Larry Bird Biography, Age, Wife, Children, Celtics, Stats and Indiana Pacers

Larry Bird Biography

Larry Bird (full name: Larry Joe Bird) is an American professional basketball executive, former coach and former player. He has most recently served as the president of the Indiana Pacers in the National Basketball Association (NBA).

As a player, he lastly played for the Boston Celtics after which he became a mainstay in the Indiana Pacers organization. He however down from the position of president following the first round of the 2017 Eastern Conference playoffs. Larry has been described as one of the greatest basketball players and greatest shooters of all time.

Larry Bird Age | Larry Bird Birthday

How Old is Larry Bird? The former president of the Indiana Pacers was born on December 7, 1956 in West Baden Springs, Indiana. He is 62 years as of 2018.

Larry Bird Family

Bird was born in a family of six children of Georgia (née Kerns) and Claude Joseph “Joe” Bird, a veteran of the Korean War who raised their kids in West Baden Springs, Indiana. His mother Georgia Bird, used to work two jobs for her to be able to provide for her children.

Bird’s parents got separated when he was in high school and when the family disintegrated, his father, ‘Joe’ Bird, moved to French Lick in order to find a job. Back in the village, Bird’s mother, Georgia, was still struggling to raise her six children.

Larry Bird Siblings

Bird has five siblings: four brothers and a sister. They are Mike, Mark, Jeff and Eddie and their sister Linda Bird Campbell.

He was always interested in sports and played various sports. By the time he got to high school, he was concentrating on basketball alone and one day, he realized that he could excel in basketball and hence practiced hard in an attempt to fine-tune his skills. It was around this time, that his parents were going through a rough time, and they separated. Their divorce affected Bird and he abandoned his family. This provided him the perfect opportunity to dedicate all his time to basketball.

Larry later joined the Springs Valley High School basketball team and emerged as a valuable player to the team. His skills and determination soon made him the star player, with an average of 31 points and 21 rebounds. He further polished his skills during his college days from where his basketball career commenced.

Larry Bird Wife

Bird has been married twice; first to his high school classmate Janet Condra in 1975 but separated from in 1976. They have a daughter together. He then met his current wife Dinah Mattingly and they tied the knot in 1989. The two had met at Indiana State University while they were students. They have lived together ever since and have two adopted children.

Larry Bird Children

Larry Bird Daughter

Bird is a father of three grown up children: a biological daughter by the name Corrie Bird and two adopted kids: Conner and Mariah Bird. Bird’s relationship with his daughter Corrie is a strained one. The father and daughter have not spoken since having a post game chat several years ago.

His adopted son Conner, was arrested following an attempt to run over his ex-girlfriend with a car after an argument. He had been arrested before in 2011 for “underaged drinking and disorderly conduct.”

Larry Bird College | Indiana University

In 1974, Larry received a scholarship to play college basketball for the Indiana University Hoosiers. After less than a month in campus Larry dropped out of school, finding the adjustment between his small hometown and the large student population of Bloomington to be overwhelming. He therefore, returned to French Lick, enrolling at Northwood Institute (now Northwood University) in nearby West Baden.

In 1975, he enrolled at Indiana State University in Terre Haute. Here, 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 33-0 record where they played the 1979 championship game against Michigan State. Later, Indiana State would lose the game 75–64, with Larry scoring 19 points but making only 7 of 21 shots for 33.3 percent shooting rate. That game achieved the highest ever television rating for a college basketball game. Largely because of the match-up between Larry and Spartans’ point guard Earvin “Magic” Johnson, a rivalry that lasted throughout their professional careers.

Despite failing to win the championship, Larry Bird earned numerous year-end awards and honors for his outstanding play, including the Naismith College Player of the Year Award. Throughout his college career, he averaged 30.3 points, 13.3 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game, leading the Sycamores to an 81–13 record during his tenure.

Larry Bird Basketball

Larry Bird Boston Celtics

In the 1978 NBA draft, Bird was selected by the Boston Celtics with the sixth overall pick. He however, did not sign with the Celtics immediately. Instead, he played his final season at Indiana State and led the Sycamores to the NCAA title game.

Red Auerbach, the then Celtic’s president, publicly stated that he would not pay Larry more than any Celtic on the current roster. However, Larry’s agent bluntly told Red that Larry Bird would reject any sub-market offers and simply enter the 1979 NBA Draft instead, where Boston’s rights would expire the second the draft began and Larry would have been the likely top pick.

