Legends profile: Larry Bird

Larry Bird was a remarkable player in Boston and is considered one of the most iconic players in NBA history.

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Every now and then, a player emerges who can genuinely be termed a superstar. Larry Bird was one of these players.

Bird epitomized dedication, consistency, and excellence in every aspect of the game during his 13 seasons, from 1979-80 to 1991-92, with the Boston Celtics. He was not only a scorer, a passer, a rebounder, and a defender, but also a team player and perhaps most importantly, a clutch performer. Bird’s self-confidence was so profound that he was renowned for approaching the opponents’ bench before the game started and forecasting a 40-point performance for himself.

He was an incredibly lethal shooter, often practicing 3-pointers with his eyes shut. Of his peers, perhaps only Earvin “Magic” Johnson was viewed as a superior passer and was the player with whom he would forever be inseparably associated. Bird was one of the toughest players, unafraid to dive into crowds and over press tables to retrieve loose balls.

Bird epitomized “Celtics Pride.” He was a dignified, self-assured, and industrious player who relished high-pressure situations and motivated his teammates to perform their best. Similar to Bob Cousy, Bill Russell, John Havlicek, and Dave Cowens, Bird didn’t seek the limelight for himself but instead was a player who enhanced the abilities of his team members. However, unlike these legendary players, Bird had the unique ability to captivate Boston Garden with his impressive gameplay, mesmerizing fans and controlling games.

Bird was instrumental in reviving the Celtics franchise that had been plagued by poor performance and low attendance in the late 1970s. With him as the cornerstone of a well-balanced team, the Celtics clinched three NBA championships and 10 Atlantic Division titles. Apart from his three championship rings, Bird amassed a remarkable array of personal accolades. He was the third player ever, and the first non-center, to bag three consecutive NBA Most Valuable Player Awards. Bird was a 12-time All-Star, bagged the NBA Finals MVP twice, and was a nine-time member of the All-NBA First Team. He also topped the league in free-throw percentage on four occasions.

Bird, a perfectionist to the point of obsession, was revered not only by Celtic fans but by basketball admirers of all affiliations. His career was marked by consistent, awe-inspiring last-second feats, from reverse layups that seemed impossible to 35-foot bombs over multiple defenders, which captivated his followers.

“When Bird retired in 1992 due to a painful back condition, after winning a gold medal at the Barcelona Olympics with the original Dream Team, Commissioner David J. Stern stated, ‘Larry Bird has fundamentally shaped how a generation of basketball fans perceive and value the NBA’,”

Larry Joe Bird, a blonde-haired shooting sensation with a unique smile, was born and raised in the small town of French Lick, Indiana, nestled in the state’s corn country. Living a simple, spartan lifestyle, his family was part of the town’s population of 2,059. The town’s residents, like many in Indiana, took schoolboy basketball very seriously, often turning out in large numbers – up to 1,600 – to watch Springs Valley High School’s home games. Bird was often the center of attention at these games, marking the beginning of his legendary status.

Bird became a star in his junior year after his sophomore season was cut short due to a broken ankle. His team, Springs Valley, had an impressive 19-2 record and Bird rose to local fame. Fans frequently offered his parents, who didn’t own a car, rides. In his senior year, Bird set a record as the school’s top scorer of all time. His last home game was attended by roughly 4,000 people.

Bird struggled with the transition to college life. He initially joined the Indiana Hoosiers, a team led by the renowned coach Bobby Knight, but eventually left the school. He also left Northwood Institute, a local junior college. Ultimately, Bird decided to attend Indiana State, a school that had recorded 12-14 records for two consecutive years. The pressure at Indiana State was not as intense as it was at Indiana, a consistent Big Ten powerhouse and contender for the national title.

When Bird first arrived at Indiana State, home-game attendance was roughly 3,100. However, just as he did in Springs Valley, Bird filled the stadium single-handedly, boosting his team’s status and beyond. He managed to average over 30 points and 10 rebounds in his premier season for the Sycamores. Consequently, season-ticket sales surged threefold. TV stations began showcasing Bird’s highlights in place of commercials. Even students started skipping classes to queue for tickets eight hours before the game started.

The sport known as “Larry Bird Ball” was the most popular in Terre Haute.

During Bird’s senior year, the Sycamores had an undefeated streak and climbed to the No. 1 spot. However, their winning streak was broken by a Michigan State team with Earvin “Magic” Johnson, a towering 6-foot-9 guard, in the highly-anticipated 1979 NCAA Championship Game. This game is remembered as one of the most viewed in basketball history. Bird, who was named the College Player of the Year for 1978-79, ended his career at Indiana State as the fifth top scorer in NCAA history. Bird’s three-year career saw the Sycamores achieve an impressive 81-13 record.

