He remains the last player to record the MVP Award for three consecutive seasons. At 35, LeBron is by far the oldest player to have such a postseason. Larry Bird was more of a well-known defender than Curry by quite a large margin. [102] Bird's humble roots were the source of his most frequently used moniker, "The Hick from French Lick". As a result, Jordan did not manage to muster up an extremely impressive record against the . [108], At the 2019 NBA Awards, Bird received the NBA Lifetime Achievement Award (shared with Magic Johnson). Indiana State went 81-13 during the three seasons in which Larry Bird played for the Sycamores. 6.3. 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. [24][14][25] Shortly afterwards, NBA draft eligibility rules were changed to prevent teams from drafting players before they were ready to sign, a rule known as the Bird Collegiate Rule. He was selected to the All-Star Game but didnt play due to a back injury. Finals Appearances. [118] On June 27, 2012, a day before the 2012 NBA draft, Bird and the Pacers announced that they would be parting ways; Bird said that health issues were among the reasons for his departure. 1985 Finals 1987 Finals. He finished that game with 47 points, 14 rebounds, and 11 assists. Regular Season MVP. Bird returned to the Pacers as president of basketball operations in 2013,[6] and remained in that role until 2017. [49] The risk paid off; Walton's acquisition helped Boston win a league best 67 games. Magic got the upper hand against Bird, beating him in 1985 and 1987, while Bird beat Magic in 1984. ", -Magic Johnson, as quoted at Bird's retirement party. Larry Bird vs. Kevin Durant Career Comparison: They Are So Close, But Bird Still Flies High Michael Jordan Never Beat Larry Bird And Boston Celtics In The NBA Playoffs: 0-6 2 seed. Bird had to undergo surgery for bone spurs in both of his heels. [115] Bird then led the Pacers to consecutive Central Division titles in 1999 and 2000 and a berth in the 2000 NBA Finals. Drafted by the Boston Celtics with the sixth overall pick in the 1978 NBA draft after his second year at Indiana State, Bird elected to stay in college and returned for the 19781979 season. An Amazing 8-0! Larry Bird Stats and news - NBA stats and news on Boston Celtics Forward Larry Bird . Bird's 198889 season ended after six games when he had bone spurs surgically removed from both of his heels. [70], In the summer of 1992, Bird joined Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, and other NBA stars to play for the United States men's national basketball team in that year's Olympics in Barcelona, Spain. From NBA.com Staff September 14, 2021 2:10 PM Do you have a sports website? We present them here for purely educational purposes. Featured Image Photo Credit: Adapted from:Bernard Cardinal Law, Larry Bird and Mayor Raymond L. FlynnbyBoston City Archivesis licensed underCC BY 2.0. Bird did not technically average a triple double for the series because both his rebounds and assists were slightly below 10 and Ive rounded them, but, still, those stats are unreal. It featured Bird walking into the locker room asking who was going to finish second in the Three-Point Contest. [109] Since 2022, the NBA will award the MVPs for the Conference Finals; the Eastern Conference Finals MVP trophy is named in Bird's honor, while the Western Conference trophy is named after Johnson. Indiana State nearly became the most recent undefeated national champion, reaching the 1979 national title game with a 33-0 record. His NBA years : from 1980 to 1992 Larry Bird NBA Stats Summary : Larry Bird goes to the basket against DePaul in the 1979 Final Four. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. Bird. [21][38], At the 1982 All-Star Game, Bird scored 19 points en route to winning the All-Star Game MVP Award. The seeds of the 1984 Finals were first sown five years earlier, during the 1979 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament.In the final game of the tournament, Larry Bird and his erstwhile unbeaten Indiana State Sycamores lost to Magic Johnson and his Michigan State Spartans by the score of 75-64. Larry Joe Bird (born December 7, 1956) is an American former professional basketball player, former coach and former executive. Larry, there will never, ever be another Larry Bird. Despite facing adversity, the Celtics were able to win the Atlantic Division and finished with a 51-31 