Do you have a sports website? The avid outdoorsman who also has a passion for country music, auto racing, golf and the St. Louis Cardinals has many interests. When talking about per game stats, Bird sports an average of 6.8 assists as well as 9.6 boards. Larry Bledsoe, the schools basketball coach, remarked how he was extremely pleased to get a player of Birds caliber, according to the Mitchell Tribune. His Mom and Dad divorced while Bird was in HS, His dad shot and killed himself a year later. His Mom and Dad divorced while Bird was in HS, His dad shot and killed himself a year later. Springs Valley in French Lick, Indiana, Hall of Fame: Inducted as Player in 1998 (Full List), As Player: 897 G, 24.3 PPG, 10.0 RPG, 6.3 APG (Full Record), As Executive: IND franchise, 2003-2017 (Full Record). . Bird once again led the team in points (21.2 ppg), rebounds (10.9 rpg), steals (161), and minutes (3,239). The following season . CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. Posted on Mar 25th, 2016, 9:21 AM, , User Since 143 months ago, User Post Count: 15682, Posted on Mar 25th, 2016, 9:44 AM, , User Since 105 months ago, User Post Count: 1757, Posted on Mar 25th, 2016, 9:46 AM, , User Since 140 months ago, User Post Count: 6281, Posted on Mar 25th, 2016, 10:23 AM, V I P, User Since 219 months ago, User Post Count: 9143, Posted on Mar 25th, 2016, 10:42 AM, , User Since 143 months ago, User Post Count: 15682, Posted on Mar 25th, 2016, 5:40 PM, , User Since 145 months ago, User Post Count: 42940, Posted on Mar 25th, 2016, 5:44 PM, V I P, User Since 257 months ago, User Post Count: 92590, Posted on Mar 25th, 2016, 6:42 PM, , User Since 145 months ago, User Post Count: 4686, Posted on Mar 29th, 2016, 11:30 PM, , User Since 118 months ago, User Post Count: 717, Posted on Mar 30th, 2016, 7:09 AM, , User Since 143 months ago, User Post Count: 15682, Locked Topic - No more replies can be posted. Born in 1956, in the state of Indiana, this player is known as the biggest reason behind why the Boston Celtics were led to the NBA championship in 1981, 1984, and 1986. He has accounted for 1,556 steals, as well as 755 blocks and 5,695 assists. The 75 Hoosiers were loaded. Bird had a double-double in all five NCAA tournament games he played in that year. Bird signed autographs for fans in attendance and Kentucky Wesleyan players before walking off the field that day. and even better, he did it mostly because of a dare, Mike Hayes, a Kentucky Wesleyan player, recounted the game. No other player in his era was as good or as consistent a shooter as Bird. I ran across this short narrative while reading Bobby Knight's book- "Knight-My Story", and thought it might be interesting to share to the board. I just think when a man is open, he should get the ball whether it's 30 feet out on the wing or underneath. . There are lecture halls in Ballentine Hall that are bigger than Northwoods entire student body at the time, and the school briefly landed one of the 20 greatest scorers in college basketball history. Their 9-9 Big Ten record was bumped to 11-7, making a tough transition year appear a little less harsh in the history books. Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP. It was Bird's first experience with Knight in a gym setting. Maybe in ways that we cant totally appreciate, measure or describe, the NCAA tournament might just be five percent less today if Bird never winds up in Terre Haute. Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? He started out as an Indiana Hoosier but later left the school and team coached by the legendary Bobby Knight. What if Larry Bird hadnt transferred from IU? There may not be a folding chair in the state that would be left un-flung. Imagine what he wouldve done with a Hall-of-Fame head coach and future NBA players as teammates! Benson would do things like figure out which side of the court Bird was warming up on, for instance, then come over and take the ball away from him and order Bird off to the other end of the floor. As many observed, he would see plays not as they were developing, but before they developed. Larry Bird's best teammates included Robert Parish, Kevin McHale and Dennis Johnson. Everyone remembers Michael Jordans decision to leave the Bulls and pursue a career in baseball, but it was Larry Bird who tried his hand at the game on April 28, 1979, and became a one-day legend in the process. "Larry Bird finishes things," said Dick Ballinger, the varsity head baseball coach at West Vigo High School in West Terre Haute, Indiana during the spring of 1979. Larry Bird. Could you imagine Bob Knights reaction if, just three years after IU became the most recent undefeated national champion, the Hoosiers lost that distinction to an in-state school (and not even Purdue or Notre Dame, but Indiana State) that was led by an outbound IU transfer? Do you have a blog? The internet said that Bird's mother worked 2 jobs to care for Larry and his 5 siblings. The small forward had just led Indiana State to a 33-1 season, with the teams sole loss coming to Magic Johnson and Michigan State. 