Magic got the upper hand against Bird, beating him in 1985 and 1987, while Bird beat Magic in 1984. Other vital statistics like weight or shoe size measurements have been sourced from newspapers, books, resumes or social media. Larry Bird Vertical Jump - Height, Number, Stats and Championship Rings ", "Kobe Bryant, Larry Bird, Michael Jordan, and the 10 Best Closers in NBA History", "Ranking 10 Most Clutch Players in NBA History", "StaTuesday: Bucks' Malcolm Brogdon on pace for rare 50-40-90 season", "How Larry Bird won the first 3 All-Star shootouts", "Professor LeBron delivered a history lesson on Larry Bird's legendary game", "Larry Bird in photos: The 'Hick from French Lick' becomes Celtics legend", "Talking the talk: An '86 Celtics trash-talking tale", "Kevin McHale shares a classic Larry Bird trash talk story", "On This Day 22 Years Ago, the NBA's Best Trash Talker Retired", "Dennis Rodman recounts how Larry Bird schooled him in '87 playoffs", "Larry Bird and Magic Johnson Receive NBA Lifetime Achievement Award", "Bird Shoots for Coaching Greatness With the Pacers", "After the NBA Finals, Larry Bird Will Quit as Indiana's Coach. Scottie Pippen stood 68 inches, but had a wingspan of 73, which is modest in comparison to some of the other players on this list, but Pippen used that length to its full extent. Wilt Chamberlain is part of many extraordinary tales and finding accurate data on the legendary big man is no small feat. [10], Bird received a scholarship to play college basketball for the Indiana Hoosiers in 1974. This has lead some to believe that he is still growing, while most believe it is just a case of the Pelicans stretching the truth a little. Nicknamed The Claw, Leonard possess a hand spread that measures 11.25 inches, which is bigger than Wilt, Shaq or Bill Russell. [21] In the Conference Finals, Boston was eliminated by the Philadelphia 76ers. [76] The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame called the team "the greatest collection of basketball talent on the planet". Of course, there are some who prefer using a player based on his archrival, Magic Johnson. Despite failing to win the championship, Bird earned numerous year-end awards and honors for his outstanding play, including the Naismith College Player of the Year Award. Everyone knows that Manute Bol was the tallest player in NBA history, but he also possessed the largest wingspan. Despite not being as tall as the Lakers legend, Leonard is just as long. The Celtics won their first NBA title with Bird (and 14th overall) in 1981; they repeated with title wins in 1984 and 1986. [85], Bird has been described as one of the greatest basketball players and greatest shooters of all time. NBA 2K23 Larry Bird Packs Card Challenge - vhpg.com But I recommend opting for defense/rebounding instead. Durant is a prime example that elite length, when combined with elite skills, make a truly special player. Along with Johnson, who also entered the NBA in 1979 with the Los Angeles Lakers, Bird was a key figure in revitalizing the league in the 1980s. Larry Bird starred at Indiana State University before joining the NBA's Boston Celtics in 1979. Both Dinah and Larry studied at Indiana State University. Bird has been married to Dinah Mattingly since 1989. Doubleday, pp. By visiting Celeb Heights you agree to its. McHale stood 610 and was reported to have a colossal wingspan that stretched to 80. Larry Bird Dimensions & Drawings | Dimensions.com That is an 11% increase on his height. The average NBA player will have a wingspan 4 inches greater than his height. In 2003, Bird was named president of basketball operations for the Pacers, holding the position until retiring in 2012. He is a 6'6 player, and he's held his own thanks to a 260 pound base and a 7'3 wingspan. Rajon Rondo only stands 61, but has a wingspan that stretches to 69. He played both the small forward and power forward positions. Alonzo Mourning had a decorated NBA career as a seven-time all-star who had two Defensive Player of the Year awards and one NBA title. For three consecutive years, from 1984 to 1986, Bird was named the NBA's MVP, and in 1990, he hit a milestone by reaching 20,000 career points. A 6-foot-9 forward who could dribble, pass and shoot the way Bird could made him one of the greatest NBA players we've ever seen and will ever see. He played for the Celtics during his entire professional career (13 seasons), leading them to five NBA finals appearances and three NBA championships. . Larry Bird, along with "Magic" Johnson and Michael Jordan, is one of the most recognized names in the history of basketball. This is another case of parents being relatively short to their son. Find out more. ", -Magic Johnson, as quoted at Bird's retirement party. Bird began the next chapter of his life as a front-office special assistant for the Celtics, a post he held for five years. In his final three seasons with the Celtics, Bird averaged over 20 points, 9 rebounds and 7 assists per game, shot better than 45% from the field, and led the Celtics to playoff appearances. On August 18, 1992, Bird announced his retirement. THIS VIDEO GIVES A STEP BY STEP BLUEPRINT ON HOW TO CREA. Nicknamed Larry Legend or The Hick from French Lick, Bird played the small forward and power forward positions for the Boston Celtics in his entire career. Thats both confident and cold-blooded. He came out of nowhere to intercept an inbound pass by All-Star Isiah Thomas then immediately dished the ball to teammate Dennis Johnson who made the buzzer-beating layup to give the Celtics the win. That is 8.5% greater than his height. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. International Stats at Basketball-Reference.com, College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com, 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. Special Delivery Improves the chances of connecting with an alley-oop pass and increases the shot percentage of teammates who receive a flashy pass from the player. [114] Bird resigned his head coaching position shortly after the end of the 2000 season, following through on his initial promise to coach for only three years. [90] Bird won three consecutive regular season MVP awards; as of 2020, the only other players to accomplish this feat are Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain. They remained married for less than a year. He considered Bird to be the greatest basketball player of all time. Data Provided By Bird was rated the greatest NBA small forward of all time by Fox Sports in 2016. Bird is universally regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all time. Larry Bird has dated - Janet Condra - Larry Bird was previously married to his high school sweetheart Janet Condra with whom he had a daughter named Corrie. Bird also led the Celtics in rebounding, with an average of 10.4 per game, as well as in steals and minutes played. These heights are still well below the NBA average and well below Kareem's height of 7'2". This ratio is one of the higher percentages for players who have played in the NBA. He is also the youngest player to reach 1,000 rebounds, and each benchmark from that point through to 9,000 rebounds. His effort helped to overcome a 47-point performance by Atlanta's Dominique Wilkins. During the 1992 Eastern Conference semi-finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Bird missed four of the seven games due to recurring back problems. The reason the Bobcats took a risk on this extremely raw player was due to his freakish wingspan. Celtics booed off floor after blowing 28-point lead, Randle's game-winner runs Knicks' win streak to eight, Durant passes Robertson for 13th on NBA scoring list, Grizzlies' Brooks: 'I don't like Draymond at all', Magic's Isaac undergoes season-ending surgery, Suns vs. Bulls odds, picks, predictions, bets. But if youre a fan of Birds game, then there are ways to customize your character to dominate on the court like the former Celtics superstar. The summer of 1992 marked the first time the United States sent professional athletes to the Olympic Games. Any data prior to that is not a guarantee, and much of it is urban legend that grew a life of its own. Heights are barefeet estimates, derived from quotations, official websites, agency resumes, in person encounters with actors at conventions and pictures/films. Leonard is only 67, but possess a gigantic 73 wingspan, which is a full 8 inches longer than his height. Unique lists featuring pop culture, entertainment and crazy facts. What you want to prioritize are those that will help you make shots even if defenders are right by you. To help you with the boards, you can upgrade the Rebound Chaser badge. On the offensive side of the ball, Rondo like to drive with a scooping layup. Even after his retirement as a professional basketball player, Larry Birds name still comes up in the NBA because of his coaching skills and the executive role he holds in the NBA. Bird returned to the Pacers as president of basketball operations in 2013,[6] and remained in that role until 2017. And to show you how skill beats jumping ability and athleticism, during his 13-year NBA career from 1979 to 1992, he won 3 championship rings with the Celtics. Conversely, the height change will cause a negative impact on perimeter defense, lateral quickness, and steal. The most accurate reports found that West had an 81 inch wingspan, which would translate to 69. More player info It's an entirely different game when you're Six-Nine." [56] Bird averaged 24 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 9.5 assists per game for the championship round. [110], The Celtics employed Bird as a special assistant in the team's front office from 1992 until 1997. Because as previously discussed, Bird was an outstanding shooter. Celtics General Manager Red Auerbach publicly stated that he would not pay Bird more than any Celtic on the current roster, but Bird's agent Bob Woolf told Auerbach that Bird would reject any sub-market offers and simply enter the 1979 draft instead, where Boston's rights would expire when the draft began on June 25, and Bird would have been the likely top pick. With his freakish physical attributes, the future seems in very good, and large, hands. The hop shooting style allows him to get his shot off very quickly, and what makes Durant special is his point of release. Right, Born: Bird entered the NBA for the 19791980 season, where he made an immediate impact, starting at power forward and leading the Celtics to a 32-win improvement over the previous season before being eliminated from the playoffs