The Hick from French Lick was the first ever to join the club. Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. That is 8.5% greater than his height. Johnson and the Spartans triumphed, but Larry Bird left Indiana State that year with the USBWA College Player of the Year Award, the Naismith Award and the Wooden Award. 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. the official stats partner of the NBA, NHL and MLB. But there are other players that are taller that their listed height like Garnett, McGrady (who Toronto played at PF in his early years and once averaged nearly 2 blocks a game) and probably Dirk (as Cuban once claimed). Interceptor This significantly increases the frequency of successfully tipped or stolen passes. With Wilt being the most dominant force of his era, it lends to the theory that his wingspan was truly elite. Bol is 15th all time in blocked shots with 2,086, but he did that in only 11,698 minutes. 30 on ESPN SportsCentury's Top 50 athletes of the 20th century, with only five other basketball players ranked higher. Prior to Bird's second year, the Celtics acquired center Robert Parrish from the Golden State Warriors and drafted Kevin McHale. Larry Bird played the small forward and power forward positions at a height of 6'9" (2.06 m). He is the only person in NBA history to be named Rookie of the Year, Most Valuable Player, Finals MVP, All-Star MVP, Coach of the Year, and Executive of the Year.[1]. 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. The smallest report records it at 78, while the largest account has it at 84 inches. Larry Legend, The Hick from French Lick, Kodak, The Great White Hope are nicknames for Larry Bird. Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame twice as a playerfirst in 1998 as an individual, and again in 2010 as a member of the "Dream Team". Nicknamed " the Hick from French Lick " and " Larry Legend ", Bird is widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all time. He came out of nowhere to intercept an inbound pass by All-Star Isiah Thomas then immediately dished the ball to teammate Dennis Johnson who made the buzzer-beating layup to give the Celtics the win. A 6-foot-9 forward who could dribble, pass and shoot the way Bird could made him one of the greatest NBA players. Right, Born: So, when selecting a physical profile for your player, I suggest choosing the combination of strength and agility. 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. [82] In 1999, Bird ranked No. [102] Bird's humble roots were the source of his most frequently used moniker, "The Hick from French Lick". [22] He graduated in 1979 with a Bachelor of Science degree in physical education. LIVE. On the offensive side of the ball, Rondo like to drive with a scooping layup. He made the All-Star team 12 times and was named the All-Star Game Most Valuable Player in 1982. Growing up in French Lick, Indiana, he was a local basketball star. [12] Georgia and Joe divorced when Larry was in high school, and Joe died by suicide about a year later. You will often hear basketball pundits state that a player has great length. [115] Bird then led the Pacers to consecutive Central Division titles in 1999 and 2000 and a berth in the 2000 NBA Finals. More player info Larry Bird Net Worth His net worth has been growing significantly in 2021-2022. However, the sharpshooting forward felt some trepidation about the size of the Hoosier campus and withdrew from school, enrolling at Indiana State the next year. With his freakish physical attributes, the future seems in very good, and large, hands. He then led his team to an undefeated regular season. Your players skill breakdown should certainly focus primarily on shooting. [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. Larry looks fit and has an athletic body, but he had to go through back fusion surgery, leading him to end his playing career. Larry Bird stands 6'9" tall and weighs 220 pounds during his NBA playing days. 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. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. He was one of the best shot blockers in NBA history and a lot of that, obviously, had to do with the enormous wingspan. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. After all, Bird dished out 6.3 assists per game for his entire career. To put that in perspective, his hands are larger than that of LeBron James. Whether it be to reach for a block, getting into passing lanes, or poking balls away, extra length is a determining factor for a great defender. [10], Bird received a scholarship to play college basketball for the Indiana Hoosiers in 1974. Bird was rated the greatest NBA small forward of all time by Fox Sports in 2016. Dirk can't be 6'10. All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. [6] He stepped down again in 2017, but stayed with the team in an advisory capacity. Ideally, you should be able to select a player archetype that excels in finishing, shooting, playmaking, and defense/rebounding to make the best Larry Bird build in NBA 2K22. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. Site contains certain content that is owned A&E Television Networks, LLC. This ratio is one of the higher percentages for players who have played in the NBA. KG Living Legend Don Nelson Posts: 8383 What does stand out is Maxiells stature. 