Larry Bird

Larry Bird is a former NBA player, coach, and executive (NBA). “The Hick from French Lick” and “Larry Legend” were his nicknames. Bird is largely considered to be one of the all-time great basketball players.

About Larry Bird |  Family

Larry Bird was born on December 7, 1956, in West Baden Springs, Indiana, and raised in French Lick.

After his parents divorced and his father committed himself when he was in high school, he had to deal with emotional turmoil. As a result, Larry’s family had financial difficulties.

Bird has three brothers, Mike, Mark, Jeff, and Eddie, as well as a sister, Linda. Georgia, his mother, struggled to raise the six children after her divorce and husband’s demise.

Larry Legend was affected by all of his family’s tragedies because he abandoned his family, but this motivated him to pursue his dream of becoming a basketball player.

He became a sportsman as a basketball player, which allowed him to flee his family’s issues.

Education

He has been a top player since his high school days at Spring Valley High School when he averaged 31 points, 21 rebounds, and four assists as a senior.

Bird won a scholarship to Indiana State University in 1974 after demonstrating his ability as a standout player in high school.

Larry, however, was unable to complete his studies in Indiana owing to unforeseen circumstances.

Just a year before Indiana, the American athlete returned to French Lick and enrolled at Northwood University.

Moreover, he is a graduate in Physical Education with a Bachelor of Science in 1979.

On the other hand, he had a good college basketball career as well. He earned multiple trophies during his college career, including the Naismith College Player of the Year Award.

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Professional Life and Career

Larry was drafted by the Boston Celtics in 1978, but he declined to join the team because he wanted to finish his senior year at Indiana University.

The Celtics had opted not to pay Bird any more than the other players, but he finally signed a five-year, $3.25 million contract with them, making him the highest-paid rookie in his career.

With Bird’s addition to the squad, the Celtics’ performance improved when compared to the previous season’s 32 games.

As a result of his outstanding play with the Celtics, he was named to the All-Star team and awarded the title of Rookie of the Year.

He was a Celtics player until he retired, but he was always a part of the team as an advisor.

Bird also competed in the World University Games in Sofia in 1977, winning gold with the US team, and in the Summer Olympics in 1992.

Highlights And Achievements

The 63-year-career old’s has always been marked by a string of accomplishments, which he has acquired via his persistent and laborious efforts, as well as his classy and energetic resolve.

His passion for basketball began in high school and culminated with his becoming the most valuable aid rookie of all time for the Boston Celtics.

In 1980, the bird was selected Rookie of the Year. With the Boston Celtics, Larry Bird won the NBA title three times in 1981, 1984, and 1986.

In addition, in the years 1984, 1985, and 1986, he earned three consecutive NBA MVP trophies.

He was a 12-time NBA All-Star and twice reached the NBA MVP finals in 1984 and 1986.

The bird was also the first individual to be named NBA MVP, NBA Coach of the Year, and NBA Executive all at the same time.

Similarly, Bird and Jhonson shared the NBA Lifetime Achievement Award on June 24, 2019.

He was voted No. 30 on ESPN Sports Century’s Top 50 athletes in 1996 and No. 30 on ESPN Sports Century’s Top 50 athletes in 1999.

Awards

• Three-time NBA champion (1981, 1984, 1986)
• Two-time NBA Finals MVP (1984, 1986)
• From 1984 to 1986, he was named NBA Most Valuable Player three times.
• NBA All-Star 12 times (1980–1988, 1990–1992)
• MVP of the NBA All-Star Game (1982)
• From 1980 to 1988, he was named to the NBA First Team nine times.
• Second Team All-NBA (1990)
• From 1982 through 1984, he was named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team three times.
• Rookie of the Year in the NBA (1980)
• From 1986 through 1988, he won the NBA 3-Point Shootout three times.
• 50–40–90 club twice (1987, 1988)
• Athlete of the Year (AP) (1986)
• The Boston Celtics have retired No. 33. The NBA’s All-Time Team for the 50th Anniversary
• College player of the year in the United States (1979)
• Consensus first-team All-American twice (1978, 1979)
• NABC, UPI third-team All-American (1977)
• MVC Player of the Year two years in a row (1978, 1979)
• Indiana State University has retired No. 33.

Career Stats

Year	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
Playoffs	164	162	42.0	.472	.321	.890	10.3	6.5	1.8	0.9	23.8
Career	897	870	38.4	.496	.376	.886	10.0	6.3	1.7	0.8	24.3
All-Star	10	9	28.7	.423	.231	.844	7.9	4.1	2.3	0.3	13.4

Relationship Status

Larry Legend married Janet Condra in 1975, but after a year of marriage, they began to have problems, which nearly led to their divorce.

They did, however, reconcile for a time and have a daughter, Corrie, before divorcing completely in 1977. Bird married Dinah Mattingly in 1989, and the pair has two children together.

