Legends profile: Larry Bird

Larry Bird was a remarkable player in Boston and is considered one of the NBA’s most legendary figures ever.

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Every now and then, a player emerges who genuinely earns the title of superstar. Larry Bird was one of those players.

Bird epitomized effort, consistency, and excellence in every aspect of play during his 13-season stint with the Boston Celtics from 1979-80 to 1991-92. He was a scorer, a passer, a rebounder, a defender, a team player and most notably, a clutch performer. Bird possessed such self-confidence that he was reputed to approach his opponents’ bench prior to the beginning of the game and forecast a 40-point performance for himself.

His shooting skills were so lethal that he sometimes practiced 3-pointers blindfolded. Among his peers, perhaps only Earvin “Magic” Johnson was regarded as a more exceptional passer and was someone with whom he would eternally be associated. Bird’s toughness was unparalleled, demonstrated by his fearless dives into crowds and over press tables to retrieve loose balls.

Bird personified “Celtics Pride.” He was a refined, self-assured, and diligent player who reveled in pressure and motivated his teammates to surpass their limits. Similar to Bob Cousy, Bill Russell, John Havlicek, and Dave Cowens, Bird remained humble and avoided the limelight, focusing instead on enhancing the performance of his fellow players. However, even these iconic players did not captivate Boston Garden, astound fans, and command games as Bird did.

In the late 1970s, Bird played a significant role in revitalizing the Celtics franchise, which had been plagued by poor performance and low attendance. With Bird as the centerpiece of a balanced team, the Celtics clinched three NBA championships and 10 Atlantic Division titles. Beyond his team successes, Bird amassed a host of individual accolades. He was only the third player, and the first non-center, to secure three consecutive NBA Most Valuable Player Awards. His career highlights also included 12 All-Star appearances, two NBA Finals MVP awards, and nine All-NBA First Team recognitions. Furthermore, he led the league in free-throw percentage on four occasions.

Bird, an obsessive perfectionist, was adored by Celtic fans and basketball purists of all affiliations. His career was filled with last-second miracles that never failed to astonish his followers, from seemingly impossible reverse layups to incredible 35-foot bombs over numerous defenders.

“When 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 remarked, ‘Larry Bird has shaped the perception and appreciation of the NBA for a generation of basketball fans,'”

Larry Joe Bird, a legendary basketball player, was born in the small town of French Lick, nestled within Indiana’s corn country. Here, his family lived a simple, spartan life. French Lick was a small community, with a population of just 2,059 people. However, the town had a strong sense of community and a passion for schoolboy basketball, which was evident in the high attendance at Springs Valley High School’s home games. Often, as many as 1,600 people would attend the games, all to watch the blond-haired, sharp-shooting Larry Bird, who always wore a distinctive smile.

Bird rose to stardom in his junior year after a sophomore season cut short by a broken ankle. His team, Springs Valley, had an impressive 19-2 record and Bird’s fame skyrocketed locally. Bird’s parents, who didn’t own a car, were often offered rides by fans. In his senior year, Bird set a new record as the school’s highest scorer ever, and about 4,000 spectators came to see his last home game.

Bird struggled with the transition to college life. Initially, he was an Indiana Hoosier under the tutelage of the renowned Bobby Knight. However, he eventually left the school and team, and subsequently departed from the local junior college, Northwood Institute. Ultimately, Bird enrolled at Indiana State, a school that had achieved 12-14 records in both of the preceding years. The pressure at Indiana State was not as intense as it was at Indiana, which was a consistent Big Ten powerhouse and a contender for the national title.

When Bird first joined Indiana State, the average attendance at home games was around 3,100. However, much like his time at Springs Valley, Bird single-handedly drew in crowds and raised the team’s status to one of respectability and beyond. During his initial season, he averaged over 30 points and 10 rebounds per game for the Sycamores. The effect of his presence was so dramatic that season-ticket sales tripled, TV stations aired footage of Bird rather than advertisements, and students even ditched class to queue for tickets eight hours before the game started.

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

During Bird’s senior year, the Sycamores achieved an undefeated record and climbed to No. 1. However, their winning streak was ended by a Michigan State team led by a 6-foot-9 guard, Earvin “Magic” Johnson, in the 1979 NCAA Championship Game. This game is considered one of the most viewed showdowns in basketball history. Bird was honored as the 1978-79 College Player of the Year and concluded his time at Indiana State as the fifth-highest scorer in NCAA history. Throughout Bird’s three-year career, the Sycamores held a remarkable 81-13 record.