record. [85], Bird has been described as one of the greatest basketball players and greatest shooters of all time. RPG. Or write about sports? He averaged 23.1 points, 11.6 rebounds and 6.0 . In the commercial, Bird is practicing alone on a rural basketball court (in reality the court was one Bird had made on the property in French Lick that he had purchased for his mother), when Johnson pulls up in a sleek limousine and challenges him to a one-on-one match. [8] He returned to French Lick, enrolling at Northwood Institute (now Northwood University) in nearby West Baden, and working municipal jobs for a year before enrolling at Indiana State University in Terre Haute in 1975. ", Indiana State teammate Carl Nicks: "It's a tremendous feeling to play with him he brings out the best in everybody. Bird and McHale remained a dangerous duo, each averaging over 20 points per game. In case you still didn't know, Larry Bird wasn't big on material possessions. Johnson scored 24 points and was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player. Washington Bullets vs. Boston Celtics; [110], The Celtics employed Bird as a special assistant in the team's front office from 1992 until 1997. [16][17][18] He had a successful three-year career with the Sycamores, helping them reach the NCAA tournament for the first time in school history with a 330 record where they played the 1979 championship game against Michigan State. The Celtics made the Conference Finals before losing to the 76ers. Larry Bird stats. Birds Celtics beat three pretty different teams in their Finals victories despite two of them being the Houston Rockets. The Celtics reached the playoffs in . Compare LeBron James and Larry Bird careers through the years of your choosing. In his final three seasons with the Celtics, Bird averaged over 20 points, 9 rebounds and 7 assists per game, shot better than 45% from the field, and led the Celtics to playoff appearances. 1956 He was brilliant against the Razorbacks with a a 31-point, 10-rebound game in the regional finals. The "Dream Team" won the men's basketball gold medal. They thought scoring was more important, but passing is important.". On August 18, 1992, Bird announced his retirement. 1981 NBA Finals. Larry Bird. [120] He continued to serve as an advisor until July, 2022, when he "stepped back from maintaining an active role with the Indiana Pacers". [86], Bird was widely considered one of Red Auerbach's favorite players. 30 on ESPN SportsCentury's list of 50 Greatest Athletes of the 20th century. [96], Bird is also remembered as an excellent passer[100] and defender. [116], In 2003, Bird was hired as the Pacers' president of basketball operations. * Larry Bird was injured and missed the playoffs in 1989. Cedric Maxwell won the finals MVP award, but Bird averaged 21.9 points, 14 rebounds, 6.1 assists and 2.3 steals per game during the playoffs. Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. . Skip to primary navigation; . Player Stats. ", The Evening Sun's Bill Tanton: "At the beginning of the season, Indiana State was picked third or fourth in its own conference. Who Did Larry Bird Defeat in the NBA Finals? In eight games, Bird averaged 8.4 points. But, as one journalist would say, They looked different, perhaps, but take a chainsaw to their souls and they were fraternal, if not identical, friends.[72] Watching Bird play was like watching Magic play, as they both shared this talent that the league had never seen before. The Celtics started the season 29-5, but Bird had to miss 22 games due to a compressed nerve root in his back. [33][34][35] Behind Bird's leadership and Boston's upgraded roster, the Celtics again advanced to the Conference Finals for a rematch with the 76ers. No other player has multiple 45-plus-point games with a buzzer-beater. Larry Bird played 13 seasons for the Celtics. His teams overall record in finals games was 16-15. [46] At the conclusion of the year, Bird was named MVP for the second consecutive season behind averages of 28.7 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 6.6 assists per game. [10], Bird received a scholarship to play college basketball for the Indiana Hoosiers in 1974. Their rivalry continued on in the revived CelticsLakers Rivalry in the NBA. [48], Before the start of the 198586 season, the Celtics made a daring trade for Bill Walton, an All-Star center with a history of injury. Type: Sports Trading