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Larry Bird (born Lawrence Joseph Bird on December 7, 1956) is a retired American NBA basketball player, widely considered one of the best players of all time, and one of the best clutch performers in the history of sports.[1] Drafted into the NBA sixth overall by the Boston Celtics in 1978, Bird started small forward and power forward for thirteen seasons, teaming with legendary center Robert Parish and forward Kevin McHale. Due to back problems, he retired as a player from the NBA in 1992. Bird was voted to the NBA's 50th Anniversary All-Time Team[1] in 1996 and inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame[2] in 1998. Bird served as head coach of the Indiana Pacers from 1997 to 2000. In 2003, he assumed the role of president of basketball operations for the Pacers, which he currently still holds. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ...
The five tactical basketball positions normally employed by organized basketball teams are: point guard, shooting guard, small forward, power forward, and center. ...
The small forward, or, colloquially, the three, is one of the five positions in a regulation basketball game. ...
In team sports, the squad number, jersey number, sweater number, or uniform number is the number worn on a players outfit. ...
is the 341st day of the year (342nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...
A car from 1956 Year 1956 (MCMLVI) was a leap year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...
West Baden Springs is a town located in Orange County, Indiana. ...
In an organised sports league, a season is the portion of one year in which regulated games of the sport are in session. ...
The NBA Draft is an annual North American event in which the National Basketball Associations (NBA) thirty teams (29 in the United States and one in Canada) can select players who wish to join the league. ...
The introduction to this article provides insufficient context for those unfamiliar with the subject matter. ...
This is a list of athletic conferences of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). ...
Indiana State University (ISU) is a public university that is located in Terre Haute, Indiana. ...
The Boston Celtics are a professional basketball team based in Boston, Massachusetts. ...
The slam dunk by LeBron James is a field goal worth 2 points. ...
In basketball, an assist is attributed to a player who passes the ball to a teammate in a way that leads to a score by field goal, meaning that he or she was assisting in the basket. ...
In basketball, a steal occurs when a defensive player legally deflects and controls, catches, or bats to a teammate a pass or dribble of an offensive player. ...
Logo of the NBA Finals. ...
The 1981 NBA Finals was the championship round of the 1980-1981 NBA season. ...
The 1984 NBA Finals was the championship round of the 1983-1984 NBA season. ...
The 1986 NBA Finals was the championship round of the 1985-1986 NBA season The Boston Celtics won the series over the Houston Rockets four games to two. ...
The National Basketball Association (NBA) first named a Most Valuable Player after the 1955-56 NBA season. ...
The National Basketball Association staged its first All-Star Game in the Boston Garden on March 2, 1951. ...
// The National Basketball Association Finals Most Valuable Player Award is presented to the player who has exhibited exceptional play during an NBA Finals series. ...
The Associated Press All-NBA Team, also known simply as the All-NBA Team, is an annual honor bestowed on the best players in the league following every NBA season. ...
The Associated Press All-NBA Team, also known simply as the All-NBA Team, is an annual honor bestowed on the best players in the league following every NBA season. ...
The NBA All-Defensive Team is the NBAs annual honor given to the best defensive players in the NBA during the regular season. ...
The National Basketball Associations Rookie of the Year Award, first given after the 1952-53 NBA season, is given to the top first-year player in the league. ...
The NBA All-Rookie Team is a set of annual awards recognizing the top rookies in the National Basketball Association. ...
The Three-point Shootout is a National Basketball Association All-Star Weekend contest held on the Saturday before the All-Star Game. ...
The 50 Greatest Players in National Basketball Association History (also referred to as the NBAs 50th Anniversary All-Time Team) were chosen in 1996 on the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the National Basketball Association (NBA). ...
USBWA College Player of the Year was started in 1959. ...
is the 341st day of the year (342nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...
A car from 1956 Year 1956 (MCMLVI) was a leap year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...
NBA redirects here. ...
This article is about the sport. ...
In American sports terminology, clutch means performing well under extreme pressure. ...
The NBA Draft is an annual North American event in which the National Basketball Associations (NBA) thirty teams (29 in the United States and one in Canada) can select players who wish to join the league. ...
The Boston Celtics are a professional basketball team based in Boston, Massachusetts. ...
First Round 1. ...
The small forward, or, colloquially, the three, is one of the five positions in a regulation basketball game. ...
Power forward is a position in the sport of basketball. ...
Robert Lee Parish (born August 30, 1953) in Shreveport, Louisiana) is a retired American basketball center. ...
Kevin Edward McHale (born December 19, 1957) is an American former professional basketball player who starred for thirteen seasons in the NBA for the Boston Celtics. ...
The 1991-92 NBA Season was the 46th season of the National Basketball Association. ...
The 50 Greatest Players in National Basketball Association History (commonly referred to as the NBAs 50th Anniversary All-Time Team) were chosen in 1996 on the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the National Basketball Association (NBA) to comprise the fifty best and most influential players...
Year 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar). ...
The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame honors players who have shown exceptional skill at basketball, all-time great coaches and referees, and other major contributors to the game. ...
Year 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar). ...
The Indiana Pacers are a professional basketball team that plays in the National Basketball Association (NBA). ...
The 1997-98 NBA season was the 52nd season of the National Basketball Association. ...
The 1999-2000 NBA season was the 54th season of the National Basketball Association. ...
Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...
Biography Bird was born in West Baden Springs, Indiana, the son of Georgia Kerns and Claude Joseph "Joe" Bird. He grew up in both West Baden and the adjacent town French Lick, which earned him the nickname "the Hick from French Lick" in his later basketball career. Financial troubles would plague the Bird family for most of Larry's childhood. In a 1988 interview with Sports Illustrated, Bird recalled how his mother would make do on the family's meager earnings: "If there was a payment to the bank due, and we needed shoes, she'd get the shoes, and then deal with them guys at the bank. I don't mean she wouldn't pay the bank, but the children always came first."[3] Bird sometimes was sent to live with his grandmother due to the family's struggles. Bird told Sports Illustrated that being poor as a child "motivates me to this day."[3] West Baden Springs is a town located in Orange County, Indiana. ...