After protracted negotiations, Larry signed a five-year, $3.25 million contract with the team, making him the highest paid rookie in league history at the time. NBA draft eligibility rules were afterwards changed to prevent teams from drafting players before they were ready to sign. The rule is known as the Bird Collegiate Rule.

1979–1983

Larry immediately transformed the Celtics into a title contender, helping them improve their win total by 32 games and finish first in the Eastern Conference from the year before he was drafted. Larry completed the 1979-1980 season with averages of 21.3 points, 10.4 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.7 steals per game for the season. He was selected to the All-Star Team and named Rookie of the Year. However, in the Conference Finals, Boston was eliminated by the Philadelphia 76ers.

Before the beginning of the 1980–81 season, the Celtics selected forward Kevin McHale in the draft and acquired center Robert Parish from the Golden State Warriors. Behind Larry’s leadership and Boston’s upgraded roster, the Celtics again advanced to the Conference Finals for a rematch with the 76ers. Celtics however, fell behind 3–1 to start the series but won the next three games to advance to the Finals against the Houston Rockets, winning in six games and earning Larry his first championship. By the end of the season, he averaged 21.9 points, 14 rebounds, 6.1 assists and 2.3 steals per game for the postseason and 15.3 points, 15.3 rebounds and 7 assists per game for the Finals but lost out on the Finals MVP Award to teammate Cedric Maxwell.

Larry scored 19 points en route to winning the All-Star Game MVP Award, at the 1982 All-Star Game. At the end of the season, Larry earned his first All-Defensive Team selection and finished runner-up in Most Valuable Player Award voting to Moses Malone.

Celtics faced the 76ers for the third consecutive year in the Conference Finals, losing in seven games. Celtic’s misfortunes continued into the next season, with Larry finishing second again in the MVP voting to Malone and the team losing in the Conference Semifinals to the Milwaukee Bucks.

1983–1987

With averages of 24.2 points, 10.1 rebounds, 6.6 assists, and 1.8 steals per game, Bird was named MVP of the 1983–84 season. The Celtics avenged their loss in the playoffs, 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. In Game Four, the Lakers, led by Magic Johnson, Bird’s college rival were on the verge of taking a commanding 3-1 series lead before a flagrant foul was committed on Kurt Rambis that resulted in a brawl and caused the Lakers to lose their composure. Boston Celtics came back to win the game, eventually winning the series in seven.

Larry was named Finals MVP with 27.4 points, 14 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game.

On March 12 of the 1984–85 season, Larry Bird scored a career-high and franchise record 60 points in a game against the Atlanta Hawks. At the end of the year, Larry was named MVP for the second consecutive season behind averages of 28.7 points, 10.5 rebounds and 6.6 assists per game. Celtics advanced through the playoffs to earn a rematch with the Lakers, this time losing in six games.

In the summer of 1985, Larry Bird injured his back shoveling crushed rock to create a driveway at his mother’s house. Partially as a result of this, experienced back problems for the remainder of his career.

Before the beginning of the 1985–86 season, the Boston Celtics made a daring trade for Bill Walton, an All-Star center with a history of injury. The risk however, paid off; Walton’s acquisition helped the Celtics win a league best 67 games. Bird became the third player in NBA history to win three consecutive MVP Awards, with averages of 25.8 points, 9.8 rebounds, 6.8 assists and 2 steals per game.

Larry averaged 24 points, 9.7 rebounds and 9.5 assists per game for the championship round, leading Boston to victory in six games. The ’86 Bostons are ranked as one of the greatest basketball teams of all-time, with the Boston Globe’s Peter May and Grantland’s Bill Simmons listing them at number one.

The Celtics made their last Finals appearance of Bird’s career in 1987, fighting through difficult series against the Milwaukee Bucks and Detroit Pistons but as they reached the NBA Finals, the Celtics, hampered by devastating injuries, lost to a dominant Lakers team which had won 65 games during the season.

1988–1992

Bird had the best statistical season of his career in 1988,, but 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 started the 1988–89 season, but ended his season after six games to have bone spurs surgically removed from both his heels. In 1989, he returned to the Celtics but debilitating back problems and an aging Celtic roster prevented him from regaining his mid-1980s form.