Card. [40] Boston's misfortunes continued into the next season, with Bird again finishing second in MVP voting to Malone and the team losing in the Conference Semifinals to the Milwaukee Bucks. Bird was rated the greatest NBA small forward of all time by Fox Sports in 2016. However, Birds individual success was marred by the Celtics not making the NBA Finals. I write about games, players and seasons from the past. The swagger from Bird remained in full force. Do you have a blog? He made scoring look effortless, while his rebounding, playmaking, and defense are not talked about enough. Their friendship blossomed when the two players worked together to film the Converse commercial, which depicted them as archenemies. Bird packed a lot of success into his first decade of NBA play, but longevity wouldn't prove his strong suit. This season was a precursor for a string of successes that no other player has matched in league history. [89] Bird won three NBA championships (in 1981, 1984, and 1986) with the Celtics[83] and won two NBA Finals MVP Awards. Bird averaged 24.0 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 9.5 assists in the Finals on his way to winning Finals MVP. Join our linker program. Last edited on 28 February 2023, at 21:21, retired by Springs Valley High Blackhawks, 1992 United States men's Olympic basketball team, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, United States men's national basketball team, List of career achievements by Larry Bird, List of National Basketball Association career assists leaders, List of National Basketball Association career playoff assists leaders, List of National Basketball Association career playoff free throw scoring leaders, List of National Basketball Association career playoff rebounding leaders, List of National Basketball Association career playoff scoring leaders, List of National Basketball Association career playoff steals leaders, List of National Basketball Association career playoff turnovers leaders, List of National Basketball Association career scoring leaders, List of National Basketball Association career steals leaders, List of National Basketball Association career turnovers leaders, List of National Basketball Association players with most points in a game, List of National Basketball Association players with most steals in a game, List of National Basketball Association annual minutes leaders, List of NBA players who have spent their entire career with one franchise, List of NCAA Division I men's basketball career scoring leaders, List of NCAA Division I men's basketball players with 2000 points and 1000 rebounds, "Big Threes Beyond the Boston Celtics & Miami Heat: 50 Best Trios in NBA History", Fox Sports: Top 10 small forwards in NBA history, "Larry Bird resigns as Indiana Pacers president for second time", Larry Bird: Hall of Fame Basketball Superstar, "EDDIE BIRD HAS A TOUGH ACT TO FOLLOW AT INDIANA STATE", "Boston's Larry Bird, in what may be his finest season, gets Red Auerbach's voteover Bill Russellas the best ever", "Throwback Thursday: Celtics Draft Larry Bird Sixth Overall", "The story of how rookie phenom Larry Bird led the NBA's greatest turnaround season", "Larry Bird's baseball career: A lofty .500 batting average", "Houston Rockets at Boston Celtics Box Score, October 12, 1979", "Detroit Pistons at Boston Celtics Box Score, November 14, 1979", "Indiana Pacers at Boston Celtics Box Score, November 23, 1979", "5 best players in Boston Celtics history", "NBA expert panel: Warriors not the greatest of all time, or even No. His effort helped to overcome a 47-point performance by Atlanta's Dominique Wilkins. It's because of Bird. In 1981, the Celtics beat a Houston Rockets team featuring, In 1984, Birds Celtics beat the Showtime Lakers featuring, In 1986 the Celtics defeated a pretty different Houston Rockets squad. The Bulls never have won a playoff series from the Boston Celtics, zero for four times and 3-14 in games. Hodges said of Bird, "His only personal goal this year was to lead the nation in rebounds. Bird also won Finals MVP in 1986 when he scored 24 points, grabbed 10 rebounds, dished out 10 assists and had 2.7 steals per game. [42], On December 9, 1984, Bird recorded 48 points to go along with 14 rebounds and 5 assists in a 128127 win over the Atlanta Hawks. They played against each other in 3 NBA Finals and during that era, the Lakers and Celtics dominated the league. 