French Lick is a town in Orange County, Indiana, United States. ...
Year 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Friday (link displays 1988 Gregorian calendar). ...
The first issue of Sports Illustrated, August 16, 1954, showing Milwaukee Braves star Eddie Mathews at bat in Milwaukee County Stadium. ...
The first issue of Sports Illustrated, August 16, 1954, showing Milwaukee Braves star Eddie Mathews at bat in Milwaukee County Stadium. ...
The Bird family's struggle with poverty was compounded by the alcoholism and personal difficulties of Joe Bird. In 1975, after Bird's parents divorced, his father committed suicide. A boy from Jakarta, Indonesia shows his find. ...
Alcoholism is the consumption of, or preoccupation with, alcoholic beverages to the extent that this behavior interferes with the drinkers normal personal, family, social, or work life, and may lead to physical or mental harm. ...
Divorce or dissolution of marriage is the ending of a marriage before the death of either spouse. ...
For other uses, see Suicide (disambiguation). ...
In spite of his domestic woes, by the time he was a high school sophomore, Bird had become one of the better basketball players in French Lick. He starred for French Lick/West Baden's high school team, Springs Valley High School, where he left as the school's all-time scoring leader. Bird's high school coach, Jim Jones, was a key factor to Bird's success. "Jonesie', as Bird called him, would come help Bird and his friends practice any day of the week.[4] Bird would always be in the gym early, shoot in between classes, and then stay late into the evening. He quit both football and baseball to focus on the sport he loved, basketball. For other uses, see High school (disambiguation). ...
Springs Valley High School is a secondary school located in French Lick, Indiana. ...
Collegiate career - See also: List of college men's basketball players with 2000 points and 1000 rebounds
Bird received a basketball scholarship to Indiana University in 1974. However, he was overwhelmed by the size of the campus and number of students and, as he would later admit in his biographies, wasn't mentally ready for this stage of life. Bird was also treated poorly by an established IU star, Kent Benson; as Bird recalled, the other upperclassmen of the team treated him well.[5] He dropped out of Indiana, went home to French Lick, and worked for the Street Department (the department did pick up garbage once a week, but also repaired roads, removed snow, mowed lawns, etc.) for a year.[6] He played AAU basketball for Hancock Construction [7] and, after that year, decided to enroll Indiana State University, where he was coached by Bob King. Indiana University is the principal campus of the Indiana University system. ...
Year 1974 (MCMLXXIV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar) of the 1974 Gregorian calendar. ...
Benson taking a hook shot Michael Kent Benson (born December 27, 1954 in New Castle, Indiana) is a former collegiate and pro basketball player. ...
Indiana State University (ISU) is a public university that is located in Terre Haute, Indiana. ...
King suffered a stroke prior to the 1978–79 season and assistant Bill Hodges was promoted to head coach. Hodges had been scouting Bird and really wanted him to play for ISU. Bird led the Sycamores to the NCAA championship game in 1979, his senior season, only to lose to the Michigan State University Spartans, who were led by his future NBA rival, Earvin "Magic" Johnson. The Sycamores finished the season 33–1. That year, Bird won the USBWA College Player of the Year, Naismith and Wooden Awards, given to the year's top male college basketball player. After his three seasons at Indiana State, he left as the fifth-highest scorer in NCAA history. Bird finished his collegiate career with an average of 30.3 points per game. Also: 1979 by Smashing Pumpkins. ...
Michigan State University (MSU) is a co-educational public research university in East Lansing, Michigan USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act. ...
Earvin Johnson redirects here. ...
USBWA College Player of the Year was started in 1959. ...
The Naismith College Player of the Year award, named for basketball inventor James Naismith, is given annually by the Atlanta Tipoff Club to college basketballs top male and female player. ...
The John R. Wooden Award is an award given annually to the most outstanding mens and womens college basketball players. ...
NCAA redirects here. ...
Marriage and fatherhood Prior to attending Indiana University, Bird married his high-school girlfriend, Janet Condra.[8] The marriage lasted only 11 months, but produced a daughter, Corrie. In 1998, Corrie Bird appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show and revealed that she was Bird's daughter from his first marriage though Larry had denied paternity until the mid 80's. She discussed her longing to connect with her father, who she had not seen in 17 years. Corrie's story was also shown on 20/20 and was run as an article in the September 4, 1998 issue of Sports Illustrated. Corrie, like her father, played basketball in high school and attended Indiana State University, graduating with a degree in elementary education. Indiana University, founded in 1820, is a nine-campus university system in the state of Indiana. ...
The Oprah Winfrey Show (also known as Oprah) is a United States syndicated talk show, hosted and produced by its namesake Oprah Winfrey, and is the highest-rated talk show in American television history. ...
This article is about the television show. ...
is the 247th day of the year (248th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...
Year 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar). ...
The first issue of Sports Illustrated, August 16, 1954, showing Milwaukee Braves star Eddie Mathews at bat in Milwaukee County Stadium. ...
Indiana State University (ISU) is a public university that is located in Terre Haute, Indiana. ...
1979–1981: Immediate impact The Boston Celtics selected the 6'9", 220-pound Bird 6th overall in the 1978 NBA Draft, even though they were uncertain whether he would enter the NBA or remain at Indiana State to play his senior season. Bird ultimately decided to play his final college season, but the Celtics retained their exclusive right to sign him until the 1979 NBA Draft, because of the NBA's "junior eligible" rule that existed at that time (allowing a collegiate player to be drafted when the player's original "entering" class was graduating and giving them one calendar year to sign them, even if they went back to college). Shortly before that deadline, Bird agreed to sign with the Celtics for a US $650,000 a year contract, making him at the time the highest-paid rookie in the history of the NBA. Shortly afterwards, the NBA draft eligibility rules were changed to prevent teams from drafting players before they were ready to sign. The rule is called the Bird Collegiate Rule. The Boston Celtics are a professional basketball team based in Boston, Massachusetts. ...
