The legend was quite ahead of his time. Between them, Bird and Johnson captured eight NBA championships during the 1980s, with Magic getting five and Bird three. To put that into perspective that is only one inch shorter than Shaq's wingspan. [84], "Larry, you only told me one lie. Growing up in French Lick, Indiana, he was a local basketball star. Larry Bird NBA 2K23 Nationality: United States Team: All-Time Boston Celtics Archetype: 2-Way 3-Level Point Forward Position: SF / PF Height: 6'9" (206cm) | Weight: 220lbs (99kg) Jersey: #33 Prior to NBA: Indiana State University Ranks #8 out of 459 All-Time NBA Players Ranks #31 out of all NBA Players on 2K Compare Larry Bird Badges 3 4 23 9 39 However, by then his formerly relentless attack on the court had been slowed by a bad back. To put that in perspective, his hands are larger than that of LeBron James. All Rights Reserved. The reality is that Pippen did a lot of things that made Jordan a better player. ", "LeBron James: Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Julius Erving Are 3 Best Players Ever", "Who Has Made The Most NBA All-Star Game Appearances of All-Time", "NBA MVP award: Steph Curry on list of multiple-time winners", Sporting News: James Harden joins exclusive group with third MVP runner-up finish, "Who is the most clutch player in NBA history? Rajon Rondo is currently one of the best point guards in the league. When Kawhi Leonard took home the NBA playoff MVP, he became the second youngest player to do so, as only Magic Johnson (who did it twice before the age of 23) did it younger. home/away, monthly, etc More Larry Bird Basketball Reference pages. Updated daily. At 66 years old, Larry Bird height is 206 cm . [11] Bird has said that being poor as a child still motivates him "to this day". Unless you allot more points to finishing attributes, you will only have one potential upgrade for finishing badges. [46] At the conclusion of the year, Bird was named MVP for the second consecutive season behind averages of 28.7 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 6.6 assists per game. Biyombo has been playing center for Charlotte over the course of the past 3 years, and at 69, is one of the smaller centers in the league, but the wingspan more than makes up for the height deficiency. Interceptor This significantly increases the frequency of successfully tipped or stolen passes. Along with Johnson, who also entered the NBA in 1979 with the Los Angeles Lakers, Bird was a key figure in revitalizing the league in the 1980s. This is a player who has shot 50% from the field, 40% from 3 point land, and 90% from the line. [60], Throughout the 1980s, contests between the Celtics and the Lakersboth during the regular season and in the Finalsattracted enormous television audiences. Kevin Durant stands 610 and has a 75 wingspan. 5. LAST ATTENDED. Celtics General Manager Red Auerbach publicly stated that he would not pay Bird more than any Celtic on the current roster, but Bird's agent Bob Woolf told Auerbach that Bird would reject any sub-market offers and simply enter the 1979 draft instead, where Boston's rights would expire when the draft began on June 25, and Bird would have been the likely top pick. Javascript is required for the selection of a player. To be part of this group, a player must record at least 50% field goal percentage, 40% three-point field goal percentage, and 90% free throw percentage throughout a season. Best Known For: Basketball icon Larry Bird won three MVP awards and three NBA championships during his 13-year career with the Boston Celtics. 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. He chose to return to Indiana State for one more year and led the Sycamores to the NCAA championship game against the Michigan State Spartans, a team led by another future NBA superstar, Ervin .css-47aoac{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-thickness:0.0625rem;text-decoration-color:inherit;text-underline-offset:0.25rem;color:#A00000;-webkit-transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;}.css-47aoac:hover{color:#595959;text-decoration-color:border-link-body-hover;}"Magic" Johnson. Former NBA coach Hubie Brown had this to say about McHale: "He was totally unstoppable because of his quickness, diversification of moves and the long arms that gave him an angle to release the ball over a taller man or more explosive jumper." [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. College basketball games are played with two 20 minute periods, while professional NBA basketball games consist of four quarters of 12 minutes each. Wingspan is a key measurement because it allows a player of a lesser stature to compete with players who may be physically taller than them. Rajon Rondo only stands 61, but has a wingspan that stretches to 69. To put that in perspective, number 10 is legendary Robert Parish and he put up only 300 more blocks than Bol in his career, but it took him 45,704 minutes. Many people following the NBA would love to see Bird play in todays era of basketball. 