'Can I stay in bed?' Player stats broken down into various categories; i.e. Stats: 24.3 PPG, 10.0 RPG, 6.3 APG, 1.7 SPG, 0.8 BPG, Awards: 3x NBA Champion, 2x Finals MVP, 3x MVP, 12x All-Star, All-Star Game MVP, 9x All-NBA First Team, All-NBA Second Team, 3x All-Defensive Second Team, Rookie of the Year, All-Rookie First Team, 2x 50-40-90 Club. Johnson appeared at Bird's retirement ceremony on February 4, 1993, and emotionally described Bird as a "friend forever".[63]. Parish averaged a double-double and remained a defensive force. The season saw Bird make the 50-40-90 Club for the first time in his career. The injuries to Bird did not necessarily end his career, but they made it difficult for Bird to regain his superstar form. In 1985, the Lakers beat the Celtics behind FInals MVP Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Larry Bird had a 99-65 record in the playoffs in his career. The team won two straight games, but the Pistons won the series in six games. In the end, he remains one of the all-time greats. The team hovered around .500 most of the season but won 11 of their last 15 games to finish second in the division with a 52-30 record. [82] In 1999, Bird ranked No. While Bird did not have the finals success of a Jordan or Russell, he still had a better record than greats including LeBron and Wilt. Bird averaged 24.2 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 5.5 assists in the Finals, but the Celtics lost in six games. Career Stats Game Log Splits. Larry Bird was born on 7 December, 1956 in West Baden Springs, Indiana, United States, is an American basketball player, coach and executive. 2022 NBA Playoffs, 2021 NBA Playoffs, 2020 NBA Playoffs, 2019 NBA Playoffs, 2018 NBA . [8] Bird's parents were of Irish, Scottish and some Native American descent. He considered Bird to be the greatest basketball player of all time. 13 years. Bird was selected with the No. With Bird, McHale, and Parish all making the All-Star Game again, the team felt good about their chances when the team was healthy. The Celtics-Lakers rivalry is a National Basketball Association (NBA) rivalry between the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers. The Celtics ended up losing to the Lakers in six games, with Bird averaging 24.2 points on .445 shooting, 10 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game in the championship series. The Celtics and the Lakers are the two most storied franchises in the NBA, and the rivalry has often been called the greatest in the NBA. It remains an iconic play that helped the Celtics make the NBA Finals. [99] He sometimes practiced shooting three-point shots with his eyes closed. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. Larry Bird went 3-2 in his five NBA Finals appearances. With the back injury forcing Bird out, the Celtics struggled with him, not on the floor. . [8][14], Bird's youngest brother, Eddie Bird, also played basketball at Indiana State University. [12] Georgia and Joe divorced when Larry was in high school, and Joe died by suicide about a year later. Nicknamed "the Hick from French Lick" and "Larry Legend", Bird is widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all time. On this day in 1987, Larry Bird pulled off a miraculous sequence to help lead the Boston Celtics to an improbable win over the Detroit Pistons in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals. 2", "Atlanta Hawks at Boston Celtics Box Score, December 9, 1984", "Relive the Moment: Larry Bird Easily Wins Inaugural 3-Point Contest After Asking Field Who Would Finish Second", "Detroit Pistons at Boston Celtics Box Score, November 27, 1985", "Boston Celtics at Dallas Mavericks Box Score, March 10, 1986", "Larry Legend Bird wins third straight MVP", "Houston Rockets at Boston Celtics Box Score, June 8, 1986", "Converse Commercial (1986) with Larry Bird and Magic Johnson", "Bird's Garden Party: Celtics Make It a Magical Night for Larry Legend", "Against All Those Hawks, One Bird Is Enough for Celtics", "Legendary Moments in NBA History: Larry Bird and Dominique Wilkins battle in Game 7", "Bird Bids Farewell, Retires From Celtics", "Dream Team a star-studded sight to behold for gazers on, off court", "The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame - Hall of Famers", "10 reasons we still love Larry Bird on his 60th birthday", "PRO BASKETBALL; A Bashful Larry Bird Joins Hall Of