According to The New York Times, Hodges once said his primary contribution during Indiana States national runner-up season was not messing up Larry Bird.. He was named NBA Head Coach of the Year in 1998. Name: Larry Bird. Larry Bird. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. Larry Bird left IU in mid-September of his freshman year, citing too heavy of a course load and his desire to be closer to home. He was a superstar in college basketball, in essence. Bird missed 22 games in 1990-91 because of a compressed nerve root in his back, a condition that eventually forced his retirement. RotoWire considers the best player values in Yahoo fantasy leagues for Friday's 10-game slate. Career Stats Game Log Splits. Years later Bird admitted.."if i had it to do all over again, I'd have gone back to Bloomington, after he had gone home". When the Celtics named Rick Pitino as the franchises new president and coach, Bird knew any role for him in Boston would be a limited one. He's an impressive figure with incredible rivalries, but there are still tons of things that younger NBA fans should know about Larry Legend. There is the Larry Bird people know, the Boston Celtics legend, the hick from French Lick, the Indiana State University basketball king. He thought he had been playing pretty damn good that day. Larry Joe Bird We present them here for purely educational purposes. He scored zero points while wearing cream and crimson, however. Learn more and register, Scores from any date in BAA/NBA or ABA history, Frequently Asked Questions about the NBA, WNBA and Basketball, Basketball-Reference.com Blog and Articles, Subscribe to Stathead Basketball: Get your first month FREE. Then one day, Warn called Bird a wuss for his seemingly endless postgame recovery and threw down the gauntlet when he picked up a baseball. The following year was Birds last. He just hammered him for being lackadaisical off of the screen and made him leave the open gym session. . 11 in the AP poll that season and finished the year ranked No. Bird passed Otis Birdsong to become the NCAA's fifth-leading scorer of all-timewith a free throw early in the championship game. While Indiana State coach Bill Hodges was frustrated with the style of defense, according to the Philadelphia Daily News, Bird wasn't concerned about his lack of shots. At different times, Bird has been quoted saying either Dennis Johnson or M.L. He missed 37 games because of the continuing back problems. As it turned out it created one of the greatest rivalries in sports between Magic and Bird. Bird, the Coach of the Year in 1997-98, resigned as Pacers coach after Indianas Finals appearance. Having grabbed 7,217 defensive rebounds and 1,757 offensive, Bird has accumulated 8,974 total rebounds during his NBA career. Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Saturday, March 4, 6:03AM. > Archive 75: Larry Bird| 75 Stories: Larry Bird. 5 ranking than their final record that was just one game above .500, having not cracked the AP poll after December 20. Bird enjoyed a phenomenal collegiate basketball career at Indiana State (30.3 points per game in a three-year career that included a trip to the national championship game). Join our linker program. The hours he had spent working on his shot as a youngster paid big dividends in the NBA. Real men play with balls this size, Warn said, glaring at Bird. All rights reserved. Join us for a March Madness Webinar on Tuesday, March 7 at 8pm ET. One basketball coach, however, apparently missed the memo. He even plays defense, although that's not what's causing the NBA Boston Celtics to salivate over him.". Bird soon realized that it was actually HE who was the target of Knight's ridicule--because of the way he had come off of a screen in a pick up game. He also owns Larry Birds Boston Connection, a hotel/restaurant in Terre Haute that also serves as a museum for many of his trophies and awards. Note: at Spring Valley HS in his senior year., Bird averaged 31 ppg, 21rebounds per game and 4 assists). IU peaked at No. "All that shooting off the side of a barn turned into Bird becoming a high school star. 1,400 points): 30.3 points, 16th all-time on the NCAA career scoring list: 2,850 points, Tied for 23rd all-time in career double-doubles: 68 double-doubles, Tied for 24th all-time in points in a season: 973 points (1979), Tied for 24th all-time in consecutive double-doubles in a season: 16 double-doubles (1979). Join our linker program. