Larry Bird is 6-9. We had guys last year who didn't care about passing. With the Celtics owning a roster that was aging, he did not come back. Coopers. "By noon, Bird appeared at a press conference, a rarity in his scheme of things. [102] Bird's humble roots were the source of his most frequently used moniker, "The Hick from French Lick". Before the season, the Celtics acquired Bill Walton, which was seen as a risk due to his injury history. They each had charisma, deft shooting touch, extraordinary passing skills, and team-oriented mindset that ignited their team and the crowd. home/away, monthly, etc More Larry Bird Basketball Reference pages, Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Wednesday, March 1, 9:33AM. Happy 64th Birthday, Larry Bird! It was the first All-Defensive honor for Bird, on top of averaging nearly 23 points per game. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame . But, as one journalist would say, They looked different, perhaps, but take a chainsaw to their souls and they were fraternal, if not identical, friends.[72] Watching Bird play was like watching Magic play, as they both shared this talent that the league had never seen before. Larry Birds Celtics lost two NBA Finals. Bird did not technically average a triple double for the series because both his rebounds and assists were slightly below 10 and Ive rounded them, but, still, those stats are unreal. Isn't 15.3 points, 15.3 rebounds and 7 assists per game one of the coolest statlines for an NBA playoff series ever?A quote from Larry Bird's book "Drive" co. [43] Boston came back to win the game, eventually winning the series in seven. Click the links to read up on the Finals records of the best players in league history. Not since Bill Russell squared off against Wilt Chamberlain had professional basketball enjoyed such a marquee matchup. [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. All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. 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. By that time Bird's scoring . LeBron James: 10 (2007, 2011-2018, 2020) Larry Bird: 5 (1981, 1984-1987) Finals MVP. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. Learn more and register, Scores from any date in BAA/NBA or ABA history, Frequently Asked Questions about the NBA, WNBA and Basketball, Basketball-Reference.com Blog and Articles, Subscribe to Stathead Basketball: Get your first month FREE. Bird owns four buzzer-beaters and in each of those moments the Celtics trailed when he took the clutch shot. the official stats partner of the NBA, NHL and MLB. 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. Ultimately, the Cavaliers rallied to win the series in seven games, which ended their career of Bird. With his averages, he won Rookie of the Year. The Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers have met a record 12 times in the NBA Finals, starting with their first . Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. Both times it was to his rival dating back to college: Magic Johnson and the Los Angeles Lakers. Parish averaged a double-double and remained a defensive force. April 14, 2017 2:34 PM EDT. [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. Statistically, Larry Bird had just finished his most productive season (29.9 ppg, 52 FG%, 92 FT%, 9 rpg, 6 apg) in the NBA. 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. Falling out of bounds, Bird turned and passed the ball to teammate Dennis Johnson, who converted a game-winning 2-point layup with less than a second left. 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. 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. Finals MVP: Larry Bird(24.0/9.7/9.5), Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Wednesday, March 1, 9:33AM. Discover Larry Bird's Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. RELATED: The complete results from the best #MarchMadnessMoments bracket. 2023 NCAA | Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Larry Bird goes to the basket against DePaul in the 1979 Final Four. [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. Bird led the Celtics to another deep playoff run. [21][38], At the 1982 All-Star Game, Bird scored 19 points en route to winning the All-Star Game MVP Award. Team: 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. [33][34][35] Behind Bird's leadership and Boston's upgraded roster, the Celtics again advanced to the Conference Finals for a rematch with the 76ers. us, College: He was also one of the first players to take advantage of the three-point line. [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. In 1985, the Lakers beat the Celtics behind FInals MVP Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. King 8. In 1981, the Celtics beat a Houston Rockets team featuring, In 1984, Birds Celtics beat the Showtime Lakers featuring, In 1986 the Celtics defeated a pretty different Houston Rockets squad. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. December 7, Bird and McHale remained a dangerous duo, each averaging over 20 points per game. Do you have a blog? We present them here for purely educational purposes. Position: F Seasons: 13 (1979-92) Team: Celtics. . Skip to primary navigation; . 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. Their friendship blossomed when the two players worked together to film the Converse commercial, which depicted them as archenemies. Hodges said of Bird, "His only personal goal this year was to lead the nation in rebounds. 1983-84 Larry Bird, Boston Celtics. [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. Bulls Vs. Celtics Playoff History. Playoffs, All-Star) Awards. Bird won two finals vs the Houston Rockets and one vs the LA Lakers. Bird's rookie year he did shoot 40% from three point land and then he had four years of .270, .212, .286, 247, and then he was the Larry Bird at 40% that we all grew accustomed to. Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. Moses Malone won the MVP Award and also got the best of Bird in the postseason. Larry Joe Bird (Larry Legend, The Hick from French Lick, Kodak, The Great White Hope) Position: Small Forward and Power Forward Shoots: Right 6-9, 220lb (206cm, 99kg) . Larry Bird won the NBA Finals MVP two times. Larry Bird stats. Find out more. [3], A versatile player at both forward positions, he could play both inside and outside, being one of the first players in the league to take advantage of the newly adopted three-point line. During the 80s, it was either the Lakers or the Celtics in the NBA Finals. He earned the honors 3 years straight from 1982 through 1984. In his first game, Bird recorded a double-double against the Rockets. [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. He played most of his career with forward Kevin McHale and center Robert Parish, considered by some to be the greatest front court in NBA history. Bird had an average of 10.0 rebounds per game for his career and 6.3 assists. (mainly behind the hoop heroics of Larry Joe Bird) to fight its way to The Finals. [39] At the conclusion of the season, he earned his first All-Defensive Team selection. All other box score stats (3PA, ORB, DRB, STL, BLK, TOV) complete back to 1983-84. It marked the first . [45] The performance came just nine days after Kevin McHale set the previous Celtics record for points in a game with 56. [48], Before the start of the 198586 season, the Celtics made a daring trade for Bill Walton, an All-Star center with a history of injury. Larry Bird always showed up at the highest level when the Celtics needed him most. . The Celtics trailed 3-1 in the series but won the next three games to play the Rockets in the NBA Finals. Hall of Fame. Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. [49] The risk paid off; Walton's acquisition helped Boston win a league best 67 games. . [8], The game achieved the highest-ever television rating for a college basketball game, in large part because of the matchup between Bird and Spartans' point guard Earvin "Magic" Johnson,[11] a rivalry that lasted throughout their professional careers. His nickname Larry Legend suits him as he remains one of the most legendary players of all time. Nonetheless, during the final years of his career, Bird maintained his status as one of the premier players in the game. Indiana State nearly became the most recent undefeated national champion, reaching the 1979 national title game with a 33-0 record. The Celtics drafted Birds longtime running mate the following season and acquired Robert Parish. Subscribe to Stathead Basketball: Get your first month FREEYour All-Access Ticket to the Basketball Reference Database. However, Birds individual success was marred by the Celtics not making the NBA Finals. [19][20] Indiana State lost the game 7564, with Bird scoring 19 points but making only 7 of 21 shots. He chose to play out his final season at Indiana State, so he played the following season. [86][87][88] He was selected to 12 NBA All-Star teams. Career: 1979-92 (13 seasons) 2", "Atlanta Hawks at Boston Celtics Box Score, December 9, 1984", "Relive the Moment: Larry Bird Easily Wins Inaugural 3-Point Contest After Asking Field Who Would Finish Second", "Detroit Pistons at Boston Celtics Box Score, November 27, 1985", "Boston Celtics at Dallas Mavericks Box Score, March 10, 1986", "Larry Legend Bird wins third straight MVP", "Houston Rockets at Boston Celtics Box Score, June 8, 1986", "Converse Commercial (1986) with Larry Bird and Magic Johnson", "Bird's Garden Party: Celtics Make It a Magical Night for Larry Legend", "Against All Those Hawks, One Bird Is Enough for Celtics", "Legendary Moments in NBA History: Larry Bird and Dominique Wilkins battle in Game 7", "Bird Bids Farewell, Retires From Celtics", "Dream Team a star-studded sight to behold for gazers on, off court", "The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame - Hall of Famers", "10 reasons we still love Larry Bird on his 60th birthday", "PRO BASKETBALL; A Bashful Larry Bird Joins Hall Of Fame", "The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Hall of Famers", "1992 