All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. [90] Bird won three consecutive regular season MVP awards; as of 2020, the only other players to accomplish this feat are Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain. Who was going to make the last shot? Larry Bird averaged 24.0 points, 9.7 rebounds and 9.5 assists in 6 games in the 1986 NBA Finals. Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. He returned to the team later in the season but also had back problems as well. [113] Despite having no previous coaching experience, Bird led the Pacers to a 5824 recordthe franchise's best as an NBA team at the timein the 199798 season,[114] and pushed the Chicago Bulls to seven games in the Eastern Conference Finals. No other player has multiple 45-plus-point games with a buzzer-beater. With Bird back in the fold, the Celtics returned to the playoffs with hopes of a deep run. Type: Sports Trading Card. (Larry Legend, The Hick from French Lick, Kodak, The Great White Hope), Position: [96] Bird was the first player in NBA history to shoot 50% or better on field goals, 40% on three-pointers, and 90% on free-throws in a single NBA season while achieving the league minimum for makes in each category. Subscribe to Stathead Basketball: Get your first month FREEYour All-Access Ticket to the Basketball Reference Database. In his first game, Bird recorded a double-double against the Rockets. He considered Bird to be the greatest basketball player of all time. Now the Sycamores are 33-0, they are ranked No. [133], Bird married Dinah Mattingly in 1989. The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the NCAA or its member institutions. With the Celtics down by one point, and less than 10 seconds left, Bird missed a potential go-ahead layup after his shot was blocked. The Celtics won 32 more games than the previous season and it was the initial stages of the Celtics transforming into a title contender yearly. [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. The season saw Bird make the 50-40-90 Club for the first time in his career. Magic Johnson in Michigan State's 2-3 matchup zone in theepic clash of two all-time greats, The complete results from the best #MarchMadnessMoments bracket, College basketball dictionary: 51 terms defined, The mens basketball teams with the most NCAA tournament 1 seeds, Lil Nas X, Tim McGraw, Keith Urban, Little Big Town, Maggie Rogers & Mickey Guyton to Perform as Part of the 2023 NCAA March Madness Music Festival in Houston, 2023 March Madness men's bracket predictions by Andy Katz to start March, Men's college basketball career scoring leaders, Antoine Davis is 25 points away from catching 'Pistol' Pete Maravich, Antoine Davis nears all-time DI scoring mark after leading Detroit Mercy to victory, How recent eventual March Madness men's champions did in their conference tournaments, 2023 Selection Sunday: Date, schedule, TV times, Marquette, Indiana leap into the top 6 of the men's college basketball Power 36 rankings, We're tracking all 32 NCAA men's basketball conference tournaments, auto bids for 2023, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, 1978 Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year, 1979 Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year, Named a top-15 player in the 75 Years of March Madness Celebration, A member of the 2,000-point, 1,000-rebound club: 2,850 points and 1,247 rebounds, Indiana State's all-time leading scorer (2,850 points), Indiana State records for most points in the first half, second half, in a game, at home, on the road, in a loss, Highest scoring average in the 1979 NCAA Tournament (27.2 points per game), Most rebounds and highest rebound average in the 1979 NCAA Tournament (67 rebounds, 13.4 rpg), Indiana State-record 35 points in an NCAA tournament game, Indiana State-record 16 field goals in an NCAA tournament game, Indiana State-record 84.2 shooting percentage in an NCAA tournament game (min. [115] Bird then led the Pacers to consecutive Central Division titles in 1999 and 2000 and a berth in the 2000 NBA Finals. 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. April 14, 2017 2:34 PM EDT. [30], 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. He was also one of the first players to take advantage of the three-point line. Compare LeBron James and Larry Bird careers through the years of your choosing. The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. [105][106] He was known for telling his opponents how and where in the court he would score against them; Xavier McDaniel recounted that Bird predicted a game-winning shot against him, then "shot a shot right in my face and was like 'Damn, I didn't mean to leave two seconds on the clock. Finals MVP. His teams' overall record in finals games was 16-15. [citation needed] The apparent contrast between the two players and their respective teams seemed scripted for television: Bird, the introverted small-town hero with the blue-collar work ethic, fit perfectly with the throwback, hard-nosed style of the Celtics, while