Legends profile: Larry Bird

Larry Bird, one of the NBA’s most iconic players of all time, was particularly prominent in Boston.

> Archive 75: Larry Bird | 75 Stories: Larry Bird

Every so often, a generation is graced with a player who can genuinely be termed a superstar. Larry Bird was one such player.

Bird embodied the spirit of hard work, consistency, and excellence in every aspect of the game during his 13 seasons with the Boston Celtics, from the 1979-80 season through to the 1991-92 season. He was admired for his scoring, passing, rebounding, defense, teamwork, and perhaps most significantly, his clutch performances. Bird’s confidence was so profound that he was renowned for casually walking up to the opponents’ bench before the game started and predicting a 40-point performance for himself.

His shooting skills were so lethal that he would occasionally practice 3-pointers with his eyes shut. Among his peers, possibly only Earvin “Magic” Johnson was viewed as a superior passer, and he would always be inseparably associated with him. Bird, known for his tenacity, would dive into crowds and hurdle over press tables to retrieve loose balls.

Bird epitomized “Celtics Pride.” He was a dignified, self-assured, diligent player who flourished under pressure and motivated his teammates to outperform. Much like Bob Cousy, Bill Russell, John Havlicek, and Dave Cowens, Bird was understated and never sought attention, but instead, he was a player who amplified the abilities of those around him. However, even these iconic players did not electrify Boston Garden, enthralling fans and taking over games as Bird did.

The Celtics franchise, which had been struggling with poor performance and low attendance in the late 1970s, was rejuvenated with the help of Bird. Bird was the centerpiece of a balanced team that led the Celtics to three NBA titles and 10 Atlantic Division victories. Beyond his three championship titles, Bird amassed a remarkable array of personal accolades. He made history as the first non-center and only the third player to win the NBA Most Valuable Player Award three times consecutively. Bird was a 12-time All-Star, two-time NBA Finals MVP, and was named to the All-NBA First Team nine times. He also topped the league in free-throw percentage on four occasions.

Bird, an obsessive perfectionist, was revered by Celtic enthusiasts and basketball purists from all factions. His career was marked by last-second heroics that never stopped astonishing those who kept track of it, from seemingly unfeasible reverse layups to miraculous 35-foot shots over several defenders.

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

Larry Joe Bird, a blonde-haired shooting prodigy with a peculiar smile, was born and raised in the small town of French Lick, located in Indiana’s corn country. His family led a simple life in a town with a population of 2,059. The town took high school basketball very seriously, with most of the population often attending home games at Springs Valley High School. The attendance often reached 1,600, all there to watch Bird play. His legend was born in this context, in a town nestled in the heart of Indiana.

Bird rose to stardom during his junior year, after his sophomore season was cut short due to a broken ankle. His team, Springs Valley, recorded a 19-2 win-loss ratio, and Bird became well-known locally. His parents, unable to afford a car, were often given rides by fans. Bird’s senior year saw him become the school’s highest scorer of all time, and his last home game was attended by around 4,000 spectators.

The transition to college life was challenging for Bird. Initially, he joined the Indiana Hoosiers, a team coached by the renowned Bobby Knight, but later left the school. He also departed from the local junior college, Northwood Institute. Eventually, Bird decided to enroll at Indiana State, a university that had a 12-14 record in the preceding two years. The pressure at Indiana State was less intense compared to Indiana, a consistent Big Ten powerhouse and a regular competitor for the national title.

When Bird joined Indiana State, the home-game attendance was approximately 3,100. However, just as he had done in Springs Valley, Bird managed to fill up the stadium single-handedly and raise his team’s reputation. He had an impressive average of over 30 points and 10 rebounds for the Sycamores in his initial season. The result was a tripling in season-ticket sales and TV stations choosing to broadcast Bird’s highlights over commercials. Even students would miss classes to queue for tickets eight hours prior to the game starting.

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

During Bird’s senior year, the Sycamores remained undefeated and climbed to No. 1. However, their winning streak was ended by a Michigan State team with 6-foot-9 guard Earvin “Magic” Johnson in the 1979 NCAA Championship Game, a match that is considered one of the most viewed in basketball history. Bird was recognized as the 1978-79 College Player of the Year and left Indiana State as the NCAA’s fifth-highest scorer. During Bird’s three-year career, the Sycamores had an impressive record of 81-13.

In the 1978 NBA Draft, the Boston Celtics selected Bird who was eligible for the NBA after his junior year. They hoped he might skip his senior season, but recognized his worth even if he chose to stay. During the 1977-78 season, the Celtics had a disappointing 32-50 record, their worst since the 1949-50 season. When Bird decided to return to Indiana State for another year, the Celtics’ performance declined further to 29-53. However, Bird finally joined the Celtics for the 1979-80 season, leading to one of the most remarkable single-season turnarounds in NBA history.