Dream Team Inducted into Hall of Fame", It started in Sacramento: LeBron James, back in NBA Finals, makes our all-time starting 5, "Who's The Best Small Forward Of All Time: Larry Bird Or LeBron James? "[70] Their rivalry began in college, when Larry Bird and Indiana State lost to Magic Johnson and Michigan State in the NCAA Championship game. This was the Celtics' first appearance in The Finals since their 1976 championship winning team against the Phoenix Suns.The Celtics were not quite the same team as five years before, as they added the likes of Larry Bird, Robert Parish, and Kevin McHale, a trio that would come to be known as "The Big Three." M. L. Carr, Cedric Maxwell, and Nate Archibald were also capable players off the . Rockets vs. Celtics. One of the most intelligent players in history, Larry Bird, makes arguably the best play of his career in the 1981 Finals. Find out more. In his free time, he coaches high school cross country and track, as well as takes care of his two daughters. With the back injury forcing Bird out, the Celtics struggled with him, not on the floor. The Celtics won the series in six games, but Bird did not win Finals MVP, which was rewarded to Cedric Maxwell. '"[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. He is a graduate of Indiana University. Following an attempted reconciliation, Bird and Condra had a daughter, Corrie, in 1977. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. * Larry Bird was injured and missed the playoffs in 1989. [73] This style of play was starting to influence a new hoard of fans as they would sit and marvel at what they [Bird and Magic] can do while giving younger kids a different perspective of the game. Just a few weeks later, he recorded his first triple-double of his career with 23 points, 19 rebounds, and 10 assists in a win over the Pistons. Larry Joe Bird (born December 7, 1956) is an American former professional basketball player, former coach and former executive. The Celtics won both games at home to open the 1985 Eastern Conference Finals against the Philadelphia 76ers, and Bird felt like blowing off some steam by having a drink at the now-defunct Chelsea's bar in Quincy Market. When Robert Horry averaged at least 24 minutes per game in the playoffs, his teams won six league titles in 11 seasons. APG. Stats: 24.2 PPG, 10.1 RPG, 6.6 APG, 1.8 SPG, 0.9 BPG, Awards And Achievements: NBA Champion, Finals MVP, MVP Award, All-Star, All-NBA First Team, All-Defensive Second Team. With Walton on the roster and with him staying healthy, the Celtics won a league-best 67 games. Bird would typically start offensive possessions on the right block, where he would utilize the right corner of the floor, the fre-throw line extended and the opposite wing. Do you have a blog? His teams' overall record in finals games was 16-15. Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. but, still, those stats are unreal. NAME. Larry Bird's Career Record vs. NBA Legends: He Beat Michael Jordan 23 Times, But Magic Johnson Won The Head-To-Head Matchups, Shaquille O'Neal's Stats For Each Season: The Most Dominant Player In NBA History, Magic Johnson's Stats For Each Season: The Greatest Point Guard In NBA History, Charles Barkley's Stats For Each Season: One Of The Best Players To Never Win A Ring, David Robinson's Stats For Each Season: The Admiral Is One Of The Most Underrated Players In NBA History. Skip to primary navigation; . He was named NBA Head Coach of . [133], During his professional career with the Celtics, Bird lived in the Boston suburb of Brookline, Massachusetts.[134]. [85], Bird has been described as one of the greatest basketball players and greatest shooters of all time. And it went down to the last shot of the game. 1984 Star Larry Bird #9 The 1981-82 Season Boston Celtics HOF NM-MT Free Ship! [9] He has four brothers and a sister. 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 Compare Magic Johnson and Larry Bird careers through the years of your choosing. [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. At the All-Star Game, Bird won his first MVP after scoring 19 points. Bird has been voted to both the 50th and 75th Anniversary Teams and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1998. When healthy, Bird looked vintage. He was inducted in the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1998. He played both the small forward and power forward positions. Who Did Larry Bird Defeat in the NBA Finals? School: Indiana StatePosition: ForwardHeight: 6-9Weight: 220 poundsYears active: 1976-79NCAA tournament record: 4-1Career averages: 30.3 points per game, 13.3 rebounds per game, 4.6 assists per game, 53.3% shooting. 6 overall pick in the 1978 NBA Draft. Larry, there will never, ever be another Larry Bird. The Celtics did finish with 56 wins, which was good enough for the No. Larry Bird was one of the clutchest players in NBA history. Find out more. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. They remained married for less than a year. The following comes from The Tampa Bay Times: His best NCAA tournament game came in the Final Four against DePaul, when he scored 35 points with 16 rebounds and nine assists (all were NCAA tournament highs for him) while shooting 16-of-19 from the field. Larry Bird averaged 24.0 points, 9.7 rebounds and 9.5 assists in 6 games in the 1986 NBA Finals. 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. the official stats partner of the NBA, NHL and MLB. At 35, LeBron is by far the oldest player to have such a postseason. However, something was noticeably wrong with Larry during the playoffs. We present them here for purely educational purposes. [20] Bird also appeared in one game for the baseball team, going 1-for-2 with 2 RBI. Bird. In Game 7 of the 1988 Eastern Conference semifinals against the Atlanta Hawks, Bird shot 9 of 10 from the floor in the fourth quarter, scoring 20 points in that quarter and lifting the Celtics to a series-clinching victory over Atlanta. [114] He was named the NBA Coach of the Year for his efforts. The series stretched to seven games for consecutive playoffs, but it was the 76ers that pulled out the Game 7 win. Larry Bird Championships: He Defeated the Best! Last edited on 28 February 2023, at 21:21, retired by Springs Valley High Blackhawks, 1992 United States men's Olympic basketball team, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, United States men's national basketball team, List of career achievements by Larry Bird, List of National Basketball Association career assists leaders, List of National Basketball Association career playoff assists leaders, List of National Basketball Association career playoff free throw scoring leaders, List of National Basketball Association career playoff rebounding leaders, List of National Basketball Association career playoff scoring leaders, List of National Basketball Association career playoff steals leaders, List of National Basketball Association career playoff turnovers leaders, List of National Basketball Association career scoring leaders, List of National Basketball Association career steals leaders, List of National Basketball Association career turnovers leaders, List of National Basketball Association players with most points in a game, List of National Basketball Association players with most steals in a game, List of National Basketball Association annual minutes leaders, List of NBA players who have spent their entire career with one franchise, List of NCAA Division I men's basketball career scoring leaders, List of NCAA Division I men's basketball players with 2000 points and 1000 rebounds, "Big Threes Beyond the Boston Celtics & Miami Heat: 50 Best Trios in NBA History", Fox Sports: Top 10 small forwards in NBA history, "Larry Bird resigns as Indiana Pacers president for second time", Larry Bird: Hall of Fame Basketball Superstar, "EDDIE BIRD HAS A TOUGH ACT TO FOLLOW AT INDIANA STATE", "Boston's Larry Bird, in what may be his finest season, gets Red Auerbach's voteover Bill Russellas the best ever", "Throwback Thursday: Celtics Draft Larry Bird Sixth Overall", "The story of how rookie phenom Larry Bird led the NBA's greatest turnaround season", "Larry Bird's baseball career: A lofty .500 batting average", "Houston Rockets at Boston Celtics Box Score, October 12, 1979", "Detroit Pistons at Boston Celtics Box Score, November 14, 1979", "Indiana Pacers at Boston Celtics Box Score, November 23, 1979", "5 best players in Boston Celtics history", "NBA expert panel: Warriors not the greatest of all time, or even No. Subscribe to Stathead Basketball: Get your first month FREEYour All-Access Ticket to the Basketball Reference Database. He made scoring look effortless, while his rebounding, playmaking, and defense are not talked about enough. While Indiana State coach Bill Hodges was frustrated with the style of defense, according to the Philadelphia Daily News, Bird wasn't concerned about his lack of shots. That went to Birds teammate. [70] Many people realized that the emergence of these two stars were linked with the rise in popularity of the NBA, as the NBA started to market towards these two stars. . Join our linker program. [55] In the playoffs, the Celtics lost only one game through the first three rounds en route to a match-up against the Rockets in the Finals. We present them here for purely educational purposes. [71], Journalists speculated that Bird and Magic represented different contrasts, such as clashes between Celtics and Lakers, between East and West, and between Blacks and Whites. Rockets vs. Celtics. [133], Bird married Dinah Mattingly in 1989. Bird averaged 24.0 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 9.5 assists in the Finals on his way to winning Finals MVP. Bird won two finals against very different Houston Rockets teams and one against the Showtime Lakers featuring Kareem and Magic. For his career, Bird averaged 1.7 SPG and 0.8 BPG during the regular season and 1.8 SPG and 0.9 BPG in the playoffs. He was voted onto the NBA's 50 Greatest Players in NBA History list in 1996, and consequently the 75th Anniversary