Larry Bird is an American former professional basketball player, coach, and executive in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Bird is widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all time. He is the only person in NBA history to be named Rookie of the Year, Most Valuable Player, Finals MVP, All-Star MVP, Coach of the Year, and Executive of the Year. He was named NBA Executive of the Year for the 2012 season. In 2013, Bird returned to the Pacers as president of basketball operations and remained in that role until 2017. He was voted onto the NBA’s 50 Greatest Players in NBA History list in 1996, and in 2021, consequently the 75th Anniversary Team list.
Birth Name
Larry Joe Bird
Nickname
Larry Legend, The Hick from French Lick, Kodak, The Great White Hope
Profession
Former Professional Basketball Player, Former Coach, Former Executive
Playing Position
Small forward / Power forward
Shirt Number
33 – American
Nationality
American
Personal Life
Birthday / Date of Birth
Larry Bird was born on the 7th of December 1956, in West Baden Springs, Indiana, United States.
Age
He’s currently 66 years old.
Sun Sign
Sagittarius
Ethnicity
White
He is of English descent with some Irish heritage.
Religion
Christianity
Education
Larry attended Springs Valley High School and later went to Indiana University after receiving a scholarship to play college basketball. After a month, he dropped out of school and later enrolled at Northwood University. In 1975, he enrolled at Indiana State University.
Family Details
- Father – Claude Joseph “Joe” Bird
- Mother – Georgia (née Kerns)
- Siblings – Mike (Brother), Mark (Brother), Jeff (Brother), Linda (Sister)
Marital Status
Married
Girlfriend / Spouse
Larry Bird has dated –
- Janet Condra – Larry was previously married to his high school sweetheart Janet Condra with whom he had a daughter named Corrie.
- Dinah Mattingly (1989-Present) – In 1989, Bird married his second wife Dinah Mattingly. The couple adopted 2 children – a son named Conner and a daughter named Mariah.
Physical Statistics
Height
- In feet – 6 feet 9 inches
- In centimeters – 206 cm
- In meters – 1.65 m
Weight
- In Kilograms – 100 kg
- In Pounds – 220 lbs
Body Build
Athletic
Eye Color
Blue
Hair Color
Salt and Pepper
Shoe Size
He wears a size 16 (US) shoe.
Sexuality
Straight
Professional Statistics
Famous For
Larry became known as a professional basketball player, a former coach, and former executive who served as President of Basketball Operations for the Indiana Pacers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). With his array of achievements and contributions both as an athlete and as a professional basketball player, Bird has been widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players in history.
Professional Career
In 1978, NBA draft Bird was selected by the Boston Celtics with the sixth overall pick. After protracted negotiations, Bird inked a five-year, $3.25 million contract with the team on June 8, making him the highest-paid rookie in sports history. 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.
In his rookie season (1979–1980), Bird immediately transformed the Celtics into a title contender. The team improved its win total by 32 games from the year before he was drafted and finished first in the Eastern Conference. In his career debut, Bird recorded 14 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists in a 114–106 win over the Houston Rockets. On November 14, 1979, Bird recorded his first career triple-double with 23 points, 19 rebounds and 10 assists in a 115–111 win over the Detroit Pistons.
Bird was named MVP of the 1983–84 season with averages of 24.2 points, 10.1 rebounds, 6.6 assists, and 1.8 steals per game. 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. Bird was named Finals MVP behind 27.4 points, 14 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game.
In 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. It was the first time in the United States’ Olympic history that the country sent NBA players to compete. The “Dream Team” won the men’s basketball gold medal. In eight games, Bird averaged 8.4 points.
Larry Bird Net worth
Larry Bird has an estimated net worth of $75 million dollars as of 2023.
Social Media Profiles
- Instagram – larry_bird_33
- Twitter – Larry Bird
Some Lesser Known Facts About Larry Bird
- Bird was born in West Baden Springs, Indiana, to Georgia (née Kerns) and Claude Joseph “Joe” Bird, a veteran of the Korean War. He has four brothers and a sister.
- He was raised in nearby French Lick, where his mother worked two jobs to support Larry and his five siblings.
- Larry used basketball as an escape from his family troubles, starring for Springs Valley High School and averaging 31 points, 21 rebounds, and 4 assists as a senior on his way to becoming the school’s all-time scoring leader.
- He was selected by the Boston Celtics with the 6th overall pick in the 1978 draft. However, he did not sign with the Celtic immediately and instead played for his final season at Indiana State, leading the Sycamores to the NCAA title game.
- In the 1979-1980 season, he was quick to transform the Celtics into a title contender. With Bird’s impressive performance, the team improved its win total by 32 games before he was drafted and finished first in the Eastern Conference.
- In his professional career debut, he recorded a total of 14 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists in a 114-10 win against the Houston Rockets.
- In 1997, Bird accepted the position of coach of the Indiana Pacers and said he would be on the job for no more than three years.
- In 2003, Bird was hired as the Pacers’ president of basketball operations. After the 2011–2012 NBA season, Bird was named NBA Executive of the Year, becoming the only man in NBA history to win the NBA MVP, Coach of the Year and Executive of the Year.
- Until July, 2022, Larry continued to serve as an advisor when he “stepped back from maintaining an active role with the Indiana Pacers”.
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