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 had an impressive rookie year with the Boston Celtics but was highly disappointed after the season.
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Larry Bird had plenty of help when it came to facing Julius Erving and the Philadelphia 76ers.
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Larry Bird knew something was a little off when he arrived at his first camp with the Boston Celtics.
Larry Bird could have done without all the pregame hype before the 1979 NCAA title game against Magic Johnson.
Larry Bird once called Game 7 of the 1988 conference semifinals against the Atlanta Hawks once of the greatest games in NBA history.
On Dec. 25, 1981, Larry Bird went from basketball player to bartender, and things got a little ugly.