First Round 1. ...
The introduction to this article provides insufficient context for those unfamiliar with the subject matter. ...
USD redirects here. ...
The Rookie: Norman Rockwells cover for The Saturday Evening Post Rookie is a term for a person who is in their first year of play of their sport and has little or no professional experience. ...
Larry Bird's impact on the Celtics was immediate. The Celtics were 29–53 during the 1978–79 season, but with Bird the team improved to 61–21 in the 1979–80 season, posting the league's best regular season record. Bird's collegiate rival, Magic Johnson, also had entered the NBA in 1979, joining the Los Angeles Lakers. In 1980, despite a strong rookie season from Johnson, Bird was named the league's Rookie of the Year and was voted onto the Eastern Conference All-Star team (an honor he would receive for each of his 12 full seasons in the NBA). For the 1980 season, Bird led the Celtics in scoring (21.3 points/game), rebounding (10.4 rebounds/game), steals (143), and minutes played (2,955) and was second in assists (4.5 assists/game) and three-pointers (58). Though Boston was beaten by the more athletic Philadelphia 76ers in the Eastern Conference finals that year, Bird's addition to the team had renewed the promise of Celtic glory. The 1978-79 NBA Season was the 33rd season of the National Basketball Association. ...
The 1979-80 NBA Season was the 34th season of the National Basketball Association. ...
Earvin Johnson redirects here. ...
The Los Angeles Lakers are a National Basketball Association (NBA) team based in Los Angeles, California. ...
The National Basketball Associations Rookie of the Year Award, first given after the 1952-53 NBA season, is given to the top first-year player in the league. ...
The Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association is made up of fifteen teams, and organized in three divisions of five teams each. ...
NBA redirects here. ...
The Philadelphia 76ers (also known as the Sixers for short) are a professional basketball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. ...
Following Bird's first season, the Celtics acquired center Robert Parish and the 3rd pick in the 1980 NBA Draft via a trade with the Golden State Warriors (in exchange for the 1st and 13th picks in the draft). After the Warriors took Joe Barry Carroll with the 1st pick and the Utah Jazz chose Darrell Griffith second, the Celtics selected University of Minnesota power forward Kevin McHale. With Bird at small forward, the additions of Parish and McHale gave Boston one of the most formidable frontcourts in the history of the NBA. The three would anchor the Celtics throughout Bird's career. This article does not cite any references or sources. ...
Robert Lee Parish (born August 30, 1953) in Shreveport, Louisiana) is a retired American basketball center. ...
1980 NBA Draft - 10 June 1980 See also: List of NBA Drafts, NBA Draft Categories: NBA Draft ...
The Golden State Warriors are a professional basketball team based in Oakland, California. ...
Joe Barry Carroll (born July 24, 1958 in Pine Bluff, Arkansas) is a retired American professional basketball player who spent ten seasons in the NBA. A 70 center who starred at Purdue University, he holds the all-time school records for career and single-season rebounds (1148 and 352...
The Utah Jazz is a professional basketball team based in Salt Lake City, Utah. ...
Darrell Steven Griffith (born June 16, 1958 in Louisville, Kentucky) is a former NBA basketball player who spent his entire career with the Utah Jazz. ...
This article is about the oldest and largest campus of the University of Minnesota. ...
Power forward is a position in the sport of basketball. ...
Kevin Edward McHale (born December 19, 1957) is an American former professional basketball player who starred for thirteen seasons in the NBA for the Boston Celtics. ...
The small forward, or, colloquially, the three, is one of the five positions in a regulation basketball game. ...
In his second season, Bird led the Celtics into the playoffs, where they faced off for a second consecutive year with Julius Erving's Philadelphia 76ers. Bird helped the Celtics overcome a 3–1 deficit by winning the last 3 games by 2, 2, and 1 point margins, propelling them into the NBA Finals, where they defeated the Houston Rockets in six games. It would be the first of three championships in Bird's career, as well as the first of his five Finals appearances. The 1980-81 NBA Season was the 35th season of the National Basketball Association. ...
Julius Winfield Erving II (born February 22, 1950 and raised in Roosevelt, New York), commonly known by the nickname Dr. J, is a retired American basketball player who helped launch a modern style of play that emphasizes leaping and play above the rim. ...
The Philadelphia 76ers (also known as the Sixers for short) are a professional basketball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. ...
The 1981 NBA Finals was the championship round of the 1980-1981 NBA season. ...
The Houston Rockets are an American professional basketball team based in Houston, Texas. ...
1982–1987: MVPs, championships and the rivalry - See also: Lakers-Celtics rivalry
The additions of Bird and Johnson rejuvenated the NBA, which had suffered from low attendance and minimal television interest through much of the 1970s. Immediately upon their entry into the league, the two players became repeating presences in the NBA Finals. Johnson's Lakers won the championship in 1980, Bird's Celtics captured the NBA title in 1981, and Johnson's Lakers wrested it back in 1982. Bird and Johnson first dueled in the 1979 NCAA title game; as professional basketball players, they would face off numerous times during the 1980s, including the NBA Finals of 1984, 1985 and 1987. Lakers versus Celtics, and specifically Bird versus Magic, quickly became one of the greatest rivalries in the history of professional sports. The Lakers-Celtics Rivalry or Celtics-Lakers Rivalry is a rivalry between two of the most storied basketball franchises in National Basketball Association history, the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics. ...
NBA redirects here. ...
The introduction to this article provides insufficient context for those unfamiliar with the subject matter. ...
The 1981 NBA Finals was the championship round of the 1980-1981 NBA season. ...
The 1982 NBA Finals was the championship round of the 1981-1982 NBA season How They Got Here After being upset in the 1981 NBA Playoffs by the surprising Houston Rockets in a 3-game mini-series, the Lakers were back in championship form. ...