The Celtics enhanced their performance by 32 games to 61-21 in the 1979-80 season, thereby reclaiming their top spot in their division. Bird, who participated in all 82 games, was the team leader in scoring with an average of 21.3 points per game, rebounding with an average of 10.4 rebounds per game, steals (143), and minutes played (2,955). He also ranked second in assists with an average of 4.5 per game and 3-pointers (58). While Johnson also had a noteworthy first season with the NBA-champion Los Angeles Lakers, Bird received the Rookie of the Year award and made his first out of twelve appearances at the All-Star Game.

A trade during the offseason with Golden State – viewed by many as the most one-sided in NBA history – resulted in center Robert Parish and a future first-round pick (who turned out to be Kevin McHale) coming to Boston. Together with Bird and seasoned player Cedric Maxwell, they formed a frontcourt that led the Celtics to the 1981 championship.

The Boston Celtics rebounded from a 3-1 deficit in a memorable Eastern Conference finals against Philadelphia, securing come-from-behind victories in the final three games. They then defeated Moses Malone and the Houston Rockets in a six-game NBA Finals to clinch the title. Once more, Bird led the team in points with an average of 21.2 per game, rebounds with an average of 10.9 per game, stole the ball 161 times, and played a total of 3,239 minutes.

Not only was Boston Garden, where the last 541 games of Bird’s career sold out, filled with fans, but arenas across the country were also jam-packed to witness Bird’s remarkable performances. Bird, along with Magic, was rejuvenating the NBA, enabling the league to embody its new slogan, “NBA Action: It’s FAN-tastic.” After a mere two seasons, fans, coaches, and players understood Bird’s essence: impressive statistics and decisive performances. Bird’s focus and calmness were unparalleled. He was unwavering and virtually invincible. The countless hours Bird had invested in honing his shot during his youth reaped substantial rewards in the NBA. No other player in Bird’s era could match his shooting skill or consistency.

Bird made his first of three consecutive appearances on the NBA All-Defensive Second Team in 1981-82. Despite his relatively slow speed and average one-on-one defense, his exceptional anticipation and understanding of the game made him an unparalleled team defender. Many noted his ability to foresee plays before they even began to unfold.

Bird came in second to Moses Malone for the NBA Most Valuable Player Award, a position he would also hold the next year. In the 1982 NBA All-Star Game, Bird scored 19 points, including 12 of the final 15 for the East, which won him the MVP trophy for the game. However, it wasn’t until the 1983-84 season that the Celtics made it back to the NBA Finals. By that point, Bird’s average score was in the mid-20s and he was making over seven assists on average. Additionally, he was successful with nearly 90 percent of his free-throw attempts.

Bird, known for his cunning defense, made his most notable steal during Game 5 of the 1987 Eastern Conference Finals against Detroit. With only five seconds left and the Celtics down 107-106, Bird intercepted an inbounds pass from Isiah Thomas and assisted Dennis Johnson, whose successful layup secured Boston’s victory. After a physically intense and contentious seven-game series, the Celtics progressed to the NBA Finals for the fourth year in a row, facing off against the Lakers for the third time. However, the Lakers triumphed in the series, winning in six games.

Despite being 30 years old and dealing with an deteriorating back condition and foot problems, Bird was not able to secure a fourth championship ring. However, he still had plenty more heroic moments ahead.

Bird became the first Celtic to register a 40-20 game in the 1987-88 season, scoring 42 points and making 20 rebounds against Indiana. That year, he achieved a career-best average of 29.9 points per game, just five points away from an average of 30. Bird also secured his third straight 3-point shootout title, a record later equaled by Craig Hodges of the Chicago Bulls from 1990-92.

During the seventh game of the 1988 Eastern Conference semifinals against the Hawks, Bird had an unforgettable fourth-quarter faceoff with Dominique Wilkins of the Hawks. Despite suffering from bronchial pneumonia, Bird scored 20 points in the last period, outperforming his rival and guiding the Celtics to a win. Nonetheless, the Celtics were defeated by the Pistons in the conference finals.

In 1988-89, Bird’s play was limited to only six games due to a surgery to remove bone spurs from both heels. Despite this, Bird managed to achieve the third-longest free-throw streak in NBA history the next year, successfully making 71 consecutive attempts. A compressed nerve root in his back caused Bird to miss 22 games in 1990-91, eventually leading to his retirement. During a first-round series that same year, Bird suffered a severe face bruise after falling in the second quarter of Game 5 against Indiana. Despite his hurting back, Bird returned in the third period, aiding the Celtics in a thrilling 124-121 victory. Post-season, a disk was removed from his back, but the improvement was not significant.

