Do you have a blog? '"[107] When playing against Dennis Rodman, a player known for his defensive abilities, in the 1987 Eastern Conference Finals, Bird continually belittled Rodman's ability, at one point asking the opposing head coach to send in someone up to the task of guarding him. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. Larry Bird's finals record was 3-2. [58], In 1987, the Celtics made their last Finals appearance of Bird's career, fighting through difficult series against the Milwaukee Bucks and Detroit Pistons. The Celtics started the season 29-5, but Bird had to miss 22 games due to a compressed nerve root in his back. Bird, however . Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. [10], Bird received a scholarship to play college basketball for the Indiana Hoosiers in 1974. 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. Larry Bird Stats and news - NBA stats and news on Boston Celtics Forward Larry Bird . He was the leagues best player after years of looking up to Malone. He earned the honors 3 years straight from 1982 through 1984. Join our linker program. Indiana State University, High School: On August 18, 1992, Bird announced his retirement. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. Stats: 23.6 PPG, 11.0 RPG, 5.8 APG, 1.9 SPG, 0.9 BPG, Awards And Achievements: All-Star, All-NBA First Team, All-Defensive Second Team. Also, no other player has ever won consecutive games at the buzzer like Bird did in January 1985. However, Birds individual success was marred by the Celtics not making the NBA Finals. . The Celtics-Lakers rivalry is a National Basketball Association (NBA) rivalry between the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers. [8] Bird's parents were of Irish, Scottish and some Native American descent. He was also one of the first players to take advantage of the three-point line. Skip to primary navigation; . In eight games, Bird averaged 8.4 points. [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. ", The New York Times' Dave Anderson: "[Bill] Hodges likes to say that his primary contribution to the Sycamores this season has been 'not messing up Larry Bird. He won the Rookie of the Year award, 3 MVP awards, 2 Finals MVP awards and 3 NBA championships. [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. The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the NCAA or its member institutions. Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? [60], Throughout the 1980s, contests between the Celtics and the Lakersboth during the regular season and in the Finalsattracted enormous television audiences. Boston Celtics, 1st round (6th pick, 6th overall), 1978 NBA Draft, Hall of Fame: Inducted as Player in 1998 (Full List), More Larry Bird pages at Sports Reference. [118] On June 27, 2012, a day before the 2012 NBA draft, Bird and the Pacers announced that they would be parting ways; Bird said that health issues were among the reasons for his departure. There was a point early on in the episode when Johnson (Quincy Isaiah) hears that Larry Bird (Sean Patrick Small) was selected as the 1980 NBA Rookie of the Year. NAME DATE SEASON SERIES TM OPP MIN PTS REB AST STL BLK TOV FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% Larry Bird stats . [23], Bird was selected by the Boston Celtics with the sixth overall pick in the 1978 NBA draft. The team remains one of the greatest overall teams in the history of the NBA. April 14, 2017 2:34 PM EDT. One of the most intelligent players in history, Larry Bird, makes arguably the best play of his career in the 1981 Finals. 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. His Ruseell Westbrook-ian statistics stats in the 1986 Finals (24 PPG, 9.7 RPG, 9.5 AG) capped his best season." Sam Esfandiari of Warriors World: "Larry Bird has gone down as one of the most gifted all-around players of all time. Growing up in French Lick, Indiana, he was a local basketball star. Finals MVP: Cedric Maxwell(17.7/9.5/2.8), Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Wednesday, March 1, 9:33AM. Michael Jordan vs. Larry Bird 11-23 Record (0-6 in playoffs) Photo by Dick Raphael/NBAE via Getty Images. Do you have a sports website? In the playoffs, the Bucks defeated the Bucks in the Conference Finals to set up a showdown with the Lakers in the NBA Finals. 3940. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. The Celtics trailed 3-1 in the series but won the next three games to play the Rockets in the NBA Finals. He scored 27 points, grabbed 14 rebounds, dished out 3.6 assists and had 2.1 steals per game. [97] He accomplished this feat twice. [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. He's added four more since (in the 2015 playoffs vs. Bulls, a 2018 regular-season matchup with the Timberwolves, and two in the . Bird was named Finals MVP behind 27.4 points, 14 . Overview Stats Game Log Splits Bio. You can see stats, Championships, awards and more. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. Larry Bird and Magic Johnson are known to be "one of the greatest rivalries in sports. 1986 NBA Finals. No other player has multiple 45-plus-point games with a buzzer-beater. Statistically, Larry Bird had just finished his most productive season (29.9 ppg, 52 FG%, 92 FT%, 9 rpg, 6 apg) in the NBA. For the second year in a row, Bird received the MVP Award. Magic Johnson in Michigan State's 2-3 matchup zone in theepic clash of two all-time greats, The complete results from the best #MarchMadnessMoments bracket, College basketball dictionary: 51 terms defined, The mens basketball teams with the most NCAA tournament 1 seeds, Lil Nas X, Tim McGraw, Keith Urban, Little Big Town, Maggie Rogers & Mickey Guyton to Perform as Part of the 2023 NCAA March Madness Music Festival in Houston, 2023 March Madness men's bracket predictions by Andy Katz to start March, Men's college basketball career scoring leaders, Antoine Davis is 25 points away from catching 'Pistol' Pete Maravich, Antoine Davis nears all-time DI scoring mark after leading Detroit Mercy to victory, How recent eventual March Madness men's champions did in their conference tournaments, 2023 Selection Sunday: Date, schedule, TV times, Marquette, Indiana leap into the top 6 of the men's college basketball Power 36 rankings, We're tracking all 32 NCAA men's basketball conference tournaments, auto bids for 2023, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, 1978 Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year, 1979 Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year, Named a top-15 player in the 75 Years of March Madness Celebration, A member of the 2,000-point, 1,000-rebound club: 2,850 points and 1,247 rebounds, Indiana State's all-time leading scorer (2,850 points), Indiana State records for most points in the first half, second half, in a game, at home, on the road, in a loss, Highest scoring average in the 1979 NCAA Tournament (27.2 points per game), Most rebounds and highest rebound average in the 1979 NCAA Tournament (67 rebounds, 13.4 rpg), Indiana State-record 35 points in an NCAA tournament game, Indiana State-record 16 field goals in an NCAA tournament game, Indiana State-record 84.2 shooting percentage in an NCAA tournament game (min. 1,400 points): 30.3 points, 16th all-time on the NCAA career scoring list: 2,850 points, Tied for 23rd all-time in career double-doubles: 68 double-doubles, Tied for 24th all-time in points in a season: 973 points (1979), Tied for 24th all-time in consecutive double-doubles in a season: 16 double-doubles (1979). It remains an iconic play that helped the Celtics make the NBA Finals. Finals MVP: Larry Bird(27.4/14.0/3.6), Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Wednesday, March 1, 9:33AM. The team won two straight games, but the Pistons won the series 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. Larry Birds Finals record is in the lower half of the list of all-time greats below. . [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. Larry Bird stats. 2 seed. He was named Rookie of the Year . He was named NBA Head Coach of . Larry Bird went 3-2 in his five NBA Finals appearances. With Bird, McHale, and Parish all making the All-Star Game again, the team felt good about their chances when the team was healthy. His NBA years : from 1980 to 1992 Larry Bird NBA Stats Summary : Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. The announcement clearly gets underneath Johnson's skin. 6 overall pick in the 1978 NBA Draft. [26][27] In his career debut, Bird recorded 14 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists in a 114106 win over the Houston Rockets. Bird was also a member of the gold medal-winning 1992 United States men's Olympic basketball team known as the "Dream Team". [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. 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). Do you have a sports website? He made scoring look effortless, while his rebounding, playmaking, and defense are not talked about enough. . During the 1992 Eastern Conference semi-finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Bird missed four of the seven games due to recurring back problems. Bird packed a lot of success into his first decade of NBA play, but longevity wouldn't prove his strong suit. This time, he could say he was truly the best player in the league from start to finish. [120] He continued to serve as an advisor until July, 2022, when he "stepped back from maintaining an active role with the Indiana Pacers". When media outlets conduct their all-time great lists, Bird is spotted on those lists every time. Finals MVP: Larry Bird(24.0/9.7/9.5), Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Wednesday, March 1, 9:33AM. [86] He had 1,556 career steals. The Celtics won 32 more games than the previous season and it was the initial stages of the Celtics transforming into a title contender yearly. [36] Boston fell behind 31 to start the series but won the next three