The 1984 NBA Finals was the championship round of the 1983-1984 NBA season. ...
The 1985 NBA Finals was the championship round of the 1984-85 NBA season. ...
The 1987 NBA Finals was the championship round of the 1986-87 NBA season. ...
In 1984, the Celtics defeated the Lakers in a seven-game Finals, winning game seven 111–102. Bird averaged 27 points and 14 rebounds a game during the series, earning the award of Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP). Bird was also named the league regular season MVP for that year. In 1985, however, the Lakers avenged the loss, defeating the Celtics in game 6 of the Finals in the Boston Garden. That year, the NBA again named Bird the league MVP. This article is about the year. ...
// The National Basketball Association Finals Most Valuable Player Award is presented to the player who has exhibited exceptional play during an NBA Finals series. ...
This article is about the year. ...
The Boston Garden was a famous arena built in 1928 in Boston, Massachusetts. ...
Boston would have another great season the next year, with help from another Hall of Famer, Bill Walton. Walton had been refused by the Lakers, and as a last chance, called Celtics president and general manager Red Auerbach. Auerbach was initially unwilling to take a risk on Walton, who had been plagued for years by foot injuries. But Bird, who happened to be in Auerbach's office at the time of Walton's call, urged him to sign Walton, saying that if Walton felt he was healthy enough to play, it was all Bird needed to hear. William Theodore Walton III, better known as Bill Walton (born November 5, 1952), is a retired American basketball player and current television sportscaster. ...
Arnold Jacob Red Auerbach (September 20, 1917 – October 28, 2006) was a highly successful and influential basketball coach of the BAA Washington Nationals, the NBA Tri-Cities Blackhawks and the NBA Boston Celtics. ...
With Walton backing up Kevin McHale and Robert Parish, the Celtics would return to the finals in 1986, albeit not against Johnson and the Lakers, who lost in the Western Conference Finals to the Houston Rockets. The 1986 Celtic team, which finished the regular season 67–15 and defeated the Rockets in six games, is generally considered to be the best of Bird's career. Bird again was named the Finals' MVP for that year, averaging 24 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists per game for the series. He also won his third consecutive league MVP award, a feat matched only by the great Celtic center Bill Russell and the dominant Wilt Chamberlain, who played for Philadelphia and Los Angeles. The 1986 NBA Finals was the championship round of the 1985-1986 NBA season The Boston Celtics won the series over the Houston Rockets four games to two. ...
The Houston Rockets are an American professional basketball team based in Houston, Texas. ...
Year 1986 (MCMLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 1986 Gregorian calendar). ...
This article is about the basketball player. ...
Wilton Norman Wilt Chamberlain (August 21, 1936–October 12, 1999), nicknamed Wilt the Stilt, The Big Dipper, and Chairman of the Boards, was an American professional National Basketball Association (NBA) basketball player for the Philadelphia/San Francisco Warriors, the Philadelphia 76ers and the Los Angeles Lakers; and also played for...
In 1987, the Celtics made their last Finals appearance of Bird's career, fighting through difficult series against the Milwaukee Bucks and Detroit Pistons but as they reached the NBA Finals, the Celtics, plagued by devastating injuries, lost to a dominant Lakers team which had won 65 games during the season. The Celtics ended up losing to the Lakers in six games. The Celtics would fall short in 1988 losing to the Pistons in 6 games in the Eastern Conference Finals as the Pistons made up from the heartbreak the previous season. Between them, Bird and Johnson captured eight NBA championships during the 1980s, with Magic getting five and Bird three. During the 1980s, either Boston or Los Angeles appeared in every NBA Finals. This article is about the year 1987. ...
This article does not cite any references or sources. ...
The Detroit Pistons are a team in the National Basketball Association based in the Detroit metropolitan area. ...
Year 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Friday (link displays 1988 Gregorian calendar). ...
Throughout the 1980s, contests between the Celtics and the Lakers—both during the regular season and in the Finals—attracted enormous television audiences. The first regular season game between the Celtics and the Lakers in the 1987-88 season proved to be a classic with Magic Johnson banking in an off balance shot from near the 3-point line at the buzzer for a 115-114 Lakers win at Boston Garden. The historical rift between the teams, which faced each other several times in championship series of the 1960s, fueled fan interest in the rivalry. Not since Russell squared off against Chamberlain had professional basketball enjoyed such a marquee matchup. 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, fitted 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. A 1986 Converse commercial for its "Weapon" line of basketball shoes (endorsed by both Bird and Johnson) reflected the perceived dichotomy between the two players. In the commercial, Bird is practicing alone on a rural basketball court when Johnson pulls up in a sleek limousine and challenges him to a one-on-one match. Los Angeles and L.A. redirect here. ...
Year 1986 (MCMLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 1986 Gregorian calendar). ...
For other uses, see Converse (disambiguation). ...
For the song from the band: Brand New, see Limousine (MS Rebridge). ...
Despite the intensity of their rivalry, Bird and Johnson became friends off the court. Their friendship blossomed when the two players worked together to film the 1986 Converse commercial, which depicted them as archenemies. Johnson appeared at Bird's retirement ceremony on February 4, 1993 and emotionally described Bird as a "friend forever." is the 35th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ...
Year 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar). ...
1988–1992: The twilight years In 1988, Bird had the best statistical season of his career, but the Celtics failed to reach the NBA Finals for the first time in four years, losing to the Pistons in six games during the Eastern Conference Finals. Bird started the 1988–89 season with Boston, but ended his season after six games to have bone spurs surgically removed from both of his heels. He returned to the Celtics in 1989, but debilitating back problems and an aging Celtic roster prevented him from regaining his mid-1980s form. Nonetheless, through the final years of his career, Bird maintained his status as one of the premier players in the game. He averaged over 20 points, 9 rebounds and 7 assists a game in his last three seasons with the Celtics, and shot better than 45% from the field in each. Bird led the Celtics to playoff appearances in each of those three seasons. Year 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Friday (link displays 1988 Gregorian calendar). ...