In the 1978 NBA Draft, the Boston Celtics chose Larry Bird, who had become eligible for the NBA after his junior year. The Celtics hoped that Bird might decide to skip his senior season, but even if he didn’t, they believed he was worth the wait. The 1977-78 season had seen the Celtics record a dismal 32-50, their worst since the 1949-50 season. When Bird chose to return to Indiana State for his senior year, the Celtics’ record further slipped to 29-53. However, when Bird finally joined the Celtics for the 1979-80 season, he was instrumental in one of the most remarkable single-season turnarounds in NBA history.

The Celtics of 1979-80 made a significant improvement by 32 games, bringing their record to 61-21 and reclaiming the top spot in their division. Bird, who played in all 82 games, led the team in several areas including scoring with an average of 21.3 points per game, rebounding with an average of 10.4 rebounds per game, steals with 143, and minutes played with 2,955. He was also second in assists with an average of 4.5 per game and 3-pointers with 58. Despite Johnson’s impressive debut season with the NBA-champion Los Angeles Lakers, Bird was awarded Rookie of the Year and made the first of his 12 appearances at the All-Star Game.

A trade with Golden State during the off-season — widely regarded as the most uneven in NBA history — led to the Celtics acquiring center Robert Parish and a future first-round pick (who turned out to be Kevin McHale). They joined forces with Bird and seasoned player Cedric Maxwell in a frontcourt that propelled the Celtics to win the 1981 championship.

The Boston Celtics made a memorable comeback in the Eastern Conference finals against Philadelphia, winning the last three games after being down 3-1. They then defeated Moses Malone’s Houston Rockets in a six-game NBA Finals to clinch the title. Bird was again the team’s top player, leading in points (21.2 per game), rebounds (10.9 per game), steals (161), and minutes played (3,239).

Not only were fans packing Boston Garden, which was sold out for Bird’s final 541 games, but they were also filling up arenas nationwide to witness Bird’s incredible feats. Bird, alongside Magic, was breathing new life into the NBA, validating the league’s new slogan, “NBA Action: It’s FAN-tastic.” Within just two seasons, Bird had established his reputation among fans, coaches, and players for his impressive stats and dependable performances. Bird’s focus and calm were unparalleled. He was unshakeable and nearly invincible. The countless hours he had spent perfecting his shot as a child yielded significant returns in the NBA. Bird was unsurpassed in his era as a shooter, both in skill and consistency.

Bird first made his appearance on the NBA All-Defensive Second Team in 1981-82, marking the beginning of his three consecutive appearances. Despite his relative lack of speed and one-on-one defensive skills, he was unmatched as a team defender due to his anticipation and understanding of the court. Observers noted that he had the ability to foresee plays before they even unfolded.

Bird came in second to Moses Malone for the NBA Most Valuable Player Award, a position he would find himself in the following year as well. With his 19-point performance in the 1982 NBA All-Star Game, including scoring 12 of the East’s final 15 points, Bird was awarded the game’s MVP trophy. However, it was not until the 1983-84 season that the Celtics made their return to the NBA Finals. By then, Bird’s average score had risen to the mid-20s, and he was assisting more than seven times per game on average. In addition, he managed to score nearly 90 percent of his free-throw attempts.

Bird, known for his cunning defensive skills, made his most notable steal in Game 5 of the 1987 Eastern Conference Finals against Detroit. With only five seconds left and the Celtics behind 107-106, Bird intercepted an inbounds pass from Isiah Thomas and passed it to Dennis Johnson. Johnson’s successful layup secured the win for Boston. The Celtics emerged victorious from the intense, grueling seven-game series and moved on to the NBA Finals for the fourth year in a row. They faced the Lakers for the third time, but Los Angeles triumphed in the series after six games.

Bird, now aged 30 and struggling with progressively worsening back and foot issues, would not secure a fourth championship ring. However, there were still numerous heroic moments to look forward to.

Bird made history in the 1987-88 season, becoming the first Celtic to ever achieve a 40-20 game with a 42-point, 20-rebound performance against Indiana. That year, he also averaged the highest points in his career, 29.9 per game, narrowly missing the 30-point average. In addition, Bird clinched his third straight 3-point shootout title, a record later equaled by Craig Hodges of the Chicago Bulls from 1990-92.

In the 1988 Eastern Conference semifinals’ Game 7 versus Atlanta, Bird had a notable fourth-quarter face-off with the Hawks’ Dominique Wilkins. Despite suffering from bronchial pneumonia, Bird managed to score 20 points in the last quarter, outperforming his rival and steering the Celtics to a win. However, the Celtics were subsequently defeated by the Pistons in the conference finals.

In the 1988-89 season, Bird was restricted to only six games due to a surgery to remove bone spurs from both his heels. Despite this setback, he managed to achieve the third-longest free-throw streak in NBA history the following year with 71 consecutive hits. His playing time was further limited in the 1990-91 season as he missed 22 games due to a compressed nerve root in his back, which eventually led to his retirement. During the first-round series in the same year, Bird sustained a severe facial bruise after a second-quarter fall in Game 5 against Indiana. Despite the pain in his back, Bird returned in the third period and played a crucial role in the Celtics’ thrilling 124-121 win. After the season ended, a disk was removed from his back, but the procedure didn’t significantly alleviate his condition.