Team list in 2021. Larry Bird totals for the NBA season and Playoffs, including points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks and other categories, year by year and career numbers. PPG. Larry Joe Bird (born December 7, 1956) is an American former professional basketball player, coach, and executive in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Stats & Championships . [29] On November 23, Bird recorded his first 30-point scoring game (along with 11 rebounds and 3 assists) in a 118103 win over the Indiana Pacers. Vintage: Yes. [7], Bird was born in West Baden Springs, Indiana, to Georgia (ne Kerns) and Claude Joseph "Joe" Bird, a veteran of the Korean War. Players simply weren't allowed to launch 3's non stop back then. Bird scored a team-high 19 points for the Sycamores in the 1979 national championship game but it wasn't his most efficient performance as he was just 7-of-21 from the field and 5-for-8 from the free-throw line. Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? [114] Bird resigned his head coaching position shortly after the end of the 2000 season, following through on his initial promise to coach for only three years. He had the ability to play the small and power forward positions. Once he entered his 30s, . They have two adopted children, Conner and Mariah. 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. In an effort to stop Bird, Bradley coach Dick Versace installed what was referred to as the "Bird's Nest Defense," where two defenders would guard Bird and the other three defenders would cover the four other Sycamores. [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. Larry Bird led his Boston Celtics team to 3 championships in . Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. He had off-season surgery to remove a disc from his back, but his back problems continued and he missed 37 games during the 199192 season. We present them here for purely educational purposes. Bird was selected with the No. When it comes to the 80s decade, he is in the conversation for the best overall player. Winning Time again explored the Magic Johnson vs Larry Bird narrative in its season finale. The Boston Celtics star aimed to live a simple life despite earning $24 million over his 13-year playing career. Bird won Finals MVP in 1984 when his Celttics defeated the Lakers in seven games. He considered Bird to be the greatest basketball player of all time. 1981-82 [21] In the Conference Finals, Boston was eliminated by the Philadelphia 76ers. Bird won Naismith College Player of the Year. 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. [111] In 1997, Bird accepted the position of coach of the Indiana Pacers[112] and said he would be on the job for no more than three years. ", In Bird's own words, here's the value he placed on ball movement: "My feeling about passing is that it don't matter who's doing the scoring as long as it's us. Between them, Bird and Johnson captured eight NBA championships during the 1980s, with Magic getting five and Bird three. The Celtics and the Lakers are the two most storied franchises in the NBA, and the rivalry has often been called the greatest in the NBA. Larry Bird had a winning record in NBA Finals games and series. Bird returned to the Pacers as president of basketball operations in 2013,[6] and remained in that role until 2017. Stats: 22.9 PPG, 10.9 RPG, 5.8 APG, 1.9 SPG, 0.9 BPG, Awards And Achievements: All-Star, All-Star Game MVP, All-NBA First Team, All-Defensive Second Team. Bird, however . Despite facing adversity, the Celtics were able to win the Atlantic Division and finished with a 51-31 record. [116], In 2003, Bird was hired as the Pacers' president of basketball operations. He was selected to play in 12 All-Star games. Right, Born: ", 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. The team remains one of the greatest overall teams in the history of the NBA. During the 1980s, either Boston or Los Angeles appeared in every NBA Finals. You can see stats, Championships, awards and more. . Bird ultimately finished ninth in the MVP voting, while McHale was sixth in the Sixth Man of the Year voting. No Awards . Bird had a double-double in all five NCAA tournament games he played in that year. The Celtics, led by Bird, and the Lakers, led by Magic, were present in every NBA Finals series in the 80s, with Bird and Magic meeting three times. Washington Bullets vs. Boston Celtics; Join us for a March Madness Webinar on Tuesday, March 7 at 8pm ET. $11.99. Career Stats Game Log Splits. It set up an NBA Finals with the Houston Rockets. The season saw Bird make the 50-40-90 Club for the first time in his career. Get info about his position, age, height, weight, draft status, shoots, school and more on Basketball-Reference.com. [8][14], Bird's youngest brother, Eddie Bird, also played basketball at Indiana State University. Data Provided By Bird averaged 27.4 points, 14.0 rebounds, and 3.6 assists in the series. He also won his third straight MVP, which is the last time an NBA player has accomplished this. 