James has an edge over Bird in scoring and assists as he averaged 27.2 points and 7.3 assists per game in the regular season and 28.9 points and 7.1assists per game in the playoffs. Right, Born: Statistically, Larry Bird had just finished his most productive season (29.9 ppg, 52 FG%, 92 FT%, 9 rpg, 6 apg) in the NBA. In Game 7 of the 1988 Eastern Conference semifinals against the Atlanta Hawks, Bird shot 9 of 10 from the floor in the fourth quarter, scoring 20 points in that quarter and lifting the Celtics to a series-clinching victory over Atlanta. ", The Evening Sun's Bill Tanton: "At the beginning of the season, Indiana State was picked third or fourth in its own conference. Sixth Man of the Year. Bird would remain an All-Star player after he was back and healthy. Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. Larry Bird Larry Bird, winner of the Lifetime Achievement Award, speaks onstage during the 2019 NBA Awards presented by Kia on TNT at Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, California. 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 The Celtics were unable to repeat as champions. [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. Now the Sycamores are 33-0, they are ranked No. Stats: 24.3 PPG, 9.5 RPG, 7.5 APG, 1.4 SPG, 0.8 BPG, Awards And Achievements: All-Star, All-NBA Second Team. But does that record provide a fair verdict on James' performance in the NBA Finals? [21] In the playoffs, the Celtics avenged their loss from the year before to the Bucks, winning in five games in the Conference Finals to advance to the Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers. In 34 total Finals games in his career, Curry is averaging 27.3 PPG, 5.8 RPG, and 6.0 APG 43.2% shooting overall, and 39.5% from three. [45] The performance came just nine days after Kevin McHale set the previous Celtics record for points in a game with 56. If you continue to use this website without changing your cookie settings or you click "Accept" below then you are consenting to this. The Celtics ended up losing to the Lakers in six games, with Bird averaging 24.2 points on .445 shooting, 10 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game in the championship series. Eighth in Final Four history with an 84.2 shooting percentage against DePaul. Larry Joe Bird (Larry Legend, The Hick from French Lick, Kodak, The Great White Hope) Position: Small Forward and Power Forward Shoots: Right 6-9, 220lb (206cm, 99kg) . The 86 Celtics are in the conversation for best team ever with Bill Walton joining Bird, Robert Parish and. We present them here for purely educational purposes. The following comes from The Tampa Bay Times: His best NCAA tournament game came in the Final Four against DePaul, when he scored 35 points with 16 rebounds and nine assists (all were NCAA tournament highs for him) while shooting 16-of-19 from the field. Career: 1979-92 (13 seasons) The first regular-season game between the Celtics and the Lakers in the 198788 season proved to be a classic with Magic Johnson banking in an off-balance shot from near the three-point line at the buzzer for a 115114 Lakers win at Boston Garden. MJ looked up to Bird when he came into the league. Johnson appeared at Bird's retirement ceremony on February 4, 1993, and emotionally described Bird as a "friend forever".[63]. That's the greatest game I've ever played in or seen played." 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. The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. He remains the last player to record the MVP Award for three consecutive seasons. Do you have a sports website? [21] He did not sign with the Celtics immediately; instead, he played out his final season at Indiana State and led the Sycamores to the NCAA title game. The Celtics and the Lakers are the two most storied franchises in the NBA, and the rivalry has often been called the greatest in the NBA. Their friendship blossomed when the two players worked together to film the Converse commercial, which depicted them as archenemies. [44] On March 12 of the 198485 season, Bird scored a career-high and franchise record 60 points in a game against the Atlanta Hawks. [20] For his college career, he averaged 30.3 points, 13.3 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game,[21] leading the Sycamores to an 8113 record during his tenure. He was the leagues best player after years of looking up to Malone. [83] Universally recognized as an all-time great player, Bird was placed at the power forward position on an NBA all-time starting five roster with fellow superstars Magic Johnson (point guard), Michael Jordan (shooting guard), LeBron James (small forward), and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (center) in 2020. [97] He accomplished this feat twice. All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. The Celtics met the 76ers in the Conference Finals for a third straight year. It was the first All-Defensive honor for Bird, on top of averaging nearly 23 points per game. He was named NBA Head Coach of . Bird had off-season surgery to remove a disc from his back, but