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. [21] He eventually finished runner-up in Most Valuable Player Award voting to Moses Malone. [2] Bird was a 12-time NBA All-Star, won two NBA Finals MVP awards and received the NBA Most Valuable Player Award three consecutive times (19841986), making him the only forward in league history to do so. He is a 66 player, and he's held his own thanks to a 260 pound base and a 73 wingspan. . DiamondLobby is owned and operated by Rank Zero LTD, Company Number 10507049, and is a registered trade mark (UK00003715943). That is an 11% increase on his height. [58], In 1987, the Celtics made their last Finals appearance of Bird's career, fighting through difficult series against the Milwaukee Bucks and Detroit Pistons. The dramatic play saved the series for the Celtics. 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. [90] Bird won three consecutive regular season MVP awards; as of 2020, the only other players to accomplish this feat are Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain. Following an attempted reconciliation, Bird and Condra had a daughter, Corrie, in 1977. For three consecutive years, from 1984 to 1986, Bird was named the NBA's MVP, and in 1990, he hit a milestone by reaching 20,000 career points. [86][87][88] He was selected to 12 NBA All-Star teams. The reality is that Pippen did a lot of things that made Jordan a better player. 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. The average modern human being is said to have a wingspan 2 inches greater than his height. Astrological Sign: Sagittarius, Article Title: Larry Bird Biography, Author: Biography.com Editors, Website Name: The Biography.com website, Url: https://www.biography.com/athletes/larry-bird, Publisher: A&E; Television Networks, Last Updated: April 20, 2021, Original Published Date: April 2, 2014. Bird averaged 10.0 rebounds per game in his career. 2002 NBA Pre Draft Measurement 2002 NBA Pre-Draft Camp Measurements Player Ht. 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. Maxiell shows how an undersized player can keep pace with taller guys when they possess elite wingspan. All Rights Reserved. Remarkably Leonards wingspan may not be his freakiest attribute, as that would go to his hand size. You said there will be another Larry Bird. Post Spin Technician Attempting to perform post spins or drives result in more effective moves, and lessens the chances of getting stripped by opponents. Please check the opt-in box to acknowledge that you would like to subscribe. Larry Bird attended Springs Valley in French Lick, Indiana and Indiana State University. Larry Bird's Height 6ft 9 (205.7 cm) Former American basketball player, who played with The Boston Celtics. [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. Pippen could pass like a point guard, rebound like a power forward, and score like a shooting guard. Clutch Shooter Shot attempts made during the final moments of the fourth quarter or overtime receive a large boost. Larry Bird was born in West Baden, Indiana. He mentioned in his own book about his height, saying "I was almost six-four as a junior, six-six or so as a senior and I grew to Six-Nine. We don't have much information about He's past relationship and any previous engaged. Bird knows all about the problems with 7-footers and their health, and despite his wife's aversion to wanting to hear about it, reaching 75 years old isn't something Bird, 59 and now president of the Pacers, necessarily expects to accomplish. DiamondLobby.com makes money from advertising. D raft E xpress. Lastly, the wingspan can be reduced to around 83.0 inches. 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. Bird won a gold medal in the 1992 Olympics besides being a three-time NBA MVP, twelve-time NBA All-Star, and two-time Finals MVP. [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. Bird, Johnson, Michael Jordan and other NBA stars formed the American men's basketball team, which would become known as the "Dream Team." With proper medication, exercise and diet, atrial fibrillation can be controlled, but Bird abhorred medication and was prone to skipping his pills. The NBA logo features a silhouette of Jerry West, and that player does appear to have rather long arms. It seems like Leonard is only starting to scratch the surface of what he can do with such freaky physical attributes. Larry Bird- 6'9 John Stockton - 5 ft 10 Clyde Drexler- 6 ft 5 Chris Mullin- 6 ft 5 Great wingspan measurements comes from players of all heights. That length has made him one of the best point guard defenders. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. 5. This ratio is one of the higher percentages for players who have played in the NBA. he's at least 2 inches taller than duncan. Chew on these numbers for a moment. Durant is what is referred to as a hop shooter, something rare for a player of his height. . For that, we have developed the best Magic Johnson build in NBA 2K22. Howard has used that wingspan to become an elite rebounder and shot blocker. And to show you how skill beats jumping ability and athleticism, during his 13-year NBA career from 1979 to 1992, he won 3 championship rings with the Celtics. 6-keys: media/spln/nba/reg/free/stories, By pressing sign up, I confirm that I have read and agree to the. [45] The performance came just nine days after Kevin McHale set the previous Celtics record for points in a game with 56. 30 on ESPN SportsCentury's list of 50 Greatest Athletes of the 20th century. 1956 To round out the finishing, shooting, and playmaking categories, put some points on close shot, driving layup, driving dunk, and post hook. 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. He was a great post scorer and could dominate the paint like a big man. His time leading the Boston Celtics was one of the most spectacular stretches of basketball you could imagine. As listed, his height is 6 ft 9 inches (2.06m), and his weight is 220lb (100kg). He played both the small forward and power forward positions.

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