2021 Dimensions.com |All rights reserved, For 2D Downloads of this element, upgrade to a Dimensions Pro Membership. Basketball icon Larry Bird won three MVP awards and three NBA championships during his 13-year career with the Boston Celtics. The most accurate reports found that West had an 81 inch wingspan, which would translate to 69. Larry Bird has dated - Janet Condra - Larry Bird was previously married to his high school sweetheart Janet Condra with whom he had a daughter named Corrie. Even after his retirement as a professional basketball player, Larry Birds name still comes up in the NBA because of his coaching skills and the executive role he holds in the NBA. The 7'3 wing span is 11.5% greater than his height. Biyombo stands 68, but has a wingspan that stretches out to 76. Hit the button below and we'll send this post to your inbox! You will often hear basketball pundits state that a player has great length. The Celtics won their first NBA title with Bird (and 14th overall) in 1981; they repeated with title wins in 1984 and 1986. . Following his retirement in 1992, Bird became a successful head coach and front-office executive with the Indiana Pacers. To help you grind efficiently, we have a guide on how to earn more VCs in NBA 2K22. However, I suggest going for Spot Up Shooter. At the time, he was also the fifth-highest scorer in NCAA history. [43] Boston came back to win the game, eventually winning the series in seven. A 6-foot-9 forward who could dribble, pass and shoot the way Bird could made him one of the greatest NBA players. Larry Bird was such a player. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. [5] He was named NBA Executive of the Year for the 2012 season. 2004-2023 CBS Interactive. And it went down to the last shot of the game. Do you have a blog? Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. Site contains certain content that is owned A&E Television Networks, LLC. [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. Take for instance Yao Ming, who stood an impressive 76, but his wingspan was actually smaller than his height at 75 inches. The Celtics and Lakers dominated, with one team or the other, or both, appearing in every NBA championship throughout the decade. The team improved its win total by 32 games from the year before he was drafted and finished first in the Eastern Conference. Along with Larry Bird, and Robert Parish, McHale formed the most dominant front line in NBA history. At 68, Brand is undersized as an NBA power forward, but has made up for it with a giant wingspan that measures 75. It was Larry Bird's height that made his basketball skills so remarkable. His shotblocking prowess is also noted as he has led the league twice in this category, and has a career average of 2.2 blocks. Larry Bird was inducted to the Hall of Fame as a Player in 1998 (Full List) The best they can do is continue to monitor their health, try to keep up with working out, and hope for the best. Takeover The game will provide you with three takeover options. 3. [91] Bird was also a four-time regular season MVP runner-up in 1981, 1982, 1983, and 1988. [45] The performance came just nine days after Kevin McHale set the previous Celtics record for points in a game with 56. Post Playmaker When the player passes out of the post or coming off an offensive board, the recipient receives a shot boost. The reason the Bobcats took a risk on this extremely raw player was due to his freakish wingspan. 2022 Dimensions.com |All rights reserved. It was Larry Bird's height that made his basketball skills so remarkable. One such case is the legendary Jerry West. He complemented his all-around game with accurate outside shooting and unmatched bravado. Honestly, all of them fit Bird so well. ", "Kobe Bryant, Larry Bird, Michael Jordan, and the 10 Best Closers in NBA History", "Ranking 10 Most Clutch Players in NBA History", "StaTuesday: Bucks' Malcolm Brogdon on pace for rare 50-40-90 season", "How Larry Bird won the first 3 All-Star shootouts", "Professor LeBron delivered a history lesson on Larry Bird's legendary game", "Larry Bird in photos: The 'Hick from French Lick' becomes Celtics legend", "Talking the talk: An '86 Celtics trash-talking tale", "Kevin McHale shares a classic Larry Bird trash talk story", "On This Day 22 Years Ago, the NBA's Best Trash Talker Retired", "Dennis Rodman recounts how Larry Bird schooled him in '87 playoffs", "Larry Bird and Magic Johnson Receive NBA Lifetime Achievement Award", "Bird Shoots for Coaching Greatness With the Pacers", "After the NBA Finals, Larry Bird Will Quit as Indiana's Coach. [77], Bird was voted onto the NBA's 50th Anniversary All-Time Team list in 1996,[78][79] and inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1998. 