Bird’s final year was the next one, during which he had to sit out 37 games due to ongoing back issues. In a game against Portland in March, which was broadcasted nationwide, Bird put on a memorable final performance. He scored 16 points in the fourth quarter, including the Celtics’ final nine points and a pivotal 3-pointer that tied the game with only two seconds remaining. The Celtics emerged victorious, winning 152-148 in double overtime. Bird’s stats for the game were impressive: 49 points, 14 rebounds, 12 assists, and four steals.

“Anytime you have Bird on the floor, anything can happen,” Portland’s Clyde Drexler told the Boston Herald after the game.

Bird made a rare mistake in his career, missing a simple layup in overtime that could have evened the score for Game 4 of a playoff series against Cleveland that spring. This error contributed to the Cavaliers’ seven-game victory. Boston was unable to win more than one game as Bird was sidelined for three out of the four games due to a back injury.

Bird’s career was drawing to a close, but not without one final accomplishment: securing a gold medal with the 1992 U.S. Olympic Dream Team. This team dominated the Barcelona competition and garnered millions of sport fans with its exceptional performance.

Approaching the 1992-93 NBA season, Bird concluded that he couldn’t proceed further. He announced his retirement as a player on August 18, 1992, after playing 897 games. Bird ended his career with 21,791 points, averaging 24.3 points per game, 8,974 rebounds, averaging 10.0 rebounds per game, and 5,695 assists, averaging 6.3 assists per game. He had a shooting score of .496 from the floor and .886 from the free-throw line. At the time of his retirement, he was the fifth best free-throw shooter, following Mark Price, Rick Barry, Calvin Murphy, and Scott Skiles.

Bird was named a special assistant in the Celtics’ front office, with limited duties that included some scouting and player evaluation. In reality, he spent most of the next five years in Florida, playing golf and taking it easy. He did some commercials and appeared in a few films, including Michael Jordan’s Space Jam.

Primarily, he felt a strong sense of boredom. The absence of competition was deeply felt and the inclination to actively participate in the NBA only increased year after year. When the Celtics started declining, hitting rock bottom in 1996-97, Bird made the decision to take a leap of faith. However, once Rick Pitino was assigned as the new coach and president of the franchise, Bird realized that his role in Boston would be quite restricted. Therefore, he severed his connections with Boston and returned home.

Bird was appointed as the head coach of the Indiana Pacers on May 12, 1997. Despite his lack of coaching experience, the Pacers had no hesitation in handing over the leadership to Bird.

“Then-Pacers president Donnie Walsh hailed Bird as the embodiment of all his efforts, stating, “This man represents everything I’ve strived to achieve here. I aimed to unite the high school, college, and professional basketball worlds when I began here, and Bird personifies that. I also firmly believe that he has the potential to be an exceptional coach.”

“He has a knack for uniting people. When he speaks, you find yourself drawn into his world. This is a necessary skill for a coach to have.”

Even though Bird humorously expressed hope that he could get the Xs and Os right in the huddle, and jokingly stated that he didn’t design any plays involving himself, he tackled his new role with his usual unassuming confidence.

“He expressed, “I might be new to the coaching game, but I believe I can accomplish the task. I have absolute confidence that I have the capability to manage these players and execute the necessary actions to secure victories.”

Bird performed admirably in his three-season tenure on the bench. In his inaugural season, the Pacers, led by Reggie Miller, were narrowly defeated by the reigning champions, the Chicago Bulls with Jordan, in a hard-fought seven-game conference finals series.

In the 2000 NBA Finals, the Pacers fell to the Lakers in a six-game series. The Lakers, guided by Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant, secured their first of three consecutive titles with this victory.

The Coach of the Year in 1997-98, Bird, stepped down from his position as Pacers’ coach following their Finals appearance. Bird, a keen outdoorsman, also loves country music, auto racing, golf, and is a fan of the St. Louis Cardinals. He has a wide range of interests and even owns a hotel/restaurant in Terre Haute named “Larry Bird’s Boston Connection.” This establishment also houses a museum showcasing many of his trophies and awards.

He became a part of the Pacers’ front office in 2003, taking on the role of president of basketball operations. Working closely with Walsh, they sought to transform Indiana into a contender. When Walsh transitioned into a similar position with the Knicks before the 2008-09 season, Bird took full command of the Pacers’ basketball operations. His leadership contributed to the Pacers breaking a four-year streak without playoffs in the 2010-11 season. Bird was recognized as the NBA Executive of the Year in 2012, making him the first and only individual in NBA history to earn the titles of Most Valuable Player, Coach of the Year, and Executive of the Year.

Bird resigned as the Pacers’ president of basketball operations after the 2011-12 season due to health problems. He revealed that he was ready to leave the team after the 2010-11 season as the Pacers were on a solid path. His eventual exit had been a topic of discussion between him and team owner Herb Simon for several years.

In 2013, Bird resumed his role with the Pacers before transitioning to an advisory role for the franchise in 2017.