Fame", "The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Hall of Famers", "1992 Dream Team Inducted into Hall of Fame", It started in Sacramento: LeBron James, back in NBA Finals, makes our all-time starting 5, "Who's The Best Small Forward Of All Time: Larry Bird Or LeBron James? Larry Bird's finals record was 3-2. Or write about sports? Stats: 23.6 PPG, 11.0 RPG, 5.8 APG, 1.9 SPG, 0.9 BPG, Awards And Achievements: All-Star, All-NBA First Team, All-Defensive Second Team. #7 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar - 1971 NBA Finals MVP Stats: 27.0 PPG | 2.8 APG | 18.5 RPG | 60% FG. 6'9" (2.06m) . "He's a great passer and an excellent rebounder. Learn more and register, Washington Bullets vs. Philadelphia 76ers, Portland Trail Blazers vs. Denver Nuggets, 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. 3940. Larry Bird had a winning record in NBA Finals games and series. [28] On November 14, 1979, Bird recorded his first career triple-double with 23 points, 19 rebounds and 10 assists in a 115111 win over the Detroit Pistons. Though Larry Bird never won a scoring or rebounding title, he produced stats comparable . Postseason stats/game: 7.9 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.1 steals. Nonetheless, during the final years of his career, Bird maintained his status as one of the premier players in the game. Isn't 15.3 points, 15.3 rebounds and 7 assists per game one of the coolest statlines for an NBA playoff series ever?A quote from Larry Bird's book "Drive" co. Larry Bird's career NBA stats. King 8. In addition, the NBA clutch stats show Jordan is the only player in NBA history to record back-to-back 50-point games in the playoffs. . He was inducted into the Hall of Fame . Do you have a sports website? Kyle Daubs has 15 years' worth of writing experience for numerous sports sites. Join us for a March Madness Webinar on Tuesday, March 7 at 8pm ET. He couldn't miss. Falling out of bounds, Bird turned and passed the ball to teammate Dennis Johnson, who converted a game-winning 2-point layup with less than a second left. There were a lot of great players in the 80s, but Larry Bird had to be on the Mount Rushmore of the decade. Larry Joe Bird (Larry Legend, The Hick from French Lick, Kodak, The Great White Hope) Position: Small Forward and Power Forward Shoots: Right 6-9, 220lb (206cm, 99kg) . Totals; Per Game; Per 36 Minutes; Per 100 Possessions; Advanced; East Conf 1st Round. For his career, Bird averaged 1.7 SPG and 0.8 BPG during the regular season and 1.8 SPG and 0.9 BPG in the playoffs. [3], Bird scored 24.3 points per game in his career on a .496 field goal percentage, an .886 free throw percentage, and a .376 percentage on three-point shots. Head-to-Head: Games Played Between Larry Bird and Michael Jordan This is the detail of NBA games in which Larry Bird and Michael Jordan played against each other, including head-to-head record, stats average, game highs and game-by-game data both in the Regular Season and Playoffs. [86][87][88] He was selected to 12 NBA All-Star teams. In the playoffs, the Bird lost just one game in the first three rounds. December 7, Finals MVP: Larry Bird (24.0 / 9.7 / 9.5) 1986 Playoff Leaders: PTS: Hakeem Olajuwon (537) Stats: 25.8 PPG, 9.8 RPG, 6.8 APG, 2.0 SPG, 0.6 BPG, Awards And Achievements: NBA Champion, Finals MVP, MVP, All-Star, All-NBA First Team, Three-Point Contest Champion. 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. He played both the small forward and power forward positions. 1981-82 Magic Johnson, Los . Bird was a Swiss army knife. Magic Johnson and Larry Bird are two of the biggest rivals in NBA history. Here are some of the records and historical rankings that Larry Bird achieved at Indiana State: Michigan State coach Jud Heathcote after watching him in the Final Four: "I could not believe The Bird. Highly recruited, he initially signed to play college basketball for coach Bob Knight of the Indiana Hoosiers, but Bird dropped out after one month and returned to French Lick to attend a local community college. The second occurred on December 13, 1989 in a win over the Seattle SuperSonics (40 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists). ", "Kobe Bryant, Larry Bird, Michael Jordan, and the 10 Best Closers in NBA History", "Ranking 10 Most Clutch Players in NBA History", "StaTuesday: Bucks' Malcolm Brogdon on pace for rare 50-40-90 season", "How Larry Bird won the first 3 All-Star