3940. He is the only player in NBA history to have more blocks than points (2,086 blocks vs. 1599 points). Larry Bird- 6'9 John Stockton - 5 ft 10 Clyde Drexler- 6 ft 5 Chris Mullin- 6 ft 5 It seems like Leonard is only starting to scratch the surface of what he can do with such freaky physical attributes. Bird is one of the best shooters in the history of the sport. Nicknamed "the Hick from French Lick" and "Larry Legend", Bird is widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all time. His concentration and composure were unrivaled as well, and he established himself as one of the most unshakable and driven players in the NBA. [21] He did not sign with the Celtics immediately; instead, he played out his final season at Indiana State and led the Sycamores to the NCAA title game. 30 on ESPN SportsCentury's Top 50 athletes of the 20th century, with only five other basketball players ranked higher. Anonymous. Larry Joe Bird (born December 7, 1956) is an American former professional basketball player, coach, and executive in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was one of the best shot blockers in NBA history and a lot of that, obviously, had to do with the enormous wingspan. Right, Born: HEIGHT. 14 Dwight Howard Answer (1 of 14): Jordan supposedly being shorter than his listed 6'6 NBA height is not unfounded, as he was listed at 6'4 for the 1992 Olympics. The two adopted a son and daughter, Conner and Mariah. Bird averaged 10.0 rebounds per game in his career. Prince will not go down in any record books, but ask some of the games best who the toughest defender they faced is, and Tayshaun Princes name will be be right up there. When you factor in the rest of his all around game, it is no surprise he is one of the NBAs 50 greatest players. Standing 69, Prince has a 72 inch wingspan, which appears even greater due to his rail thin physique (some people claim his wingspan is closer to 76). The three-time MVP helped redefine the position and his battles with Magic Johnson and the Los Angeles Lakers is the standard for NBA rivalry even today. The smallest report records it at 78, while the largest account has it at 84 inches. Note, this is done in an automated way, so we apologize for any errors, & please. 1. [105][106] He was known for telling his opponents how and where in the court he would score against them; Xavier McDaniel recounted that Bird predicted a game-winning shot against him, then "shot a shot right in my face and was like 'Damn, I didn't mean to leave two seconds on the clock. Larry Bird's wife, Dinah Mattingly, is his high school sweetheart who got engaged and married the former NBA legend in 1989. THIS VIDEO GIVES A STEP BY STEP BLUEPRINT ON HOW TO CREA. I agree to receive the "CBS Sports HQ Newsletter" and marketing communications, updates, special offers (including partner offers), and other information from CBS Sports and the Paramount family of companies. News on all your favorite celebs, reality TV, and movies. Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. The losses of Moses Malone (60 years old), Darryl Dawkins (58), Anthony Mason (48), Christian Welp (51) and Jack Haley (51) all in the last year are a reminder of Bird's and others' contemporaries and peers during their playing days passing away far too young. Volume Shooter Gives an additional boost to shot attributes to every subsequent shot attempted after the player has already taken a handful of shots. Nicknamed The Claw, Leonard possess a hand spread that measures 11.25 inches, which is bigger than Wilt, Shaq or Bill Russell. Bird has appeared in three movies, each time playing himself: Bird's likeness has appeared in several video games. Deadeye Jump shots attempted with a defender closing out in front of the player will suffer a lower penalty. Available in 3DM (Rhino), OBJ (NURB), SKP(Sketchup)formats, Dimensions.com is a project by Fantastic Offense, Dimensions is a project by Fantastic Offense. They have two adopted children, Conner and Mariah. That is an 11% increase on his height. But if youre a fan of Birds game, then there are ways to customize your character to dominate on the court like the former Celtics superstar. That is 4x the amount of time it took Bol to put up roughly the same amount of blocks. Larry Legend, The Hick from French Lick, Kodak, The Great White Hope are nicknames for Larry Bird. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. For 13 seasons with the Boston Celtics, from 1979-80 through 1991-92, Bird personified hustle, consistency and excellence in all areas of play as a scorer, a. In the commercial, Bird is practicing alone on a rural basketball court (in reality the court was one Bird had made on the property in French Lick that he had purchased for his mother), when Johnson pulls up in a sleek limousine and challenges him to a one-on-one match. [16][17][18] He had a successful three-year career with the Sycamores, helping them reach the NCAA tournament for the first time in school history with a 330 record where they played the 1979 championship game against Michigan State.