Larry Bird
Larry Joe Bird is an American former professional basketball player for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association. Since retiring as a player, he has been a mainstay of the Indiana Pacers organization, currently serving as team president. Drafted into the NBA sixth overall by the Boston Celtics in 1978, Bird started at small forward and power forward for thirteen seasons, spearheading one of the NBA's most formidable frontcourts that included center Robert Parish and forward Kevin McHale. Bird was a 12-time NBA All-Star and was named the league's Most Valuable Player three times. He played his entire professional career for Boston, winning three NBA championships and two NBA Finals MVP awards. More
Due to chronic back problems, he retired as a player in 1992. He was a member of the 1992 United States men's Olympic basketball team that won the gold medal at the 1992 Summer Olympics. Bird was voted to the NBA's 50th Anniversary All-Time Team in 1996 and inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1998.
He served as head coach of the Indiana Pacers from 1997 to 2000. In 2003, he assumed the role of president of basketball operations for the Pacers, holding the position until retiring in 2012. After a year away from the position, he announced he would return to the Pacers as president of basketball operations in 2013. In addition to being part of the 50–40–90 club, he is the only person in NBA history to be named Most Valuable Player, Coach of the Year, and Executive of the Year.
Larry Bird timeline
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Larry Bird is born
Dec. 7, 1956 Larry Joe Bird is born at Bedford (Ind.) Medical Center, the fourth of six children (five boys, one girl) of Joe and Georgia Bird of... Read more
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Larry Bird attends Springs Valley High School and leaves as the all-time scoring leader
In spite of his domestic woes, by the time he was a high school sophomore, Bird had become one of the better basketball players in French Lick. He... Read more
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Larry Bird signs letter of intent to play for Bob Knight and Indiana University
April 24, 1974 Signs a letter of intent to play basketball for Bob Knight and the Indiana Hoosiers, choosing the Bloomington school over Purdue... Read more
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Larry Bird drops out of Indiana University
Oct. 1974 After just 24 days at IU, Bird hitchhikes back to French Lick. The smalltown boy was overwhelmed by the school's large campus. He would... Read more
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Larry Bird enrolls at Indiana State
He played AAU basketball for Hancock Construction and, after that year, decided to enroll at Indiana State University in Terre Haute, where he was... Read more
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Boston Celtics draft Larry Bird with the 6th pick of the NBA Draft
June 9, 1978 Drafted sixth overall as a junior-eligible by the Celtics, behind Mychal Thompson (Portland), Phil Ford (Kansas City), Rick Robey... Read more
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1979 NCAA Basketball Championship: Magic Johnson of Michigan State defeats Larry Bird of Indiana State
Last Monday night, in the championship game, Michigan State confirmed a notion that had been gaining credence as the NCAA tournament progressed and... Read more
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Larry Bird Signs 5-Year Deal with Boston Celtics
June 8, 1979 Signs a five-year, $3.25 million contract with the Celtics shortly before he would've reentered the NBA Draft. At the time, it was... Read more
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Larry Bird is Named Rookie of the Year
May 29, 1980 Named NBA Rookie of the Year after averaging 21.3 points, 10.4 rebounds and 4.5 assists, and leading the Celtics to a then-record... Read more
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1981 NBA Finals - Celtics Defeat Rockets
The 1981 NBA World Championship Series was the championship round of the 1980-81 NBA season, pitting the Boston Celtics against the Houston... Read more
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Larry Bird is Named MVP of the All-Star Game
Jan. 31, 1982 Named MVP of the All-Star Game for the only time in 12 appearances. Scored 19 points, with 12 rebounds and five assists in the... Read more
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1984 NBA Finals- Celtics Defeat Lakers
The 1984 NBA World Championship Series was the championship round of the 1983-84 NBA season. In 1984, the Boston Celtics defeated the Los Angeles... Read more
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Larry Bird is Named League MVP
In 1984, the Celtics defeated the Lakers in a seven-game Finals, winning game seven 111–102. Bird averaged 27.4 points on .484 shooting and 14... Read more
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1985 NBA Finals - Lakers Defeat Celtics
The 1985 NBA World Championship Series was the championship round of the 1984–85 NBA season. The Boston Celtics were looking to repeat as NBA... Read more
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Larry Bird Wins Second Straight League MVP
In 1985, however, the Lakers avenged the loss, defeating the Celtics in game 6 of the Finals in the Boston Garden. In a losing effort against Los... Read more
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1986 NBA Finals- Celtics Defeat Rockets
The 1986 NBA Finals was the championship round of the 1985-86 NBA season. It pitted the Eastern Conference champion Boston Celtics against the... Read more
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Larry Bird Wins Third Straight MVP
Joins Bull Russell (1961-63) and Wilt Chamberlain (1966-68) as the only players in NBA history to win three consecutive MVP awards. Averaged 25.8... Read more
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1987 NBA Finals - Lakers Defeat Celtics
The 1987 NBA Finals was the championship round of the 1986-87 NBA season. The match took place between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston... Read more
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Larry Bird Marries Dinah Mattingly
Sept. 30, 1989 Marries longtime girlfriend Dinah Mattingly, whom he met when both were students at Indiana State. The couple will adopt two... Read more
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Larry Bird Announces Retirement
Following his Olympic experience, on August 18, 1992, Bird announced his retirement as an NBA player. He finished his career with averages of more... Read more
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Boston Celtics Hold Larry Bird Night at the Garden
Feb. 4, 1993 In an unprecendented move, the Celtics hold Larry Bird Night at the Garden—with no game scheduled—to celebrate Bird's career and... Read more
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Larry Bird is Introduced as Indiana Pacers Head Coach
May 12, 1997 Frustrated with his largely ceremonial duties as special assistant to Celtics owner Paul Gaston, Bird begins to pursue other options.... Read more
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Larry Bird is Named NBA Coach of the Year
May 12, 1998 Named NBA Coach of the Year, having led the Pacers to a 58-24 record, the best in franchise history. He is the fourth first-year... Read more
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Larry Bird Elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame
June 29, 1998 Elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame. Along with Hawks coach Lenny Wilkens, Harlem Globetrotter Marques Haynes, longtime NBA/ABA... Read more