the stylish, gregarious Johnson ran the Lakers' fast-paced Showtime offense amidst the bright lights and celebrities of Los Angeles. Bernard Cardinal Law, Larry Bird and Mayor Raymond L. Flynn. During the 1980s, either Boston or Los Angeles appeared in every NBA Finals. All rights reserved. These are Birds stats and achievements season by season. Bird won two finals vs the Houston Rockets and one vs the LA Lakers. Bird was raised in French Lick, Indiana, and attended Indiana State University, where he helped revive . Sam Smith. * Larry Bird was injured and missed the playoffs in 1989. Vintage: Yes. [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. In, Career statistics and player information from, This page was last edited on 28 February 2023, at 21:21. Bird averaged 21.3 points, 10.4 rebounds and 4.5 assists in leading the Celtics to the best record in the league and a 32-game improvement from the previous season. His stats back up that statement as well. How Many Finals MVPs Does Larry Bird Have? The second occurred on December 13, 1989 in a win over the Seattle SuperSonics (40 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists). . [51][52], On November 27, 1985, Bird recorded 47 points to go along with 12 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals in a 132124 win over the Detroit Pistons. All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. that the Celtics returned to the NBA Finals. Larry Bird averaged 24.0 points, 9.7 rebounds and 9.5 assists in 6 games in the 1986 NBA Finals. We present them here for purely educational purposes. Bird made the 50-40-90 Club for a second straight year and won his third straight Three-Point Contest championship. He was named Rookie of the Year . Larry Bird was born on 7 December, 1956 in West Baden Springs, Indiana, United States, is an American basketball player, coach and executive. Data Provided By the official stats partner of the NBA, NHL and MLB . Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. The Celtics, led by Bird, and the Lakers, led by Magic, were present in every NBA Finals series in the 80s, with Bird and Magic meeting three times. He also won his third straight MVP, which is the last time an NBA player has accomplished this. Finals MVP: Larry Bird(27.4/14.0/3.6), Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Wednesday, March 1, 9:33AM. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. 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 following comes from The Tampa Bay Times: His best NCAA tournament game came in the Final Four against DePaul, when he scored 35 points with 16 rebounds and nine assists (all were NCAA tournament highs for him) while shooting 16-of-19 from the field. The Celtics made the Conference Finals before losing to the 76ers. His teams overall record in finals games was 16-15. 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. With his averages, he won Rookie of the Year. One of the most intelligent players in history, Larry Bird, makes arguably the best play of his career in the 1981 Finals. Bird would remain an All-Star player after he was back and healthy. The 86 Celtics are in the conversation for best team ever with Bill Walton joining Bird, Robert Parish and. Bird had a double-double in all five NCAA tournament games he played in that year. Kyle Daubs has 15 years' worth of writing experience for numerous sports sites. 3940. 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. Join us for a March Madness Webinar on Tuesday, March 7 at 8pm ET. 'Can I stay in bed?' [13], Larry used basketball as an escape from his family troubles, starring for Springs Valley High School and averaging 31 points, 21 rebounds, and 4 assists as a senior on his way to becoming the school's all-time scoring leader. but, still, those stats are unreal. Find out more. [27], Before the 198081 season, the Celtics selected forward Kevin McHale in the draft and acquired center Robert Parish from the Golden State Warriors,[31][32] forming a Hall of Fame trio for years to come; the front-court of Bird, McHale, and Parish is regarded as one of the greatest front-courts in NBA history. [67] Wilkins remarked, "The basket was like a well. Larry Bird goes to the basket against DePaul in the 1979 Final Four. [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. The Celtics were unable to repeat as champions. NAME. Finals MVP: Larry Bird(24.0/9.7/9.5), Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Wednesday, March 1, 9:33AM. His NBA years : from 1980 to 1992 Larry Bird NBA Stats Summary : All rights reserved. Find out more. Join us for a March Madness Webinar on Tuesday, March 7 at 8pm ET. In the playoffs, the Bucks defeated the Bucks in the Conference Finals to set up a showdown with the Lakers in the NBA Finals. Below you can see the playoff results for all of Birds Celtics teams. He averaged 24.3 points, 10.0 rebounds and 6.3 assists in 897 regular-season games. Larry Bird and Magic Johnson are known to be "one of the greatest rivalries in sports. Larry Bird went 3-2 in his five NBA Finals appearances. Larry Bird's finals record was 3-2. The team made the playoffs for an 11th straight season. Bird's 198889 season ended after six games when he had bone spurs surgically removed from both of his heels. The first was on February 14, 1986 in an overtime win against the Portland Trail Blazers. 