In the 1978 NBA Draft, the Boston Celtics chose him, hoping that Bird, who became eligible for the NBA after his junior year, might skip his senior season. However, they knew he was worth waiting for even if he didn’t. During the 1977-78 season, the Celtics had a 32-50 record, the poorest since the 1949-50 season. The Celtics’ record fell to 29-53 when Bird decided to return to Indiana State for another year. However, Bird finally joined the Celtics for the 1979-80 season, sparking one of the most significant single-season comebacks in NBA history.

The Celtics in the 1979-80 season bounced back, improving their performance by 32 games to a 61-21 record, which put them back at the top of their division. Bird was a key player, leading the team in scoring with an average of 21.3 points per game, rebounding with 10.4 RPG, steals totaling 143, and minutes played at 2,955. He also came second in assists with 4.5 APG and 3-pointers with 58. Johnson had an impressive debut season with the NBA-champion Los Angeles Lakers, however, it was Bird who was named Rookie of the Year. This marked the start of his 12 appearances at the All-Star Game.

A trade in the offseason with Golden State, widely 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. They, along with Bird and seasoned player Cedric Maxwell, formed a frontcourt that led the Celtics to secure the championship in 1981.

The Eastern Conference finals saw Boston make a memorable comeback from a 3-1 deficit against Philadelphia, winning the last three games from behind. The Celtics then claimed the title over Moses Malone’s Houston Rockets in a six-game NBA Finals. Once again, Bird led the team in points with an average of 21.2 per game, rebounds with an average of 10.9 per game, steals with a total of 161, and minutes played totaling 3,239.

Not only did fans pack out the Boston Garden for the last 541 games of Bird’s career, but they also filled arenas all around the country to see Bird in action. Along with Magic, Bird was breathing new life into the NBA, helping it truly embody its new slogan, “NBA Action: It’s FAN-tastic.” After just two seasons, everyone from fans to coaches and fellow players had a clear understanding of what Bird represented: impressive stats and dependable performances. Bird’s focus and calmness were unparalleled. He was unshakeable, almost invincible. The countless hours he had put into perfecting his shot during his youth were paying off big time in the NBA. No other player of his time could match Bird’s shooting skills or consistency.

Bird made his initial appearance on the NBA All-Defensive Second Team in 1981-82, the first of three consecutive times. Despite his relative lack of speed and average one-on-one defense skills, his anticipatory abilities and understanding of the game made him an unparalleled team defender. Many noted his ability to foresee plays even before they unfolded.

Bird was the second to Moses Malone for the NBA Most Valuable Player Award, a position he would hold again the next year. He scored 19 points in the 1982 NBA All-Star Game, where he took the game’s MVP trophy, after contributing 12 of the East’s final 15 points. However, the Celtics did not return to the NBA Finals until the 1983-84 season. By then, Bird’s scoring average had climbed to the mid-20s, and he was making over seven assists on average. He also made nearly 90 percent of his free throws.

Bird, a cunning defensive player, is best known for his remarkable steal in Game 5 of the 1987 Eastern Conference Finals against Detroit. With only five seconds left on the clock, and the Celtics trailing 107-106, Bird intercepted an inbounds pass from Isiah Thomas and passed it to Dennis Johnson. Johnson’s layup secured a victory for Boston. The Celtics triumphed in this intense, acrimonious seven-game series and made it to the NBA Finals for the fourth year in a row, where they faced the Lakers for the third time. However, the Lakers emerged as champions of the series in six games.

At the age of 30 and with escalating back and foot issues, Bird would not secure a fourth championship ring. However, numerous heroic feats were still on the horizon.

Bird made history as the first Celtic to record a 40-20 game in the 1987-88 season, managing 42 points and 20 rebounds against Indiana. That year, he achieved a personal best, averaging 29.9 points per game, just shy of 30. Additionally, Bird secured his third successive 3-point shootout title during this period, a record later equalled by Craig Hodges of the Chicago Bulls from 1990-92.

In the seventh game of the 1988 Eastern Conference semifinals against Atlanta, Larry Bird had an unforgettable fourth-quarter duel with the Hawks’ Dominique Wilkins. Despite suffering from bronchial pneumonia, Bird managed to score 20 points in the last quarter, outscoring his rival and securing a win for the Celtics. However, the Celtics later lost to the Pistons in the conference finals.

