[21] He eventually finished runner-up in Most Valuable Player Award voting to Moses Malone. Following an attempted reconciliation, Bird and Condra had a daughter, Corrie, in 1977. You said there will be another Larry Bird. At the end of the 2011-12 season, he was named NBA Executive of the Year, making him the only person to be named the NBA's MVP, Coach of the Year and Executive of the Year. Celebrity Fan Photos and Agency Pictures of stars are to their respective owners. The way you will be building your character will give you a lot of potential badge upgrades under the shooting category. Rajon Rondo's length at the point guard position makes him a one of a kind player. 7. At least partially as a result of this, he experienced back problems for the remainder of his career. Bird stands 6-foot-9, and his listed weight during his playing days was 220 lbs. Bird has been married to Dinah Mattingly since 1989. Larry Legend, The Hick from French Lick, Kodak, The Great White Hope are nicknames for Larry Bird. His name is imprinted twice in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and besides being named Player of the Year frequently, he has received coach for the Year and Executive of the Year awards. Larry Bird weighed 220 lbs (99 kg) when playing. [80][81] He was inducted into the Hall of Fame again in 2010, as a member of the "Dream Team". Bol is 15th all time in blocked shots with 2,086, but he did that in only 11,698 minutes. [23], Bird was selected by the Boston Celtics with the sixth overall pick in the 1978 NBA draft. 9. [119] Bird returned to the Pacers as president of basketball operations in 2013. Brand was a great post defender and shot blocker, as he averaged 2 blocks a game from 2001-2008. Johnson appeared at Bird's retirement ceremony on February 4, 1993, and emotionally described Bird as a "friend forever".[63]. Thats both confident and cold-blooded. However, the sharpshooting forward felt some trepidation about the size of the Hoosier campus and withdrew from school, enrolling at Indiana State the next year. A recent promotional poster out of New Orleans shows Davis with a 77 wingspan. Davis stands 610, and, at the 2012 pre-draft combine, was measured to have a 75 wing span. Larry Bird averaged 24.3 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 6.3 assists per game. The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. Larry Bird. [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. That athleticism when combined with his physical attributes is going to reign terror over this league for many years, and it is going to be an utter joy to watch. One report claims McHale could tie his shoes without having to bend over. [75] It was the first time in the United States' Olympic history that the country sent NBA players to compete. This has lead some to believe that he is still growing, while most believe it is just a case of the Pelicans stretching the truth a little. Special Delivery Improves the chances of connecting with an alley-oop pass and increases the shot percentage of teammates who receive a flashy pass from the player. On the offensive side, superior wingspan allows a shooter to have less shots contested, as he can get the ball further away from a defender. LIVE. The reason for doing so is not just due to Bird being a proficient shooter and facilitator, but also because you will find out later that increasing the height will decrease these attributes. Larry Bird's Height 6ft 9 (205.7 cm) Former American basketball player, who played with The Boston Celtics. [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. Nicknamed "Larry Legend" or "The Hick from French Lick," Bird played the small forward and power forward positions. The Boston Celtics won the NBA Championship thrice under his work, making Bird the NBA Most Valuable Player three times. Data Provided By [8] Bird's parents were of Irish, Scottish and some Native American descent. Hit the button below and we'll send this post to your inbox! Then you have a player like Dwyane Wade who is 65, but has a wingspan of 610. Slippery Off-Ball Increases the players chances of shaking off an opponent when attempting to get open using off-ball screens. [4] After retiring as a player, Bird served as head coach of the Indiana Pacers from 1997 to 2000. Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Friday, March 3, 6:45PM. Larry Bird (Larry Legend; The Hick from French Lick) Position: Forward 6-9, 220lb (206cm, 99kg) School: Indiana State (Men) Draft: Boston Celtics, 1st round (6th pick, 6th overall), 1978 NBA draft. NBA 2K23 Larry Bird Packs Card Name Overall Position Offense Defense Height Wingspan Weight Badges Total Stats Larry Bird Premium End Game 99 SF/PF 99 99 6'9 7'0 220 lbs 0, 0, 0, 80 3366 Larry Bird Premium Invincible 99 PG/SF 99 99 6'9 7'0 220 lbs 0, 0, 13, 65 3365 Larry Bird Premium Continue reading "NBA 2K23 Larry Bird Packs Card Challenge" Great wingspan measurements comes from players of all heights. As morbid as the subject is, Bird doesn't really duck away from it and what it means for him and his family. 2002 NBA Pre Draft Measurement 2002 NBA Pre-Draft Camp Measurements Player Ht. His most famous steal was in Game 5 of the 1987 Eastern Conference Finals. A confirmation email has been sent. Scottie Pippen stood 68 inches, but had a wingspan of 73, which is modest in comparison to some of the other players on this list, but Pippen used that length to its full extent. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Following his junior year, Bird was selected with the sixth overall pick in the NBA draft by the Boston Celtics. Here's what the science reveals. 