in the Conference Finals. Leonardo Da Vincis Vitruvian man depicts the ideal human as having a wingspan equal to his height, but this was based off a human that was 55. [115] Bird then led the Pacers to consecutive Central Division titles in 1999 and 2000 and a berth in the 2000 NBA Finals. Kevin Durant stands 610 and has a 75 wingspan. Larry Bird was born in West Baden, Indiana. College basketball games are played with two 20 minute periods, while professional NBA basketball games consist of four quarters of 12 minutes each. He was a great post scorer and could dominate the paint like a big man. 9. Thus, you have to upgrade the Break Starter badge. [64][65][66] Bird finished with 34 points. That athleticism when combined with his physical attributes is going to reign terror over this league for many years, and it is going to be an utter joy to watch. 1. [48], Before the start of the 198586 season, the Celtics made a daring trade for Bill Walton, an All-Star center with a history of injury. Standing 69, Prince has a 72 inch wingspan, which appears even greater due to his rail thin physique (some people claim his wingspan is closer to 76). On the offensive side, superior wingspan allows a shooter to have less shots contested, as he can get the ball further away from a defender. Do you have a sports website? CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. Commissioner.com is a registered trademark of CBS Interactive Inc. site: media | arena: nba | pageType: stories | Nicknamed "the Hick from French Lick" and "Larry Legend", Bird is widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all time. Coming into the league, many pundits wondered if Mourning could be a starting center at only 69. Many NBA bigs, including Larry Bird and Bill Walton, believe there's a negative relationship between height and longevity. Their friendship blossomed when the two players worked together to film the Converse commercial, which depicted them as archenemies. This is a very scary thought for a lot of NBA players, both past and present. AboutPressCopyrightContact. He has seen his points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks and field goal percentage increase in each of his first three seasons in the league. [86] He had 1,556 career steals. [3], A versatile player at both forward positions, he could play both inside and outside, being one of the first players in the league to take advantage of the newly adopted three-point line. Larry Bird and Magic Johnson are known to be "one of the greatest rivalries in sports. Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? Prince was never a skilled offensive player, but has been one of the best perimeter defenders of the last decade. His Competitiveness Has Taken Its Toll. Here's what the science reveals. [133], During his professional career with the Celtics, Bird lived in the Boston suburb of Brookline, Massachusetts.[134]. at [73] This style of play was starting to influence a new hoard of fans as they would sit and marvel at what they [Bird and Magic] can do while giving younger kids a different perspective of the game. Unless you allot more points to finishing attributes, you will only have one potential upgrade for finishing badges. Anonymous. [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. Honestly, all of them fit Bird so well. Larry Bird - College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com At either end of the spectrum, the measurement would be considered elite. Those three players would form a legendary frontline, perhaps the greatest in NBA history. [30], With averages of 21.3 points, 10.4 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 1.7 steals per game for the season, he was selected to the All-Star Team and named Rookie of the Year. [20] Bird also appeared in one game for the baseball team, going 1-for-2 with 2 RBI. If Bol had any type of offensive game to merit him more minutes, he would have set the blocks record so high that it would have never been touched. Shooting badges will allow you to convert more field goal attempts from anywhere outside the key. The Boston Celtics won the NBA Championship thrice under his work, making Bird the NBA Most Valuable Player three times. Menu. West only stood 62 which would make his wingspan 9.5% greater than his height. One of those things was being a relentless defender. Although he announced his departure around that time, he reclaimed his post as team president in the summer of 2013. But, as one journalist would say, They looked different, perhaps, but take a chainsaw to their souls and they were fraternal, if not identical, friends.[72] Watching Bird play was like watching Magic play, as they both shared this talent that the league had never seen before. He stood 6 feet, 11.25 inches tall, with a wingspan of 7 inches, 5.25 inches, and possessed the Combine's longest hands at 10 inches. It was Larry Bird's height that made his basketball skills so remarkable. w/out shoes Ht. LAST ATTENDED. Nicknamed " the Hick from French Lick " and " Larry Legend ", Bird is widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all time. Following an attempted reconciliation, Bird and Condra had a daughter, Corrie, in 1977. Wingspan is a key measurement because it allows a player of a lesser stature to compete with players who may be physically taller than them. For the defense/rebounding badges, there will only be a limited number of options. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. Remembering Just Fontaine and His World Cup Record, Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads, Name: Larry Bird, Birth Year: 1956, Birth date: December 7, 1956, Birth State: Indiana, Birth City: West Baden Springs, Birth Country: United States. Bird's 198889 season ended after six games when he had bone spurs surgically removed from both of his heels. [84], "Larry, you only told me one lie. [7], Bird was born in West Baden Springs, Indiana, to Georgia (ne Kerns) and Claude Joseph "Joe" Bird, a veteran of the Korean War. Larry Bird Stats and news - NBA stats and news on Boston Celtics Forward Larry Bird. 3940. [49] In Game 6 of the Finals series, Bird recorded a triple-double of 29 points, 11 rebounds and 12 assists as the Celtics won the Finals series 4 games to 2 against the Rockets. Larry Joe Bird (born December 7, 1956) is an American former professional basketball player, coach, and executive in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He also had a career high of 60 points against the Atlanta Hawks on March 12, 1985. [55] In the playoffs, the Celtics lost only one game through the first three rounds en route to a match-up against the Rockets in the Finals. Rebound Chaser Raises the players ability to track down rebounds from farther distances than normal. Catch & Shoot The badge increases the shooting percentage of a player attempting a three-pointer immediately after receiving a pass. [12] Georgia and Joe divorced when Larry was in high school, and Joe died by suicide about a year later. Larry Bird Biography, Age, Height, Wife, Net Worth, Family Honestly, all of them fit Bird so well. The reason for doing so is not just due to Bird being a proficient shooter and facilitator, but also because you will find out later that increasing the height will decrease these attributes. Larry Bird cemented his legacy in the sport by leading the Boston Celtics to three championships in the 1980s. His shotblocking prowess is also noted as he has led the league twice in this category, and has a career average of 2.2 blocks. Larry Bird NBA 2K23 Rating (All-Time Boston Celtics) - 2KRatings.com He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame twice as a playerfirst in 1998 as an individual, and again in 2010 as a member of the "Dream Team". One such case is the legendary Jerry West. And it went down to the last shot of the game. The losses of Moses Malone (60 years old), Darryl Dawkins (58), Anthony Mason (48), Christian Welp (51) and Jack Haley (51) all in the last year are a reminder of Bird's and others' contemporaries and peers during their playing days passing away far too young. To be part of this group, a player must record at least 50% field goal percentage, 40% three-point field goal percentage, and 90% free throw percentage throughout a season. Difficult Shots High-difficulty jumpers attempted from the mid-range get an increased shot percentage. Post Spin Technician Attempting to perform post spins or drives result in more effective moves, and lessens the chances of getting stripped by opponents. 1. 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. . [97] He accomplished this feat twice. Another badge you must target is Interceptor. Unfortunately, a trade-off with this player archetype is that there will be fewer points available for the others. Larry looks fit and has an athletic body, but he had to go through back fusion surgery, leading him to end his playing career. Bird averaged 10.0 rebounds per game in his career. Brand was a great post defender and shot blocker, as he averaged 2 blocks a game from 2001-2008. 3. During the MyCareer mode, you can be tasked to play some minutes at power forward depending on the rotation. Height 1 Feet 9.5 Inch Weight 100 kg Personal Info Date of Birth 1956, December 7 Age 65 Years Old Famous Name Country United States US Facts Birth Name Larry Joe Bird Net Worth $55 million Currently Married Yes Birth Country West Baden Springs, Indiana Married to Dannah Mattingly Famous Name Larry Past married if any Janet Condra Children Yes Top 15 Most Impressive Wingspans In NBA History, 10 WCW Character Transformations That Made No Sense, 10 Wrestlers Vince McMahon Signed From The AWA (& Turned Them Into Stars), Dominik Mysterio Speaks About Where His "Prison Dom" Character In WWE Came From. The Best shooters have shorter arms. [47], During the 1985 offseason, Bird injured his back shoveling crushed rock to create a driveway at his mother's house. Larry Bird Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft Status and more | Basketball-Reference.com Larry Bird 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) More bio, uniform, draft, salary info Hall of Fame 12x All Star Dinah Mattingly (1989-Present) - Larry Bird married his second wife Dinah Mattingly in 1989. Only eight other NBA players have achieved the rare feat. Kareem's father, Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor Sr., was fairly tall at 6'2". Bird won a gold medal in the 1992 Olympics besides being a three-time NBA MVP, twelve-time NBA All-Star, and two-time Finals MVP. The Celtics reached the playoffs