After leading the Celtics to a 29–5 start to the 1990–91 season, Bird missed 22 games due to a compressed nerve root in his back, a condition that would eventually lead to his retirement. He went on to miss 37 games during the 1991–92 season due back problems despite undergoing an off-season surgery to remove a disc from his back.

Bird joined Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan and other NBA stars in the summer of 1992, to play for the United States basketball team in that year’s Olympics in Barcelona, Spain. This was the first time in the United States’ Olympic history that the country sent professional basketball players to compete. They won the men’s basketball gold medal.

On August 18, 1992, Bird announced his retirement as an NBA player. Bird 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 his departure, the Celtics promptly retired his jersey number 33.

Larry Bird Net Worth

Larry has a net worth amounting to $55 million.

Larry Bird Hall Of Fame | Is Larry Bird In The Hall Of Fame

For those wondering if Bird is in the Hall of Fame, the answer is yes. Larry was inducted to the 1998 Hall of Fame.

Larry Bird Dead

Larry is not dead. He is alive and well.

Larry Bird Accomplishments | Awards | Achievements

As a player

3 time NBA champion (1981, 1984, 1986)
2 time NBA Finals MVP (1984, 1986)
3 time NBA Most Valuable Player (1984–1986)
12 time NBA All-Star (1980–1988, 1990–1992)
NBA All-Star Game MVP (1982)
9 time All-NBA First Team (1980–1988)
All-NBA Second Team (1990)
3 time NBA All-Defensive Second Team (1982–1984)
NBA Rookie of the Year (1980)
NBA All-Rookie First Team (1980)
3 time Three-point Shootout champion (1986–1988)
NBA’s 50th Anniversary All-Time Team
No. 33 retired by Boston Celtics
John R. Wooden Award (1979)
Naismith College Player of the Year (1979)
AP National Player of the Year (1979)
Oscar Robertson Trophy (1979)
Adolph Rupp Trophy (1979)
NABC Player of the Year (1979)
2 time MVC Player of the Year (1978–1979)
2 time Consensus first team All-American (1978–1979)

As a coach

NBA All-Star Game head coach (1998)
NBA Coach of the Year (1998)

As an executive

NBA Executive of the Year (2012)

Larry Bird Stats

Season	Age	Tm	Lg	Pos	G	GS	MP	FG	FGA	FG%	3P	3PA	3P%	2P	2PA	2P%	eFG%	FT	FTA	FT%	ORB	DRB	TRB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	PF	PTS
1979-80	23	BOS	NBA	PF	82	82	2955	693	1463	0.474	58	143	0.406	635	1320	0.481	0.494	301	360	0.836	216	636	852	370	143	53	263	279	1745
1980-81	24	BOS	NBA	PF	82	82	3239	719	1503	0.478	20	74	0.27	699	1429	0.489	0.485	283	328	0.863	191	704	895	451	161	63	289	239	1741
1981-82	25	BOS	NBA	PF	77	58	2923	711	1414	0.503	11	52	0.212	700	1362	0.514	0.507	328	380	0.863	200	637	837	447	143	66	254	244	1761
1982-83	26	BOS	NBA	PF	79	79	2982	747	1481	0.504	22	77	0.286	725	1404	0.516	0.512	351	418	0.84	193	677	870	458	148	71	240	197	1867
1983-84	27	BOS	NBA	PF	79	77	3028	758	1542	0.492	18	73	0.247	740	1469	0.504	0.497	374	421	0.888	181	615	796	520	144	69	237	197	1908
1984-85	28	BOS	NBA	SF	80	77	3161	918	1760	0.522	56	131	0.427	862	1629	0.529	0.538	403	457	0.882	164	678	842	531	129	98	248	208	2295
1985-86	29	BOS	NBA	SF	82	81	3113	796	1606	0.496	82	194	0.423	714	1412	0.506	0.521	441	492	0.896	190	615	805	557	166	51	266	182	2115
1986-87	30	BOS	NBA	SF	74	73	3005	786	1497	0.525	90	225	0.4	696	1272	0.547	0.555	414	455	0.91	124	558	682	566	135	70	240	185	2076
1987-88	31	BOS	NBA	SF	76	75	2965	881	1672	0.527	98	237	0.414	783	1435	0.546	0.556	415	453	0.916	108	595	703	467	125	57	213	157	2275
1988-89	32	BOS	NBA	SF	6	6	189	49	104	0.471	0	0	49	104	0.471	0.471	18	19	0.947	1	36	37	29	6	5	11	18	116
1989-90	33	BOS	NBA	SF	75	75	2944	718	1517	0.473	65	195	0.333	653	1322	0.494	0.495	319	343	0.93	90	622	712	562	106	61	243	173	1820
1990-91	34	BOS	NBA	SF	60	60	2277	462	1017	0.454	77	198	0.389	385	819	0.47	0.492	163	183	0.891	53	456	509	431	108	58	187	118	1164
1991-92	35	BOS	NBA	SF	45	45	1662	353	758	0.466	52	128	0.406	301	630	0.478	0.5	150	162	0.926	46	388	434	306	42	33	125	82	908