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. Happy 64th Birthday, Larry Bird! Birds Celtics beat three pretty different teams in their Finals victories despite two of them being the Houston Rockets. After the tournament, both entered the NBA in the 1979-80 season with high . Join our linker program. 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. had a 99-65 record in the playoffs in his career. I couldn't miss. Stats: 28.7 PPG, 10.5 RPG, 6.6 APG, 1.6 SPG, 1.2 BPG, Awards And Achievements: MVP, All-Star, All-NBA First Team. The trio became a dangerous big three that helped the Celtics stay competitive in the NBA. Once he entered his 30s, . If you continue to use this website without changing your cookie settings or you click "Accept" below then you are consenting to this. In the playoffs, the Bird lost just one game in the first three rounds. Enter your information to receive emails about offers, promotions from NCAA.com and our partners. He also secured All-NBA and All-Defensive Team status. The Bulls never have won a playoff series from the Boston Celtics, zero for four times and 3-14 in games. . [76] The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame called the team "the greatest collection of basketball talent on the planet". [26][27] In his career debut, Bird recorded 14 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists in a 114106 win over the Houston Rockets. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. The cookie settings on this website are set to "allow cookies" to give you the best browsing experience possible. [68] He returned to the Celtics in 1989, but debilitating back problems and an aging Celtic roster prevented him from regaining his mid-1980s form. You can see stats, Championships, awards and more. In eight games, Bird averaged 8.4 points. 1981-82 He owns a master's degree in special education and teaches English. [82] In 1999, Bird ranked No. Stats; Standings; Teams; Players; All-Star . 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. Who Did Larry Bird Defeat in the NBA Finals? 1984-85 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Los Angeles Lakers. Or write about sports? Stats Yahoo Celtics News . He finished that game with 47 points, 14 rebounds, and 11 assists. All three were named to the All-Star Game. The Celtics were the No. They played against each other in 3 NBA Finals and during that era, the Lakers and Celtics dominated the league. Card Name: All-Star Stats. Parish averaged a double-double and remained a defensive force. 1984 Star Larry Bird #5 Playoff Stats Boston Celtics HOF NM-MT Free Shipping! In Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Pistons, with five seconds remaining in the fourth quarter and Boston trailing the Pistons 107106, Bird stole an inbound pass. Do you have a blog? He scored 49 points in a double-overtime win over the Trail Blazers. Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. Larry Bird stats . Join our linker program. Michael Jordans Prime: The Greatest of All Time, Who has the most rings in the NBA? He was brilliant against the Razorbacks with a a 31-point, 10-rebound game in the regional finals. Right, Born: Larry Bird's Career Record vs. NBA Legends: He Beat Michael Jordan 23 Times, But Magic Johnson Won The Head-To-Head Matchups, Shaquille O'Neal's Stats For Each Season: The Most Dominant Player In NBA History, Magic Johnson's Stats For Each Season: The Greatest Point Guard In NBA History, Charles Barkley's Stats For Each Season: One Of The Best Players To Never Win A Ring, David Robinson's Stats For Each Season: The Admiral Is One Of The Most Underrated Players In NBA History. In the Celtics 1981 Championship, Bird did not win Finals MVP. PPG. In the end, he remains one of the all-time greats. [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. 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. [93][94][95] In October 2021, as part of the NBA's 75th Anniversary, Bird was honored as one of the 75 greatest players of all time, by being named to the NBA's 75th Anniversary All-Time Team. . It set up a rematch with the Pistons in the Conference Finals, where the Pistons won in six games. Finals MVP: Cedric Maxwell(17.7/9.5/2.8), Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Wednesday, March 1, 9:33AM. home/away, monthly, etc More Larry Bird Basketball Reference pages, Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Wednesday, March 1, 9:33AM. Magic got the upper hand against Bird, beating him in 1985 and 1987, while Bird beat Magic in 1984. Bird led the Celtics to another deep playoff run. Larry Bird averaged 23.1 points, 11.6 rebounds and 6.0 assists in 31 games in the NBA Finals in his career. Regular Season MVP. 6'9" (2.06m) . 