Larry Bird is a former basketball player and coach in the National Basketball Association. He played for the Boston Celtics and he coached for the Indiana Pacers. Bird is a three-time NBA Champion and has been named the NBA Finals MVP twice in his career. He is also a 12-time NBA All-Star and in 1982, he was named the NBA All-Star Game MVP. In addition, Bird was named the NBA Most Valuable Player three times.
In 1998, he was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame. Later in 2006, he was inducted into the College Basketball Hall of Fame. As a coach, he was named the NBA Coach of the tear in 1998.
Player Profile and Personal Life
Larry Joe Bird was born on December 7, 1956, in French Lick, Indiana in the United States of America. He stands 206 cm tall and his weight was last listed at 100kg. He is a right-handed player and he played under Jersey Number 33.
| Position | Power Forward |
| Height / weight | 2.06 m / 100 kg |
| Born | 7 Dec 1956 |
| Nationality |
United States
|
| Playing Style | Right Handed |
| Nickname | Larry Legend |
| Team History | |
Boston Celtics
|
1979 - 1992 |
His parents are Claude Joseph and Georgia. They divorced when Bird was in high school. His younger brother Eddie Bird played basketball for Indiana State University. During his time playing for the Celtics, he lived in Brookline, Massachusetts. In 1975, he married Janet Condra. They divorced after less than a year. He later remarried in 1989.
High School and College Career
Bird played for the Springs Valley High School in his hometown. He later attended Indiana State University from 1976 to 1979. During college, he was named the MVC Player of the Year twice. The Sycamores later retired Jersey No.33 in his honor. In 1979, Bird was also named the National College Player of the Year.
Professional Career
He was drafted into the NBA in 1978. He was the 6th overall pick in the first round by the Boston Celtics. Bird stayed with the team from 1979 to 1992. In 1980, he was named the NBA Rookie of the Year. He was also named to the NBA All-Rookie Team.
Bird was named an NBA All-Star 12 times in his career, the first time was in 1980. He was also named to the All-NBA First Team that year. He helped lead the Celtics to the NBA Championship three years during his tenure with the team. He was the NBA Finals MVP in 1984 and 1986.
He was also the NBA three-point contest champion from 1986 to 1988. He retired from the NBA In 1992. After his retirement, the Celtics retired No.33 in his honor.
In 1997, he returned to the NBA as a Coach. In 1998, he was named the NBA Coach of the Year and he was also named the NBA All-Star Game Head Coach.
In 1998, he was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame and in 2006, he was inducted into the College Basketball Hall of Fame. He also served as NBA Executive and in 2012, he was named the NBA Executive of the Year. In 2019, he was awarded an NBA Lifetime Achievement Award.
Career Highlights
- 1981, 1984, 1986 - NBA champion
- 1984, 1986 - NBA Finals MVP
- 1984–1986 - NBA Most Valuable Player
- 1980–1988, 1990–1992 - NBA All-Star
- 1982 - NBA All-Star Game MVP
- 1980–1988 - All-NBA First Team
- 1990 - All-NBA Second Team
- 1982–1984 - NBA All-Defensive SecondTeam
- 1980 - NBA Rookie of the Year
- 1980 - NBA All-Rookie Team
- 1986–1988 - NBA Three-Point Contestchampion
- 1987, 1988 - 50–40–90 club
1986 - AP Athlete of the Year
- 2019 - NBA Lifetime AchievementAward
- NBA anniversary team (50th, 75th)
No. 33 retired by Boston Celtics
- 1979 - National college player ofthe year
- 1978, 1979 - Consensus first-teamAll-American
- 1977 - Third-team All-American –NABC, UPI
1978, 1979 - MVC Player of the Year
- No. 33 retired by Indiana StateSycamores
As Coach:
- 1998 - NBA Coach of the Year
- 1998 - NBA All-Star Game head coach
As Executive:
2012 - NBA Executive of the Year
- Basketball Hall of Fame as a player -1998
- College Basketball Hall of Fame -2006
Team History:
As Coach:
- 1997–2000 - Indiana Pacers
