He played for the Celtics during his entire professional career (13 seasons), leading them to five NBA finals appearances and three NBA championships. But dont let Birds efficient scoring distract you from the fact that he was proficient in the other aspects of his game. Part of the reason, he admits, was his own fatalistic view of what the future would bring. Howard is also the only player in league history to have won Defensive Player of the Year in three consecutive years. Despite not being as tall as the Lakers legend, Leonard is just as long. 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. Wilt Chamberlain is part of many extraordinary tales and finding accurate data on the legendary big man is no small feat. Celtics booed off floor after blowing 28-point lead, Randle's game-winner runs Knicks' win streak to eight, Durant passes Robertson for 13th on NBA scoring list, Grizzlies' Brooks: 'I don't like Draymond at all', Magic's Isaac undergoes season-ending surgery, Suns vs. Bulls odds, picks, predictions, bets. Larry Bird was inducted to the Hall of Fame as a Player in 1998 (Full List) Larry, there will never, ever be another Larry Bird. 2. The average NBA player will have a wingspan 4 inches greater than his height. 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. Positions: Small forward, power forwardYears Active: 19791992, Drawings include:Larry Bird standing, shooting, dribbling, NBA - National Basketball AssociationWikipedia - Basketball. [25], In his rookie season (19791980), Bird immediately transformed the Celtics into a title contender. [45] The performance came just nine days after Kevin McHale set the previous Celtics record for points in a game with 56. That is an 11% increase on his height. After all, Bird dished out 6.3 assists per game for his entire career. 4. On August 18, 1992, Bird announced his retirement. 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. News on all your favorite celebs, reality TV, and movies. "I tell my wife all the time, 'You don't see many 7-footers walking around at the age of 75,'" says Bird, who's 6-foot-9. For this, you will need a ton of VCs. [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. 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. Bird is universally regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all time. Unfortunately, a trade-off with this player archetype is that there will be fewer points available for the others. Indiana State. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. Volume Shooter Gives an additional boost to shot attributes to every subsequent shot attempted after the player has already taken a handful of shots. Dirk can't be 6'10. Scottie Pippen stood 68 inches, but had a wingspan of 73, which is modest in comparison to some of the other players on this list, but Pippen used that length to its full extent. [113] Despite having no previous coaching experience, Bird led the Pacers to a 5824 recordthe franchise's best as an NBA team at the timein the 199798 season,[114] and pushed the Chicago Bulls to seven games in the Eastern Conference Finals. 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. Bird had an uncanny ability of reading and anticipating opponents passes that helped him record 1.7 steals per game throughout his career. [13], 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. Larry Bird was drafted by Boston Celtics, 1st round (6th pick, 6th overall), 1978 NBA Draft. The season finished with a national championship game match-up of Indiana State against Michigan State and featured a highly anticipated match-up of Bird against Michigan State great Magic Johnson, thus beginning a career-long rivalry that the two shared for over a decade. The Celtics failed to reach the NBA Finals for the first time in five years, losing to the Pistons in six games during the Eastern Conference Finals. He was one of the best shot blockers in NBA history and a lot of that, obviously, had to do with the enormous wingspan. Updated daily. 1 Answer. [6] He stepped down again in 2017, but stayed with the team in an advisory capacity. Someone like Boozer who's measured as 6'7 3/4 isn't any shorter than other players listed at 6'9 too. Larry Bird Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft Status and more | Basketball-Reference.com Larry Bird 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) More bio, uniform, draft, salary info Hall of Fame 12x All Star [103] Bird was also referred to as "Larry Legend". Brand was the #1 overall pick in 1999 out of Duke. Shooting badges will allow you to convert more field goal attempts from anywhere outside the key. Note, this is done in an automated way, so we apologize for any errors, & please. Right, Born: After retiring as a player in 