Legends profile: Larry Bird

Larry Bird was a prominent figure in Boston and ranks among the most iconic players in NBA history.

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Every now and then, a player emerges who genuinely merits the title of superstar. Larry Bird was one such player.

Bird epitomized hustle, consistency, and excellence in every facet of the game during his 13 seasons with the Boston Celtics, from 1979-80 to 1991-92. He excelled as a scorer, passer, rebounder, defender, and a team player, but most notably as a clutch performer. Bird’s self-confidence was so high that he would approach the opponents’ bench before the game started and predict a 40-point performance for himself.

He was an extremely proficient shooter, even practicing 3-pointers with his eyes closed at times. Among his peers, probably only Earvin “Magic” Johnson was regarded as a superior passer and was a player to whom he would be forever connected. Bird was among the toughest players, often diving into crowds and over press tables to retrieve loose balls.

Bird epitomized “Celtics Pride.” He was an elegant, self-assured, and industrious player who flourished under pressure and motivated his teammates to outperform. Much like Bob Cousy, Bill Russell, John Havlicek, and Dave Cowens, Bird was a humble player who never sought the limelight but instead brought out the finest in his teammates. However, even these iconic players did not captivate Boston Garden, impress fans, and dominate games the way Bird did.

The Celtics franchise, suffering from sub-standard play and poor attendance in the late 1970s, was rebuilt with the help of Bird. Under his leadership, the team became well-rounded and won three NBA titles and 10 Atlantic Division crowns. Bird himself accumulated a vast array of personal achievements beyond his three championship rings. He made history as the first non-center player, and only the third overall, to win three consecutive NBA Most Valuable Player Awards. He also was a 12-time All-Star, a two-time NBA Finals MVP, a nine-time member of the All-NBA First Team, and led the league in free-throw percentage four times.

Bird, an obsessive perfectionist, was held in high esteem by Celtic supporters and basketball purists of all affiliations. His last-minute heroics, which included everything from seemingly impossible reverse layups to astonishing 35-foot shots over numerous defenders, consistently astounded those who tracked his career.

“When Bird retired in 1992, due to a painful back condition and 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,'”

The legend of Bird originated in the small town of French Lick, located in the heart of Indiana’s cornfields, where his family lived a simple, austere life. With a population of 2,059, most of the town’s inhabitants would show up to support Springs Valley High School at their home games, showcasing the seriousness with which basketball is regarded in this state. Attendance frequently hit 1,600 – all gathered to watch Larry Joe Bird, the blonde-haired, sharpshooting prodigy with an amusing grin.

After his sophomore season was cut short due to a broken ankle, Bird rose to prominence in his junior year. His team, Springs Valley, boasted a 19-2 record and Bird himself became a local sensation. His parents, unable to afford their own car, were often offered rides by fans. In his final year, Bird set the school’s all-time scoring record and his last home game saw an attendance of around 4,000 people.

Bird struggled with his adjustment to college life. Initially, he was a part of the Indiana Hoosiers, a team under the guidance of famed coach Bobby Knight. However, he soon departed from the institution, as well as the local Northwood Institute junior college. Ultimately, Bird joined Indiana State, a team that had recorded 12-14 in each of the past two seasons. Here, the stress was significantly less when compared to Indiana, a consistent Big Ten powerhouse and a national championship contender.

When Bird arrived at Indiana State, home-game attendance was around 3,100. However, much like he did in Springs Valley, Bird managed to fill the stadium single-handedly, bringing his team to a new level of respectability. During his first season with the Sycamores, he averaged over 30 points and 10 rebounds. This led to a tripling in season-ticket sales. TV stations aired clips of Bird in place of commercials, and students would miss their classes to queue for tickets eight hours prior to the start of the game.

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

Bird’s senior year saw the Sycamores go undefeated and climb to No. 1, only to be defeated by a Michigan State team headed by 6-foot-9 guard Earvin “Magic” Johnson in the 1979 NCAA Championship Game. This game is considered one of the most viewed in basketball history. Bird, who was named the 1978-79 College Player of the Year, ended his time at Indiana State as the fifth-highest scorer in NCAA history. The Sycamores had an impressive record of 81-13 during Bird’s three-year career.

