Bird plaque at Quincy Market, Boston.