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. That went to Bird's teammate Cedric "Cornbread" Maxwell. [21][38], At the 1982 All-Star Game, Bird scored 19 points en route to winning the All-Star Game MVP Award. [11] Bird has said that being poor as a child still motivates him "to this day". That came in spite of Bird playing with a fracture in his left thumb in the Final Four after getting hurt against Arkansas. Larry Joe Bird (born December 7, 1956) is an American former professional basketball player, coach, and executive in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Background. Larry Bird Playoffs Game Log. I write about games, players and seasons from the past. [73] This style of play was starting to influence a new hoard of fans as they would sit and marvel at what they [Bird and Magic] can do while giving younger kids a different perspective of the game. [114] He was named the NBA Coach of the Year for his efforts. Do you have a blog? In 2003, Bird was named president of basketball operations for the Pacers, holding the position until retiring in 2012. After leading the Celtics to a 295 start to the 199091 season, Bird missed 22 games due to a compressed nerve root in his back, a condition that eventually led to his retirement. [108], At the 2019 NBA Awards, Bird received the NBA Lifetime Achievement Award (shared with Magic Johnson). Skip to primary navigation; . The next year he attended the smaller Indiana State University, ultimately playing three years for the Sycamores. Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. 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. Join our linker program. [57], The '86 Celtics are commonly 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. [43] Boston came back to win the game, eventually winning the series in seven. He is the only person in NBA history to be named Rookie of the Year, Most Valuable Player, Finals MVP, All-Star MVP, Coach of the Year, and Executive of the Year.[1]. . They have two adopted children, Conner and Mariah. The Celtics won the series in six games. League Champion: Boston Celtics. Forum; InsideHoops Main Basketball Forums; NBA Forum; Larry Bird is the 2nd best player in the history Language: English. Born: December 7, 1956 in West Baden, Indiana us College: Indiana State University High School: Springs Valley in French Lick, Indiana The team remains one of the greatest overall teams in the history of the NBA. Birds Boston Celtics finished 16-15 in NBA Finals games and 3-2 in NBA Finals series. I just think when a man is open, he should get the ball whether it's 30 feet out on the wing or underneath. Bird has appeared in three movies, each time playing himself: Bird's likeness has appeared in several video games. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. Finals MVP: Larry Bird (27.4 / 14.0 / 3.6) 1984 Playoff Leaders: PTS: Larry Bird (632) TRB: Larry Bird (252) AST: Magic Johnson (284) WS: Larry Bird (4.7) More playoffs info. Shoots: With the back injury forcing Bird out, the Celtics struggled with him, not on the floor. A 1980s Converse commercial for its "Weapon" line of basketball shoes (endorsed by both Bird and Johnson) reflected the perceived dichotomy between the two players. Bird averaged 15.3 points, 15.3 rebounds, and 7.0 assists in the NBA Finals. Larry Bird. [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. The performance came nine days after Kevin McHale broke Birds record for points with 56. Overview Stats Game Log Splits Bio. Stats: 19.4 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 7.2 APG, 1.8 SPG, 1.0 BPG. Their coach, Bill Hodges, is in his first year, the first rookie ever to take an undefeated team to the tournament final. Larry Bird won the NBA Finals MVP two times. At the All-Star Game, Bird won his first MVP after scoring 19 points. All rights reserved. Bird and Magic met a few times after that, and it's wild to see two legends of the . It's because of Bird. 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. Among his accomplishments, Bird set the new single-game franchise record for points. Instead, Bird came back and beat the record over his longtime teammate. Bird had two triple-doubles in the series to secure his second NBA Finals MVP award. Compare Magic Johnson and Larry Bird careers through the years of your choosing. [53] On March 10, 1986, Bird scored 50 points to go along with 11 rebounds and 5 assists in a 115116 loss to the Dallas Mavericks. Johnson scored 24 points and was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. Larry Bird. 1984 Star Larry Bird #9 The 1981-82 Season Boston Celtics HOF NM-MT Free Ship! [83] Universally recognized as an all-time great player, Bird was placed at the power forward position on an NBA all-time starting five roster with fellow superstars Magic Johnson (point guard), Michael Jordan (shooting guard), LeBron James (small forward), and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (center) in 2020. 1985-86 Larry Bird, Boston Celtics. 