The 1988-89 NBA season was the 43rd season of the National Basketball Association. ...
Bird's body, however, continued to break down. He had been bothered by back problems for years, and his back became progressively worse. After leading the Celtics to a 29-5 start to the 1990-91 season, he missed 22 games due to a compressed nerve root in his back, a condition that would eventually lead to his retirement. He had off-season surgery to remove a disc from his back, but his back problems continued and he missed 37 games during the 1991–92 season. During the 1992 Eastern Conference semi-finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers Bird missed 4 of 7 games in the series due to his back problems. The 1990-91 NBA Season was the 45th season of the National Basketball Association. ...
The 1991-92 NBA Season was the 46th season of the National Basketball Association. ...
The Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association is made up of fifteen teams, and organized in three divisions of five teams each. ...
The Cleveland Cavaliers (also known as the Cavs) are a professional basketball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. ...
In the summer of 1992, Bird joined Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan and other NBA stars to play for the United States basketball team in that year's Olympics in Barcelona, Spain. It was the first time in America's Olympic history that the country sent professional basketball players to compete. The "Dream Team" won the men's basketball gold medal. Basketball has been played consistently at the Summer Olympic Games since 1936, with a demonstration event in 1904. ...
Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ...
The 92 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXV Olympiad, were held in 1992 in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. ...
Final results for the Basketball competition at the 1992 Summer Olympics. ...
Year 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar). ...
Earvin Johnson redirects here. ...
For other persons named Michael Jordan, see Michael Jordan (disambiguation). ...
NBA redirects here. ...
The United States mens national basketball team is the representative for the United States of America in international mens basketball. ...
The 92 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXV Olympiad, were held in 1992 in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. ...
Location Coordinates : Time Zone : CET (GMT +1) - summer: CEST (GMT +2) General information Native name Barcelona (Catalan) Spanish name Barcelona Nickname Ciutat Comtal (City of Counts) Postal code 08001–08080 Area code 34 (Spain) + 93 (Barcelona) Website http://www. ...
This article or section is incomplete and may require expansion and/or cleanup. ...
Following his Olympic experience, on August 18, 1992, Bird announced his retirement as an NBA player. He finished his career with averages of more than 24 points, 10 rebounds and 6 assists per game, while shooting 49.6% from the field, 88.6% from the free throw line and 37.6% from three-point range. Following Bird's departure, the Celtics promptly retired his jersey number "33". is the 230th day of the year (231st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...
Year 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar). ...
NBA redirects here. ...
NBA career after retirement The Celtics employed Bird as a special assistant in the team's front office from 1992 until 1997. In 1997, Bird accepted the position of coach of the Indiana Pacers. Despite having no previous coaching experience, Bird led the Pacers to an Eastern Conference championship in 2000 and two Eastern Conference runner-up finishes the previous two seasons. He was named the NBA Coach of the Year for the 1998 season. The Indiana Pacers are a professional basketball team that plays in the National Basketball Association (NBA). ...
Year 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday. ...
The person recognized as the NBA Coach of the Year receives the Red Auerbach Trophy. ...
The 1997-98 NBA season was the 52nd season of the National Basketball Association. ...
Bird resigned as Pacers coach shortly after the end of the 2000 season. In 2003, he returned as the Pacers' President of Basketball Operations, where he oversees team personnel and coaching moves, as well as the team's draft selections. The 1999-2000 NBA season was the 54th season of the National Basketball Association. ...
Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...
Coaching record Indiana Pacers The Indiana Pacers are a professional basketball team that plays in the National Basketball Association (NBA). ...
- 1998: 58–24, Eastern Conference Runner-Up
- 1999: 33–17, Eastern Conference Runner-Up (note: season was shortened due to lockout)
- 2000: 56–26, Eastern Conference Champions
Legacy - "Larry, you only told me one lie. You said there will be another Larry Bird. Larry, there will never, ever be another Larry Bird." — Magic Johnson, as quoted at Bird's retirement party.[9]
Bird's humble roots led to his most frequently used moniker, "The Hick From French Lick". Other observers called him "The Great White Hope". Bill Simmons of ESPN's Page Two column refers to Bird as "the Basketball Jesus." Bill Simmons Bill Simmons (b. ...
Player profile Bird, a versatile wing man who played the power forward and small forward positions, is considered as one of the greatest wing players of all time, to which his twelve All-Star team nominations are a testament. The versatile, sharpshooting Bird made his name stepping up his performance in critical situations, and is credited with a long list of dominating games, buzzer beaters and clutch defensive plays. He won two NBA Finals MVP and three regular-season MVP awards, something only five other players in the history of the NBA have accomplished. He won them all in a row, a feat only shared by Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain. Buzzer Beater ) is a manga series by Takehiko Inoue. ...
This article is about the basketball player. ...
Wilton Norman Wilt Chamberlain (August 21, 1936–October 12, 1999), nicknamed Wilt the Stilt, The Big Dipper, and Chairman of the Boards, was an American professional National Basketball Association (NBA) basketball player for the Philadelphia/San Francisco Warriors, the Philadelphia 76ers and the Los Angeles Lakers; and also played for...
Bird possessed an uncanny and unparalleled ability to anticipate and react to the strategies of his opponents. His talent for recognizing the moves of opponents and teammates prompted his first coach with the Celtics, Bill Fitch, to nickname him "Kodak", because he seemed to formulate mental pictures of every play that took place on the court. Bill Fitch (born 1935) is an NBA coach who has been successful in making teams playoff contenders throughout his coaching career. ...
Eastman Kodak Company (NYSE: EK) is an American multinational public company which produces photographic materials and equipment. ...