In the 1978 NBA Draft, the Boston Celtics chose him, with the hope that Bird might skip his senior season, even though he had become eligible for the NBA after his junior year. They knew he was worth waiting for even if he decided to stay on. The Celtics had had a dismal 32-50 record in 1977-78, the worst since 1949-50. However, when Bird decided to return to Indiana State for another year, the team’s performance dipped further to 29-53. Bird eventually joined the Celtics for the 1979-80 season, leading to one of the most remarkable single-season turnarounds in NBA history.

The Celtics made a significant improvement in the 1979-80 season, winning 32 more games for a 61-21 record and securing the top spot in their division. Bird was a significant contributor, leading the team in scoring with an average of 21.3 points per game, rebounding with an average of 10.4 rebounds per game, 143 steals, and 2,955 minutes played. He was also second in assists with an average of 4.5 per game and made 58 3-pointers. Johnson had a standout first season with the NBA-champion Los Angeles Lakers, but it was Bird who was named Rookie of the Year and made the first of his 12 appearances at the All-Star Game.

A trade during the offseason with Golden State, often regarded as the most uneven in NBA history, resulted in center Robert Parish and a future first-round pick (who turned out to be Kevin McHale) joining Boston. Alongside Bird and seasoned player Cedric Maxwell, they formed a frontcourt that led the Celtics to victory in the 1981 championship.

The Boston Celtics overcame a 3-1 deficit in a remarkable Eastern Conference finals against Philadelphia, staging a comeback in the last three games. They then secured the title in a six-game NBA Finals against Moses Malone and the Houston Rockets. Once again, Bird was the team leader in points (21.2 ppg), rebounds (10.9 rpg), steals (161), and minutes (3,239).

Not only was Boston Garden, which had every seat sold out for Bird’s final 541 games, packed with fans, but also arenas across the nation, all there to witness Bird’s prowess. Bird, alongside Magic, was breathing life back into the NBA, making the league’s new tagline, “NBA Action: It’s FAN-tastic,” a reality. After just two seasons, fans, coaches, and players had a clear understanding of Bird’s game: exceptional stats and clutch performances. Bird’s focus and calmness were unparalleled. He was unshakeable and nearly invincible. The time Bird invested in honing his shot during his early years yielded significant rewards in the NBA. No other player in his time could match Bird’s shooting prowess and 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 defensive skills, his ability to anticipate and his court sense made him an unparalleled team defender. Many noted that he had the unique 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 feat he would repeat the following year. His performance in the 1982 NBA All-Star Game, where he scored 19 points, including 12 of the East’s final 15, won him the game’s MVP trophy. However, it wasn’t until the 1983-84 season that the Celtics made it back to the NBA Finals. By then, Bird was averaging scores in the mid-20s and over seven assists per game. He was also successful with nearly 90 percent of his free-throw attempts.

Bird, a cunning defensive player, is best known for his steal in Game 5 of the 1987 Eastern Conference Finals against Detroit. With just five seconds to go and the Celtics lagging behind at 107-106, Bird intercepted an inbounds pass from Isiah Thomas and passed it to Dennis Johnson. Johnson’s successful layup handed Boston a much-needed victory. After a physically taxing and intensely competitive series of seven games, the Celtics moved on to the NBA Finals for the fourth year in a row, where they encountered the Lakers for the third time. However, the Lakers emerged victorious in the series, winning in six games.

Bird, now aged 30 and suffering from deteriorating back and foot conditions, would not secure a fourth championship ring. However, there were still numerous heroic moments on the horizon.

Bird made history as the first Celtic to record a 40-20 game in the 1987-88 season, achieving 42 points and 20 rebounds against Indiana. That year he also averaged a career-best 29.9 points, just shy of 30 points per game. Additionally, Bird secured his third straight 3-point shootout championship, 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 Atlanta, Bird competed in an unforgettable fourth-quarter one-on-one with the Hawks’ Dominique Wilkins. Despite battling bronchial pneumonia, Bird managed to score 20 points in the last quarter, outperforming Wilkins and leading the Celtics to a win. However, the Celtics couldn’t maintain their winning streak and were defeated by the Pistons in the conference finals.

