Larry Bird

Larry Bird is a former American professional basketball player, coach, and executive in the National Basketball Association, (NBA), and is regarded as one of the finest pure shooters of all time and led the Boston Celtics to three National Basketball Association (NBA) championships (1981, 1984, and 1986). He was selected by the Boston Celtics as the sixth overall choice in the 1978 NBA Draft. In NBA history, he is the only individual to have won the awards for Rookie of the Year, Most Valuable Player, MVP of the Finals, MVP of the All-Star Game, Coach of the Year, and Executive of the Year.

Early life

Bird attended Indiana State University and was raised in the Indiana town of French Lick. Larry played outstanding basketball for Springs Valley High School, averaging 31 points, 21 rebounds, and 4 assists as a senior on his way to becoming the school's all-time leading scorer. Larry used basketball as an outlet for his family concerns. He enjoyed a fruitful three-year career with the Sycamores, averaging 30.3 points, 13.3 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game and bringing them to a 33-0 record to the NCAA tournament, where they faced Michigan State in the 1979 championship game. Bird scored 19 points but only connected on 7 of his 21 attempts as Indiana State lost 75-64. The game received the highest television rating ever for a collegiate basketball game because of The showdown between Bird and Spartans point player Earvin Magic Johnson. A rivalry that lasted throughout their professional careers too.

NBA Journey

Larry entered the NBA in 1978 joining Boston Celtics. In his rookie season, he was voted Rookie of the Year with averages of 21.3 points, 10.4 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 1.7 steals per game. Before the 1980–81 season, the Celtics added Kevin McHale and Robert Parish, creating a Hall of Fame trio and a squad that is regarded as one of the greatest in NBA history. That year, the Boston Celtics advanced to the NBA Finals where they defeated the Houston Rockets in six games. In the playoffs, Bird averaged 21.9 points, 14 rebounds, 6.1 assists, and 2.3 steals per game. In the Finals, he won his first NBA Championship with an average of 15.3 points, 15.3 rebounds, and 7 assists per game.

With an average of 24.2 points, 10.1 rebounds, 6.6 assists, and 1.8 steal per game in the 1983–84 season, Bird won his first MVP Award. The Lakers, who were coached by Magic Johnson, a rival from Bird's college, defeated the Celtics in the Finals. As the Celtics overcame the Lakers in seven games, Bird went on to capture his second NBA Championship. With a game average of 27.4 points, 14 rebounds, and 3.6 assists, he was voted the NBA Finals MVP. Bird set a career-high with 60 points against the Atlanta Hawks during the 1984–85 season. After finishing the season with 28.7 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 6.6 assists per game, Bird was awarded MVP for the second consecutive year. Boston won a series against the Lakers before falling to them in the NBA Finals.

Bird became just the third player in NBA history to win three consecutive MVP Awards during the 1985–86 season, averaging 25.8 points, 9.8 rebounds, 6.8 assists, and 2 steals per game. He contributed 24 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 9.5 assists per game as the Celtics defeated the Rockets in six games to claim his third NBA Championship in the 1986 NBA Finals. In 1987, the Bird Celtics made their final trip to the Finals but lost to a powerful Lakers team.

As a member of the "Dream Team," Bird helped the USA win a gold medal at the 1992 Olympics. In the same year that he announced his retirement from the NBA, Bird disclosed a history of back problems. Throughout his career, he shot 49.6% from the field and 37.6% from three-point range, averaging 24 points, 10 rebounds, and 6 assists a game. Bird is regarded as one of the best small forwards, greatest shooters, and greatest players to ever step foot on a basketball court. In 1996, the NBA's 50th Anniversary All-Time Team selected him, and in 1998, he was elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

Larry Bird Education -

Larry went to Springs Valley High School and As a senior, Larry averaged 31 points, 21 rebounds, and 4 assists while playing basketball for his school. He eventually became the school's all-time leading scorer.

He had a successful three-year career with the Sycamores, leading them to a 33-0 record and the NCAA tournament while averaging 30.3 points, 13.3 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game. He earned a Bachelor of Science in physical education from the Sycamores university in 1979. During the 1979 NCAA championship, a game between Larry's Sycamores and Johnson’s Michigan state The match attracted the greatest broadcast audience ever for a collegiate basketball match.

Larry Bird Awards and Achievements

Larry Bird Championships -

Early in his career, Larry Bird had success. For the Celtics, he was able to deliver three championships. In only his second season, Bird remarkably managed to claim one of those championships. He was already the best player on the team at that point.