Bird scored 24.3 points per game in his career on a high .496 field goal average, a stellar .886 free throw average (9th best all-time) and a 37.6 percentage on 3-point shots. Bird was also a good rebounder (10.0 rebound career average) and an excellent playmaker (6.3 assist career average). His multidimensional game made him a consistent triple-double threat; Bird currently ranks fifth all-time in triple-doubles with 59, not including the 10 he recorded in the playoffs. Bird's lifetime player efficiency rating (PER) is 23.5, 16th all-time, a further testament to his all around game.[10] Bird's high free throw percentage is due in no small part to the fact that when he was a boy, he used to shoot 200 free throws before school, every day, according to a late 1990s Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance commercial with Larry himself. A triple-double is a basketball term, defined as an individual performance in a game in which a player accumulates double-digit totals (i. ...
A triple-double is a basketball term, defined as an individual performance in a game in which a player accumulates double-digit totals (i. ...
Bird is also remembered as an excellent defender. While he was neither fast or quick-footed, and could not always shut down an individual player one-on-one, he consistently displayed a knack for anticipating the moves of his opponent, allowing him to intercept passes and create turnovers. His 1,556 career steals ranks 27th all-time.[11] Unspectacular but effective defensive moves, such as jumping into a passing lane to make a steal or allowing his man to step past and drive to the hoop, then blocking the opponent's shot from behind, were staples of Bird's defensive game. In recognition of his defensive abilities, Bird was named to three All-Defensive Second Teams.
Bird's competitive nature often emerged in nearly constant trash-talking on the court. Some notable examples follow: This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...
- During the three-point shooting contest on All-Star Weekend 1986, Bird entered the locker room, looked around without saying a word, then finally said, "I'm just looking around to see who's gonna finish up second". He won the shooting contest.
- During one game on Christmas Day against the Indiana Pacers, before the game Bird told Chuck Person that he would give him a Christmas present. During the game, when Person was on the bench, Bird shot a three-pointer on the baseline right in front of Person. Immediately after the shot, Bird said to Person, "Merry f***in' Christmas!", and then the shot went in.
- Reggie Miller recalled his encounter with Larry Bird's legendary trash talking ability in his book "I Love Being The Enemy". Reggie tried to disrupt Larry's concentration when he was shooting free throws late in a game. Larry glared at him, made the first free throw and said, "Rook, I am the best shooter in the league. In the league, understand? And you're up here trying to tell me something?" Then Larry buried the second free throw.
- Late in a tied game against the Seattle SuperSonics, Bird told Supersonics forward Xavier McDaniel, who was guarding him, exactly where he would hit the game winning shot. After a timeout, Bird made two baseline cuts, then posted in the exact spot he had indicated to McDaniel, paused, turned, and hit the shot in his face.[12]
- On November 9, 1984, Bird was ejected along with Julius Erving in the third quarter after an on court scuffle. At the point of both ejections, Bird had outscored Erving 42 to 6. During the game, Bird had continuously informed Erving of their tallies with every chance he got to score. Bird denies this stating that it was "M.L. (Carr) talking trash from the bench" during that game. [13] Eventually a shoving match ensued, then swings taken by both players, and finally a bench-clearing brawl.
Chuck Connors Person (born June 27, 1964 in Brantley, Alabama) is a former professional player in the National Basketball Association. ...
Reginald Wayne Miller (born August 24, 1965, in Riverside, California) is a retired American professional basketball player. ...
The Seattle SuperSonics (also called the Seattle Sonics) are an American professional basketball team based in Seattle, Washington. ...
Xavier Maurice McDaniel (born June 4, 1963 in Columbia, South Carolina), is a former NBA player who, at 6 7, played small forward for the Seattle SuperSonics, Phoenix Suns, New York Knicks, Boston Celtics, and New Jersey Nets. ...
is the 313th day of the year (314th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...
This article is about the year. ...
Personal Life Prior to attending Indiana State University, Bird married his high-school girlfriend, Janet Condra.[14] The marriage lasted only 11 months, but produced a daughter, Corrie, born on August 14, 1977. Indiana State University (ISU) is a public university that is located in Terre Haute, Indiana. ...
In 1998, Corrie Bird appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show and revealed that she was Bird's daughter from his first marriage though Larry had denied paternity until the mid 80's. She discussed her longing to connect with her father, who she had not seen in 17 years. Corrie's story was also shown on 20/20 and was run as an article in the September 4, 1998 issue of Sports Illustrated. Corrie, like her father, played basketball in high school and attended Indiana State University, graduating with a degree in elementary education. The Oprah Winfrey Show (also known as Oprah) is a United States syndicated talk show, hosted and produced by its namesake Oprah Winfrey, and is the highest-rated talk show in American television history. ...
This article is about the television show. ...
is the 247th day of the year (248th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...
Year 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar). ...
The first issue of Sports Illustrated, August 16, 1954, showing Milwaukee Braves star Eddie Mathews at bat in Milwaukee County Stadium. ...
Indiana State University (ISU) is a public university that is located in Terre Haute, Indiana. ...
On October 31, 1989, Bird married Dinah Mattingly. The couple has two adopted children, son Connor and daughter Mariah.
Memorable moments Bird is remembered as one of the foremost clutch performers in the history of the NBA. Few players have performed as brilliantly in critical moments of games. NBA redirects here. ...
- In Game 7 of the 1981 Eastern Conference finals against the rival Philadelphia 76ers, The Sixers led all game. Inside the final minute, Boston and Philadelphia were tied 89–89 when Bird sank a fast-break mid-range pull-up bank shot with his left hand, a very difficult shot to execute under intense pressure. That basket put the Celtics up 91-89. The Sixers had a chance to win the game, but threw away the lob inbounds pass intended for Julius Erving. The Celtics' 91-90 win put them into the NBA finals for the first time since 1976 and they would go on to win the NBA championship in the Finals, beating the Houston Rockets in 6 games. In the late stages of the game, Bird also had two key steals, two free throws made, a rebound, and a blocked shot.
- In 1985 (January 27th), Larry Bird hit an amazing baseline jumper at the buzzer while falling out of bounds to give the Celtics a 128-127 win over Portland.
- In the series-clinching Game 6 of the 1986 Finals, Bird recorded a triple-double of 29 points, 11 rebounds and 12 assists.