Bird’s early upbringing was marred by emotional and financial turmoil following the death of his father, Claude Joseph, a Korean War veteran.

Larry indicated in multiple interviews that his upbringing had always kept him motivated, even despite all of his current success and financial comfort.

Rumors of Scandals and Injury

Larry injured his back while shoveling crushed rock to create a driveway at his mother’s house during the 1985 NBA season. As a result, he has had back difficulties ever since.

Furthermore, the basketball player was forced to retire at the age of 36 due to back fusion surgery. Bird has been accused of being overrated on numerous occasions.

Regardless, he was always adored.

Eric James Trophy, who was convicted of robbery with intent to kill, once begged that his 30-year sentence be lowered to 33 years so that he may wear the same number as Larry Bird.

Net Worth | Larry Bird

The Indiana native was the highest-paid rookie of the year, earning $3.25 million over five years with the Celtics, an average of $650,000 a year.

Until his retirement in 1992, the bird had played 879 games in his career.

The NBA’s greatest basketball player continued to work as a coach and executive, which had helped him overcome the low-income lifestyle he had experienced as a child, which he had described in multiple interviews.

Larry Bird’s net worth is currently believed to be more than $75 million. The renowned player was the first to earn $5 million in his career.

Aside from that, during his NBA career, the basketballer earned $24,070,000. He was paid the most in the 1991-92 season, $7,070,000.

He’s also dabbled in the business world, having owned a hotel, restaurant, and auto dealership in Indiana.

Similarly, a well-known celebrity earns a salary through endorsement deals with companies like Heinz Corporation.

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Body Measurement | Hair, Height, Eyes

Larry Bird is a handsome man with dark brown hair and brown eyes. The skin of the Hick from the French Lick is yellow-toned tan.

His height and weight are reported as 6 feet 9 inches (2.06m) and 220 pounds, respectively (100kg).

Larry appears to be in good shape and has an athletic body, but he had to have back fusion surgery, which forced him to retire from football.

He is currently in his 60s, and his body is no longer as athletic as it once was. Bird’s hair has faded significantly, but he still has those gorgeous blue eyes.

Social Media

The logo of Twitter is dedicated to and named after basketball legend Larry Bird, implying that he influenced it.

However, it appears that Bird himself does not enjoy utilizing social media, as there are no personal accounts to be found, even though a number of his fan pages can be found on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

Larry Bird’s official fansite keeps his followers up to date on his newest news, accomplishments, and photos.

Last year, on his birthday, he received a tweet from Boston sports, wishing him a happy birthday. Unfortunately, the account has been suspended for an extended period.

On Instagram, Larry Legend’s fan page has over 28.3k followers. He hasn’t posted since February 8, 2015, and there are only 27 postings.

Aside from that, there have been several documentaries about Bird’s life and career have been released. Magic & Bird: A Courtship of Rivals, Celtics/Lakers: Best of Enemies, Larry Bird: A Basketball Legend, and others are among them.

Frequently Asked Question:

What is the name of Larry Bird’s wife?

Dinah Mattingly is the famous basketballer’s wife. He was previously married to Janet Condra from 1975 until 1976.

What exactly is Larry Bird up to these days?

Bird is currently enjoying his life apart from basketball. He just resigned as president of the Indiana Pacers, stating,

“I’m 60 years old, and I’d like to do something other than basketball. I’ll do some scouting for the Pacers in the NBA, college, and internationally, as well as make occasional appearances and continue to advise senior basketball management.”

Quick Facts | Larry Bird

Full Name	Larry Joe Bird
Birth Date	December 7, 1956
Birth Place	West Baden Springs, Indiana, United States of America
Nick Name	The Hick from French Lick and Larry Legend
Religion	Christianity
Nationality	American
Ethnicity	Caucasian
Education	High school from Springs Valley (French Lick, Indiana) College from Indiana State (1976-1979)
Horoscope	Sagittarius
Father’s Name	Claude Joseph “Joe” Bird
Mother’s Name	Georgia
Siblings	Yes (Ally Elaine Smith)
Age	65 Years Old
Height	6’9″(2.06 m)
Weight	220 lb (100 kg) may vary now
Shoe Size	17
Hair Color	Blonde
Eye Color	Grey
Body Measurement	Unknown
Figure	Athletic
Married	Yes
Wife	Janet Condra Dinah Mattingly
Children	3 children
Profession	Basketball Player, Coach, and executive
Net Worth	$75 million
Position	Small Forward/Power Forward
Jersey Number	#33
Affiliations	NBA
Active Since	Playing career (1979-1992): Boston Celtics Coaching career(1997-2000): Indiana Pacers
Merch	Jersey, Posters, Autographed Basketball, Rookie Card
Social Media	Twitter, Instagram
Last Update	April 2022