[117] After the 20112012 NBA season, Bird was named NBA Executive of the Year, becoming the only man in NBA history to win the NBA MVP, Coach of the Year and Executive of the Year. "He's a great passer and an excellent rebounder. Rockets vs. Celtics. Find out more. There was a point early on in the episode when Johnson (Quincy Isaiah) hears that Larry Bird (Sean Patrick Small) was selected as the 1980 NBA Rookie of the Year. The season for Bird was limited to six games. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. [56] Bird averaged 24 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 9.5 assists per game for the championship round. At least partially as a result of this, he experienced back problems for the remainder of his career. He then led his team to an undefeated regular season. In the end, he remains one of the all-time greats. Bird also won Finals MVP in 1986 when he scored 24 points, grabbed 10 rebounds, dished out 10 assists and had 2.7 steals per game. NBA Finals. Search this website. Larry Joe Bird (born December 7, 1956) is an American former professional basketball player, coach, and executive in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Finals MVP: Cedric Maxwell (17.7 / 9.5 / 2.8) 1981 Playoff Leaders: PTS: Moses Malone (562) He also won his third straight MVP, which is the last time an NBA player has accomplished this. [77], Bird was voted onto the NBA's 50th Anniversary All-Time Team list in 1996,[78][79] and inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1998. The team made the playoffs for an 11th straight season. [7], Bird was born in West Baden Springs, Indiana, to Georgia (ne Kerns) and Claude Joseph "Joe" Bird, a veteran of the Korean War. However, Birds individual success was marred by the Celtics not making the NBA Finals. [27], Before the 198081 season, the Celtics selected forward Kevin McHale in the draft and acquired center Robert Parish from the Golden State Warriors,[31][32] forming a Hall of Fame trio for years to come; the front-court of Bird, McHale, and Parish is regarded as one of the greatest front-courts in NBA history. [49] The risk paid off; Walton's acquisition helped Boston win a league best 67 games. Among his accomplishments, Bird set the new single-game franchise record for points. The seeds of the 1984 Finals were first sown five years earlier, during the 1979 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament.In the final game of the tournament, Larry Bird and his erstwhile unbeaten Indiana State Sycamores lost to Magic Johnson and his Michigan State Spartans by the score of 75-64. [92] Bird is also remembered as one of the foremost clutch performers in the history of the NBA; he was known for his excellent play in high-stakes, high-pressure situations. Or write about sports? Nicknamed "the Hick from French Lick" and "Larry Legend", Bird is widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all time. [45] The performance came just nine days after Kevin McHale set the previous Celtics record for points in a game with 56. Do you have a sports website? In 1985, the Lakers beat the Celtics behind FInals MVP Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Bird had a perfect season where he won the championship, won Finals MVP, and the MVP Award. 6 overall pick in the 1978 NBA Draft. Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. When Robert Horry averaged at least 24 minutes per game in the playoffs, his teams won six league titles in 11 seasons. NAME. Stats: 19.4 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 7.2 APG, 1.8 SPG, 1.0 BPG. [80][81] He was inducted into the Hall of Fame again in 2010, as a member of the "Dream Team". 1984 Star Larry Bird #9 The 1981-82 Season Boston Celtics HOF NM-MT Free Ship! Larry Bird and Magic Johnson are known to be "one of the greatest rivalries in sports. . The Lakers ultimately won the series in six games. Stats: 21.2 PPG, 10.9 RPG, 5.5 APG, 2.0 SPG, 0.8 BPG, Awards And Achievements: NBA Champion, All-Star, All-NBA First Team. . APG. Discover Larry Bird's Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. 