The Larry Bird Rule

The Larry Bird rule is part of the language of the NBA salary cap that allows a team an exception to the salary cap when re-signing a veteran with over three consecutive seasons with a team. The goal of the rule was to give teams a little more ability to re-sign their own stars and maintain continuity. It was established in the initial salary cap implemented in 1984 and was nicknamed in Bird’s honor because Bird was due to become a free agent, and the Celtics were able to keep him at least in part because of the provision.

Larry Bird Height and Weight

How Tall Is Larry Bird? Larry stands at a height of 2.06 m and weighs 100 kg.

Larry Bird Book

In 1989, Larry published his autobiography, Drive: The Story of My Life with Bob Ryan. This is a book chronicles of his career up to the 1989 NBA season.

Larry Bird Card

To shop for Larry Bird’s basketball cards, click here.

Larry Bird French Lick

French Lick is Larry’s hometown. It is a town with a small population 2000 people. It is one of those places where everybody knows everybody. French Lick is about 75-minute drive from Louisville, Kentucky.

Larry Bird Documentary

The rivalry of the two basketball legends led to the birth of television documentary film broadcast on HBO in 2010. The film the rivalry between Larry Bird and Magic Johnson that began with the 1979 NCAA Basketball Championship Game and lasted throughout their lengthy Hall of Fame careers in the NBA. Both their carrers were cut short after Johnson was diagnosed with HIV and Bird by a debilitating back injury.

Larry Bird Autograph

Larry Bird On Michael Jordan

Bird in an interview with Te Post, described Michael Jordan of Chicago Bulls as the “most exciting, most awesome player in the game.” He went on to say “It’s just God disguised as Michael Jordan.”

The Larry Bird Shoes

To purchase any kind of Larry Bird foot wear, click here.

Larry Bird Zodiac Sign

Larry’s Zodiac sign is Sagittarius.

Dr J Larry Bird Video Game | One on One

Dr. J and Larry Bird Go On on One widely known as One on One, a 1983 computer basketball game written by Eric Hammond for the Apple II and published by Electronic Arts. In the game, the player controls basketball star Julius Erving or Larry Bird in a game of one-on-one against another player or the computer.

Is Larry Bird Left Handed | Is Larry Bird Left Or Right Handed

Wondering if Bird is left or right handed? Well i have an answer for you. Bird is a natural right. However, in some of the games he would play with the left. And yes, he is pretty good with left hand too.

Larry Bird Quotes On Life

Leadership is diving for a loose ball, getting the crowd involved, getting other players involved. It’s being able to take it as well as dish it out. That’s the only way you’re going to get respect from the players.
You can make all the excuses you want, but if you’re not mentally tough and you’re not prepared to play every night, you’re not going to win.
I learned what my weaknesses were and I went out the next day to turn those weaknesses intro strengths
I wasn’t real quick, and I wasn’t real strong. Some guys will just take off and it’s like, whoa. So I beat them with my mind and my fundamentals.
I don’t know if I practiced more than anybody, but I sure practiced enough. I still wonder if somebody – somewhere – was practicing more than me.
As far as playing, I didn’t care who guarded me – red, yellow, black. I just didn’t want a white guy guarding me, because it’s disrespect to my game.

Larry Bird Statue

On November 9 2013, Larry was honoured by Indiana State University with a 15- foot tall bronze statue that will reside outside the Hulman Centre which Indiana State’s basketball arena. The statue was sculpted by Bill Houfe, a local Terre Haute Artist.

Larry Bird Biography, Age, Wife, Children, Celtics, Stats and Indiana Pacers