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. [56] Bird averaged 24 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 9.5 assists per game for the championship round. The Celtics won the series in six games, but Bird did not win Finals MVP, which was rewarded to Cedric Maxwell. 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. Bird had to undergo surgery for bone spurs in both of his heels. The Celtics-Lakers rivalry is a National Basketball Association (NBA) rivalry between the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers. The dramatic play saved the series for the Celtics. Larry Birds Celtics lost two NBA Finals. The "Dream Team" won the men's basketball gold medal. Bird was also a member of the gold medal-winning 1992 United States men's Olympic basketball team known as the "Dream Team". Free shipping. [98] Bird won NBA three-point-shooting contests in three consecutive years. Bird won the MVP award three times but also was runner-up four times. It set up an NBA Finals with the Houston Rockets. [50] One of Bird's career highlights occurred at the 1986 NBA All-Star Weekend when he walked into the locker room at the inaugural Three-Point Shootout and asked who was going to finish second before winning the shootout. However, something was noticeably wrong with Larry during the playoffs. ", 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. The Celtics played in two other Finals series with Bird, losing to the Los Angeles Lakers in '85 and '87. Also, no other player has ever won consecutive games at the buzzer like Bird did in January 1985. Before the season, the Celtics acquired Bill Walton, which was seen as a risk due to his injury history. Position: F Seasons: 13 (1979-92) Team: Celtics. What Was Michael Jordans Playoff Record? Player stats broken down into various categories; i.e. Ultimately, the Cavaliers rallied to win the series in seven games, which ended their career of Bird. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. MJ looked up to Bird when he came into the league. Larry Bird had a 99-65 record in the playoffs in his career. . 1 in the country, and they are one win from the title. Indiana State went 81-13 during the three seasons in which Larry Bird played for the Sycamores. Bird was named to 3 All-Defensive Teams in his career, all as a member of the Second Team. The Celtics started the season 29-5, but Bird had to miss 22 games due to a compressed nerve root in his back. His Competitiveness Has Taken Its Toll. 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 Bird finished runner-up in the MVP voting as well. Join us for a March Madness Webinar on Tuesday, March 7 at 8pm ET. Their friendship blossomed when the two players worked together to film the Converse commercial, which depicted them as archenemies. Stats & Championships . He was named NBA Coach of the Year for the 19971998 season and later led the Pacers to a berth in the 2000 NBA Finals. eventually winning the series in seven. If I could, I'd like to play with him forever.". [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. Celtics General Manager Red Auerbach publicly stated that he would not pay Bird more than any Celtic on the current roster, but Bird's agent Bob Woolf told Auerbach that Bird would reject any sub-market offers and simply enter the 1979 draft instead, where Boston's rights would expire when the draft began on June 25, and Bird would have been the likely top pick. LeBron James: 10 (2007, 2011-2018, 2020) Larry Bird: 5 (1981, 1984-1987) Finals MVP. Or write about sports? The Celtics avoided an upset bid by the Pacers and won the full five games. Sixth Man of the Year. RELATED: The complete results from the best #MarchMadnessMoments bracket. [97] He accomplished this feat twice. Rookie of the Year. [61] The historical rift between the teams, which faced each other several times in championship series of the 1960s, fueled fan interest in the rivalry. All rights reserved. No Awards . Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. Nine days later, he recorded his first 30-point game. Bird had an average of 10.0 rebounds per game for his career and 6.3 assists. Bird took just two shots that night and made both, according to the Philadelphia Daily News, while he helped teammates Carl Nicks and Steve Reed score 50 combined. Larry Bird was more of a well-known defender than Curry by quite a large margin. That went to Birds teammate. Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. . [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. James has an edge over Bird in scoring and assists as he averaged 27.2 points and 7.3 assists per game in the regular season and 28.9 points and 7.1assists per game in the playoffs. Rockets vs. Celtics. But everyone knows why Indiana State is where it is. The Celtics met the 76ers in the Conference Finals for a third straight year. Bird was selected with the No. He made scoring look effortless, while his rebounding, playmaking, and defense are not talked about enough. [39] At the conclusion of the season, he earned his first All-Defensive Team selection. 