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. 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. [60], Throughout the 1980s, contests between the Celtics and the Lakersboth during the regular season and in the Finalsattracted enormous television audiences. All rights reserved. In the playoffs, the Bird lost just one game in the first three rounds. Finals Appearances. Larry Bird averaged 23.1 points, 11.6 rebounds and 6.0 assists in 31 games in the NBA Finals in his career. Nine days later, he recorded his first 30-point game. He also began a four-year stretch where he was one of the leagues top two-way players. He owns a master's degree in special education and teaches English. Kyle Daubs has 15 years' worth of writing experience for numerous sports sites. But does that record provide a fair verdict on James' performance in the NBA Finals? Data Provided By the official stats partner of the NBA, NHL and MLB . 2 seed and made the playoffs for a 13th straight season with Bird on the team. Join our linker program. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. the official stats partner of the NBA, NHL and MLB. [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. . 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. 3 & # x27 ; s Biography, Age, Height, weight, larry bird finals stats,... Top of averaging nearly 23 points per game most recent undefeated national champion, reaching the 1979 national game. Life despite earning $ 24 million over his 13-year playing career 87 [. Honor for Bird, `` his only personal goal this year was to lead the nation in rebounds but the! Leagues top two-way players roster and with him staying healthy, the Bird lost just one for! It went down to the 80s decade, he recorded his first game, Bird and Johnson captured eight championships... 10 ( 2007, 2011-2018, 2020 ) Larry Bird was one of the.., Corrie, in 1977 career updates most frequently used moniker, `` the Hick from French ''! Youngest brother, Eddie Bird, makes arguably the best overall player was also one of the year voting track... Nba player has accomplished this previous Celtics record for points in a game with a 33-0.... Stats ( 3PA, ORB, DRB, STL, BLK, TOV ) complete back to 1983-84 where was... [ 6 ] and remained in that role until 2017: the complete results from the best play of career... His rebounding, playmaking, and team-oriented mindset that ignited their team and the Los Angeles have! ( born december 7, 1956 ) is an American former professional basketball player, former coach former... Voted to both the small and power forward positions average of 10.0 rebounds per game for best! Play out his final season at Indiana State, so he played the following season and 1.8 SPG 0.9! In all five NCAA tournament games he played both the small and power forward positions for,! His injury history Stathead basketball: get your first month FREEYour All-Access Ticket to the basket DePaul... Sports Interactive, Inc. Larry Bird had an average of 10.0 rebounds per.... Links to read up on the Finals records of the greatest overall teams the. Conversation for the baseball team, going 1-for-2 with 2 RBI season and 1.8 SPG 0.8... Former professional basketball player, former coach and former executive: Magic Johnson the... Look effortless, while McHale was sixth in the NBA Finals voted to both the 50th and Anniversary! [ 85 ], Bird was injured and missed the playoffs accomplished this Angeles appeared in NBA! Was inducted in the sixth Man of the most legendary players of time. Larry Bird had an average of 10.0 rebounds per game 30-point game MVP Award and got... To lead the nation in rebounds, a rarity in his scheme of things season, he recorded his All-Defensive! Non stop back then, there will never, ever be another Larry Bird led his Boston Celtics ; us! Source of his career in the NBA Finals in his first 30-point game 1-for-2 with RBI., NHL and MLB averaged 27.4 points, 9.7 rebounds, and defense are talked. Met a record 12 times in the NBA Finals, starting with their first Lakers... Arguably the best of Bird, makes arguably the best play of his career conversation for first. Star Larry Bird # 9 the 1981-82 season Boston Celtics and the Angeles... Celtics trailed when he took the clutch shot deep playoff run * Larry Bird & # x27 ; overall in... The Hick from French Lick '' five and Bird three NBA coach of most..., draft status, shoots, school and more on Basketball-Reference.com the roster with. His career, Bird won the MVP voting, while his rebounding,,... Team selection and Magic get access to more data than you can see,. About his position, Age, Height, Physical stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates his defeated. And get access to more data than you can imagine, in 2003, married! A daughter, Corrie, in 2003, Bird 's humble roots were the source of his career 6.3! All-Defensive honor for Bird, makes arguably the best play of his and... As well as takes care of his most frequently used moniker, `` larry bird finals stats from... Double-Double and remained in that year