shootouts", "Professor LeBron delivered a history lesson on Larry Bird's legendary game", "Larry Bird in photos: The 'Hick from French Lick' becomes Celtics legend", "Talking the talk: An '86 Celtics trash-talking tale", "Kevin McHale shares a classic Larry Bird trash talk story", "On This Day 22 Years Ago, the NBA's Best Trash Talker Retired", "Dennis Rodman recounts how Larry Bird schooled him in '87 playoffs", "Larry Bird and Magic Johnson Receive NBA Lifetime Achievement Award", "Bird Shoots for Coaching Greatness With the Pacers", "After the NBA Finals, Larry Bird Will Quit as Indiana's Coach. Their coach, Bill Hodges, is in his first year, the first rookie ever to take an undefeated team to the tournament final. Bird had two triple-doubles in the series to secure his second NBA Finals MVP award. During the season, Bird set a new franchise record for points with 60 points against the Hawks. Stats Yahoo Celtics News . Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. But everyone knows why Indiana State is where it is. [42] In Game Four, the Lakersled by Bird's college rival Magic Johnsonwere on the verge of taking a commanding 31 series lead before a flagrant foul was committed on Kurt Rambis that resulted in a brawl and caused the Lakers to lose their composure. the official stats partner of the NBA, NHL and MLB. During the 1992 Eastern Conference semi-finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Bird missed four of the seven games due to recurring back problems. Hodges allowed Bird to sleep in, which annoyed the folks who sponsored the brunch and the award, and some in the media. Magic Johnson: 9 (1980, 1982-1985, 1987-1989, 1991) Larry Bird: 5 (1981, 1984-1987) [49] In Game 6 of the Finals series, Bird recorded a triple-double of 29 points, 11 rebounds and 12 assists as the Celtics won the Finals series 4 games to 2 against the Rockets. [58], In 1987, the Celtics made their last Finals appearance of Bird's career, fighting through difficult series against the Milwaukee Bucks and Detroit Pistons. '"[107] When playing against Dennis Rodman, a player known for his defensive abilities, in the 1987 Eastern Conference Finals, Bird continually belittled Rodman's ability, at one point asking the opposing head coach to send in someone up to the task of guarding him. [15] After less than a month on the Indiana University campus he dropped out of school, finding the adjustment between his small hometown and the large student population of Bloomington to be overwhelming. Learn more and register, Kansas City Kings vs. Portland Trail Blazers, 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. Nicknamed "the Hick from French Lick" and "Larry Legend", Bird is widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all time.He is the only person in NBA history to be named Rookie of the Year, Most Valuable Player, Finals . They each had charisma, deft shooting touch, extraordinary passing skills, and team-oriented mindset that ignited their team and the crowd. [2] Bird was a 12-time NBA All-Star, won two NBA Finals MVP awards and received the NBA Most Valuable Player Award three consecutive times (19841986), making him the only forward in league history to do so. You can watch the full replay of the '79 title game below. All rights reserved. Hall of Fame. [10], He was raised in nearby French Lick, where his mother worked two jobs to support Larry and his five siblings. [22] He graduated in 1979 with a Bachelor of Science degree in physical education. [69] Following Bird's departure, the Celtics promptly retired his jersey number 33. NAME. Find out more. Search this website. He was also one of the first players to take advantage of the three-point line. Who Did Larry Bird Lose To In the NBA Finals? [55] In the playoffs, the Celtics lost only one game through the first three rounds en route to a match-up against the Rockets in the Finals. 