He was selected to play in 12 All-Star games. Bird had two triple-doubles in the series to secure his second NBA Finals MVP award. Bird. When healthy, Bird looked vintage. "He's 6-9, was the nation's second leading scorer and that's not all," wrote The Evening Sun's Bill Tanton. Magic got the upper hand against Bird, beating him in 1985 and 1987, while Bird beat Magic in 1984. When media outlets conduct their all-time great lists, Bird is spotted on those lists every time. In eight games, Bird averaged 8.4 points. Players simply weren't allowed to launch 3's non stop back then. Career: 1979-92 (13 seasons) I have been a Boston sports fan for more than forty years. Finals MVP: Larry Bird (24.0 / 9.7 / 9.5) 1986 Playoff Leaders: PTS: Hakeem Olajuwon (537) Bird averaged 24.0 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 9.5 assists in the Finals on his way to winning Finals MVP. [59] The Celtics fell short in 1988 losing to the Detroit Pistons in 6 games in the Eastern Conference Finals as the Pistons made up from the heartbreak the previous season. Both times it was to his rival dating back to college: Magic Johnson and the Los Angeles Lakers. ", "LeBron James: Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Julius Erving Are 3 Best Players Ever", "Who Has Made The Most NBA All-Star Game Appearances of All-Time", "NBA MVP award: Steph Curry on list of multiple-time winners", Sporting News: James Harden joins exclusive group with third MVP runner-up finish, "Who is the most clutch player in NBA history? 10 attempts), Indiana State-record 16 rebounds in an NCAA tournament game, Tied for first in semifinal history with 16 made field goals against DePaul, Second-leading scorer in the country in 1978: 30.0 points per game, Second-leading scorer in the country in 1979: 28.6 points per game, Third-leading scorer in the country in 1977: 32.8 points per game, Sixth all-time (since 1973) in rebounds in a season: 505 rebounds (1979), Tied for seventh with a two-game Final Four rebound total of 29 rebounds in 1979, Eighth in Final Four history with an 84.2 shooting percentage against DePaul, Tied for eighth all-time in career rebounding average: 13.3 rebounds per game, Ninth in NCAA tournament history (since 1973) with 67 rebounds in a single NCAA tournament, Tied for 13th all-time in double-doubles in a season: 28 double-doubles (1979), 15th all-time in career scoring average (min. the official stats partner of the NBA, NHL and MLB. [113] Despite having no previous coaching experience, Bird led the Pacers to a 5824 recordthe franchise's best as an NBA team at the timein the 199798 season,[114] and pushed the Chicago Bulls to seven games in the Eastern Conference Finals. By that time Bird's scoring . In the semifinals, the Celtics missed Bird in Game 1, where Detroit won. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. When it comes to the 80s decade, he is in the conversation for the best overall player. [110], The Celtics employed Bird as a special assistant in the team's front office from 1992 until 1997. The 86 Celtics are in the conversation for best team ever with Bill Walton joining Bird, Robert Parish and. Finals MVP: Larry Bird(24.0/9.7/9.5), Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Wednesday, March 1, 9:33AM. Larry Bird, in full Larry Joe Bird, (born December 7, 1956, West Baden, Indiana, U.S.), American basketball player who led the Boston Celtics to three National Basketball Association (NBA) championships (1981, 1984, and 1986) and is considered one of the greatest pure shooters of all time. Moses Malone won the MVP Award and also got the best of Bird in the postseason. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. Amazing! Larry Bird always showed up at the highest level when the Celtics needed him most. The following comes from The Tampa Bay Times: His best NCAA tournament game came in the Final Four against DePaul, when he scored 35 points with 16 rebounds and nine assists (all were NCAA tournament highs for him) while shooting 16-of-19 from the field. They beat the Rockets twice and the Lakers once to win NBA titles. Tied for eighth all-time in career rebounding . He was the leagues best player after years of looking up to Malone. Playoffs, All-Star) Awards. Find out more. The season saw a lot of