Larry Bird

American basketball player, coach, executive

Larry Joe Bird (born December 7, 1956) is an American retired NBA basketball player. He won three NBA championships in 1981, 1984, and 1986 with the Boston Celtics. He has also won the NBA MVP award three times, in 1984, 1985, and 1986 as a Celtic. He played college basketball at Indiana State University where he developed a rivalry and friendship with Los Angeles Lakers star Magic Johnson when he faced him in the 1979 NCAA national championship game and three NBA championship series (1984, 1985 and 1987). He has been described as one of the greatest basketball players and greatest shooters of all time. Bird was nicknamed Larry Legend and The Hick from French Lick, after his hometown in Indiana. He was also called Kodak by his first NBA coach, Bill Fitch, because Bird could form pictures in his head of the plays on the basketball court. Finally, he was nicknamed The Great White Hope.

Larry Bird
Bird in 2004
Personal information
Born (1956-12-07) December 7, 1956 (age 67)
West Baden Springs, Indiana
NationalityAmerican
Listed height6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
Listed weight220 lb (100 kg)
Career information
High schoolSprings Valley
(French Lick, Indiana)
CollegeIndiana State (1976–1979)
NBA draft1978 / Round: 1 / Pick: 6th overall
Selected by the Boston Celtics
Playing career1979–1992
PositionSmall forward / Power forward
Number33
Coaching career1997–2000
Career history
As player:
19791992Boston Celtics
As coach:
19972000Indiana Pacers
Career highlights and awards
As player:

As coach:

As executive:

Career NBA statistics
Points21,791 (24.3 ppg)
Rebounds8,974 (10.0 rpg)
Assists5,695 (6.3 apg)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Basketball Hall of Fame as player
College Basketball Hall of Fame
Inducted in 2006
Medals

In 1992, Bird was a member of the United States men's national basketball team. The team was one of the most famous teams in US Olympic history, known as "The Dream Team." The team captured the gold medal after going undefeated.

In 1997, Bird became the head coach of the Indiana Pacers. He was also President of the Pacers (2000-2012, 2013-2017).

He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006.

References change

Other websites change

  Media related to Larry Bird at Wikimedia Commons