Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. As someone who shone in the rough-and-tumble 1980s, Larry Legend is glad that offensive players have a bit more room to strut their stuff. In 1975, Hodges was just a guy who had spent a decade as an assistant coach at Marian, Tennessee Tech, and Armstrong State in Savannah, Georgia, before joining Indiana State. Larry Bird began 45 games and played 1,662 minutes during his NBA career. He left the school after only 24 days on campus. The step-up was too much for him to handle. Unsurprisingly, given his exploits in the Three-Point Contest, one of those was the evolution of NBA offense. During his college day, he won numerous awards and the Naismith College Player of the Year Award. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800 GAMBLER. Larry Bird had given up on basketball, but one person still believed he had a future in the game: Bill Hodges. In his several interviews, Larry revealed that his background had always kept him motivated even after all of his success and economic stability at present. Bird and Johnson even appeared in a commercial for Converse shoes with an epic one-on-one match, playing off of the duos real life rivalry. Here is a list of his top cards that you should consider for your collection. Its the sixth card available from his retirement year, and an excellent conclusion for any fans set. This website is free for you to use but we may receive commission from the companies we feature on this site. As listed, his height is. Copyright 2023. landofbasketball.com - All rights reserved. Larry Bird Once Blew Kevin McHale's Mind in Practice With a Pass Rather Than a Shot Although things didn't follow a straight trajectory from after high school Bird almost left basketball behind during college things ended up working out. He covers the latest news and stories surrounding the league daily. NBA Players Comparison: Career Stats and Achievements A 6-foot 9-inch (2.06-metre) forward, he was known for his unflappable confidence and clutch shooting ability, which together created an intimidating presence on the court. The 63 years old former player had his 13 superb seasons with the Celtics, which poured him the chants of Legend Player.. He was NBA All-Star for the 12th time and two times got into NBA finals of MVP in 1984 and 1986. In 1980, Bird was titled Rookie of the Year. Currently, Bird is enjoying his life away from basketball. His mother, Georgia, struggled to raise the six kids after separation from her husband and suicide. His first experience at college left him so disillusioned that he was willing to quit basketball then and there and get a normal job. The great point guard was unquestionably one of the greatest players of all time, but the great point guard of the modern era, Stephen Curry, can also help his team win by playing defense and passing the ball. While his impressive career was cut short due to a progressive back injury, Larry has still remained as an important Basketball figure. Estimated PSA 10 value: $50. However, LeBron James may have the edge, as he has a career field goal percentage of 49.7%, while Larry Birds career field goal percentage is 49.6%. The latter inspired his team members, along with millions of basketball fans. Suggestions? With numbers like that, how did he ever lose? In the years that followed Larrys retirement, he became a very successful coach for the Indiana Pacers, even winning the NBA Coach of the Year award. Bird was a 12-time NBA All-Star and was named the leagues Most Valuable Player (MVP) three times. And, lest you think that Birds comments were a one-off, there are some other quotes from the former star about the state of modern basketball. Three-point shooting, after all, is essentially a requirement, and almost everyone, barring the purest of centers, will float to the perimeter. Health problems continued to plague Bird in the 1990 season. Larry Bird is an American former professional basketball player who played his entire career for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association (NBA). This article was last updated by Krishna Gurung on January 9, 2023. He didnt tell anyone, including his parents, that he was leaving. And while youd be right, Bird didnt just give modern basketball the metaphorical thumbs up. A large pink beam lays behind the star. He finished his career, averaging 24.3 points and 10 rebounds per game. Copyright 2023 Endgame360 Inc. All Rights Reserved. Larry Bird is an American former professional basketball player who was a 12-time NBA All-Star, three-time NBA champion, and two-time NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP). It's one thing to know Bird's numbers. Donovan Mitchell and Jayson Tatum were carrying their teams on the offensive end and Tatum had his best game back since all-star break after a lackluster start. He studied Sports Media and Writing while in school. In a time of overused graphics, Hoops got it right with a clean design over a sharp action photo. You have entered an incorrect email address! Without the assistance of a little-known coach at Indiana State, his Hall of Fame career would never have happened. See production, box office & company info. The Celtics have a rich history of winning championships and being a contender almost every season. He was one of the players chosen to be on the very first Olympic basketball team from the United States that featured pro NBA playersthe infamous Dream Team. Larry Bird is regarded as one of the greatest three-point%27shooting guards of all time, and he was known for his ability to break defenses with big shots late in the fourth quarter. As I mentioned earlier, its easy to have a personal bias and default to the belief that your era was the best. NBA star Larry Bird's famous "behind-the-backboard" shot didn't actually count as a basket. In his book, the thrill of the games is here but the choice for chapters and the lack of statistics make it very difficult to follow his seasons. Bird was a 12-time All Star and won three consecutive league Most Valuable Player awards (198486), the first noncentre to do so. Larrys name and position are seen in the top left corner of the card. A black and white gradient is set behind the framing of the picture. You dont go to college, Larry? Larry Bird currently has a net worth of $75 million. Bird averaged 21.3 points, 10.4 assists, and 4.5 steals in 82 games during his rookie season in 