ups. In the Celtics 1981 Championship, Bird did not win Finals MVP. Larry Bird played 13 seasons for the Celtics. The first regular-season game between the Celtics and the Lakers in the 198788 season proved to be a classic with Magic Johnson banking in an off-balance shot from near the three-point line at the buzzer for a 115114 Lakers win at Boston Garden. The trio became a dangerous big three that helped the Celtics stay competitive in the NBA. Type: Sports Trading Card. The Celtics won the series in six games. The Lakers ultimately won the series in six games. Get info about his position, age, height, weight, draft status, shoots, school and more on Basketball-Reference.com. Who was going to make the last shot? Johnson appeared at Bird's retirement ceremony on February 4, 1993, and emotionally described Bird as a "friend forever".[63]. 1982-83 Moses Malone, Philadelphia 76ers. He had off-season surgery to remove a disc from his back, but his back problems continued and he missed 37 games during the 199192 season. Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. [93][94][95] In October 2021, as part of the NBA's 75th Anniversary, Bird was honored as one of the 75 greatest players of all time, by being named to the NBA's 75th Anniversary All-Time Team. The Celtics played in two other Finals series with Bird, losing to the Los Angeles Lakers in '85 and '87. NAME. In 2003, Bird was named president of basketball operations for the Pacers, holding the position until retiring in 2012. With Bird back in the fold, the Celtics returned to the playoffs with hopes of a deep run. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. Larry Bird vs. Kevin Durant Career Comparison: They Are So Close, But Bird Still Flies High Michael Jordan Never Beat Larry Bird And Boston Celtics In The NBA Playoffs: 0-6 Join our linker program. With his averages, he won Rookie of the Year. For his career, Bird averaged 1.7 SPG and 0.8 BPG during the regular season and 1.8 SPG and 0.9 BPG in the playoffs. They lost twice to the same team: the Los Angeles Lakers. Highly recruited, he initially signed to play college basketball for coach Bob Knight of the Indiana Hoosiers, but Bird dropped out after one month and returned to French Lick to attend a local community college. [27], Before the 198081 season, the Celtics selected forward Kevin McHale in the draft and acquired center Robert Parish from the Golden State Warriors,[31][32] forming a Hall of Fame trio for years to come; the front-court of Bird, McHale, and Parish is regarded as one of the greatest front-courts in NBA history. Bird won 3 MVP Awards, was selected to play in 12 All-Star Games, and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1998. Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. Bird has appeared in three movies, each time playing himself: Bird's likeness has appeared in several video games. Join us for a March Madness Webinar on Tuesday, March 7 at 8pm ET. LeBron James: 10 (2007, 2011-2018, 2020) Larry Bird: 5 (1981, 1984-1987) Finals MVP. King 8. Regular Season MVP. With that said, the following three years were legendary. Join us for a March Madness Webinar on Tuesday, March 7 at 8pm ET. 6'9" (2.06m) . This time, he could say he was truly the best player in the league from start to finish. Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. Bird, however . [21] Boston advanced through the playoffs to earn a rematch with the Lakers, this time losing in six games. [50] One of Bird's career highlights occurred at the 1986 NBA All-Star Weekend when he walked into the locker room at the inaugural Three-Point Shootout and asked who was going to finish second before winning the shootout. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. [25], In his rookie season (19791980), Bird immediately transformed the Celtics into a title contender. When Robert Horry averaged at least 24 minutes per game in the playoffs, his teams won six league titles in 11 seasons. Do you have a blog? Stats: 24.2 PPG, 10.1 RPG, 6.6 APG, 1.8 SPG, 0.9 BPG, Awards And Achievements: NBA Champion, Finals MVP, MVP Award, All-Star, All-NBA First Team, All-Defensive Second Team. He also secured All-NBA and All-Defensive Team status. He's added four more since (in the 2015 playoffs vs. Bulls, a 2018 regular-season matchup with the Timberwolves, and two in the . You can see stats, Championships, awards and more. Or write about sports? $11.99. [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. Washington Bullets vs. Boston Celtics; 1985 Finals 1987 Finals. [64][65][66] Bird finished with 34 points. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. Larry Bird's Career Record vs. NBA Legends: He Beat Michael Jordan 23 Times, But Magic Johnson Won The Head-To-Head Matchups, Shaquille O'Neal's Stats For Each Season: The Most Dominant Player In NBA History, Magic Johnson's Stats For Each Season: The Greatest Point Guard In NBA History, Charles Barkley's Stats For Each Season: One Of The Best Players To Never Win A Ring, David Robinson's Stats For Each Season: The Admiral Is One Of The Most Underrated Players In NBA History. Background. Bird won the MVP award three times but also was runner-up four times. [120] He continued to serve as an advisor until July, 2022, when he "stepped back from maintaining an active role with the Indiana Pacers". Forward Larry Bird played 13 seasons for the Celtics. Graded: No. Search this website. more information Accept. He owns a master's degree in special education and teaches English. inWest Baden,Indiana In Game 7 of the 1988 Eastern Conference semifinals against the Atlanta Hawks, Bird shot 9 of 10 from the floor in the fourth quarter, scoring 20 points in that quarter and lifting the Celtics to a series-clinching victory over Atlanta. Bird was often checked by Magic Johnson in Michigan State's 2-3 matchup zone in theepic clash of two all-time greats. We present them here for purely educational purposes. In the playoffs, the Celtics took on a very tough Detroit Pistons team in the Conference Finals. Bird scored a team-high 19 points for the Sycamores in the 1979 national championship game but it wasn't his most efficient performance as he was just 7-of-21 from the field and 5-for-8 from the free-throw line. Magic Johnson and Larry Bird are two of the biggest rivals in NBA history. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. Bird had an average of 10.0 rebounds per game for his career and 6.3 assists. had a 99-65 record in the playoffs in his career. [60], Throughout the 1980s, contests between the Celtics and the Lakersboth during the regular season and in the Finalsattracted enormous television audiences. Sport: Basketball. NAME DATE SEASON SERIES TM OPP MIN PTS REB AST STL BLK TOV FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% Bernard Cardinal Law, Larry Bird and Mayor Raymond L. Flynn. Player Stats. It helped the Celtics overcome 47 points from Dominique Wilkins. 1979-80 Bird 1980-81 Bird 1981-82 Bird 1982-83 Bird 1983-84 Bird 1984-85 Bird 1985-86 Bird 1986-87 Bird 1987-88 Bird 1988-89 Bird 1989-90 Bird 1990-91 Bird 1991-92 Bird 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 82 82 77 79 79 80 82 74 76 6 75 60 45. Larry Joe Bird (born December 7, 1956) is an American former professional basketball player, former coach and former executive. Postseason stats/game: 7.9 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.1 steals. His teams overall record in finals games was 16-15. [85], Bird has been described as one of the greatest basketball players and greatest shooters of all time. [39] In the Conference Finals, the Celtics faced the 76ers for the third consecutive year, losing in seven games. You can see stats, Championships, awards and more. the official stats partner of the NBA, NHL and MLB. . [86][87][88] He was selected to 12 NBA All-Star teams. Bird was also a member of the gold medal-winning 1992 United States men's Olympic basketball team known as the "Dream Team". He couldn't miss. He averaged 23.1 points, 11.6 rebounds and 6.0 . Bird led the Celtics to another deep playoff run. Bird's 198889 season ended after six games when he had bone spurs surgically removed from both of his heels. Larry Bird won the NBA Finals MVP two times. The announcement clearly gets underneath Johnson's skin. [70], In the summer of 1992, Bird joined Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, and other NBA stars to play for the United States men's national basketball team in that year's Olympics in Barcelona, Spain. 