In the 1988-89 season, Bird could only play six games due to a surgery for the removal of bone spurs from both his heels. The subsequent year saw Bird set the third-longest free-throw streak in NBA history with 71 consecutive hits. However, in the 1990-91 season, he missed 22 games 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 suffered a severe facial bruise after falling in the second quarter of Game 5 against Indiana. Despite his back pain, he returned in the third quarter, aiding the Celtics in achieving a dramatic 124-121 victory. A disk was taken out of his back after the season, but it didn’t provide much relief.

Bird’s final year came the following year, during which he was absent for 37 games due to ongoing back issues. During a nationally broadcast game against Portland in March, he delivered a final miraculous performance. Bird scored 16 points in the fourth quarter alone, including the Celtics’ final nine points and a game-leveling 3-pointer with only two seconds left. The Celtics eventually triumphed in double overtime, winning 152-148. Bird rounded off the game with a personal tally of 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 committed one of his career’s few significant mistakes when he missed a simple layup during overtime in Game 4 of a playoff series with Cleveland that spring. This could have resulted in a tie. The series was eventually won by the Cavaliers in seven games. Boston lost three out of the four games, largely due to Bird being unable to play because of his back injury.

Bird’s career was nearing its conclusion, but not before he accomplished one final feat: winning a gold medal as part of the 1992 U.S. Olympic Dream Team. This team dominated at the Barcelona competition, earning millions of fans for the sport through their exceptional performance.

Bird concluded that he could not proceed as the 1992-93 NBA season loomed. He declared his retirement as a player on Aug. 18, 1992, after engaging in 897 games. Bird concluded his career with 21,791 points (24.3 ppg), 8,974 rebounds (10.0 rpg), and 5,695 assists (6.3 apg). He shot .496 from the floor and .886 from the free-throw line throughout his career, retiring as the fifth highest all-time free-throw shooter, trailing behind 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.

Mainly, he was consumed by boredom. He longed for the competitive spirit, and each year that passed only intensified his desire to be more involved in the NBA. Eventually, when the Celtics’ performance plummeted, reaching its lowest point in 1996-97, Bird made up his mind to step in. However, when the Celtics appointed Rick Pitino as the new president and coach of the franchise, Bird realized his role in Boston would be minimal. Thus, he decided to sever his ties and return home.

Bird was appointed as the head coach of the Indiana Pacers on May 12, 1997. Despite his lack of previous coaching experience, the Pacers had no reservations about entrusting Bird with the responsibility.

“Of everything I’ve strived to do here, this man embodies it all,” said Donnie Walsh, the former Pacers president, referring to Bird. “From the moment I began here, my aspiration was to unify the worlds of high school, college, and professional basketball and Bird represents that vision. I am also strongly convinced that he has the potential to be an outstanding coach.”

“He has the ability to unite people. When he speaks, you are drawn into his realm. This is a necessary quality for a coach.”

Bird, in his typical humble yet confident manner, approached his new role. This was despite his jokes about hoping to get the Xs and Os right in the huddle and not drawing up any plays involving himself.

“He acknowledged his novice status in the coaching arena but expressed confidence in his ability to succeed. “I might be new to this but I believe I can do it,” he said. “I have no doubt in my capacity to manage these players and implement the strategies needed to secure victories.”

Bird performed admirably during his three-season tenure on the bench. In his inaugural season, the Pacers, spearheaded by Reggie Miller, were overpowered in a challenging seven-game conference finals series by the defending-champion Chicago Bulls, led by Jordan.

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, secured their first of three consecutive titles with this victory.

In 1997-98, Bird, who was named Coach of the Year, stepped down from his position as coach of the Pacers following their appearance in the Finals. Bird, an enthusiastic outdoorsman, has a wide range of interests. This includes country music, auto racing, golf, and the St. Louis Cardinals. He also runs “Larry Bird’s Boston Connection,” a hotel and restaurant in Terre Haute. This establishment also houses a museum displaying many of his trophies and awards.

He became a part of the Pacers’ front office in 2003, holding the position of the team’s president of basketball operations and worked closely with Walsh to make Indiana a competitive team. When Walsh took on a similar role with the Knicks prior to the 2008-09 season, Bird assumed full control of the Pacers’ basketball operations and was instrumental in ending the team’s four-year absence from the playoffs in 2010-11. In 2012, Bird received the NBA Executive of the Year award, making him the only individual in NBA history to have won 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 concerns. He had been ready to leave the team following the 2010-11 season, given that the Pacers were on a positive trajectory. Bird’s potential exit 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.