Larry Bird

“The Hick from French Lick” is the only person in NBA history to win the NBA MVP, Coach of the Year, and Executive of the Year. In 2017, Larry Bird stepped down from his last official NBA role after a 13-year NBA career and 25 years in administrative roles with the Indiana Pacers.

Bird first rose to basketball prominence during the three years he spent with the Indiana State Sycamores. The forward became the  Naismith College Player of the Year en route to the 1979 NCAA championship game. The Boston Celtics drafted Bird No. 6 overall in the 1978 NBA Draft. As the NBA Rookie of the Year, he brought the Celtics to the Eastern Conference Finals.

Over the next 12 years, Bird became a three-time NBA champion, two-time NBA Finals MVP, and earned the overall MVP two more times. Bird will be remembered for many things, including his legendary rivalry with Magic Johnson.

Visit Larry Bird's profile on Basketball-Reference.com.

Read the latest articles about Larry Bird:

Detroit Pistons guard Isiah Thomas and Los Angeles Lakers guard Magic Johnson kiss before meeting in the NBA Finals.
NBA
Larry Bird Was Brutally Honest About His Reaction When He Saw Magic Johnson and Isiah Thomas Kiss Before Their Finals Matchup

The Detroit Pistons and Los Angeles Lakers met in the NBA Finals for the first time in 1988.

Mike Thomas • 01 Oct 2023
Head coach Pat Riley of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on against the Boston Celtics.
NBA
Sparked By a Collapse to Larry Bird and the Boston Celtics in the 1984 Finals, Pat Riley Used 2 Words to Motivate His Lakers in '85

Pat Riley and the Los Angeles Lakers got their revenge against the Boston Celtics in 1985.

Mike Thomas • 01 Oct 2023
Kevin McHale, Dennis Johnson, and Larry Bird watch from the bench.
NBA
Dennis Johnson Once Explained the Difference Between Larry Bird and Kevin McHale When It Came to Killer Instinct

Dennis Johnson said Larry Bird wanted to crush his opponents when he had his foot on their throat.

Mike Thomas • 30 Sep 2023
A scuffle erupts between Boston Celtics guard Danny Ainge, right, and Lakers forward James Worthy as Boston's Larry Bird steps in between.
NBA
Larry Bird Said the Lakers Eventually Showed Their True Colors in the 1984 NBA Finals: ‘I Always Thought They Were Soft'

Larry Bird and the Boston Celtics rallied to beat the “soft” Lakers in the 1984 NBA Finals.

Mike Thomas • 30 Sep 2023
Larry Bird and Michael Jordan stand by to be filmed for a McDonald's "Nothing But Net" television commercial.
NBA
Can We Dare Say Larry Bird Was a Better Basketball Player Than Michael Jordan?

Can we make an argument that Larry Bird was a better basketball player than Michael Jordan?

Mike Thomas • 28 Sep 2023
Boston Celtics forward Larry Bird walks down the court during the 1985 NBA Finals.
NBA
Larry Bird Wasn't Wrong When He Hinted the Lakers Had an Unfair Advantage in Their Heated Rivalry With His Boston Celtics

Larry Bird believed his Boston Celtics had it much tougher getting to the NBA Finals than the rival Los Angeles Lakers.

Mike Thomas • 27 Sep 2023
Larry Bird controls the ball against the Atlanta Hawks.
NBA
Ranking the Top 10 Boston Celtics Players of All Time: Is Larry Bird or Bill Russell No. 1?

Larry Bird or Bill Russell: Who came in at No. 1 on our list of top 10 Boston Celtics players of all time?

Mike Thomas • 27 Sep 2023
Jeff Malone of the Washington Bullets drives on Larry Bird of the Boston Celtics.
NBA
A ‘Ticked Off' Larry Bird Quickly Grabbed the Leadership Role After the Boston Celtics Revolted Against Bill Fitch in 1983

While many Boston Celtics players turned against head coach Bill Fitch in 1983, Larry Bird took charge after an embarrassing sweep at the hands of the Milwaukee Bucks.

Mike Thomas • 26 Sep 2023
Gerald Henderson of the Boston Celtics passes the ball by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar of the Los Angeles Lakers.
NBA
The Boston Celtics Had No Business Winning the 1984 Finals Against the Lakers, and Magic Johnson Revealed the ‘Most Crushing Part' of the Loss

The Boston Celtics had no business beating the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1984 NBA Finals.

Mike Thomas • 23 Sep 2023
Larry Bird and Michael Jordan stand by to be filmed for a McDonald's "Nothing But Net" television commercial.
NBA
Michael Jordan Helped Set the Record Straight on Larry Bird and His Place Among the NBA Greats

Michael Jordan is unquestionably a top-five NBA player of all time. Is Larry Bird?

Mike Thomas • 22 Sep 2023