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:

Larry Bird of the Boston Celtics shoot over Purvis Short of the New Jersey Nets.
NBA
Larry Bird's 6-Game Season Was a Painful One for Both Him and the Boston Celtics

Larry Bird played in just six games for the Boston Celtics during the 1988-89 NBA season.

Mike Thomas • 17 Aug 2023
Andrew Toney of the Philadelphia 76ers passes the ball against the Washington Bullets.
NBA
Larry Bird Had No Problem Putting Andrew Toney In the Same Class as Michael Jordan

Former Philadelphia 76ers guard Andrew Toney earned some high praise from Larry Bird.

Mike Thomas • 11 Aug 2023
Larry Bird smokes Red Auerbach's cigar after the Boston Celtics had defeated the Houston Rockets to win their 14th NBA World Championship.
NBA
As a Rookie, Larry Bird Turned Around a Struggling Boston Celtics Franchise but Still Wound Up Being Severely Disappointed

Larry Bird had an impressive rookie year with the Boston Celtics but was highly disappointed after the season.

Mike Thomas • 10 Aug 2023
Boston Celtics star Larry Bird takes aim from the line.
NBA
Larry Bird Sacrificed Red Sox Fandom So He Wouldn't Hurt Boston Celtics Fans

Larry Bird admitted he loved going to Fenway Park, but it wasn't always fun for him when he got there.

Mike Thomas • 04 Aug 2023
Julius Erving of the Philadelphia 76ers (center) finds his way blocked by Boston Celtics forward Larry Bird.
NBA
Larry Bird Admitted He Couldn't Handle Julius Erving, but Luckily His Boston Celtics Teammates Bailed Him Out

Larry Bird had plenty of help when it came to facing Julius Erving and the Philadelphia 76ers.

Mike Thomas • 01 Aug 2023
From left, Houston Rockets' Moses Malone and the Celtics' Cedric Maxwell and Larry Bird reach for the ball.
NBA
Larry Bird Admitted Cedric Maxwell Had an Odd Way of Firing Up His Boston Celtics Teammates

According to Larry Bird, Cedric Maxwell had a different way of getting his Boston Celtics teammates motivated.

Mike Thomas • 30 Jul 2023
Driving to the basket, Boston Celtics forward Larry Bird puts a shoulder into David Greenwood of the Chicago Bulls.
NBA
When Larry Bird Joined the NBA, the Boston Celtics Failed to Pass the Eye Test

Larry Bird knew something was a little off when he arrived at his first camp with the Boston Celtics.

Mike Thomas • 28 Jul 2023
Michigan State guard Earvin Johnson and Indiana State forward Larry Bird answer questions for reporters during a press conference in Salt Lake City, Utah.
NBA
Larry Bird Once Described the Madness Before Facing Magic Johnson for the 1979 NCAA Title: ‘It Was Impossible to Have a Good Time'

Larry Bird could have done without all the pregame hype before the 1979 NCAA title game against Magic Johnson.

Mike Thomas • 27 Jul 2023
Atlanta Hawks star Dominique Wilkins and the Boston Celtics forward Larry Bird are pictured during Game 7 of the NBA playoffs.
NBA
Larry Bird Claimed the Epic Showdown With Dominique Wilkins Is 1 of the Best NBA Games Ever and Has the Stats To Prove It

Larry Bird once called Game 7 of the 1988 conference semifinals against the Atlanta Hawks once of the greatest games in NBA history.

Mike Thomas • 23 Jul 2023
Larry Bird barrels past New York Knicks' Len Robinson.
NBA
Larry Bird Turned Into a Christmas Day Bartender, and It Led to One of the Ugliest Boston Celtics Practices

On Dec. 25, 1981, Larry Bird went from basketball player to bartender, and things got a little ugly.

Mike Thomas • 22 Jul 2023