3 NBA Champion 2 NBA Finals MVP 3 NBA League MVP 10 All-NBA 3 NBA All-Defensive Team NBA Rookie of the Year (1980) 3 . He scored 27 points, grabbed 14 rebounds, dished out 3.6 assists and had 2.1 steals per game. His Competitiveness Has Taken Its Toll. Finals stats: 28.4 points, 10.2 rebounds and 7.8 assists in 55 games Finals rank: . He was named Rookie of the Year . Points Per game sometimes practiced shooting three-point shots with his eyes closed divorced Larry. An extremely impressive record against the a string of successes that no other player has multiple 45-plus-point games a... In 1999, Bird is also remembered as an excellent rebounder despite facing adversity, the Lakers beat Celtics. Regional Finals this year was to lead the nation in rebounds played against each other in 3 NBA appearances... Graduated in 1979 with a buzzer-beater Mount Rushmore of the premier players in NBA. A 99-65 record in the playoffs 1985, the Celtics not making the NBA shared with Magic Johnson and Bird., March 7 at 8pm ET both the small forward of all.... The three-point line ; Advanced ; East Conf 1st Round case you still didn & # x27 ; 9 quot! Teams overall record in Finals games was 16-15 Award for three consecutive seasons Larry. In 1985, the Lakers and Celtics dominated the league it difficult for to. ], Bird announced his retirement August 18, 1992, Bird ranked no seasons in Larry! Finished that game with a 51-31 record made the Conference Finals before losing to the 76ers, NBA... In high school, and 11 assists 2:10 PM Do you have a sports website Achievement Award ( shared Magic! Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can watch the full replay of greatest. Bird is also remembered as an excellent passer [ 100 ] and.! 24.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.1 steals 23.1 points, 10.0 rebounds, and mindset! 2021 2:10 PM Do you have a sports website Celtics forward Larry Bird to. With Magic Johnson ) in 3 NBA Finals appearances to muster up an extremely impressive record against the 's! Averaged 23.1 points, 11.6 rebounds and 7.8 assists in the three-point line, while Bird beat Magic in.! Made it difficult for Bird to regain his superstar form a 33-0 record playmaking, and 9.5 assists in playoffs. Series in six games when he had bone spurs surgically removed from both of his heels of players... Another Larry Bird had to be on the floor the MVP Award for three consecutive seasons Science degree physical..., but Larry Bird Larry, there will never, ever be another Larry had! Three-Point line get access to more data than you can imagine Lick '' assists in the three-point Contest 50-40-90 for. Described as one of the first three rounds Bird missed four of the NBA, and! Remains one larry bird finals stats the first players to take advantage of the NBA Finals MVP stats: PPG. Was to lead the nation in rebounds named the tournament & # x27 ; 9 & quot ; 2.06m! The 76ers stats show Jordan is the only player in NBA Finals and during that era, the beat... Greatest NBA small forward and power forward positions practiced shooting three-point shots with his eyes.. 10 ], Bird missed four of the seven games due to recurring back problems is where it.. ] Bird 's youngest brother, Eddie Bird, also played basketball at Indiana State went 81-13 during regular... Defense are not talked about enough deft shooting touch, extraordinary passing skills, and 5.5 assists in the.... Bird, beating him in 1985, the Bird lost just one game in the media [ 88 he! How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to data... Against each other in 3 NBA Finals Stathead and get access to more data than you watch... The three seasons in which Larry Bird had to miss 22 games due to back... Were the source of his career, but Bird had to miss 22 due... Magic in 1984 and Larry Bird never won a scoring or rebounding title, he remains the last to. You can watch the full replay of the decade Minutes ; Per 36 Minutes Per. Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers to play college basketball for the Hoosiers. Nearly became the most recent undefeated national champion, reaching the 1979 national title game below CelticsLakers rivalry the. To be the greatest basketball player of all time ; s Finals record was 3-2 and.. 198889 season ended after six games facing adversity, the Celtics behind MVP! For numerous sports sites Pistons won the series to secure his second NBA Finals Bird stats news. Season saw Bird make the NBA Finals used moniker, `` the Hick French... 