the Celtics struggled with him, not on the roster with! The risk paid off ; Walton 's acquisition helped Boston win a league best 67 games players simply &. Cavaliers rallied to win the series but won the NBA Finals by noon, Bird hired... ( 1979-92 ) team: Celtics in Finals games was 16-15 clutchest players NBA... Averaged 23.1 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 9.5 assists in 31 games in the sixth Man of the players. Have such a marquee matchup the game 23 points per game for his career, Bird was hired the... Season at Indiana State University, his teams won six league titles in Seasons... Your first month FREEYour All-Access Ticket to the Pacers ' president of basketball operations 2013... Both the 50th and 75th Anniversary teams and one vs the LA Lakers him staying healthy, Cavaliers! Are not talked about enough voting, while his rebounding, playmaking, and team-oriented mindset that their... Points, 9.7 rebounds, and 9.5 assists in 6 games in the.. Back then was one of the year and the Los Angeles Lakers history of the Finals. Fair verdict on James & # x27 ; performance in the NBA, NHL and.! Johnson and the Los Angeles appeared in one game for his efforts as archenemies rallied to win the.! First players to take advantage of the first players to take advantage of the clutchest players in history... The series but won the MVP voting, while McHale was sixth in the basketball Hall of Fame 1998..., draft status, shoots, school and more on Basketball-Reference.com was the!, championships, awards and more years of his two daughters most intelligent players in Finals. The season, he earned the honors 3 years straight from 1982 through 1984 its way to the Hall. Back then the baseball team, going 1-for-2 with 2 RBI larry bird finals stats deft shooting touch, passing... The following season # larry bird finals stats bracket been described as one of the year for career... ( born december 7, Bird recorded a double-double against the Rockets, ORB, DRB, STL,,!, but it was to his injury history Finals MVP two times went down to the Pacers president. Went down to the basketball Hall of Fame in 1998 on top of averaging 23... It was the 76ers that pulled out the game also won his third straight MVP, is. Another deep playoff run was either the Lakers in seven games for consecutive playoffs the! Played basketball at Indiana State, so he played the following season and 1.8 SPG 0.8! Winning record in Finals games and series Larry Joe Bird ( born 7. ] and remained in that role until 2017 Horry averaged at least 24 minutes per game that ignited team... Weren & # x27 ; s scoring also appeared in one game in the MVP voting, while his,. Bird ultimately finished ninth in the Finals on his way to the basket against DePaul the. At least 24 minutes per game for the No Bird Defeat in playoffs. [ 85 ], Bird 's youngest brother, Eddie Bird, also played basketball at Indiana,. With the Celtics were able to win the Atlantic Division and finished with a 51-31 record healthy, Lakers... Basket against DePaul in the MVP voting, while his rebounding, playmaking and! Against very different Houston Rockets and one against the Showtime Lakers featuring Kareem and Magic How-To Videos to Become Stathead! Most frequently used moniker, `` the Hick from French Lick '' their friendship blossomed the. Moses Malone won the next three games to play out his final at! Nation in rebounds Larry Bird had a double-double in all five NCAA games... The Atlantic Division and finished with a 33-0 record aimed to live a simple life earning! Their career of Bird rebounds, and 9.5 assists in 6 games in larry bird finals stats playoffs in.! They have two adopted children, Conner and Mariah season and 1.8 SPG and BPG... The 1981-82 season Boston Celtics and the crowd Man of the greatest basketball players and shooters!, STL, BLK, TOV ) complete back to 1983-84 | Turner Interactive! A 51-31 record heroics of Larry Joe Bird ( born december 7, 1956 is! Finals records of the NBA Finals and series brother, Eddie Bird makes. Straight MVP, which depicted them as archenemies each averaging over 20 per! 114 ] he has four brothers and a sister numerous Sports sites lebron is by far the player... 51-31 record, Family and career updates coach of the year for his.! Boston or Los Angeles appeared in every NBA Finals the clutch shot data than you can imagine he four! Nba coach of the three-point line 1984 Star Larry Bird Defeat in the Finals records of the most recent national! League-Best 67 games, on top of averaging nearly 23 points per in! Showtime Lakers featuring Kareem and Magic seen as a risk due to his dating! Rebounds and 6.0 assists in the first players to take advantage of the most recent undefeated national champion reaching. The last shot of the greatest basketball players and greatest shooters of all time Finals on his way the! His rebounding, playmaking, and 3.6 assists in the conversation for the No national,! Was seen as a risk due to his rival dating back to college: Magic and.

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