- In Game 5 of the 1987 Eastern Conference Finals against the Detroit Pistons, with six seconds remaining in the fourth quarter and Boston trailing the Pistons 107–106, Bird stole an inbound pass from Isiah Thomas that was intended for Bill Laimbeer. Falling out of bounds, Bird turned and passed the ball to teammate Dennis Johnson, who was cutting to the basket and converted a 2-point layup with less than a second left. The Pistons called a timeout but had no chance of getting off a shot. The dramatic play saved the series for the Celtics who won in 7 games, and they advanced to the Finals.
- In a game in Washington against the Bullets in 1987, the Celtics trailed the Bullets by 3 points with 6 seconds remaining in regulation. A three-pointer by Bird had been waved off because their coach, K. C. Jones, had already called a timeout. Bird then made another three-pointer to send the game into overtime. When the Celtics trailed by two points near the end of the first overtime, Bird was fouled and converted both free throws. In the second overtime, trailing by 1 point with 2 seconds remaining, Bird made a buzzer-beating running shot to win the game, 140–139.
- In Game 7 of the 1988 Eastern Conference semifinals against the Atlanta Hawks, Bird shot 9 of 10 from the floor in the fourth quarter, scoring 20 points in that quarter and lifting the Celtics to a series-clinching victory over Atlanta. This effort helped to overcome a 47 point performance by Dominique Wilkins in the same game.
- On March 31, 1991, the Celtics played a double overtime game with the Chicago Bulls in their last meeting of the season. In the second overtime period, Bird scored 9 points on 4 of 5 shooting from the field and helped the Celtics beat the Bulls, 135–132. Many called this particular game Bird's finest performance against Michael Jordan.
- In the last seconds of a nationally-televised regular season game with the Portland Trail Blazers in March 1992, Bird sent the game into overtime with an off balance running one-handed three-point shot. Bird tallied 49 points, 14 rebounds, 12 assists and 4 steals for his 59th and final career triple-double in what many fans called his last great game in the NBA. The Celtics won in double overtime over the Blazers, 152–148. Bird's 49 points stands as the NBA record for most points scored while registering a triple-double.
- Michael Jordan, who may have followed Bird as the league's most feared clutch player through his heroics with the Chicago Bulls, once was asked who he would want to take a shot with the game on the line, other than himself. Before the question could be finished, Jordan quickly responded, "Larry Bird."[15]
- On August 18, 1992, Larry Bird announced his retirement during the day. At Fenway Park that day, the Red Sox were playing the California Angels. Roger Clemens, the Red Sox starting pitcher, had a small 33 on his hat as a tribute to Bird. Angels manager John Wathan immediately protested, saying it did not meet regulations. The crowd booed relentlessly, chanting "Larry, Larry, Larry." Clemens threw his hat into the dugout in disgust when told it was not allowed. He then proceeded to throw a four-hit shutout for an 8-0 victory.[16]
AUGUST 25 1981 US Marine Sean Vance is Born on the 25th of August {ear nav|1981}} Year 1981 (MCMLXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays the 1981 Gregorian calendar). ...
The Philadelphia 76ers (also known as the Sixers for short) are a professional basketball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. ...
Year 1986 (MCMLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 1986 Gregorian calendar). ...
A triple-double is a basketball term, defined as an individual performance in a game in which a player accumulates double-digit totals (i. ...
This article is about the year 1987. ...
The Detroit Pistons are a team in the National Basketball Association based in the Detroit metropolitan area. ...
Isiah Lord Thomas III () (born April 30, 1961, in Chicago, Illinois) is a retired American professional basketball player in the National Basketball Association (NBA), and is currently the head coach of the NBAs New York Knicks. ...
Bill Laimbeer at the White House after winning the WNBA Championship with the Detroit Shock. ...
Dennis Johnson (September 18, 1954 – February 22, 2007), nicknamed DJ, was an American professional basketball player and coach. ...
For other uses, see Washington, D.C. (disambiguation). ...
Washington Bullets redirects here. ...
K.C. Jones (born May 25, 1932 in Taylor, Texas) is an American former professional basketball player and coach. ...
Year 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Friday (link displays 1988 Gregorian calendar). ...
The Atlanta Hawks are an American professional basketball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. ...
Jacques Dominique Wilkins (born January 12, 1960, in Paris, France) is a retired American professional basketball player in the NBA and Basketball Hall of Famer. ...
is the 90th day of the year (91st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...
Year 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian Calendar. ...
This article is about the professional basketball team. ...
For other persons named Michael Jordan, see Michael Jordan (disambiguation). ...
The Portland Trail Blazers are a professional basketball team based in Portland, Oregon. ...
For other persons named Michael Jordan, see Michael Jordan (disambiguation). ...
This article is about the professional basketball team. ...
is the 230th day of the year (231st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...
Year 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar). ...
The Boston Red Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Boston, Massachusetts. ...
William Roger Clemens (born August 4, 1962, in Dayton, Ohio), is a starting pitcher for the New York Yankees, and is one of the preeminent pitchers in Major League history. ...
Memorable games - On March 30, 1983, Bird scored 53 points against the Indiana Pacers to set the Celtic record for highest scoring output in a game by an individual player (the previous record belonged to Sam Jones who scored 51 points against the Detroit Pistons on October 29, 1965). Bird also set the franchise record for most points scored in a quarter with 24 points in the third quarter which has since been equaled by Todd Day against the Minnesota Timberwolves on December 22, 1995.
- On February 18, 1985, Bird registered a triple double (30 points, 12 rebounds, 10 assists) and also had 9 steals in three quarters of play against the Utah Jazz. Bird sat out the fourth quarter, as the Celtics led 90–66 after the third quarter and won the game 110–94. When asked by reporters if he actually wanted to play in the 4th quarter to get the quadruple double, Bird said "What for? I already did enough damage to them."
