Bird is one of the best shooters in the history of the sport. [6] He stepped down again in 2017, but stayed with the team in an advisory capacity. The first regular-season game between the Celtics and the Lakers in the 198788 season proved to be a classic with Magic Johnson banking in an off-balance shot from near the three-point line at the buzzer for a 115114 Lakers win at Boston Garden. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. He was a great scorer, rebounder, passer, and defender. "I tell my wife all the time, 'You don't see many 7-footers walking around at the age of 75,'" says Bird, who's 6-foot-9. Tayshaun Prince broke out in the Detroit Pistons championship run of 2004. He played for the Celtics during his entire professional career (13 seasons), leading them to five NBA finals appearances and three NBA championships. It seems every time he steps on a court he is a threat for a triple double, and a lot of that can attributed to his ridiculous wingspan. [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. A recent promotional poster out of New Orleans shows Davis with a 77 wingspan. [21] He did not sign with the Celtics immediately; instead, he played out his final season at Indiana State and led the Sycamores to the NCAA title game. Remarkably Leonards wingspan may not be his freakiest attribute, as that would go to his hand size. Durant is a prime example that elite length, when combined with elite skills, make a truly special player. [21] In the Conference Finals, Boston was eliminated by the Philadelphia 76ers. Bird knows all about the problems with 7-footers and their health, and despite his wife's aversion to wanting to hear about it, reaching 75 years old isn't something Bird, 59 and now president of the Pacers, necessarily expects to accomplish. 2. This is another case of parents being relatively short to their son. All Rights Reserved. [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. Unlike the other popular wing players of his generation, such as Julius Erving, Michael Jordan, and Dominique Wilkins, Bird did not have the hops to jump over opponents. Name: Larry Bird Birth Year: 1956 Birth date: December 7, 1956 Birth State: Indiana Birth City: West Baden Springs Birth Country: United States Gender: Male Best Known For: Basketball icon Larry. Many people following the NBA would love to see Bird play in todays era of basketball. A triple-double in basketball is a term used to describe the impactful performance of a player that achieved a double-digit number in three of the five statistical basketball categories of points, assists, rebounds, steals, and blocked shots. Johnson and the Spartans triumphed, but Larry Bird left Indiana State that year with the USBWA College Player of the Year Award, the Naismith Award and the Wooden Award. Charles Barkley has been quoted saying McHale was the best player he ever played against. The World's Most Entertaining Car Website. NBA 2K users have loved playing as Larry Legend not just because of his ability to score from anywhere on the court, but also because of his versatile game. Note, this is done in an automated way, so we apologize for any errors, & please. [120] He continued to serve as an advisor until July, 2022, when he "stepped back from maintaining an active role with the Indiana Pacers". You can use it on Post Spin Technician to allow your player to be more effective inside the paint. [67] Wilkins remarked, "The basket was like a well. Lastly, the wingspan can be reduced to around 83.0 inches. A 6-foot-9 forward who could dribble, pass and shoot the way Bird could made him one of the greatest NBA players we've ever seen and will ever see. If it goes, it goes.". Join our newsletter! A 6-foot-9 forward who could dribble, pass and shoot the way Bird could made him one of the greatest NBA players. 5. He is a 6'6 player, and he's held his own thanks to a 260 pound base and a 7'3 wingspan. Available in DWG (CAD, Imperial &Metric), SVG, JPG formats, For 3D Downloads of this element, upgrade to a Dimensions Pro Membership. Nicknamed " the Hick from French Lick " and " Larry Legend ", Bird is widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all time. The smallest report records it at 78, while the largest account has it at 84 inches. [98] Bird won NBA three-point-shooting contests in three consecutive years. This is a very scary thought for a lot of NBA players, both past and present. Larry Bird weighed 220 lbs (99 kg) when playing. But I recommend opting for defense/rebounding instead. KG Living Legend Don Nelson Posts: 8383 You will often hear basketball pundits state that a player has great length. As listed, his height is 6 ft 9 inches (2.06m), and his weight is 220lb (100kg). As the big three start to fade out in San Antonio, Leonard will become the face of the franchise. Fade Ace This provides a shot boost to post fadeaways. CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. Commissioner.com is a registered trademark of CBS Interactive Inc. site: media | arena: nba | pageType: stories | Larry Bird was inducted to the Hall of Fame as a Player in 1998 (Full List) A 6-foot 9-inch (2.06-metre) forward, he was known for his unflappable confidence and clutch shooting ability, which together created an intimidating presence on the court. Celebrity Fan Photos and Agency Pictures of stars are to their respective owners. Larry Bird's wingspan is 86.9 inches. Larry Bird played the small forward and power forward positions at a height of 6'9" (2.06 m). 4. 