Bone spur removal surgery in both his heels restricted Bird to just six games in the 1988-89 season. However, he bounced back the next year, posting the third-longest free-throw streak in NBA history with 71 consecutive attempts. Bird was forced to sit out 22 games in the 1990-91 season due to a compressed nerve root in his back, which eventually led to his retirement. During a first-round series in the same year, Bird sustained a severe facial bruise after a fall in the second quarter of Game 5 against Indiana. Despite the pain in his back, he returned in the third quarter, aiding the Celtics to a thrilling 124-121 win. A disk was surgically removed from his back post-season, but this didn’t provide much relief.

Bird’s final year was the next year. Persistent back issues caused him to sit out 37 games. In March, during a game against Portland that was broadcasted nationwide, Bird delivered one last remarkable performance. He racked up 16 points in the fourth quarter, which included the final nine points for the Celtics and a 3-pointer that tied the game with just two seconds remaining. The Celtics triumphed over Portland 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, in one of his rare significant errors, missed a routine overtime layup that could have evened out the Game 4 of a playoff series with Cleveland that spring. This miss is noteworthy because the Cavaliers ultimately won in seven games. Boston lost three out of four games, partly due to Bird’s inability to play because of his back issues.

Bird’s career was nearing its conclusion, but not before achieving one final accomplishment: securing a gold medal with the 1992 U.S. Olympic Dream Team. This team overpowered its rivals in Barcelona, winning over millions of sport fans with its exceptional performance.

As the 1992-93 NBA season was about to start, Bird made the decision to end his career. He publicly announced his retirement as a player on August 18, 1992. Bird’s career concluded after participating in 897 games, accumulating 21,791 points with an average of 24.3 points per game, 8,974 rebounds with an average of 10 rebounds per game, and 5,695 assists with an average of 6.3 assists per game. Throughout his career, his shooting percentage was .496 from the field and .886 from the free-throw line, ranking him fifth in all-time free-throw shooters after 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 was just bored. He longed for the thrill of competition, and with each year that passed, his desire to be more actively involved in the NBA amplified. When the Celtics’ performance declined, hitting rock bottom in 1996-97, Bird made up his mind to make a move. With the appointment of Rick Pitino as the new president and coach of the Celtics, Bird realized his role in Boston would be minor. Hence, he severed his ties and returned home.

Bird was appointed as the head coach of the Indiana Pacers on May 12, 1997. Despite having never coached a game before, the Pacers had no reservations about entrusting Bird with the role.

“This man embodies all that I’ve strived to achieve here,” said Donnie Walsh, who was the Pacers president at the time, about Bird. “When I began my journey here, my aim was to see a convergence of the high school, college, and professional basketball worlds, and Bird represents that. Moreover, I firmly believe that he possesses the potential to be an exceptional coach.”

“He has the ability to unite people. When he speaks, you find yourself immersed in his world. This is a crucial quality for a coach.”

Although Bird humorously expressed a hope of getting the Xs and Os right in the huddle and jokingly assured he didn’t design any plays involving himself, he tackled his new role with his typical modest confidence.

“He conveyed his confidence despite being a novice in the field of coaching. He asserted his belief in his ability to successfully handle the team and implement the required strategies to secure wins.”

Bird performed admirably during his three seasons as a coach. In his debut season, despite having Reggie Miller as their star player, the Pacers were unfortunately defeated by the reigning champions, the Chicago Bulls led by Jordan, in a challenging seven-game conference finals series.

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

The 1997-98 Coach of the Year, Bird, stepped down as the coach of Pacers following Indiana’s appearance in the Finals. Bird is a passionate outdoorsman who also loves country music, auto racing, golf, and the St. Louis Cardinals. He is the owner of “Larry Bird’s Boston Connection,” a hotel and restaurant in Terre Haute that doubles as a museum displaying many of his awards and trophies.

He assumed the position of president of basketball operations in the Pacers’ front office in 2003 and collaborated closely with Walsh to transform Indiana into a competitive team. When Walsh transitioned to a comparable role with the Knicks before the 2008-09 season, Bird took over full control of the Pacers’ basketball operations. His efforts paid off when the Pacers broke their four-year playoff drought in 2010-11. In 2012, Bird was honored with the NBA Executive of the Year award, making him the only individual in NBA history to bag the titles of Most Valuable Player, Coach of the Year, and Executive of the Year.

Bird resigned as the president of basketball operations for the Pacers after the 2011-12 season due to health concerns. He expressed that he was ready to leave the team following the 2010-11 season, confident in the direction the Pacers were headed. Bird’s eventual departure had been a topic of conversation 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.