With the Celtics owning a roster that was aging, he did not come back. So when Bird was awarded a brand new car for his heroic efforts in the 1986 NBA Finals, he was immediately hoping to trade it away for something much simpler a single basketball. [3], Bird scored 24.3 points per game in his career on a .496 field goal percentage, an .886 free throw percentage, and a .376 percentage on three-point shots. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. Bird averaged 21.3 points, 10.4 rebounds and 4.5 assists in leading the Celtics to the best record in the league and a 32-game improvement from the previous season. Hall of Fame. [89] Bird won three NBA championships (in 1981, 1984, and 1986) with the Celtics[83] and won two NBA Finals MVP Awards. Larry Birds Celtics lost two NBA Finals. Hodges allowed Bird to sleep in, which annoyed the folks who sponsored the brunch and the award, and some in the media. The Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers have met a record 12 times in the NBA Finals, starting with their first . [8] Bird's parents were of Irish, Scottish and some Native American descent. Not since Bill Russell squared off against Wilt Chamberlain had professional basketball enjoyed such a marquee matchup. Stats: 24.3 PPG, 10.0 RPG, 6.3 APG, 1.7 SPG, 0.8 BPG, Awards: 3x NBA Champion, 2x Finals MVP, 3x MVP, 12x All-Star, All-Star Game MVP, 9x All-NBA First Team, All-NBA Second Team, 3x All-Defensive Second Team, Rookie of the Year, All-Rookie First Team, 2x 50-40-90 Club. Finals MVP: Larry Bird(24.0/9.7/9.5), Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Wednesday, March 1, 9:33AM. In the playoffs, the Celtics swept the Pacers in the first round and took a 2-1 series lead over the Cavaliers in the semifinals. Boston Celtics legend Larry Bird competed at just about everything, including drinking.In one such instance, though, it got Larry Legend in a world of trouble. [108], At the 2019 NBA Awards, Bird received the NBA Lifetime Achievement Award (shared with Magic Johnson). Indiana State went 81-13 during the three seasons in which Larry Bird played for the Sycamores. Bird was raised in French Lick, Indiana, and attended Indiana State University, where he helped revive . Forum; InsideHoops Main Basketball Forums; NBA Forum; Larry Bird is the 2nd best player in the history 1986 NBA Finals. Scoring Title. He considered Bird to be the greatest basketball player of all time. Bird was often checked by Magic Johnson in Michigan State's 2-3 matchup zone in theepic clash of two all-time greats. His Competitiveness Has Taken Its Toll. They each had charisma, deft shooting touch, extraordinary passing skills, and team-oriented mindset that ignited their team and the crowd. His effort helped to overcome a 47-point performance by Atlanta's Dominique Wilkins. Or write about sports? ", Indiana State teammate Carl Nicks: "It's a tremendous feeling to play with him he brings out the best in everybody. At the All-Star Game, Bird won his first MVP after scoring 19 points. 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). Michael Jordan*. The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the NCAA or its member institutions. The Celtics were unable to repeat as champions. Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? NAME. Bird averaged 24.2 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 5.5 assists in the Finals, but the Celtics lost in six games. With the Celtics down by one point, and less than 10 seconds left, Bird missed a potential go-ahead layup after his shot was blocked. . [57], The '86 Celtics are commonly ranked as one of the greatest basketball teams of all time, with the Boston Globe's Peter May and Grantland's Bill Simmons listing them at number one. Join us for a March Madness Webinar on Tuesday, March 7 at 8pm ET. Their coach, Bill Hodges, is in his first year, the first rookie ever to take an undefeated team to the tournament final. [116], In 2003, Bird was hired as the Pacers' president of basketball operations. Between them, Bird and Johnson captured eight NBA championships during the 1980s, with Magic getting five and Bird three. Stats: 28.1 PPG, 9.2 RPG, 7.6 APG, 1.8 SPG, 0.9 BPG, Awards And Achievements: All-Star, All-NBA First Team, Three-Point Contest Champion, 50-40-90 Club. Amazing! Players simply weren't allowed to launch 3's non stop back then. Indiana State University, High School: We present them here for purely educational purposes. [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. 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. When media outlets conduct their all-time great lists, Bird is spotted on those lists every time. The team remains one of the greatest overall teams in the history of the NBA. [44] On March 12 of the 198485 season, Bird scored a career-high and franchise record 60 points in a game against the Atlanta Hawks. Graded: No. 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. December 7, 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 Instead, Bird came back and beat the record over his longtime teammate. [24][14][25] Shortly afterwards, NBA draft eligibility rules were changed to prevent teams from drafting players before they were ready to sign, a rule known as the Bird Collegiate Rule. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. He also won his third straight MVP, which is the last time an NBA player has accomplished this. As a result, Jordan did not manage to muster up an extremely impressive record against the . Bird finished runner-up in the MVP voting as well. [53] On March 10, 1986, Bird scored 50 points to go along with 11 rebounds and 5 assists in a 115116 loss to the Dallas Mavericks. Larry Bird. [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. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. The team improved its win total by 32 games from the year before he was drafted and finished first in the Eastern Conference. Finals MVP: Cedric Maxwell (17.7 / 9.5 / 2.8) 1981 Playoff Leaders: PTS: Moses Malone (562) He earned the honors 3 years straight from 1982 through 1984. Finals MVP: Larry Bird (24.0 / 9.7 / 9.5) 1986 Playoff Leaders: PTS: Hakeem Olajuwon (537) "He's a great passer and an excellent rebounder. He averaged 24.3 points, 10.0 rebounds and 6.3 assists in 897 regular-season games. . This is no surprise, as Bird and Magic were the top dogs in the league for a long time. Do you have a sports website? In case you still didn't know, Larry Bird wasn't big on material possessions. James has an edge over Bird in scoring and assists as he averaged 27.2 points and 7.3 assists per game in the regular season and 28.9 points and 7.1assists per game in the playoffs. [11] Bird has said that being poor as a child still motivates him "to this day". Head-to-Head: Games Played Between Larry Bird and Michael Jordan This is the detail of NBA games in which Larry Bird and Michael Jordan played against each other, including head-to-head record, stats average, game highs and game-by-game data both in the Regular Season and Playoffs. [91] Bird was also a four-time regular season MVP runner-up in 1981, 1982, 1983, and 1988. Magic led the team in scoring this time but was still joined by the same stars: Kareem, James Worthy, Byron Scott and Michael Cooper. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. 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. Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? [133], During his professional career with the Celtics, Bird lived in the Boston suburb of Brookline, Massachusetts.[134]. Bird owns four buzzer-beaters and in each of those moments the Celtics trailed when he took the clutch shot. However, Birds individual success was marred by the Celtics not making the NBA Finals. 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. He couldn't miss. How many games did Larry Bird field goal miss a season due to injury? [19][20] Indiana State lost the game 7564, with Bird scoring 19 points but making only 7 of 21 shots. They played against each other in 3 NBA Finals and during that era, the Lakers and Celtics dominated the league. Join us for a March Madness Webinar on Tuesday, March 7 at 8pm ET. When healthy, Bird looked vintage. Stats & Championships . Bird won two finals against very different Houston Rockets teams and one against the Showtime Lakers featuring Kareem and Magic. Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. If you click and purchase, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. [42], On December 9, 1984, Bird recorded 48 points to go along with 14 rebounds and 5 assists in a 128127 win over the Atlanta Hawks. Magic got the upper hand against Bird, beating him in 1985 and 1987, while Bird beat Magic in 1984. Bird averaged 27.4 points, 14.0 rebounds, and 3.6 assists in the series. He finished that game with 47 points, 14 rebounds, and 11 assists. [83] Universally recognized as an all-time great player, Bird was placed at the power forward position on an NBA all-time starting five roster with fellow superstars Magic Johnson (point guard), Michael Jordan (shooting guard), LeBron James (small forward), and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (center) in 2020. Finals MVP. Bird has been voted to both the 50th and 75th Anniversary Teams and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1998. Find out more. us, College: You can see stats, Championships, awards and more. Bird and McHale remained a dangerous duo, each averaging over 20 points per game. [61] The historical rift between the teams, which faced each other several times in championship series of the 1960s, fueled fan interest in the rivalry. It was the first All-Defensive honor for Bird, on top of averaging nearly 23 points per game. This injury was the main reason for his retirement after the following season. Ultimately, the Cavaliers rallied to win the series in seven games, which ended their career of Bird. Vintage: Yes. [20] Bird also appeared in one game for the baseball team, going 1-for-2 with 2 RBI. Player stats broken down into various categories; i.e. The Celtics played in two other Finals series with Bird, losing to the Los Angeles Lakers in '85 and '87. Larry Bird Playoffs Game Log. It remains an iconic play that helped the Celtics make the NBA Finals. He even plays defense, although that's not what's causing the NBA Boston Celtics to salivate over him.". . With five seconds left in Game 5, Birds pass to Dennis Johnson to set up the game-winner saved the series. Voted to both the 50th and 75th Anniversary teams and was inducted into Hall. 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