1992, he was appointed as the coach for the team the Boston Celtics. Top 15 Most Impressive Wingspans In NBA History, 10 WCW Character Transformations That Made No Sense, 10 Wrestlers Vince McMahon Signed From The AWA (& Turned Them Into Stars), Dominik Mysterio Speaks About Where His "Prison Dom" Character In WWE Came From. A 6-foot-9 forward who could dribble, pass and shoot the way Bird could made him one of the greatest NBA players. [108], At the 2019 NBA Awards, Bird received the NBA Lifetime Achievement Award (shared with Magic Johnson). He played both the small forward and power forward positions. NBA 2K users have loved playing as Larry Legend not just because of his ability to score from anywhere on the court, but also because of his versatile game. Elton Brand is entering his 16th year in the NBA this season with the Atlanta Hawks. In his career, he averaged 2 steals a game and was named to the all-defensive team 10 out of 17 years he was in the league. Take a look at the great defenders in the NBA, and the one common thread you will find in all of them is an impressive wingspan. [49] The risk paid off; Walton's acquisition helped Boston win a league best 67 games. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. McHale is known as one of the best post players in NBA history due to his great footwork and arsenal of moves. But Don't Bet That He Won't Be Back", "Larry Bird stepping down from Pacers post", "For 2nd time, Hall-of-Famer Bird resigns as Pacers president", "Larry Bird resigns as Pacers president, Kevin Pritchard to take over", "Pacers' Larry Bird is NBA Executive of the Year", "Indiana Pacers part ways with Larry Bird", "Bird Steps Down; Pritchard Named President of Basketball Operations", "Larry Bird No Longer Has an Active Role with the Pacers, Confirms Kevin Pritchard", NBA unveils redesigned Larry O'Brien, Bill Russell trophies, announces new conference finals MVP awards - CBS Sports.com, 1992 U.S. OLYMPIC MENS BASKETBALL TEAM - Team USA.org, "2017 Class of FIBA Hall of Fame: Dream Team", "FULL VERSION: McDonald's Commercial with LeBron James and Dwight Howard", "Twitter's Logo Is Named After Larry Bird", "Larry Bird is Always on Twitter Even Without Having an Account", "ESPN Classic - Bird had eye for victory", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Larry_Bird&oldid=1142161893, Trophy named in Bird's honor (Larry Bird Trophy) awarded to Eastern Conference Finals MVP (established in 2022), 1992 Olympic gold medal (U.S. national team). Sign in or Register to join the conversations! That length helped him become one of the most prolific shot blocker in league history. 30 on ESPN SportsCentury's list of 50 Greatest Athletes of the 20th century. Howard has used that wingspan to become an elite rebounder and shot blocker. 6. To help you operate in the lane, this guide discusses the most effective post moves in NBA 2K22. [40] Boston's misfortunes continued into the next season, with Bird again finishing second in MVP voting to Malone and the team losing in the Conference Semifinals to the Milwaukee Bucks. 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. The Hick from French Lick was the first ever to join the club. It's a given that most players are listed 1-1.5 inches taller than they're actual heights since they're measured with shoes. Biyombo stands 68, but has a wingspan that stretches out to 76. The Boston Celtics won the NBA Championship thrice under his work, making Bird the NBA Most Valuable Player three times. [42] In Game Four, the Lakersled by Bird's college rival Magic Johnsonwere on the verge of taking a commanding 31 series lead before a flagrant foul was committed on Kurt Rambis that resulted in a brawl and caused the Lakers to lose their composure. [20] For his college career, he averaged 30.3 points, 13.3 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game,[21] leading the Sycamores to an 8113 record during his tenure. When they mention length, they are not talking about a players height, but more so his wingspan. Bird got his 3rd 2nd team all defense in 84, it's not like he was slouch on that end, even if Lebron was the better defender. [115] Bird then led the Pacers to consecutive Central Division titles in 1999 and 2000 and a berth in the 2000 NBA Finals. 220lb (100kg) COUNTRY. 1956 That wingspan is the same size that the 75 Shawn Bradley had. [21] 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. Celebrity Fan Photos and Agency Pictures of stars are to their respective owners. [39][41], Bird was named MVP of the 198384 season with averages of 24.2 points, 10.1 rebounds, 6.6 assists, and 1.8 steals per game. A persons wingspan is the. Between them, Bird and Johnson captured eight NBA championships during the 1980s, with Magic getting five and Bird three. Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players score points by shooting (throwing) a ball through an elevated hoop located on either side of the rectangular court. Growing up in French Lick, Indiana, he was a local basketball star. He complemented his all-around game with accurate outside shooting and unmatched bravado. This has lead some to believe that he is still growing, while most believe it is just a case of the Pelicans stretching the truth a little. In the piece, Bird theorizes that the big men who played the hardest and ran the most are the most susceptible to passing away early. Kahit sa imports coming into the PBA, after the official measurement, they are suddenly 2 inches shorter, heee. [8] Bird's parents were of Irish, Scottish and some Native American descent. Difficult Shots High-difficulty jumpers attempted from the mid-range get an increased shot percentage. As morbid as the subject is, Bird doesn't really duck away from it and what it means for him and his family. 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. AboutPressCopyrightContact. Larry Bird (Larry Legend; The Hick from French Lick) Position: Forward 6-9, 220lb (206cm, 99kg) School: Indiana State (Men) Draft: Boston Celtics, 1st round (6th pick, 6th overall), 1978 NBA draft. Per 48 minutes that number would be 8.6 blocks a game and the next closest to him is Mark Eaton at only 5.3. Bol is 15th all time in blocked shots with 2,086, but he did that in only 11,698 minutes. To put that in perspective, his hands are larger than that of LeBron James. He also had a career high of 60 points against the Atlanta Hawks on March 12, 1985. I've not seen that much of Chrichton reallycompared to seeing Bird, who can look taller than his listing at times. Larry Bird stands 6'9" tall and weighs 220 pounds during his NBA playing days. Nicknamed "the Hick from French Lick" and "Larry Legend", Bird is widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all time. w/ shoes Weight Wingspan Standing Reach. However, I suggest going for Spot Up Shooter. Rajon Rondo only stands 61, but has a wingspan that stretches to 69. 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. [62], Despite the intensity of their rivalry, Bird and Johnson became friends off the court. Thats both confident and cold-blooded. [86], Bird was widely considered one of Red Auerbach's favorite players. [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. Larry Bird Net Worth His net worth has been growing significantly in 2021-2022. ", "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. The "Dream Team" won the men's basketball gold medal. [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. NBA 2K23 Larry Bird Packs Card Name Overall Position Offense Defense Height Wingspan Weight Badges Total Stats Larry Bird Premium End Game 99 SF/PF 99 99 6'9 7'0 220 lbs 0, 0, 0, 80 3366 Larry Bird Premium Invincible 99 PG/SF 99 99 6'9 7'0 220 lbs 0, 0, 13, 65 3365 Larry Bird Premium Continue reading "NBA 2K23 Larry Bird Packs Card Challenge" Here's what the science reveals. Height. Bird was one of the greatest players ever in crunch time, making four buzzer-beaters throughout his career. [69] Following Bird's departure, the Celtics promptly retired his jersey number 33. Anthony Davis is one of the leagues biggest stars. In, Career statistics and player information from, This page was last edited on 28 February 2023, at 21:21. . Along with Larry Bird, and Robert Parish, McHale formed the most dominant front line in NBA history. [84], "Larry, you only told me one lie. That is 6.5% greater than his height. From Jackie MacMullan of ESPN the Magazine: Bird, who has an enlarged heart, was diagnosed in 1995 with atrial fibrillation, an abnormal heartbeat resulting from electrical signals being generated chaotically throughout the heart's upper chambers. Join us for a March Madness Webinar on Tuesday, March 7 at 8pm ET. [89] Bird won three NBA championships (in 1981, 1984, and 1986) with the Celtics[83] and won two NBA Finals MVP Awards. We don't have much information about He's past relationship and any previous engaged. [19][20] Indiana State lost the game 7564, with Bird scoring 19 points but making only 7 of 21 shots. [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. 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. Davis stands 610, and, at the 2012 pre-draft combine, was measured to have a 75 wing span. [64][65][66] Bird finished with 34 points. Takeover The game will provide you with three takeover options. 