games to advance to the Finals against the Houston Rockets,[37] winning in six games and earning Bird his first championship. Stats; Standings; Teams; Players; All-Star . Data Provided By 13 years. All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. Larry Bird Championships: He Defeated the Best! more information Accept. Magic led the team in scoring this time but was still joined by the same stars: Kareem, James Worthy, Byron Scott and Michael Cooper. [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. [62], Despite the intensity of their rivalry, Bird and Johnson became friends off the court. You can see stats, Championships, awards and more. [91] Bird was also a four-time regular season MVP runner-up in 1981, 1982, 1983, and 1988. Bird, Larry (1989), Drive: The Story of My Life. His effort helped to overcome a 47-point performance by Atlanta's Dominique Wilkins. Bird passed Otis Birdsong to become the NCAA's fifth-leading scorer of all-timewith a free throw early in the championship game. [21] In the Conference Finals, Boston was eliminated by the Philadelphia 76ers. The trio became a dangerous big three that helped the Celtics stay competitive in the NBA. He even plays defense, although that's not what's causing the NBA Boston Celtics to salivate over him.". Career: 1979-92 (13 seasons) In the Celtics 1981 Championship, Bird did not win Finals MVP. [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. Do you have a blog? Rockets vs. Celtics. Compare Magic Johnson and Larry Bird careers through the years of your choosing. Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? Bird's Pacers fell in the East finals in '98 and '99, then came up short in the NBA Finals in 2000 against the Los Angeles Lakers. [54], With averages of 25.8 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 6.8 assists, and 2 steals per game, Bird became just the third player in NBA history to win three consecutive MVP Awards. [22] He graduated in 1979 with a Bachelor of Science degree in physical education. In his first game, Bird recorded a double-double against the Rockets. [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. Bird and McHale remained a dangerous duo, each averaging over 20 points per game. 1985 Finals 1987 Finals. With five seconds left in Game 5, Birds pass to Dennis Johnson to set up the game-winner saved the series. [67] Wilkins remarked, "The basket was like a well. 1981-82 Magic Johnson, Los . 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. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. The team improved its win total by 32 games from the year before he was drafted and finished first in the Eastern Conference. If you click and purchase, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Drafted by the Boston Celtics with the sixth overall pick in the 1978 NBA draft after his second year at Indiana State, Bird elected to stay in college and returned for the 19781979 season. [21] In the playoffs, the Celtics avenged their loss from the year before to the Bucks, winning in five games in the Conference Finals to advance to the Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers. Card Name: All-Star Stats. James has as many series losses in the Finals as Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant and Larry Bird combined. [15] After less than a month on the Indiana University campus he dropped out of school, finding the adjustment between his small hometown and the large student population of Bloomington to be overwhelming. He was named NBA Coach of the Year for the 19971998 season and later led the Pacers to a berth in the 2000 NBA Finals. When they reached the NBA Finals, the Celticshampered by devastating injurieslost to a dominant Lakers team that had won 65 games during the season. Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? 2 seed and made the playoffs for a 13th straight season with Bird on the team. [75] It was the first time in the United States' Olympic history that the country sent NBA players to compete. Larry Bird, Forward Larry Bird was as cold-blooded as they come. [80][81] He was inducted into the Hall of Fame again in 2010, as a member of the "Dream Team". 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. "By noon, Bird appeared at a press conference, a rarity in his scheme of things. 1982-83 Moses Malone, Philadelphia 76ers. Bird had a double-double in all five NCAA tournament games he played in that year. Bird averaged 24.2 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 5.5 assists in the Finals, but the Celtics lost in six games. Their friendship blossomed when the two players worked together to film the Converse commercial, which depicted them as archenemies. I write about games, players and seasons from the past. [92] Bird is also remembered as one of the foremost clutch performers in the history of the NBA; he was known for his excellent play in high-stakes, high-pressure situations. 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