the lingering injury forced Bird to miss 37 games. The trio became a dangerous big three that helped the Celtics stay competitive in the NBA. I just think when a man is open, he should get the ball whether it's 30 feet out on the wing or underneath. Larry Bird was born on 7 December, 1956 in West Baden Springs, Indiana, United States, is an American basketball player, coach and executive. Their coach, Bill Hodges, is in his first year, the first rookie ever to take an undefeated team to the tournament final. Subscribe to Stathead Basketball: Get your first month FREEYour All-Access Ticket to the Basketball Reference Database. Larry Bird. He was voted onto the NBA's 50 Greatest Players in NBA History list in 1996, and consequently the 75th Anniversary Team list in 2021. Last edited on 28 February 2023, at 21:21, retired by Springs Valley High Blackhawks, 1992 United States men's Olympic basketball team, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, United States men's national basketball team, List of career achievements by Larry Bird, List of National Basketball Association career assists leaders, List of National Basketball Association career playoff assists leaders, List of National Basketball Association career playoff free throw scoring leaders, List of National Basketball Association career playoff rebounding leaders, List of National Basketball Association career playoff scoring leaders, List of National Basketball Association career playoff steals leaders, List of National Basketball Association career playoff turnovers leaders, List of National Basketball Association career scoring leaders, List of National Basketball Association career steals leaders, List of National Basketball Association career turnovers leaders, List of National Basketball Association players with most points in a game, List of National Basketball Association players with most steals in a game, List of National Basketball Association annual minutes leaders, List of NBA players who have spent their entire career with one franchise, List of NCAA Division I men's basketball career scoring leaders, List of NCAA Division I men's basketball players with 2000 points and 1000 rebounds, "Big Threes Beyond the Boston Celtics & Miami Heat: 50 Best Trios in NBA History", Fox Sports: Top 10 small forwards in NBA history, "Larry Bird resigns as Indiana Pacers president for second time", Larry Bird: Hall of Fame Basketball Superstar, "EDDIE BIRD HAS A TOUGH ACT TO FOLLOW AT INDIANA STATE", "Boston's Larry Bird, in what may be his finest season, gets Red Auerbach's voteover Bill Russellas the best ever", "Throwback Thursday: Celtics Draft Larry Bird Sixth Overall", "The story of how rookie phenom Larry Bird led the NBA's greatest turnaround season", "Larry Bird's baseball career: A lofty .500 batting average", "Houston Rockets at Boston Celtics Box Score, October 12, 1979", "Detroit Pistons at Boston Celtics Box Score, November 14, 1979", "Indiana Pacers at Boston Celtics Box Score, November 23, 1979", "5 best players in Boston Celtics history", "NBA expert panel: Warriors not the greatest of all time, or even No. Bird averaged 21.3 points, 10.4 rebounds and 4.5 assists in leading the Celtics to the best record in the league and a 32-game improvement from the previous season. Postseason stats/game: 7.9 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.1 steals. Hodges allowed Bird to sleep in, which annoyed the folks who sponsored the brunch and the award, and some in the media. Michael Jordan*. Bird scored a team-high 19 points for the Sycamores in the 1979 national championship game but it wasn't his most efficient performance as he was just 7-of-21 from the field and 5-for-8 from the free-throw line. Larry Bird is 6-9. '", Indiana State coach Bill Hodges on the notion that man-to-man defenses might slow Bird down: "If we go against a UCLA or a Notre Dame later on and they play man-to-man, that's when you'll see how tough Larry really is. School: Indiana StatePosition: ForwardHeight: 6-9Weight: 220 poundsYears active: 1976-79NCAA tournament record: 4-1Career averages: 30.3 points per game, 13.3 rebounds per game, 4.6 assists per game, 53.3% shooting. Nicknamed "The Hick from French Lick" and "Larry Legend", Bird is widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all time. Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? Larry Bird Stats and news - NBA stats and news on Boston Celtics Forward Larry Bird . [110], The Celtics employed Bird as a special assistant in the team's front office from 1992 until 1997. He chose to play out his final season at Indiana State, so he played the following season. The Celtics trailed 3-1 in the series but won the next three games to play the Rockets in the NBA Finals. He was named Rookie of the Year . Andy Wittry has written for Stadium, SI.com, Sporting News, the Indianapolis Star, Louisville Courier-Journal and Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. He also secured All-NBA and All-Defensive Team status. that the Celtics returned to the NBA Finals. His nickname Larry Legend suits him as he remains one of the most legendary players of all time. . Birds Boston Celtics finished 16-15 in NBA Finals games and 3-2 in NBA Finals series. He averaged 23.1 points, 11.6 rebounds and 6.0 . Finals Appearances. In the playoffs, the Celtics swept the Pacers in the first round and took a 2-1 series lead over the Cavaliers in the semifinals. Other notable performances by Bird include his career-high 49 points against Wichita State in February 1979, scoring 29 points in the first half against Butler in December 1978, just 10 months after he dropped 47 on the Bulldogs on the road. [133], During his professional career with the Celtics, Bird lived in the Boston suburb of Brookline, Massachusetts.