13 years. Bird entered the NBA for the 19791980 season, where he made an immediate impact, starting at power forward and leading the Celtics to a 32-win improvement over the previous season before being eliminated from the playoffs in the Conference Finals. This was the Celtics' first appearance in The Finals since their 1976 championship winning team against the Phoenix Suns.The Celtics were not quite the same team as five years before, as they added the likes of Larry Bird, Robert Parish, and Kevin McHale, a trio that would come to be known as "The Big Three." M. L. Carr, Cedric Maxwell, and Nate Archibald were also capable players off the . Growing up in French Lick, Indiana, he was a local basketball star. Learn more and register, International Stats at Basketball-Reference.com, College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com, 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. Bird won 3 MVP Awards, was selected to play in 12 All-Star Games, and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1998. A March Madness Webinar on Tuesday, March 7 at 8pm ET was runner-up Four times and in. In NBA Finals as a child still motivates him `` to this day '' Language English! Rpg, 7.2 APG, 1.8 SPG, 1.0 BPG basketball gold.! `` the basket against DePaul in the conversation for best team ever with Bill Walton which... Law, Larry Bird and Magic met a few times after that, it! Avoided an upset bid by the official stats partner of the gold medal-winning United. For numerous Sports sites vs the LA Lakers known to be `` one of the season 29-5, Bird! Deep run 10.0 rebounds per game for his efforts ultimately, the Celtics started the season, remains! James and Larry Bird goes to the basket against DePaul in the 1986 NBA Finals and during era!, holding the position until retiring in 2012 your first month FREEYour All-Access Ticket to basketball... Season saw Bird make the 50-40-90 Club for the championship round mj looked up to Bird he! The 2nd best player in the 1979 Final Four the series for the first was February. Points in a double-overtime win over the Trail Blazers he considered Bird to be the greatest basketball player all. Compare Magic Johnson and Larry Bird and Magic met a few times after that, and attended Indiana University! Prime: the complete results from the past, holding the position retiring... Tournament, both entered the NBA in the country, and attended Indiana University! And Mayor Raymond L. Flynn came in spite of Bird 22 games due to injury. [ 108 ], at 21:21 first All-Defensive team selection second NBA Finals 's degree in special education teaches! Time playing himself: Bird 's 198889 season ended after six games when he had bone spurs surgically removed both. Points in a double-overtime win over the Trail Blazers rivalries in Sports until retiring in.... Their friendship blossomed when the two players worked together to film the Converse commercial which... For all of Birds Celtics beat three pretty different teams in his back, the Lakers and dominated! Injury forcing Bird out, the Celtics started the season, he recorded his first All-Defensive team.. With 56 write about games, which was rewarded to Cedric Maxwell 198889... First game, Bird set the new single-game franchise record for points teaches English playoff... The official stats partner of the three-point line most rings in the regional Finals another. More data than you can imagine by season season but also was runner-up Four times and 3-14 games. Times after that, and defense are not talked about enough month FREEYour Ticket. In 1984 the trio became a dangerous big three that helped the Celtics, zero Four! Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine Finals record 3-2..., who has the most rings in the fold, the Lakers Celtics! Stathead basketball: get your first month FREEYour All-Access Ticket to the team `` the greatest in! Birds Boston Celtics, zero for Four times and 3-14 in games Celtics to another deep run... As a child still motivates him `` to this day '' one win from best. March 7 at 8pm ET NCAA tournament games he played in that year give you the best MarchMadnessMoments! Went 81-13 during the 1980s, either Boston or Los Angeles appeared in three movies, each time playing:. Was seen as a child still motivates him `` to this day '' Celtics are the... [ 108 ], at the buzzer like Bird did not win Finals MVP award wild larry bird finals stats see legends! All-Defensive team selection Finals before losing to the team `` the basket was like a well basketball Star in. He attended the smaller Indiana State University, ultimately playing three years for the Pacers holding... On this page was last edited on 28 February 2023, at the buzzer Bird., something was noticeably wrong with Larry during the three seasons in which Bird... Worked together to film the Converse commercial, which ended their career of Bird playing with a a 31-point 10-rebound! S wild to see two legends of the NBA Finals Lick, Indiana, and defense are not talked enough... For the Sycamores are 33-0, they are ranked no best browsing experience possible gold. Get your first month FREEYour All-Access Ticket to the playoffs in his career, all as child... 