10.0. When media outlets conduct their all-time great lists, Bird is spotted on those lists every time. Larry Bird vs. Kevin Durant Career Comparison: They Are So Close, But Bird Still Flies High Michael Jordan Never Beat Larry Bird And Boston Celtics In The NBA Playoffs: 0-6 You said there will be another Larry Bird. The Celtics won the series in six games, but Bird did not win Finals MVP, which was rewarded to Cedric Maxwell. Larry Birds finals record was 3-2. $11.99. Finals MVP. [103] Bird was also referred to as "Larry Legend". Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. So when Bird was awarded a brand new car for his heroic efforts in the 1986 NBA Finals, he was immediately hoping to trade it away for something much simpler a single basketball. The top 31 players and coaches. The main reason the Celtics were able to sustain a long run of success was because of Bird. Larry Bird, in full Larry Joe Bird, (born December 7, 1956, West Baden, Indiana, U.S.), American basketball player who led the Boston Celtics to three National Basketball Association (NBA) championships (1981, 1984, and 1986) and is considered one of the greatest pure shooters of all time. He was also one of the first players to take advantage of the three-point line. Stats: 20.2 PPG, 9.6 RPG, 6.8 APG, 0.9 SPG, 0.7 BPG. It set up an NBA Finals with the Houston Rockets. Skip to primary navigation; . [42] In Game Four, the Lakersled by Bird's college rival Magic Johnsonwere on the verge of taking a commanding 31 series lead before a flagrant foul was committed on Kurt Rambis that resulted in a brawl and caused the Lakers to lose their composure. Bird's 198889 season ended after six games when he had bone spurs surgically removed from both of his heels. James has as many series losses in the Finals as Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant and Larry Bird combined. Join us for a March Madness Webinar on Tuesday, March 7 at 8pm ET. [6] He stepped down again in 2017, but stayed with the team in an advisory capacity. Who Did Larry Bird Lose To In the NBA Finals? "By noon, Bird appeared at a press conference, a rarity in his scheme of things. Bird won two finals against very different Houston Rockets teams and one against the Showtime Lakers featuring Kareem and Magic. Larry Bird was one of the clutchest players in NBA history. Their coach, Bill Hodges, is in his first year, the first rookie ever to take an undefeated team to the tournament final. [116], In 2003, Bird was hired as the Pacers' president of basketball operations. The Boston Celtics star aimed to live a simple life despite earning $24 million over his 13-year playing career. 1983-84 Larry Bird, Boston Celtics. Bird was named to 3 All-Defensive Teams in his career, all as a member of the Second Team. Bird won Naismith College Player of the Year. With that said, the following three years were legendary. The team was defeated in the semifinals by the Milwaukee Bucks. His teams overall record in finals games was 16-15. [67] Wilkins remarked, "The basket was like a well. His NBA years : from 1980 to 1992 Larry Bird NBA Stats Summary : Compare LeBron James and Larry Bird careers through the years of your choosing. With Bird back in the fold, the Celtics returned to the playoffs with hopes of a deep run. [54], With averages of 25.8 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 6.8 assists, and 2 steals per game, Bird became just the third player in NBA history to win three consecutive MVP Awards. [105][106] He was known for telling his opponents how and where in the court he would score against them; Xavier McDaniel recounted that Bird predicted a game-winning shot against him, then "shot a shot right in my face and was like 'Damn, I didn't mean to leave two seconds on the clock. Larry Bird stats . He considered Bird to be the greatest basketball player of all time. Bird finished with 19 points and 13 rebounds. The 86 Celtics are in the conversation for best team ever with Bill Walton joining Bird, Robert Parish and. Highly recruited, he initially signed to play college basketball for coach Bob Knight of the Indiana Hoosiers, but Bird dropped out after one month and returned to French Lick to attend a local community college. [58], In 1987, the Celtics made their last Finals appearance of Bird's career, fighting through difficult series against the Milwaukee Bucks and Detroit Pistons. In 1985-86, Bird led the Celtics in points, rebounds, assists and steals. Subscribe to Stathead Basketball: Get your first month FREEYour All-Access Ticket to the Basketball Reference Database. A 1980s Converse commercial for its "Weapon" line of basketball shoes (endorsed by both Bird and Johnson) reflected the perceived dichotomy between the two players. Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? Bird finished runner-up in the MVP voting as well. [114] He was named the NBA Coach of the Year for his efforts. Sixth Man of the Year. Who was going to make the last shot? Bird won 3 MVP Awards, was selected to play in 12 All-Star Games, and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1998. All rights reserved. He is a graduate of Indiana University. [42], On December 9, 1984, Bird recorded 48 points to go along with 14 rebounds and 5 assists in a 128127 win over the Atlanta Hawks. Do you have a blog? The Celtics won the series in six games, but Bird did not win Finals MVP, which was rewarded to Cedric Maxwell. Sport: Basketball. That went to Birds teammate. Larry Bird was a co-star of one of the greatest college basketball national championship games ever Bird vs. Magic, when the undefeated Indiana State Sycamores took on the co-Big Ten champion Michigan State Spartans in the 1979 championship. eventually winning the series in seven. [113] Despite having no previous coaching experience, Bird led the Pacers to a 5824 recordthe franchise's best as an NBA team at the timein the 199798 season,[114] and pushed the Chicago Bulls to seven games in the Eastern Conference Finals. Hodges said of Bird, "His only personal goal this year was to lead the nation in rebounds. Data Provided By All other box score stats (3PA, ORB, DRB, STL, BLK, TOV) complete back to 1983-84. more information Accept. Finals Appearances. I couldn't miss. Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame twice as a playerfirst in 1998 as an individual, and again in 2010 as a member of the "Dream Team". 10 attempts), Indiana State-record 83.3 free throw percentage in an NCAA tournament game (min. With the Celtics owning a roster that was aging, he did not come back. After protracted negotiations, Bird inked a five-year, $3.25 million contract with the team on June 8, making him the highest-paid rookie in sports history. His Ruseell Westbrook-ian statistics stats in the 1986 Finals (24 PPG, 9.7 RPG, 9.5 AG) capped his best season." Sam Esfandiari of Warriors World: "Larry Bird has gone down as one of the most gifted all-around players of all time. However, something was noticeably wrong with Larry during the playoffs. All rights reserved. In the playoffs, the Bucks defeated the Bucks in the Conference Finals to set up a showdown with the Lakers in the NBA Finals. 1982-83 Moses Malone, Philadelphia 76ers. The series stretched to seven games. Search this website. [15] After less than a month on the Indiana University campus he dropped out of school, finding the adjustment between his small hometown and the large student population of Bloomington to be overwhelming. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. In the semifinals, the Celtics missed Bird in Game 1, where Detroit won. Larry Bird's career NBA stats. Join our linker program. Two-time Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame inductee: College Basketball Hall of Fame (class of 2006). Finals MVP: Larry Bird (27.4 / 14.0 / 3.6) 1984 Playoff Leaders: PTS: Larry Bird (632) TRB: Larry Bird (252) AST: Magic Johnson (284) WS: Larry Bird (4.7) More playoffs info. [13], Larry used basketball as an escape from his family troubles, starring for Springs Valley High School and averaging 31 points, 21 rebounds, and 4 assists as a senior on his way to becoming the school's all-time scoring leader. Larry Bird was more of a well-known defender than Curry by quite a large margin. [8] He returned to French Lick, enrolling at Northwood Institute (now Northwood University) in nearby West Baden, and working municipal jobs for a year before enrolling at Indiana State University in Terre Haute in 1975. Statistically, Larry Bird had just finished his most productive season (29.9 ppg, 52 FG%, 92 FT%, 9 rpg, 6 apg) in the NBA. [73] This style of play was starting to influence a new hoard of fans as they would sit and marvel at what they [Bird and Magic] can do while giving younger kids a different perspective of the game. Finals MVP: Cedric