[134]. During the 1992 Eastern Conference semi-finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Bird missed four of the seven games due to recurring back problems. Compare LeBron James and Larry Bird careers through the years of your choosing. . Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. [96], Bird is also remembered as an excellent passer[100] and defender. 1979-80 Bird 1980-81 Bird 1981-82 Bird 1982-83 Bird 1983-84 Bird 1984-85 Bird 1985-86 Bird 1986-87 Bird 1987-88 Bird 1988-89 Bird 1989-90 Bird 1990-91 Bird 1991-92 Bird 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 82 82 77 79 79 80 82 74 76 6 75 60 45. [39] At the conclusion of the season, he earned his first All-Defensive Team selection. It remains an iconic play that helped the Celtics make the NBA Finals. Washington Bullets vs. Boston Celtics; For the second year in a row, Bird received the MVP Award. "[70] Their rivalry began in college, when Larry Bird and Indiana State lost to Magic Johnson and Michigan State in the NCAA Championship game. Join us for a March Madness Webinar on Tuesday, March 7 at 8pm ET. They have two adopted children, Conner and Mariah. In the second round against the Hawks, Bird shot 9 of 10 from the field in the fourth quarter to score 20 points to lead the Celtics to a Game 7 win. . [57], The '86 Celtics are commonly ranked as one of the greatest basketball teams of all time, with the Boston Globe's Peter May and Grantland's Bill Simmons listing them at number one. Stats: 28.1 PPG, 9.2 RPG, 7.6 APG, 1.8 SPG, 0.9 BPG, Awards And Achievements: All-Star, All-NBA First Team, Three-Point Contest Champion, 50-40-90 Club. Indiana State nearly became the most recent undefeated national champion, reaching the 1979 national title game with a 33-0 record. In the playoffs, the Celtics took on a very tough Detroit Pistons team in the Conference Finals. Before the season, the Celtics acquired Bill Walton, which was seen as a risk due to his injury history. Larry Bird stats. With the Celtics down by one point, and less than 10 seconds left, Bird missed a potential go-ahead layup after his shot was blocked. Larry Bird averaged 24.0 points, 9.7 rebounds and 9.5 assists in 6 games in the 1986 NBA Finals. They remained married for less than a year. Do you have a sports website? [69] Following Bird's departure, the Celtics promptly retired his jersey number 33. Bird's rookie year he did shoot 40% from three point land and then he had four years of .270, .212, .286, 247, and then he was the Larry Bird at 40% that we all grew accustomed to. League Champion: Boston Celtics. NAME. Bird averaged 15.3 points, 15.3 rebounds, and 7.0 assists in the NBA Finals. [96] Bird was the first player in NBA history to shoot 50% or better on field goals, 40% on three-pointers, and 90% on free-throws in a single NBA season while achieving the league minimum for makes in each category. No Awards . All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. That went to Bird's teammate Cedric "Cornbread" Maxwell. [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. Stats: 19.3 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 4.8 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.8 BPG. When they reached the NBA Finals, the Celticshampered by devastating injurieslost to a dominant Lakers team that had won 65 games during the season. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. With that said, Bird was an All-Star and defended his title as Three-Point Contest Champion. NAISMITH AWARDS: Player of the Year | Coach of the Year | Defensive Player of the Year, While Bird was most known for his scoring, he had a well-rounded game that included double-digit rebound totals and unselfish passing. [121], In 1975, Bird married Janet Condra. The 19871988 season was the highest-scoring season of Bird's career. 1956 Among his other stats, he averaged a career shooting percentage of 49.6% and shot 88.6% from the free-throw line. Copyright 2023 Sports Nostalgia HQ | Powered by Astra WordPress Theme, By continuing to use the site, you agree to the use of cookies. . What Was Michael Jordans Playoff Record? . [68] He returned to the Celtics in 1989, but debilitating back problems and an aging Celtic roster prevented him from regaining his mid-1980s form. [10], Bird received a scholarship to play college basketball for the Indiana Hoosiers in 1974. It's because of Bird. Playoffs: PTS, FG, FT, FTA, 3P, 3PA complete all-time. Finals MVP: Larry Bird(24.0/9.7/9.5), Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Wednesday, March 1, 9:33AM. [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. [119] Bird returned to the Pacers as president of basketball operations in 2013. Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. Bird owns four buzzer-beaters and in each of those moments the Celtics trailed when he took the clutch shot. [6] He stepped down again in 2017, but stayed with the team in an advisory capacity. It helped the Celtics overcome 47 points from Dominique Wilkins. [56] Bird averaged 24 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 9.5 assists per game for the championship round. Subscribe to Stathead Basketball: Get your first month FREEYour All-Access Ticket to the Basketball Reference Database. The Celtics played in two other Finals series with Bird, losing to the Los Angeles Lakers in '85 and '87. Finals Appearances. While Indiana State coach Bill Hodges was frustrated with the style of defense, according to the Philadelphia Daily News, Bird wasn't concerned about his lack of shots. Bird won 3 MVP Awards, was selected to play in 12 All-Star Games, and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1998. Larry Bird totals for the NBA season and Playoffs, including points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks and other categories, year by year and career numbers. Coopers. Learn more and register, Kansas City Kings vs. Portland Trail Blazers, Scores from any date in BAA/NBA or ABA history, Frequently Asked Questions about the NBA, WNBA and Basketball, Basketball-Reference.com Blog and Articles, Subscribe to Stathead Basketball: Get your first month FREE. [39][41], Bird was named MVP of the 198384 season with averages of 24.2 points, 10.1 rebounds, 6.6 assists, and 1.8 steals per game. Or write about sports? With the back injury forcing Bird out, the Celtics struggled with him, not on the floor. 2", "Atlanta Hawks at Boston Celtics Box Score, December 9, 1984", "Relive the Moment: Larry Bird Easily Wins Inaugural 3-Point Contest After Asking Field Who Would Finish Second", "Detroit Pistons at Boston Celtics Box Score, November 27, 1985", "Boston Celtics at Dallas Mavericks Box Score, March 10, 1986", "Larry Legend Bird wins third straight MVP", "Houston Rockets at Boston Celtics Box Score, June 8, 1986", "Converse Commercial (1986) with Larry Bird and Magic Johnson", "Bird's Garden Party: Celtics Make It a Magical Night for Larry Legend", "Against All Those Hawks, One Bird Is Enough for Celtics", "Legendary Moments in NBA History: Larry Bird and Dominique Wilkins battle in Game 7", "Bird Bids Farewell, Retires From Celtics", "Dream Team a star-studded sight to behold for gazers on, off court", "The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame - Hall of Famers", "10 reasons we still love Larry Bird on his 60th birthday", "PRO BASKETBALL; A Bashful Larry Bird Joins Hall Of Fame", "The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Hall of Famers", "1992 Dream Team Inducted into Hall of Fame", It started in Sacramento: LeBron James, back in NBA Finals, makes our all-time starting 5, "Who's The Best Small Forward Of All Time: Larry Bird Or LeBron James? After leading the Celtics to a 295 start to the 199091 season, Bird missed 22 games due to a compressed nerve root in his back, a condition that eventually led to his retirement. eventually winning the series in seven. He made scoring look effortless, while his rebounding, playmaking, and defense are not talked about enough. [22] He graduated in 1979 with a Bachelor of Science degree in physical education. Bird, Larry (1989), Drive: The Story of My Life. Larry Joe Bird (born December 7, 1956) is an American former professional basketball player, coach, and executive in the National Basketball Association (NBA). [5] He was named NBA Executive of the Year for the 2012 season. That went to Birds teammate. "Larry Bird Ball" was the most popular sport in Terre Haute. Bird was named 1984 Finals MVP after averaging 27 points and 14 rebounds per game. Larry Bird and Magic Johnson are known to be "one of the greatest rivalries in sports. Springs Valley in French Lick, Indiana, Draft: us, College: Finals MVP: Larry Bird(27.4/14.0/3.6), Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Wednesday, March 1, 9:33AM. His teams' overall record in finals games was 16-15. The Celtics advanced to the NBA Finals to set up a rematch with the Lakers. 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 team was defeated in the semifinals by the Milwaukee Bucks. One of the most intelligent players in history, Larry Bird, makes arguably the best play of his career in the 1981 Finals. The Cleveland Cavaliers, Bird received the MVP Award [ 39 ] the. Averaged 15.3 points, 15.3 rebounds, and 9.5 assists per game Bird to in. 15.3 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.1 steals rebounding, playmaking, and some in Conference. Ever played in or seen played. Bird & # x27 ; s teammate Cedric quot. 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