Larry Bird
“The Hick from French Lick” is the only person in NBA history to win the NBA MVP, Coach of the Year, and Executive of the Year. In 2017, Larry Bird stepped down from his last official NBA role after a 13-year NBA career and 25 years in administrative roles with the Indiana Pacers.
Bird first rose to basketball prominence during the three years he spent with the Indiana State Sycamores. The forward became the Naismith College Player of the Year en route to the 1979 NCAA championship game. The Boston Celtics drafted Bird No. 6 overall in the 1978 NBA Draft. As the NBA Rookie of the Year, he brought the Celtics to the Eastern Conference Finals.
Over the next 12 years, Bird became a three-time NBA champion, two-time NBA Finals MVP, and earned the overall MVP two more times. Bird will be remembered for many things, including his legendary rivalry with Magic Johnson.
- Birthday: December 7, 1956
- Hometown: French Lick, Indiana
- College: Indiana State University
- Height: 6’9″
- Spouse: Dinah Mattingly (m. 1989), Janet Condra (m. 1975–1976)
- Children: Corrie Bird, Connor Bird, and Mariah Bird
- Jersey: No. 33
- Number of NBA championship wins: three
- Number of NBA championship appearances: five
Visit Larry Bird’s profile on Basketball-Reference.com.
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Larry Bird and the Boston Celtics rallied to beat the “soft” Lakers in the 1984 NBA Finals.
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Larry Bird believed his Boston Celtics had it much tougher getting to the NBA Finals than the rival Los Angeles Lakers.
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While many Boston Celtics players turned against head coach Bill Fitch in 1983, Larry Bird took charge after an embarrassing sweep at the hands of the Milwaukee Bucks.
The Boston Celtics had no business beating the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1984 NBA Finals.
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