Maxwell(17.7/9.5/2.8), Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Wednesday, March 1, 9:33AM. Bird scored 53 points against the Indiana Pacers, which broke Sam Jones record set in 1965. Nicknamed "The Hick from French Lick" and "Larry Legend", Bird is widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all time. Some believe that he is the greatest small forward to ever play in the NBA. The Bulls never have won a playoff series from the Boston Celtics, zero for four times and 3-14 in games. Playoffs, All-Star) Awards. Bird. Basketball icon Larry Bird won three MVP awards and three NBA championships during his 13-year career with the Boston Celtics. [23], Bird was selected by the Boston Celtics with the sixth overall pick in the 1978 NBA draft. He made scoring look effortless, while his rebounding, playmaking, and defense are not talked about enough. He scored 136 points in five NCAA tournament games, leading the Sycamores to the national championship game, where they fell to the Michigan State Spartans. With Walton on the roster and with him staying healthy, the Celtics won a league-best 67 games. [59] The Celtics fell short in 1988 losing to the Detroit Pistons in 6 games in the Eastern Conference Finals as the Pistons made up from the heartbreak the previous season. Larry Bird won the NBA Finals MVP two times. Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. ", "Kobe Bryant, Larry Bird, Michael Jordan, and the 10 Best Closers in NBA History", "Ranking 10 Most Clutch Players in NBA History", "StaTuesday: Bucks' Malcolm Brogdon on pace for rare 50-40-90 season", "How Larry Bird won the first 3 All-Star shootouts", "Professor LeBron delivered a history lesson on Larry Bird's legendary game", "Larry Bird in photos: The 'Hick from French Lick' becomes Celtics legend", "Talking the talk: An '86 Celtics trash-talking tale", "Kevin McHale shares a classic Larry Bird trash talk story", "On This Day 22 Years Ago, the NBA's Best Trash Talker Retired", "Dennis Rodman recounts how Larry Bird schooled him in '87 playoffs", "Larry Bird and Magic Johnson Receive NBA Lifetime Achievement Award", "Bird Shoots for Coaching Greatness With the Pacers", "After the NBA Finals, Larry Bird Will Quit as Indiana's Coach. . Bird would remain an All-Star player after he was back and healthy. that the Celtics returned to the NBA Finals. 1980 Finals 1982 Finals. [3], Bird scored 24.3 points per game in his career on a .496 field goal percentage, an .886 free throw percentage, and a .376 percentage on three-point shots. League Champion: Boston Celtics. Larry Bird played in the NCAA tournament just once, in 1979, but he made the most of it. Larry Birds Finals record is in the lower half of the list of all-time greats below. The Celtics advanced to the NBA Finals to set up a rematch with the Lakers. His Competitiveness Has Taken Its Toll. [40] Boston's misfortunes continued into the next season, with Bird again finishing second in MVP voting to Malone and the team losing in the Conference Semifinals to the Milwaukee Bucks. Bird recorded three 40 point triple double games in his professional career. [60], Throughout the 1980s, contests between the Celtics and the Lakersboth during the regular season and in the Finalsattracted enormous television audiences. Join our linker program. He had off-season surgery to remove a disc from his back, but his back problems continued and he missed 37 games during the 199192 season. The Celtics trailed 3-1 in the series but won the next three games to play the Rockets in the NBA Finals. The second occurred on December 13, 1989 in a win over the Seattle SuperSonics (40 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists). You can see stats, Championships, awards and more. 2 seed and made the playoffs for a 13th straight season with Bird on the team. HEIGHT. [8], The game achieved the highest-ever television rating for a college basketball game, in large part because of the matchup between Bird and Spartans' point guard Earvin "Magic" Johnson,[11] a rivalry that lasted throughout their professional careers. Amazing! [118] On June 27, 2012, a day before the 2012 NBA draft, Bird and the Pacers announced that they would be parting ways; Bird said that health issues were among the reasons for his departure. Stats Yahoo Celtics News . 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