100 kg or 220.5 lbs. He was briefly married to first wife Janet Condra from 1975-76 and has a daughter with her named Corrie. Bird also led the Celtics in rebounding, with an average of 10.4 per game, as well as in steals and minutes played. [104], Bird was known for his trash-talking on the court and is remembered as one of the most notable trash-talkers of his era. [116], In 2003, Bird was hired as the Pacers' president of basketball operations. Larry Bird Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft Status and more | Basketball-Reference.com Larry Bird 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) More bio, uniform, draft, salary info Hall of Fame 12x All Star Kareem's father, Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor Sr., was fairly tall at 6'2". Former NBA coach Hubie Brown had this to say about McHale: "He was totally unstoppable because of his quickness, diversification of moves and the long arms that gave him an angle to release the ball over a taller man or more explosive jumper." LeBron was definitely a better player. Even though he was a superstar, he also had no problem doing the dirty work, like playing hard-nose defense and hustling for loose balls. With proper medication, exercise and diet, atrial fibrillation can be controlled, but Bird abhorred medication and was prone to skipping his pills. Along with Johnson, who also entered the NBA in 1979 with the Los Angeles Lakers, Bird was a key figure in revitalizing the league in the 1980s. Anonymous. He complemented his all-around game with accurate outside shooting and unmatched bravado. Despite no previous coaching experience, he led the Pacers to a 58-24 record the franchise's best at the time in the 1997-98 season and was named the NBA Coach of the Year. Taller individuals have more growth hormone, which accumulates more damage and dysfunction at a faster pace, and tend to have shorter life expectancies due to rapid aging. Everyone knows that Manute Bol was the tallest player in NBA history, but he also possessed the largest wingspan. He couldn't miss. That length has made him one of the best point guard defenders. [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. Springs Valley in French Lick, Indiana, Draft: [84], "Larry, you only told me one lie. In setting your players potential, be sure to maximize shooting and playmaking attributes, particularly the mid-range shot, three-point shot, free throw, pass accuracy, and ball handle. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. His extra length allows him to keep the ball away from incoming defenders, making for some spectacular finishes. McHale stood 610 and was reported to have a colossal wingspan that stretched to 80. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. Want updates on new Dimensions content? [45] The performance came just nine days after Kevin McHale set the previous Celtics record for points in a game with 56. Boston Celtics, 1st round (6th pick, 6th overall), 1978 NBA Draft, Hall of Fame: Inducted as Player in 1998 (Full List), More Larry Bird pages at Sports Reference. Although he announced his departure around that time, he reclaimed his post as team president in the summer of 2013. Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? His elite wingspan has allowed him to dominant the game over the last 10 years, and he has carved himself out a Hall of Fame worthy career. The three-time MVP helped redefine the position and his battles with Magic Johnson and the Los Angeles Lakers is the standard for NBA rivalry even today. The best they can do is continue to monitor their health, try to keep up with working out, and hope for the best. Anthony Davis is one of the leagues biggest stars. 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. [86] He had 1,556 career steals. When adjusting your players height, you can just copy Birds real height. What you want to prioritize are those that will help you make shots even if defenders are right by you. 6. [25], In his rookie season (19791980), Bird immediately transformed the Celtics into a title contender. [54], With averages of 25.8 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 6.8 assists, and 2 steals per game, Bird became just the third player in NBA history to win three consecutive MVP Awards. Even after his retirement as a professional basketball player, Larry Birds name still comes up in the NBA because of his coaching skills and the executive role he holds in the NBA. West only stood 62 which would make his wingspan 9.5% greater than his height. Navigation Toggle NBA. Lastly, the wingspan can be reduced to around 83.0 inches. 4:15 pm ET. The Hick from the French Lick has got yellow-toned tan skin. Unfortunately, a trade-off with this player archetype is that there will be fewer points available for the others. ", -Magic Johnson, as quoted at Bird's retirement party. the official stats partner of the NBA, NHL and MLB. . Between them, Bird and Johnson captured eight NBA championships during the 1980s, with Magic getting five and Bird three. Biography and associated logos are trademarks of A+E Networksprotected in the US and other countries around the globe. [69] Following Bird's departure, the Celtics promptly retired his jersey number 33. [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. home/away, monthly, etc More Larry Bird Basketball Reference pages. [20] Bird also appeared in one game for the baseball team, going 1-for-2 with 2 RBI. In 2003, Bird was named president of basketball operations for the Pacers, holding the position until retiring in 2012. Larry Bird NBA 2K23 Nationality: United States Team: All-Time Boston Celtics Archetype: 2-Way 3-Level Point Forward Position: SF / PF Height: 6'9" (206cm) | Weight: 220lbs (99kg) Jersey: #33 Prior to NBA: Indiana State University Ranks #8 out of 459 All-Time NBA Players Ranks #31 out of all NBA Players on 2K Compare Larry Bird Badges 3 4 23 9 39 And TMac is easily 6'8 or 6'9. Bird returned to the Pacers as president of basketball operations in 2013,[6] and remained in that role until 2017. Oops! Because of this, you can just focus on what Bird was exceptionally good at. [75] It was the first time in the United States' Olympic history that the country sent NBA players to compete. On the opening night of the 2014 season, he went for 26 points, 17 boards, 3 steals, and 9 blocks. I agree to receive the "CBS Sports HQ Newsletter" and marketing communications, updates, special offers (including partner offers), and other information from CBS Sports and the Paramount family of companies. That length helped him become one of the most prolific shot blocker in league history. I've got a theory that if you give 100 percent all of the time, somehow things will work out in the end. He led the league in rebounds twice and during the 2000s he averaged 10.2 rebounds a game. However, by then his formerly relentless attack on the court had been slowed by a bad back. Charles Barkley was measured at 6 ft 4 5/8, Jordan is anywhere from 6 ft 4 to 6 ft 4 1/2. Along with Larry Bird, and Robert Parish, McHale formed the most dominant front line in NBA history. While standing 77, Bols wingspan was an unheard of 86. at [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. Because as previously discussed, Bird was an outstanding shooter. Other vital statistics like weight or shoe size measurements have been sourced from newspapers, books, resumes or social media.