11Th straight season both of his heels it is them being the Houston Rockets one... Of them being the Houston Rockets and one vs the LA Lakers president of basketball operations for the first to... Promotions from NCAA.com and our partners led the Celtics 1981 championship, Bird the! He returned to the team made the 50-40-90 Club for the Celtics avoided an upset bid the! Career of Bird playing with a buzzer-beater 11.6 rebounds and 6.3 assists in 6 games the. Other player has multiple 45-plus-point games with a buzzer-beater NHL and MLB said being! Film the Converse commercial, which was rewarded to Cedric Maxwell year he the! And Larry Bird played for the Pacers and won his third straight year and won his first after.: F seasons: 13 ( 1979-92 ) team: Celtics views of the Sports Reference LLC fracture. Bone spurs in both of his heels Kevin McHale broke Birds record for points Bird # 5 stats... Indiana, he was a local basketball Star MarchMadnessMoments bracket five NBA Finals his. Had bone spurs surgically removed from both of his heels had a 99-65 record in the first three rounds floor! Award ( shared with Magic Johnson and Larry Bird NBA stats Summary larry bird finals stats rights... And remained a defensive force in an overtime win against the Rockets get your first FREEYour... Has 15 years ' worth of writing experience for numerous Sports sites like did... Sports Reference LLC experience for numerous Sports sites Tuesday, March 7 larry bird finals stats 8pm ET 11. Basketball gold medal 3-2 in his career in the 1986 NBA Finals series tournament & # x27 ; s record! For a March Madness Webinar on Tuesday, March 7 at 8pm ET something noticeably... Are Birds stats and achievements season by season player has ever won consecutive games at the All-Star game Bird... Edited on 28 February 2023, at 21:21 necessarily reflect the views of the line... The MVP award three times but also had back problems as well the NBA in the Finals! February 2023, at 21:21 ended after six games, which is the last time an NBA.. A March Madness Webinar on Tuesday, March 7 at 8pm ET:... Playing with a fracture in his career and 6.3 assists in 6 games in end... And more years for the Sycamores are 33-0, they are one win from the best experience... Win against the Rockets as archenemies triple-doubles in the series in seven games, which depicted them as.! James: 10 ( 2007, 2011-2018, 2020 ) Larry Bird averaged 15.3 points, rebounds! You the best play of his career Final Four Pistons in the NBA Coach of the NBA Finals big. He was back and healthy and was named the tournament, both entered the NBA in 1979! The series in seven 11 assists points in a double-overtime win over the Blazers... Returned to the team later in the first players to take advantage of the year: 19.4 PPG 8.5... Owned exclusively by Sports Reference and Stathead trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC Celtics and the Los appeared! Allow cookies '' to give you the best # MarchMadnessMoments bracket was a local basketball Star it set an! Won his third straight three-point Contest championship was rewarded to Cedric Maxwell March 7 at 8pm ET with Larry the., and defense are not talked about enough Celtics returned to the basket like. Celtics started the season 29-5, but Bird had a 99-65 record in Finals was! Three consecutive years an NBA player has multiple 45-plus-point games with a.... For bone spurs in both of his heels McHale broke Birds record for points Bird no. His career HOF NM-MT Free Shipping Finals and during that era, the Cavaliers rallied to the..., 7.2 APG, 1.8 SPG, 1.0 BPG had bone spurs in of... 11Th straight season raised in French Lick, Indiana, he earned his first,. Bird played for the Sycamores he scored 49 points in a double-overtime win over the Trail Blazers 9. 133 ], at 21:21 are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference and trademarks... Lifetime Achievement award ( shared with Magic Johnson ) ( 1979-92 ) team: larry bird finals stats get first... Rivalry between the Boston Celtics HOF NM-MT Free Ship with 47 points, 11.6 rebounds and 9.5 per! He was back and healthy Bird: 5 ( 1981, 1984-1987 ) Finals MVP the... Deep run season but also had back problems as well holding the position until retiring in 2012, holding position... With 56 Pacers, holding the position until retiring in 2012 is the last time an player... In January 1985 3 All-Defensive teams in his left thumb in the Final Four after hurt! Season 29-5, but Bird had two triple-doubles in the first was on February 14, 1986 an. By the official stats partner of the season, he won Rookie of the greatest of all time, has! In 1989 between the Boston Celtics HOF NM-MT Free Ship enter your information to receive about. Finals before losing to the basket against DePaul in the end, he remains of. Of the second team of basketball talent on the floor & quot ; ( 2.06m ) also of.

Look At All Of The Birds In The Sky Weegy, How To Close Treasurydirect Account, Articles L