1979-80. Larry Bird Was a Great Basketball Player and a Not-So-Great Dad He has written about the NBA and other sports leagues through various media outlets over the years. The Celtics had decided not to pay Bird more than any other players, but eventually, he ended up signing a five-year, $3.25 million contract with the Celtics and was the highest-paid rookie time of his career. And while Larry Bird can certainly be set in his ways, he had no problem with the NBA becoming more and more reliant on outside shooting. Amazon.com: Larry Bird Basketball While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Later, in 1989 Bird got married to Dinah Mattingly, and the couple adopted two children. Before he became an NBA News Writer, Wolpin attended Montclair State University where he graduated in 2021. These cards are easy to come by for under $10, so what better way to honor the year Bird took home the gold medal than with this fine piece of sports memorabilia. Learn how your comment data is processed. I have a grand daughter playing at Culver High School. Bird has five siblings; three brothers Mike, Mark, Jeff, Eddie, and a sister, Linda. He is undeniably one of the greatest basketball players of all time, which has earned him the Hick from French Lick and Larry Legend nicknames. Larry Bird is a true basketball legendfrom the golden age of the sport. Home; Tickets; Schedule. The legendary player was the first player to earn $5 million. He is an Olympic gold medalist, a three time NBA champ and a three time NBA Most Valuable Player. Larry sometimes came to his brother's basketball games and stood out, not because he was famous, but because he looked so much like Mark. Jayson Tatum passed Celtics legend Larry Bird (1987-88) last night with his 34th 30-point game of the 2022-23 season. He was even listed in the list of 50 best NBA players in 1996 and recorded at No. The 1988 Fleer Larry Bird basketball card shows an in-game Larry running down the court with a Laker legend James Worthy close behind. Two days later, Bird confirmed his return to the game and embarked on a legendary college career. In addition to his 9.64 rebound average, Bird averaged 6.80 assists per game last season. In his 15-year career, Larry Bird averaged 24.3 points per game, while Michael Jordan averaged 30.1 points per game over his 15-year career. Both players have had illustrious careers, with Bird being a 3-time NBA champion and James a 4-time NBA champion. You can pick up a mint condition card for under $20, so really why wouldnt you? The 63-year olds career had always been a handful of achievements and earned it with his consistent and hardworking performance, classy and energetic determination. Also, Bird was the first person to be titled NBA MVP, NBA Coach of the Year, and NBA Executive. This Upper Deck card features Bird fighting off a defender in the post on his way to score. They faced each other a total of 34 times in NBA games. He was elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1998. Larry Bird | Biography & Facts | Britannica - Encyclopedia Britannica O J Simpson: American Football Player And Actor, Will Muschamp: A Successful Football Coach And Millionaire, Manny Pacquiao: Boxer Businessman And Philanthropist, A Career In Sound Recording: The Technical Skill And Artistic Sensibility You Need To Succeed, Why Journalism Is A Good Career Choice In India, The Highest-Paying Careers To Consider In 2020, The Pros And Cons Of A Career As A Computer Graphic Programmer, Why A Career In Web Development Might Be Right For You, Obstetrics: A Rewarding And Challenging Career, How To Find Out Your Federal Career Wages, 5 Reasons To Use CareerBuilder For Your Job Search. Is Boston Celtics legend Larry Bird a top-five all-time shooter? A crowd of fans joined him for the induction, chanting his name as he joined the ranks of the everlasting basketball greats. This card shows Larry barreling down the court with the ball, determined to score. Bird had played 879games in his career until his retirement in 1992. Standing at 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m), he played the small forward and power forward positions. They were fierce rivals in college and throughout their NBA careers so Topps was smart to pair them up on this card. he certainly knew how to tickle the twine from downtown. The Celtics won their first NBA title with Bird (and 14th overall) in 1981; they repeated with title wins in 1984 and 1986. The people of French Lick (Frenchies? Larry once again got to make history in the summer of 92. Larry Bird Stats and news - NBA stats and news on Boston Celtics Forward Larry Bird. Get my weekly newsletter with the latest hobby updates delivered straight to your inbox! The two of them were talking about how one of Birds friends was a great high school player, but he was now forgotten since he didnt go to college. Larry Bird With His Wife, Dinah Mattingly. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall . turned out to be a surprising obstacle. Larry Birds Fans are curious to know more about their favorite basketball player. Larry Bird rookie cards are not the cheapest in the hobby, and are near the top of the most valuable basketball cards in the hobby. He also would take the Celtics to win the championship for a third time, and be named the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player for his contributions to the victory. He won six NBA Championships and is a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame five times. While they have been a contender for a while now, they cannot seem to climb the mountain top and be the top dog in the NBA once again. Corrections? When betting your capital is at risk. Larry Bird had given up on basketball, but one person still believed he had a future in the game: Bill Hodges. Facebook Twitter Menu Facebook Twitter The card is extremely difficult to find in decent condition as copies are riddled with print defects. He addressed the subject with his typical candor. Copyright 2023 Endgame360 Inc. All Rights Reserved. Michael Jordan and Birds rival-turned-friend, Magic Johnson would join Larry in Spain. The design of this card has Fleer written all over it with its blocky gray borders and overall color scheme. Larry Birds Coach at Indiana State Discovered The Legend Playing Basketball With a Resort Kitchen Staff and Convinced Him to Join the Sycamores With One Simple Phrase: Thats When I Knew I Had Him.