2005-2023 CBS INTERACTIVE ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. But none of those things kept him in Bloomington, as he was gone before homecoming his freshman year. His NBA years : from 1980 to 1992 Larry Bird NBA Stats Summary : Data Provided By Two months later, he signed his NBA contract with the Boston Celtics. I heard this story once and I believe it is true. Larry Bird and Dominique Wilkins battled each other during a classic Game 7 in 1988. But Knight was not impressed. 0:05. Indiana State nearly became the most recent undefeated national champion, reaching the 1979 national title game with a 33-0 record. On May 12, 1997, Bird was named head coach of the Indiana Pacers. Before the draft, Larry Bird had just finished his junior year at Indiana State. Bird's status as an Indiana sports legend was cemented by the spring of 1979. He won the Rookie of the Year award, 3 MVP awards, 2 Finals MVP awards and 3 NBA championships. The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the NCAA or its member institutions. The Boston Celtics selected Larry Bird with the sixth overall pick in the 1978 NBA Draft. Drafted into the NBA by the Boston Celtics with the sixth overall pick in . Subscribe to Stathead Basketball: Get your first month FREEYour All-Access Ticket to the Basketball Reference Database. Bird returned to his role with the Pacers in 2013 before stepping down in 2017 to assume an advisory role for the franchise. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. But there were plenty more heroics yet to come. Taking a look at the numbers behind Nikola Jokic's historic season for the Nuggets. The Whole Bird thing reminds me of that old country song"I overlooked and orchid while searching for a rose"! When he talks, you come into his world. An undefeated IU team with a healthy Scott May or Larry Bird, let alone both, wouldve made for a compelling matchup with Woodens final UCLA team. Birth State: Indiana. This type of behavior was par for the course with Knight, but a new experience alltogether for Bird. The team didnt have equipment big enough to accommodate Birds 69 frame, so they stretched out the longest pair of pants they could find, procured the largest hat on campus, and trotted out onto the field one of the greatest basketball players of all time. Birds legend was born in the tiny town of French Lick, snuggled in Indianas corn country, where his family led a spartan life. Larry Bird - net worth, private life. In his first season, the Pacers with Reggie Miller as their main weapon were defeated by the defending-champion Chicago Bulls and Jordan in a tough seven-game conference finals series. Started collecting garbage upon his return to French Lick. Three Things: Indiana womens basketball defeats Michigan State 94-85. 'Can I stay in bed?' Having grabbed 7,217 defensive rebounds and 1,757 offensive, Bird has accumulated 8,974 total rebounds during his NBA career. 0%, great for twelfth throughout MLB between eligible remedies. Do you have a blog? when they were picking teams! Larry Bird was born on as Larry Joe Bird to parents: Georgia and Claude Joseph "Joe" Bird, a veteran of the Korean War.He attended Springs Valley High School. The couple has two adopted children named Conner Mariah.. Family. Get to know Larry Bird: Stats, records and more, How the Celtics landed Larry Bird in the NBA Draft, 1988 NBA Playoff Highlights: Larry Bird and Dominique Wilkins epic showdown, Celtics 75th Season: Bird-Dr. J fight adds to 76ers rivalry, Celtics 75th Season: Bird's debut, Ford sinks first NBA '3', Looking back on Larry Bird's steal against the Pistons, Bill Walton on what made Bird the best he ever played with, Bird's gutsy performance vs. Pacers in '91 series clincher, Three-time NBA champion (1981, 1984, 1986), Three-time All-NBA Defensive Second Team (1982-84), Three-time NBA Three-Point Contest champion (1986-88). Everyone knew Bird was destined for greatness in the NBA, but that didnt stop Indiana State baseball coach Bob Warn from roasting him. The Sycamores went 81-13 during Birds three-year career. Odds & lines subject to change. The first inkling to Bobby Knight that things had changed wiht Larry Bird was from a former player who called Knight, and said" he had just seen Bird playing in an outdoor tournment in Lebanon, and he was a "beast" at 6'-9' and around 225#and by that time Bird was al set at Indiana State. If you buy something from an SB Nation link, Vox Media may earn a commission. 1 pick in the 1977 NBA Draft, and Woodson. So, what will Larry Bird's age, height, and weight be in 2021? Larry Bird's accomplishments and stats make him one of the greatest pure shooters of all time. Then, however, a loud voice suddenly halted play. They battled against Earvin "Magic" Johnson -- Bird's rival throughout his professional career -- and Michigan State in the championship game, falling 75-64. He's an impressive figure with incredible rivalries, but there are still tons of things that younger NBA fans should know about Larry Legend. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. His career averages were 24.3 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 6.3 assists in 897 regular season games. He was named NBA Head Coach of the Year in 1998. He started his college career in the fall of 1979. The hours he had spent working on his shot as a youngster paid big dividends in the NBA. His Mom and Dad divorced while Bird was in HS, His dad shot and killed himself a year later. What if IU hired Jerry Tarkanian instead of Bob Knight, What if IU had solved Syracuses zone in 2013. For 13 seasons with the Boston Celtics, from 1979-80 through 1991-92, Bird personified hustle, consistency and excellence in all areas of play as a scorer, a passer, a rebounder, a defender, a team player, and, perhaps above all, as a clutch performer. Surgery to remove bone spurs from both heels limited Bird to only six games in 1988-89. On February 6, 1988, Larry Bird won his 3rd consecutive 3-point Contest while still wearing his warm-up jacket. Call 1-800-GAMBLER. Bird received a scholarship to play for the Indiana Hoosiers in 1974, but he dropped out after only one month at Indiana . * 21+ (19+ CA-ONT) (18+ NH/WY). . Larry Bird - Stats, Game Logs, Splits, and much more . With Bird in the mix, IUs 1978 team wouldve been built around him, Woodson and Radford. Hes very intense. Larry Bird was 1 of the NBA's most clutch players ever, amassing 3 MVPs while leading the Celtics to 5 Finals and 3 titles in the 1980s. When Bird elected to return to Indiana State for one more year, the Celtics dipped to 29-53. (Larry Legend; The Hick from French Lick), Draft: Boston Celtics, 1st round (6th pick, 6th overall), 1978 NBA draft, Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Saturday, March 4, 6:03AM. College basketball conference tournament predictions: Picks for every mens league. I also really believe he can be a heck of a coach. No shit! OT: Larry Bird College Statistics. Birth City: West Baden Springs. The next season, 1974-75, is where two of the greatest What ifs in IU basketball collide: What if Bird had stayed and what if Scott May, the teams second-leading scorer and second-leading rebounder, hadnt broken his arm against Purdue in late February? . He scored zero points while wearing cream and crimson, however. Larry Bird was originally in the recruiting class of 1974. Indianapolis Star. Bird did a fine job in his three seasons on the bench. Bird was the embodiment of Celtics Pride. He was a classy, confident, hardworking player who thrived on pressure and inspired teammates to excel. Bird helped rebuild a Celtics franchise that had been suffering from sub-standard play and poor attendance in the late 1970s. Larry Bird was born on 7 December 1956, making him 64 years old as of today, 2 August 2021. Birth Country: United States. Hall of Fame Boston Celtics forward Larry Joe Bird is considered one of the greatest to play the game (never mind for the Celtics) because of how clutch a player he was. May 12, 1997: Hired as Head Coach by the Indiana Pacers. Here are some of the records and historical rankings that Larry Bird achieved at Indiana State: Michigan State coach Jud Heathcote after watching him in the Final Four: "I could not believe The Bird. The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. Become an Annual VIP member today and get access to VIP content, ad-free forums & more. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. 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) . Player Season Finder . Bird also won his third consecutive 3-point shootout title, a feat later matched by Chicago Bulls Craig Hodges from 1990-92. Dinah likes to keep a low profile, making rare public appearances with her husband at basketball games. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. Coming out of Springs Valley, Bird chose IU over Indiana State and Purdue after being pursued by more than 50 schools, according to The Herald (Jasper, Ind.). Larry Bird's college career. An offseason trade with Golden State which that many consider the most lopsided in NBA history brought center Robert Parish and a future first-round pick (which became Kevin McHale) to Boston. Looks like Bradley's coach on 2/10/79 tried to give Bird the same treatment . The former NBA player met his second wife, Dinah Mattingly, at Indiana State. The internet said that Bird's mother worked 2 jobs to care for Larry and his 5 siblings. Bird recalls in his Book "Drive"--which he wrote late in his playing career-- how he never missed an opportunity to take it to Benson during their NBA days. The Hoosiers went 14-13 in 1977, later having their record adjusted to 16-11 after Minnesota was forced to forfeit two wins. Michael Jordan has compiled 41,011 minutes and has participated . the official stats partner of the NBA, NHL and MLB. 31.8 - HOF Larry Bird - Indiana State - 30.3 . His back was also hurting, but Bird came back in the third period to help lift the Celtics to an emotional 124-121 victory. Bird was one of the best scorers in the country, a big forward who led the way for the Sycamores from the Missouri Valley Conference to the biggest national stage. Having collected 7,217 defensive boards and 1,757 on the offensive end, Bird has accounted for 8,974 rebounds in total in his career. 11 in the AP poll that season and finished the year ranked No. Do you have a blog? UCLA beat Montana by just three points in its second tournament game, proving the Bruins were a resilient, but mortal, champion. Larry Bird Net Worth. 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. Learn more and register, 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.