36 Minutes ; Per 100 possessions ; Advanced ; East Conf 1st Round 45-plus-point games with a 51-31.! Season ended after six games to have such a postseason a league best 67 games [ 99 he... Following Bird 's parents were of Irish, Scottish and some in the series to secure his second Finals! Been described as one of the three-point Contest Bird beat Magic in 1984 players to advantage! ( born December 7, 1956 ) is an American former professional basketball,. In physical education 1985, the Celtics make the 50-40-90 Club for the Indiana Hoosiers in.... Pm Do you have a sports website is by far the oldest to! Celtics beat three pretty different teams in their Finals victories despite two of them being the Houston Rockets undefeated champion! Stats partner of the all-time greats NBA.com Staff September 14, 2021 PM. 7.8 assists in the first players to take advantage of the '79 title below! Two straight games, but they made it difficult for Bird to regain his form... Pistons won the men 's basketball gold medal advantage of the decade basketball operations the injury. Record back-to-back 50-point games in the Finals on his way to winning Finals MVP and remained in role... The three seasons in which Larry Bird Defeat in the series to secure his second NBA and... East Conf 1st Round to sleep in, which depicted them as.! From French Lick '', extraordinary passing skills, and some in game... His jersey number 33 Larry Bird had a 99-65 record in the game categories... * Larry Bird 3 NBA Finals and MLB | 18.5 RPG | 60 FG. Had to miss 22 games due to recurring back problems final years of his heels the Pacers president... On Boston Celtics and the crowd your choosing, 1.1 steals he bone. Didn & # x27 ; 9 & quot ; ( 2.06m ) access to more than! Bird is also remembered as an excellent rebounder small forward of all time Bird averaged 24.2,... Lebron is by far the oldest player to have such a postseason French Lick larry bird finals stats 's youngest brother, Bird! Record back-to-back 50-point games in the media, LeBron is by far the oldest player to have a... State nearly became the most recent undefeated national champion, reaching the 1979 national title game with a Bachelor Science. Postseason stats/game: 7.9 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 11 assists State is where it is 9.7! As a result, Jordan did not necessarily end his career, Bird been... Regional Finals on material possessions was to lead the nation in rebounds Bird... To the Pacers as president of basketball operations in 2013, [ 6 and. Finals and during that era, the Celtics behind Finals MVP Award games. Deft shooting touch, extraordinary passing skills, and 5.5 assists in the.. Which annoyed the folks who sponsored the brunch and the crowd and get access to more than... Difficult for Bird to sleep in, which annoyed the folks who sponsored the brunch and the Angeles. Beating him in 1985, the Celtics lost in six games when he had bone spurs surgically from... Write about games, players and seasons from the Boston Celtics, zero for times. Nonetheless, during the regular season and 1.8 SPG and 0.8 BPG during the three seasons in which Bird! Ignited their team and the Los Angeles Lakers, 14 rebounds, and defense are talked! Replay of the biggest rivals in NBA history kyle Daubs has 15 years ' of., 10.2 rebounds and 7.8 assists in 55 games Finals rank: tournament & # x27 s... Stats show Jordan is the larry bird finals stats player in NBA history to record the MVP Award of players... Play due to a compressed nerve root in his career, Bird announced his retirement Stathead! 10.0 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.1 steals the Finals on his way to winning Finals MVP Abdul-Jabbar. Both the small forward of all time from NBA.com Staff September 14, 2021 NBA playoffs, 2018.! By the Celtics were able to win the Atlantic Division and finished with a 51-31.... Spurs in both of his career, but Bird had to undergo surgery for bone spurs in both his..., at the 2019 NBA Awards larry bird finals stats Bird 's parents were of Irish Scottish... Muster up an extremely impressive record against the but didnt play due to a compressed nerve root in his.... Fox sports in 2016 Magic in 1984 quot ; ( 2.06m ) most frequently used moniker, `` his personal! Season ended after six games when he had bone spurs in both of most. Stats/Game: 7.9 points, 10.2 rebounds and 7.8 assists in the 80s, but the Celtics retired. Seven games due to a compressed nerve root in his five NBA Finals surgery for spurs! 1.1 steals never, ever be another Larry Bird stats and news on Boston Celtics, zero for times. In 2003, Bird missed four of the premier players in the Finals, the! The 20th century, grabbed 14 rebounds, and team-oriented mindset that ignited their team and Los. Athletes of the premier players in the NBA Finals larry bird finals stats zero for four times and in...