- On March 12, 1985, Bird scored 60 points against the Atlanta Hawks to reclaim the record for highest scoring output in a game by a Celtic, just nine days after teammate Kevin McHale broke Bird's previous record by scoring 56 points against the Detroit Pistons.
- On April 1, 1987, Bird registered a triple double (17 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists) by halftime against the Washington Bullets. He finished the game with 30 points, 17 rebounds, and 15 assists.
- On November 10, 1989, Bird scored 50 points against the Atlanta Hawks to register his fourth and final 50 point game in his career. Bird's four career 50 point games stand as the record for most 50 point games by a Celtic.
- Bird recorded three 40 point triple double games in his professional career. The first was on February 14, 1986 in an overtime win against the Portland Trailblazers. He finished that game with 47 points, 14 rebounds, and 11 assists. The second occurred on December 13, 1989 in a win over the Seattle Supersonics (40 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists). The last was in a double overtime win against the Portland Trailblazers on March 15, 1992 where Bird finished with 49 points (the record for most points scored while recording a triple double), 14 rebounds, and 12 assists. Bird also totaled 69 triple doubles (59 regular season and 10 postseason) which stands behind Oscar Robertson, Magic Johnson, Jason Kidd, and Wilt Chamberlain for 5th most all-time.
is the 89th day of the year (90th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...
For the Jimi Hendrix song, see 1983. ...
Samuel Sam Jones (born June 24, 1933 in Wilmington, North Carolina) is a former professional basketball player. ...
is the 302nd day of the year (303rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...
Year 1965 (MCMLXV) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the 1965 Gregorian calendar. ...
is the 356th day of the year (357th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...
Year 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday. ...
is the 49th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ...
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is the 71st day of the year (72nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...
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The Atlanta Hawks are an American professional basketball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. ...
Kevin Edward McHale (born December 19, 1957) is an American former professional basketball player who starred for thirteen seasons in the NBA for the Boston Celtics. ...
is the 91st day of the year (92nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...
This article is about the year 1987. ...
Washington Bullets may refer to either the former name of the Washington Wizards basketball team or the song by The Clash, Washington Bullets (song). ...
is the 315th day of the year (316th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...
This article is about the year 1987. ...
The Indiana Pacers are a professional basketball team that plays in the National Basketball Association (NBA). ...
is the 314th day of the year (315th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...
Year 1989 (MCMLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays 1989 Gregorian calendar). ...
is the 45th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ...
Year 1986 (MCMLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 1986 Gregorian calendar). ...
is the 347th day of the year (348th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...
Year 1989 (MCMLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays 1989 Gregorian calendar). ...
is the 74th day of the year (75th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...
Year 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar). ...
Oscar Palmer Robertson (born November 24, 1938 in Charlotte, Tennessee), nicknamed The Big O, is a former American NBA player with the Cincinnati Royals and the Milwaukee Bucks. ...
Jason Frederick Kidd (born March 23, 1973) is an American professional basketball player in the NBA who currently plays for the Dallas Mavericks. ...
Wilton Norman Wilt Chamberlain (August 21, 1936–October 12, 1999), nicknamed Wilt the Stilt, The Big Dipper, and Chairman of the Boards, was an American professional National Basketball Association (NBA) basketball player for the Philadelphia/San Francisco Warriors, the Philadelphia 76ers and the Los Angeles Lakers; and also played for...
In popular culture - In October 2005, a man in Oklahoma City, Eric James Torpy, was convicted of shooting with intent to kill and robbery. He asked that his sentence be changed from 30 years imprisonment to 33 so that it would match Bird's jersey number. His request was granted.[17]
- Bird has his own shoe brand named "33's," or Birds, made by Skechers. They have a logo of him shooting on the back and the number 33 on each side.[18]
- Bird has appeared in three movies, Blue Chips, released in 1994 by Paramount, the Warner Brothers film Space Jam with Michael Jordan and Bill Murray in 1996, and Celtic Pride with Dan Aykroyd, Daniel Stern, and Damon Wayans, which was also released in 1996.[19]
- Bird has appeared in several video games. In NBA 2K and NBA Live Series, he is a member of the 80's Legends Team. In College Hoops 2K7 and NCAA 7 March Madness, Bird appears on the historic team as a member of the 1978-79 Indiana State Sycamores team. In One on One: Dr. J vs. Larry Bird (a popular 1983 title for the Apple II and Commodore 64) Bird plays opposite Julius Erving in a game of one-on-one. Jordan vs Bird: One on One was a 1988 basketball video game for the Mega Drive/Genesis, the Nintendo Entertainment System, the Commodore 64, and the PC. It was the sequel to One on One: Dr. J vs. Larry Bird.
- World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) wrestler John Cena often wore a Boston Celtics jersey with Bird on the back during his 2004 tenure.
- In the Adult Swim cartoon, Squidbillies, the sheriff tells the titular characters that Larry Bird invented the Slam Dunk, calling it a "signature white move". He uses a tattoo of Bird delivering a slam dunk (which covers his entire right leg) to further articulate his story.
- In the Adult Swim Cartoon The Boondocks Uncle Ruckus taunts Riley saying all the best basketball players have always been white and then makes mention of Larry Bird.
- In an episode of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Charlie and Dennis keep insulting Dee by calling her Larry Bird. When Dee shoots back that they are Larry Bird, they take it as a compliment.
- In boy band LFO's hit, "Summer Girls", the lyrics refer to "the great Larry Bird jersey 33".[20]
- In the movie Space Jam, Bill Murray ponders why he can't play in the NBA. Bill Murray: "It's because I'm white, isn't it?" Michael Jordan: "Larry's white..." Bill Murray: "Larry's not white. Larry's clear."
- In an episode of The Larry Sanders Show, late-night talk show host Larry Sanders cracks a joke during his monologue about Larry Bird's retirement: "Larry Bird announced that he is retiring because he realized he was white."
- In an episode of Family Guy, after beating Chris at basketball Peter Griffin remarks "Hey, I'm the white Larry Bird!"
- The band Dispatch (band) has a song calle
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