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. Larry Bird's book is incredible. Or write about sports? Get to know more about the C's legend below: Here are some of Larry Bird's notable career achievements and statistics: Bird received a scholarship to play for the Indiana Hoosiers in 1974, but he dropped out after only one month at Indiana University. Both Dinah and Larry studied at Indiana State University. With Bird in the mix, IUs 1978 team wouldve been built around him, Woodson and Radford. Kent Benson returned for his senior year, as did forward Wayne Radford for his junior season, but gone were May, Abernethy, Quinn Buckner, Bobby Wilkerson and Jim Crews. They battled against Earvin "Magic" Johnson -- Bird's rival throughout his professional career -- and Michigan State in the championship game, falling 75-64. We use cookies and other tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience on our site, show personalized content and targeted ads, analyze site traffic, and understand where our audiences come from. 2005-2023 CBS INTERACTIVE ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Fans were filling not only Boston Garden, which sold out the final 541 games of Birds career, but arenas all over the country to witness Birds exploits. Their 9-9 Big Ten record was bumped to 11-7, making a tough transition year appear a little less harsh in the history books. If Larry Bird hasnt transferred from IU because of whatever propelled him from Bloomington the school being too big, homesickness, his courseload, Jim Wismans wardrobe, whatever he potentially provides IU an insurance policy to Mays crippling arm injury in 1975, leading to another Final Four berth if not another title; another headliner to IUs best team ever in 1976; enough singular talent to avoid a post-championship drop-off and Bob Knights worst season at IU in 1977; and, likely, turns IU into another national title favorite in 1978. It was the only time the Hoosiers had a record that was less than five games over .500 under Knights watch. and even better, he did it mostly because of a dare, Mike Hayes, a Kentucky Wesleyan player, recounted the game. Thanks Jimmie. Find out more. Bird was named the 1978-79 College Player of the Year and left Indiana State as the fifth-highest scorer in NCAA history. A disk was removed from his back after the season, but it didnt help all that much. Larry Bird redshirted (sat out) his freshman year, and therefore, like Maravich, Robertson, and Hayes, his totals were also achieved in only three . Bird and Johnson were already playing their first year in the NBA by then. Would an 18-year-old Bird have been ready to take a complementary, if not starring, role as a freshman in the second or third weekend of the NCAA tournament? ), We did a great deal of checking before he made his decision and the college allowed him to enroll, Northwoods academic dean Jim McElhiney told The Indianapolis News in September 1974. He and owner Herb Simon had discussed his eventual departure for a few years. Bird finished with 49 points, 14 rebounds, 12 assists and four steals. He has tallied 1,556 steals, as well as 755 blocks and 5,695 dimes. The Hick from French Lick. Bird had a double-double in all five NCAA tournament games he played in that year. His back was also hurting, but Bird came back in the third period to help lift the Celtics to an emotional 124-121 victory. Birth Country: United States. School: Indiana StatePosition: ForwardHeight: 6-9Weight: 220 poundsYears active: 1976-79NCAA tournament record: 4-1Career averages: 30.3 points per game, 13.3 rebounds per game, 4.6 assists per game, 53.3% shooting. The 1979-80 Celtics improved by 32 games to 61-21 and returned to the top of their division. Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? Bird played with a total of eight Hall of Fame players, though a couple played only a few games alongside him. Han slutade spela i NBA 1992. Gambling problem? Larry Bird's accomplishments and stats make him one of the greatest pure shooters of all time. ---------------------------------------------------- Larry Bird's career NBA stats. Larry Bird - Stats, Game Logs, Splits, and much more . Thanks Lincoln- nice post and pretty much confirms what my book about Knight, and how he thought Benson could "do no wrong" while at Indiana. There may not be a folding chair in the state that would be left un-flung. Larry Bird is an Indiana basketball legend, starting at Springs Valley High School and running through his playing days at Indiana State . Larry Bird was such a player. In an effort to stop Bird, Bradley coach Dick Versace installed what was referred to as the "Bird's Nest Defense," where two defenders would guard Bird and the other three defenders would cover the four other Sycamores. . Students skipped class to line up for tickets eight hours before tipoff. Tiago Splitter solid in NBA playoff debut Beginning with favorable, Pagns TIME is normally 2 . Best Known For: Basketball icon . Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. That was excellent. In 1987-88, Bird was the first Celtic ever to record a 40-20 game, with a 42-point, 20-rebound effort against Indiana. Bobby said at this same time he (Knight) made a very huge mistake with having Bird room with an exceptional sophistcated player, with a very vibrant personalitythe complete opposite of Bird ..it was a very bad match-up..and Bird left school even before pre-season practice had started..He hitchiked home.and stayed! The internet said that Bird's mother worked 2 jobs to care for Larry and his 5 siblings. Bird also cites an instance during an off season open gym, soon after he arrived on campus, during a period of "no contact" between the players and coaches. Once every generation or so, a player comes along who can truly be called a superstar. Knight could only shake his head at what he had lost. Regarding per game stats, Bird is averaging 6.8 dimes and 9.6 rebounds. Larry Bird played 13 seasons for the Celtics. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. As of today, his net worth is around $75 million. Sucker punch in OVC tournament leads to 3 ejections. This type of behavior was par for the course with Knight, but a new experience alltogether for Bird. Get to know Larry Bird: Stats, records and more, How the Celtics landed Larry Bird in the NBA Draft, 1988 NBA Playoff Highlights: Larry Bird and Dominique Wilkins epic showdown, Celtics 75th Season: Bird-Dr. J fight adds to 76ers rivalry, Celtics 75th Season: Bird's debut, Ford sinks first NBA '3', Looking back on Larry Bird's steal against the Pistons, Bill Walton on what made Bird the best he ever played with, Bird's gutsy performance vs. Pacers in '91 series clincher, Three-time NBA champion (1981, 1984, 1986), Three-time All-NBA Defensive Second Team (1982-84), Three-time NBA Three-Point Contest champion (1986-88). There are lecture halls in Ballentine Hall that are bigger than Northwoods entire student body at the time, and the school briefly landed one of the 20 greatest scorers in college basketball history. January 19, 2023 3:00 am ET. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. Larry Bird Stats and news - NBA stats and news on Boston Celtics Forward Larry Bird. His coaching career was shot out of a Larry Bird-sized cannon with the Sycamores going 33-1 and posting a .971 winning percentage in his rookie campaign. This guy is the epitome of everything Ive tried to do here, then-Pacers president Donnie Walsh said of Bird. Bird won 3 MVP Awards, was selected to play in 12 All-Star Games, and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1998. Everyone remembers Michael Jordans decision to leave the Bulls and pursue a career in baseball, but it was Larry Bird who tried his hand at the game on April 28, 1979, and became a one-day legend in the process. May 16, 2022. When talking about per game stats, Bird sports an average of 6.8 assists as well as 9.6 boards. Here you have the answers. Enter your information to receive emails about offers, promotions from NCAA.com and our partners. What if IU hired Jerry Tarkanian instead of Bob Knight, What if IU had solved Syracuses zone in 2013. By that time Birds scoring average had reached the mid-20s, and he was averaging upwards of seven assists. IU went 21-8 that season, finishing second in the Big Ten. College: University of Hoosiers: Religion: Christian: Nationality: American: Zodiac Sign: Sagittarius: Gender: Male: Sexual Orientation: Straight: Marital Status: Married: . 2022-23 Season Schedule; They got married in 1989 and adopted two children: Connor and Mariah Bird. An undefeated IU team with a healthy Scott May or Larry Bird, let alone both, wouldve made for a compelling matchup with Woodens final UCLA team. Bird did a fine job in his three seasons on the bench. My goal is to . The Sycamores went 81-13 during Bird's three-year career. 18 Alabama and No. Even though he had never coached a game in his life, the Pacers had no qualms about turning over the reins to Bird. After the 2011-12 season, Bird stepped down as the Pacers president of basketball operations, citing health issues. Season-ticket sales tripled. OT: Larry Bird College Statistics. . Celtics Wire. Year Event GP MIN PTS FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3PT% FTM FTA FT% TRB AST STL BLK TOV PF Place; 1992: Olympic Games . What if Sam Wyche didnt leave IU after only 1 season? It began as gentle ribbing, poking fun at Birds propensity to spend a majority of his free time getting ice and massages in the ISU training room. And in the 2000 NBA Finals, the Pacers succumbed in a six-game series to the Lakers, led by Shaquille ONeal and Kobe Bryant, for the Lakers first of three consecutive titles. He definitely had a softball swing, Hayes recalled. It was his first season ever as a college head coach. Larry Bird's college career. The Celtics won the physical, bitter series in seven games and advanced to the NBA Finals for the fourth consecutive year, meeting the Lakers for the third time. Career NBA statistics; Points: Rebounds: Assists: Stats at Basketball-Reference.com: . Odds & lines subject to change. The Sycamores went undefeated and reached No. Bird received a scholarship to play for the Indiana Hoosiers in 1974, but he dropped out after only one month at Indiana . Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Saturday, March 4, 4:50AM. Call 1-800-GAMBLER. Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. We talked Hoosiers with our buddy at Hoopla. Among Birds contemporaries, perhaps only Earvin Magic Johnson was considered a better passer and was a player who he would inextricably be linked with forever. Learn more and register, College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com Blog and Articles. Subscribe to Stathead Basketball: Get your first month FREEYour All-Access Ticket to the Basketball Reference Database. I ran across this short narrative while reading Bobby Knight's book- "Knight-My Story", and thought it might be interesting to share to the board. The following year Bird posted the third-longest free-throw streak in NBA history, hitting 71 consecutive attempts. College: Indiana State. Looking at his stats alone, he is known as one of the greatest pure shooters in . Drafted into the NBA by the Boston Celtics with the sixth overall pick in . Bird was one of the best scorers in the country, a big forward who led the way for the Sycamores from the Missouri Valley Conference to the biggest national stage. Do you have a sports website? Recently crowned national champion N.C. State also joined the pursuit of Bird in mid-April 1974, right before he was slated to sign his National Letter of Intent with the Hoosiers. An obsessive perfectionist, Bird was idolized by Celtic fans and basketball purists of all allegiances. Although Johnson also turned in an impressive first season for the NBA-champion Los Angeles Lakers, Bird was named Rookie of the Year and made the first of his 12 trips to the All-Star Game. Dinah likes to keep a low profile, making rare public appearances with her husband at basketball games. The pair made an agreement: A non-conference doubleheader was looming against Kentucky Wesleyan, a perfect low-risk opportunity to put Bird in a baseball uniform. Mark Bird's college team, where he became one of the school's best all-time players. games played = 41.4 ppg This is going off of their college career . Gender: Male. He said he was prepared to leave the team after the 2010-11 season with the Pacers headed in the right direction. Larry Bird Rookie Year Stats. The Orlando forward played only 11 games this season after missing two years with a torn ACL. ; School Indiana State University; Born December 7, 1956 in West Baden, IN USA; Biographical Information []. Bird nearly doubled the Sycamores' win total year-over-year from 13 to 25 after sitting out just one year in 1975-76, rather than two, after IU signed papers for Bird's release. Does the most recognized team in Hoosier history double or even, gasp, triple, its national championship haul with Bird in Bloomington in the mid-to-late 70s? Everyone knew Bird was destined for greatness in the NBA, but that didnt stop Indiana State baseball coach Bob Warn from roasting him. "By noon, Bird appeared at a press conference, a rarity in his scheme of things. By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. 1 ranking. Bird would typically start offensive possessions on the right block, where he would utilize the right corner of the floor, the fre-throw line extended and the opposite wing. "'You appear to be enjoying this,' one reporter commented. Check out the top highlights and plays from Larry Bird's storied NBA career. He led the league in free-throw percentage four times. Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. The couple has two adopted children named Conner Mariah.. Family. What if Larry Bird hadnt transferred from IU. With Bird as the focal point of a well-rounded squad, the Celtics won three NBA titles and 10 Atlantic Division crowns. Larry Bird ranks as one of the all-time top players of the NBA. The next season, 1974-75, is where two of the greatest What ifs in IU basketball collide: What if Bird had stayed and what if Scott May, the teams second-leading scorer and second-leading rebounder, hadnt broken his arm against Purdue in late February? Larry Bird was 1 of the NBA's most clutch players ever, amassing 3 MVPs while leading the Celtics to 5 Finals and 3 titles in the 1980s. Despite joking that he hoped he could get the Xs and Os right in the huddle, and that he didnt draw up any plays with himself in them, Bird approached his new role with typical aww-shucks aplomb. It is amazing how extreme insecurity can drive a person. ", In Bird's own words, here's the value he placed on ball movement: "My feeling about passing is that it don't matter who's doing the scoring as long as it's us. Larry used BB to escape from his family problems! The Celtics beat the Houston Rockets in '81 with Maxwell and Larry Bird leading the way and defeated the Los Angeles Lakers in 1984 when Maxwell confidently told his teammates "to get on my back, boys" in the decisive . He was also called Kodak by his first NBA coach, Bill Fitch, . He was particularly hard on freshmen players, such as a young Larry Bird. Indiana State went 81-13 during the three seasons in which Larry Bird played for the Sycamores. In 2003, he joined the Pacers front office as the teams president of basketball operations and worked side-by-side with Walsh to rebuild Indiana into a contender. Magic Johnson was in the class of 1977. The Sycamores went 81-13 during Birds three-year career. Entdecke Spielplan College Basketball jhrliche Vorschau Menge 2 1977-78-1978-79 Vogel Magie in groer Auswahl Vergleichen Angebote und Preise Online kaufen bei eBay Kostenlose Lieferung fr viele Artikel! He started his college career in the fall of 1979. It determined the balance of power in the NBA throughout the 1980s, arguably the most important era in NBA history, helping to reestablish the Celtics as the best team in the Eastern Conference during this time.
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