Bird’s final year was the subsequent year. His ongoing back issues caused him to miss 37 games. During a national broadcasted game against Portland in March, Bird delivered one last extraordinary performance. He scored 16 points in the final quarter, which included the Celtics’ final nine points and a game-tying 3-pointer with only two seconds remaining. Boston emerged victorious with a score of 152-148 after double overtime. Bird’s final stats were remarkable – 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.

One of the few significant errors in Bird’s career occurred when he missed a simple layup in overtime that would have equalized Game 4 of a playoff series against Cleveland that spring. The Cavaliers eventually won the seven-game series. Boston lost three of the four games, with Bird unable to participate due to a back injury.

Bird’s career was nearing its conclusion, but not before accomplishing one final milestone: securing a gold medal with the 1992 U.S. Olympic Dream Team. This team dominated the Barcelona competition, winning over millions of fans with their outstanding performance in the sport.

As the 1992-93 NBA season was drawing near, Bird made the decision that he couldn’t carry on. He made his retirement announcement on August 18, 1992. Bird left the game after competing in 897 matches, scoring 21,791 points which equates to a 24.3 points per game average. He also achieved 8,974 rebounds or a 10.0 rebounds per game average and 5,695 assists, averaging 6.3 assists per game. Throughout his career, he achieved a .496 shooting average from the field and .886 from the free-throw line, placing him fifth in the all-time free-throw shooting rankings, behind Mark Price, Rick Barry, Calvin Murphy, and Scott Skiles at the time of his retirement.

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.

He primarily felt a sense of boredom. The lack of competition was something he missed dearly, and as each year passed, his desire to return to the NBA in a more involved role increased. In the end, when the Celtics’ performance started to decline, hitting rock bottom in the 1996-97 season, Bird made the decision to dive back in. However, when Rick Pitino was appointed as the new president and coach of the Celtics, Bird realized that his role in Boston would be significantly limited. Therefore, he decided to sever the ties and return home.

Bird was appointed as the head coach of the Indiana Pacers on May 12, 1997. Despite having no prior coaching experience, the Pacers confidently handed over the leadership to Bird.

“Bird is the embodiment of everything I’ve strived for in this place,” said Donnie Walsh, who was the president of the Pacers at the time. “From the moment I began my tenure here, my aim was to unify the realms of high school, college and professional basketball, and Bird perfectly represents that. Furthermore, I am firmly convinced that he has the potential to be an outstanding coach.”

He unites people. When he speaks, you are drawn into his universe. That is the essential duty of a coach.

Although he humorously expressed hopes of not messing up the Xs and Os in the huddle and not designing any plays involving himself, Bird tackled his new role with his usual unassuming confidence.

“He admitted, “I’m a novice in the field of coaching, but I’m confident I can be successful. I have complete trust in my ability to manage these players effectively and take the required steps to secure victories.”

Bird performed admirably during his three-season tenure on the bench. In his debut season, the Pacers, led by Reggie Miller, faced a challenging seven-game conference finals series. Despite their efforts, they were bested by the reigning champions, the Chicago Bulls, led by Jordan.

In the 2000 NBA Finals, the Lakers, led by Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant, defeated the Pacers in a six-game series, marking the first of their three consecutive titles.

The Coach of the Year in 1997-98, Bird, resigned from his position as the Pacers’ coach following their appearance in the Finals. The fervent outdoorsman, who also enjoys country music, auto racing, golf and supports the St. Louis Cardinals, has a variety of interests. He is the proprietor of a hotel/restaurant in Terre Haute named “Larry Bird’s Boston Connection,” which also functions as a museum, showcasing many of his trophies and awards.

In 2003, he began working with the Pacers’ front office as their president of basketball operations, collaborating with Walsh to transform Indiana into a competitive team. He took over full control of the team’s basketball operations when Walsh transitioned to a comparable role with the Knicks prior to the 2008-09 season. Bird’s leadership led the Pacers to break a four-year playoff drought in the 2010-11 season. In 2012, he was awarded the NBA Executive of the Year, making him the only individual in NBA history to receive the Most Valuable Player, Coach of the Year, and Executive of the Year awards.

Bird resigned as the Pacers’ president of basketball operations after the 2011-12 season, citing health concerns. He had been ready to leave the team after the 2010-11 season, as he felt the Pacers were on the right track. His eventual departure had been a topic of discussion with team owner Herb Simon for several years.

In 2013, Bird resumed his role with the Pacers, only to step down in 2017 and take on an advisory role for the franchise.