The first championships came in 1981 when the Celtics defeated Houston Rockets. It must have been an incredible experience for Boston hero Bird to take home the championship in just his second season. Then, in 1984 Larry Bird's Boston Celtics and Magic Johnson's Los Angeles Lakers faced off. The two adversaries faced off in an intense seven-game series. Boston won in the seven-game series, and Bird received his first-ever Finals MVP award for his outstanding play. The third NBA finals showdown came in 1986 where once again Larry’s Celtics faced the Houston Rockets and Both teams extended it to six games, just like they did in their first series, Larry once again showed his masterpiece play becoming Finals MVP and leading his team to win.

Larry Bird Records

• Shooting perfectly from the free throw line and three-point line in most of the games later broken by Stephen curry.

• Only one NBA player that is well-known has at least:

1. In a single game, 28 points, 19 rebounds, 15 assists, 3 steals, and 3 blocked shots were made.

2. 15 rebounds, 11 assists, and 6 steals in a game without committing a turnover (at Utah Jazz, January 1, 1983)

3. A game featured 39 points, 7 assists, an 81% field goal percentage, and perfect foul shooting (at Atlanta Hawks, April 5, 1983)

• A game with 60 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, and a 92% free throw shooting rate.

• 53 points, 8 rebounds, 70% field goal, and 100% foul line shooting in one game.

• 50 points, 13 rebounds, 7 assists, and a field goal percentage of 75% in one game.

• A game with 42 points, 20 rebounds, 5 assists, and 100% of the available free throws

• A game included 42 points, 20 rebounds, 3 steals, and 100% of the available free throws

• 42 points, 20 rebounds, two blocked shots, and a game-high 100% free throw rate.

• A single game featured 49 points, 12 rebounds, 7 assists, and 2 blocked shots (November 20, 1992, at Los Angeles Lakers) other players to do so is michael jordan.

• 39 points, 7 assists, and 2 steals in a game while making 81% of their field goal attempts (at Atlanta Hawks, April 5, 1983). Other players to do so are Gail Goodrich, and Terry porter.

Larry Bird Net worth

Larry Bird, a former professional basketball player and businessman from the United States, has a net worth of $75 million. In addition to his playing career, he has been able to make this wealth for himself through conquest, endowments, and pacer's presidency. In terms of endorsements, He has made appearances in video games and certain clothing commercials. He has promoted the Heinz Corporation's chains and products extensively.

Larry Bird Family

Larry Bird was born to Georgia and Claude Joseph "Joe" Bird in West Baden Springs, Indiana. He has a sister and four brothers. Janet Condra and Bird got married in 1975 and were together for one year only and had a daughter, Corrie, in 1977. In 1989, Bird got married to Dinah Mattingly. Larry and Mattingly were high school sweethearts and attended Indiana State University together. Conner and Mariah were two adopted children of theirs.

Larry Bird Wife -

Bird wed Janet Condra in 1975. But they were with each other for a year only. Larry and Mattingly went to Indiana State University together and were sweethearts in high school. Although Bird had previously been married, he and Mattingly only became romantically involved in the 1980s, just as Bird was beginning his career at the Boston Celtics. After becoming husband and wife in 1989, the couple adopted two children, Conner and Mariah. Moreover, they both want to keep their personal life out of the spotlight.

Larry Bird Brother -

One of the finest basketball players to ever play for the Boston Celtics Hall of Famer Larry Bird has a sister and five brothers. Eddie Bird, Bird's youngest sibling, participated in basketball at Indiana State University. He was raised in the nearby town of French Lick, where his mother supported Larry and his five siblings by working two jobs. According to Bird, his upbringing in poverty continues to inspire him "to this day." When Larry was a senior in high school, Georgia and Joe got divorced, and approximately a year later, Joe committed suicide.

Larry Bird Daughter -

Larry Bird adopted child Mariah Bird is a Professional event manager. And she works at Pacers Sports & Entertainment. The daughter of basketball legend Larry Bird graduated from Indiana University in Bloomington with a bachelor of science in recreation.

Moreover, there is also Larry’s first and only Biological daughter with Janet Condra who is an American Health Manager. She was more known as the first child of the great Larry bird. According to the source, Corrie and Larry share a close relationship with each other.

Larry Bird shoes -

The three times NBA Champion of the Boston Celtics wore ‘The Converse Weapon’. The scary nickname of Larry Bird's Converse shoe in black and white was "the Weapon." Converse promoted the sneakers throughout the 1980s with endorsements from NBA players like Magic Johnson, and Kevin McHale, and Bird's adversary from the Los Angeles Lakers, Isiah Thomas. The basketball non-plus ultra of the late 1980s was the Converse Weapon. The shoe first became popular in 1986 when it was worn by Magic Johnson and Larry Bird.