14 Dwight Howard This is a very scary thought for a lot of NBA players, both past and present. Talk about all topics relevant to Pinoys around the world. The strain that goes on the heart of someone that tall is tough, and despite being rewarded financially for their skills and size, having that life cut short because of that same size is their reality. [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. (Larry Legend, The Hick from French Lick, Kodak, The Great White Hope), Position: In 1999, he was listed at No. The World's Most Entertaining Car Website. Pippen could pass like a point guard, rebound like a power forward, and score like a shooting guard. But, his biggest skill was his defense. One such case is the legendary Jerry West. [10], He was raised in nearby French Lick, where his mother worked two jobs to support Larry and his five siblings. Larry Bird is 6 foot 9 inches (2.06 m) tall. 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. Honestly, all of them fit Bird so well. This will provide a huge boost in the attributes under this category. Maxiell shows how an undersized player can keep pace with taller guys when they possess elite wingspan. Underscoring his place in the game's history, he was named one of the NBA's Top 50 players in 1996, and inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1998. 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). Bird also led the Celtics in rebounding, with an average of 10.4 per game, as well as in steals and minutes played. As for the weight, you can lower it by one pound (219 lbs) to give your player an additional point in acceleration. For these reasons, the other badges you should consider upgrading are Bullet Passer, Post Playmaker, and Special Delivery. [42] Bird was named Finals MVP behind 27.4 points, 14 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game. Rondo also poses very large hands at 9.5 inches long, and 10 inches wide. [51][52], On November 27, 1985, Bird recorded 47 points to go along with 12 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals in a 132124 win over the Detroit Pistons. Lastly, the wingspan can be reduced to around 83.0 inches. He then led his team to an undefeated regular season. His other playmaking strengths include quick and flashy passes. [86][87][88] He was selected to 12 NBA All-Star teams. The Celtics reached the playoffs in every one of Bird's 13 seasons, although he missed most of the 1988-89 season due to injury, and added titles in 1984 and 1986. The hop shooting style allows him to get his shot off very quickly, and what makes Durant special is his point of release. On the offensive side, superior wingspan allows a shooter to have less shots contested, as he can get the ball further away from a defender. What Mourning lacked in height, he made up for with a massive 76 wingspan. In Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Pistons, with five seconds remaining in the fourth quarter and Boston trailing the Pistons 107106, Bird stole an inbound pass. The two adopted a son and daughter, Conner and Mariah. The 73 wing span is 11.5% greater than his height. Bird averaged 10.0 rebounds per game in his career. USA. He finished his career with sterling averages of 24.6 points and 10 rebounds per game. An elite wingspan is considered as a measurement that is 6.5% greater than the players height. So much so, that Charles Barkley even admitted that he wasn't 6'6, but . 1. 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. [109] Since 2022, the NBA will award the MVPs for the Conference Finals; the Eastern Conference Finals MVP trophy is named in Bird's honor, while the Western Conference trophy is named after Johnson. An option for your characters secondary skill is playmaking. College basketball games are played with two 20 minute periods, while professional NBA basketball games consist of four quarters of 12 minutes each. He was a great scorer, rebounder, passer, and defender. 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. 1. home/away, monthly, etc More Larry Bird Basketball Reference pages. . Durant is what is referred to as a hop shooter, something rare for a player of his height. Larry Bird's wingspan is 86.9 inches. By going for a shooting plus defense/rebounding build, you will have a two-way player at your disposal. The Celtics ended up losing to the Lakers in six games, with Bird averaging 24.2 points on .445 shooting, 10 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game in the championship series. However, by then his formerly relentless attack on the court had been slowed by a bad back. All Rights Reserved. Bird attended Springs Valley High School in French Lick and was a key component of the school's basketball team, becoming its all-time leading scorer by the time he graduated in 1974. 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. Unless you allot more points to finishing attributes, you will only have one potential upgrade for finishing badges.