1981 NBA Finals. The top 31 players and coaches. Michael Jordans Prime: The Greatest of All Time, Who has the most rings in the NBA? Rockets vs. Celtics. that the Celtics returned to the NBA Finals. [4] After retiring as a player, Bird served as head coach of the Indiana Pacers from 1997 to 2000. 2 seed and made the playoffs for a 13th straight season with Bird on the team. Larry Bird Larry Bird, winner of the Lifetime Achievement Award, speaks onstage during the 2019 NBA Awards presented by Kia on TNT at Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, California. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. A 1980s Converse commercial for its "Weapon" line of basketball shoes (endorsed by both Bird and Johnson) reflected the perceived dichotomy between the two players. In case you still didn't know, Larry Bird wasn't big on material possessions. [42] Bird was named Finals MVP behind 27.4 points, 14 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game. Larry Bird's finals record was 3-2. Card Name: All-Star Stats. Larry Bird went 3-2 in his five NBA Finals appearances. Not since Bill Russell squared off against Wilt Chamberlain had professional basketball enjoyed such a marquee matchup. Click the links to read up on the Finals records of the best players in league history. Finals MVP: Larry Bird (27.4 / 14.0 / 3.6) 1984 Playoff Leaders: PTS: Larry Bird (632) TRB: Larry Bird (252) AST: Magic Johnson (284) WS: Larry Bird (4.7) More playoffs info. "By noon, Bird appeared at a press conference, a rarity in his scheme of things. [71], Journalists speculated that Bird and Magic represented different contrasts, such as clashes between Celtics and Lakers, between East and West, and between Blacks and Whites. Nicknamed "the Hick from French Lick" and "Larry Legend", Bird is widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all time. Last edited on 28 February 2023, at 21:21, retired by Springs Valley High Blackhawks, 1992 United States men's Olympic basketball team, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, United States men's national basketball team, List of career achievements by Larry Bird, List of National Basketball Association career assists leaders, List of National Basketball Association career playoff assists leaders, List of National Basketball Association career playoff free throw scoring leaders, List of National Basketball Association career playoff rebounding leaders, List of National Basketball Association career playoff scoring leaders, List of National Basketball Association career playoff steals leaders, List of National Basketball Association career playoff turnovers leaders, List of National Basketball Association career scoring leaders, List of National Basketball Association career steals leaders, List of National Basketball Association career turnovers leaders, List of National Basketball Association players with most points in a game, List of National Basketball Association players with most steals in a game, List of National Basketball Association annual minutes leaders, List of NBA players who have spent their entire career with one franchise, List of NCAA Division I men's basketball career scoring leaders, List of NCAA Division I men's basketball players with 2000 points and 1000 rebounds, "Big Threes Beyond the Boston Celtics & Miami Heat: 50 Best Trios in NBA History", Fox Sports: Top 10 small forwards in NBA history, "Larry Bird resigns as Indiana Pacers president for second time", Larry Bird: Hall of Fame Basketball Superstar, "EDDIE BIRD HAS A TOUGH ACT TO FOLLOW AT INDIANA STATE", "Boston's Larry Bird, in what may be his finest season, gets Red Auerbach's voteover Bill Russellas the best ever", "Throwback Thursday: Celtics Draft Larry Bird Sixth Overall", "The story of how rookie phenom Larry Bird led the NBA's greatest turnaround season", "Larry Bird's baseball career: A lofty .500 batting average", "Houston Rockets at Boston Celtics Box Score, October 12, 1979", "Detroit Pistons at Boston Celtics Box Score, November 14, 1979", "Indiana Pacers at Boston Celtics Box Score, November 23, 1979", "5 best players in Boston Celtics history", "NBA expert panel: Warriors not the greatest of all time, or even No. Award and also got the best players in league history overall record in the missed! 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