in every one of Bird's 13 seasons, although he missed most of the 1988-89 season due to injury, and added titles in 1984 and 1986. Even when considering his height, the wingspan is still 12.1% larger than his body. Take a look at the great defenders in the NBA, and the one common thread you will find in all of them is an impressive wingspan. The dramatic play saved the series for the Celtics. That wingspan is the same size that the 75 Shawn Bradley had. [80][81] He was inducted into the Hall of Fame again in 2010, as a member of the "Dream Team". [5] He was named NBA Executive of the Year for the 2012 season. [96], Bird is also remembered as an excellent passer[100] and defender. [citation needed] The apparent contrast between the two players and their respective teams seemed scripted for television: Bird, the introverted small-town hero with the blue-collar work ethic, fit perfectly with the throwback, hard-nosed style of the Celtics, while the stylish, gregarious Johnson ran the Lakers' fast-paced Showtime offense amidst the bright lights and celebrities of Los Angeles. Larry Bird | Bio-married, divorce, affair, children - Playerswiki Sign in or Register to join the conversations! As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. 1. Slippery Off-Ball Increases the players chances of shaking off an opponent when attempting to get open using off-ball screens. [40] Boston's misfortunes continued into the next season, with Bird again finishing second in MVP voting to Malone and the team losing in the Conference Semifinals to the Milwaukee Bucks. [49] The risk paid off; Walton's acquisition helped Boston win a league best 67 games. You can use it on Post Spin Technician to allow your player to be more effective inside the paint. His concentration and composure were unrivaled as well, and he established himself as one of the most unshakable and driven players in the NBA. Bird was also a member of the gold medal-winning 1992 United States men's Olympic basketball team known as the "Dream Team". 2004-2023 CBS Interactive. Falling out of bounds, Bird turned and passed the ball to teammate Dennis Johnson, who converted a game-winning 2-point layup with less than a second left. All Rights Reserved. Larry Joe Bird (born December 7, 1956) is an American former professional basketball player, coach, and executive in the National Basketball Association (NBA). 7. The 73 wing span is 11.5% greater than his height. Player stats broken down into various categories; i.e. [86][87][88] He was selected to 12 NBA All-Star teams. In 1999, he was listed at No. Subscribed! This entry could be part of Ripleys Believe it or Not. DiamondLobby.com makes money from advertising. When adjusting your players height, you can just copy Birds real height. Astrological Sign: Sagittarius, Article Title: Larry Bird Biography, Author: Biography.com Editors, Website Name: The Biography.com website, Url: https://www.biography.com/athletes/larry-bird, Publisher: A&E; Television Networks, Last Updated: April 20, 2021, Original Published Date: April 2, 2014. At least partially as a result of this, he experienced back problems for the remainder of his career. Bird got his 3rd 2nd team all defense in 84, it's not like he was slouch on that end, even if Lebron was the better defender. Although there are only 48 total minutes of time on the clock in an NBA game, the regulation time is stopped often for fouls, timeouts, and when the ball is out of bounds. But Don't Bet That He Won't Be Back", "Larry Bird stepping down from Pacers post", "For 2nd time, Hall-of-Famer Bird resigns as Pacers president", "Larry Bird resigns as Pacers president, Kevin Pritchard to take over", "Pacers' Larry Bird is NBA Executive of the Year", "Indiana Pacers part ways with Larry Bird", "Bird Steps Down; Pritchard Named President of Basketball Operations", "Larry Bird No Longer Has an Active Role with the Pacers, Confirms Kevin Pritchard", NBA unveils redesigned Larry O'Brien, Bill Russell trophies, announces new conference finals MVP awards - CBS Sports.com, 1992 U.S. OLYMPIC MENS BASKETBALL TEAM - Team USA.org, "2017 Class of FIBA Hall of Fame: Dream Team", "FULL VERSION: McDonald's Commercial with LeBron James and Dwight Howard", "Twitter's Logo Is Named After Larry Bird", "Larry Bird is Always on Twitter Even Without Having an Account", "ESPN Classic - Bird had eye for victory", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Larry_Bird&oldid=1142161893, Trophy named in Bird's honor (Larry Bird Trophy) awarded to Eastern Conference Finals MVP (established in 2022), 1992 Olympic gold medal (U.S. national team). Same with Amare who's listed at 6'10 but measured at 6'8 1/2. I know there are a few of us who live a long time, but most of us big guys don't seem to last too long. [102] Bird's humble roots were the source of his most frequently used moniker, "The Hick from French Lick". Join our newsletter! The Celtics failed to reach the NBA Finals for the first time in five years, losing to the Pistons in six games during the Eastern Conference Finals. Larry Bird was such a player. What he showed us is that truly elite stats can be produced by some with almost no talent, but insanely freaky physical attributes.
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Judge Kevin Ross Wife, Articles L