4. The legend was quite ahead of his time. [114] Bird resigned his head coaching position shortly after the end of the 2000 season, following through on his initial promise to coach for only three years. Of course, there are some who prefer using a player based on his archrival, Magic Johnson. [25], In his rookie season (19791980), Bird immediately transformed the Celtics into a title contender. [64][65][66] Bird finished with 34 points. When Kawhi Leonard took home the NBA playoff MVP, he became the second youngest player to do so, as only Magic Johnson (who did it twice before the age of 23) did it younger. This ratio is one of the higher percentages for players who have played in the NBA. Join us for a March Madness Webinar on Tuesday, March 7 at 8pm ET. Lastly, the wingspan can be reduced to around 83.0 inches. 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. The other shooting badges you should look to upgrade are Catch & Shoot, Corner Specialist, Difficult Shots, Fade Ace, Slippery Off-Ball, and Volume Shooter. A persons wingspan is the measurement from the tips of one finger to the other. KG Living Legend Don Nelson Posts: 8383 And to show you how skill beats jumping ability and athleticism, during his 13-year NBA career from 1979 to 1992, he won 3 championship rings with the Celtics. The Celtics reached the playoffs in every one of Bird's 13 seasons, although he missed most of the 1988-89 season due to injury, and added titles in 1984 and 1986. Find out for yourself how a player like him would fare against this generations crop of basketball players by developing the best Larry Bird build in NBA 2K22. While standing 77, Bols wingspan was an unheard of 86. [21] Boston advanced through the playoffs to earn a rematch with the Lakers, this time losing in six games. Larry Bird was 6'9" no wingspan numbers but he had average looking arms. That is a 12% increase in wingspan from his height. Larry Bird cemented his legacy in the sport by leading the Boston Celtics to three championships in the 1980s. What we do know is Chamberlain stood about 71, while his wingspan is up for debate. This will allow your player to move faster when there are rebound opportunities. [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. On the offensive side of the ball, Rondo like to drive with a scooping layup. Your submission has been received! Larry Bird made at least $25,870,000 playing professional basketball. He played for the Celtics during his entire professional career (13 seasons), leading them to five NBA finals appearances and three NBA championships. 6'9" (2.06m) WEIGHT. Answer (1 of 14): Jordan supposedly being shorter than his listed 6'6 NBA height is not unfounded, as he was listed at 6'4 for the 1992 Olympics. He chose to return to Indiana State for one more year and led the Sycamores to the NCAA championship game against the Michigan State Spartans, a team led by another future NBA superstar, Ervin .css-47aoac{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-thickness:0.0625rem;text-decoration-color:inherit;text-underline-offset:0.25rem;color:#A00000;-webkit-transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;}.css-47aoac:hover{color:#595959;text-decoration-color:border-link-body-hover;}"Magic" Johnson. But I recommend opting for defense/rebounding instead. He is a 6'6 player, and he's held his own thanks to a 260 pound base and a 7'3 wingspan. 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. The most accurate reports found that West had an 81 inch wingspan, which would translate to 69. [101] In recognition of his defensive abilities, Bird was named to three All-Defensive Second Teams. D raft E xpress. But Don't Bet That He Won't Be Back", "Larry Bird stepping down from Pacers post", "For 2nd time, Hall-of-Famer Bird resigns as Pacers president", "Larry Bird resigns as Pacers president, Kevin Pritchard to take over", "Pacers' Larry Bird is NBA Executive of the Year", "Indiana Pacers part ways with Larry Bird", "Bird Steps Down; Pritchard Named President of Basketball Operations", "Larry Bird No Longer Has an Active Role with the Pacers, Confirms Kevin Pritchard", NBA unveils redesigned Larry O'Brien, Bill Russell trophies, announces new conference finals MVP awards - CBS Sports.com, 1992 U.S. OLYMPIC MENS BASKETBALL TEAM - Team USA.org, "2017 Class of FIBA Hall of Fame: Dream Team", "FULL VERSION: McDonald's Commercial with LeBron James and Dwight Howard", "Twitter's Logo Is Named After Larry Bird", "Larry Bird is Always on Twitter Even Without Having an Account", "ESPN Classic - Bird had eye for victory", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Larry_Bird&oldid=1142161893, Trophy named in Bird's honor (Larry Bird Trophy) awarded to Eastern Conference Finals MVP (established in 2022), 1992 Olympic gold medal (U.S. national team). The losses of Moses Malone (60 years old), Darryl Dawkins (58), Anthony Mason (48), Christian Welp (51) and Jack Haley (51) all in the last year are a reminder of Bird's and others' contemporaries and peers during their playing days passing away far too young. With proper medication, exercise and diet, atrial fibrillation can be controlled, but Bird abhorred medication and was prone to skipping his pills. 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. 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. Biography and associated logos are trademarks of A+E Networksprotected in the US and other countries around the globe. You can use it on Post Spin Technician to allow your player to be more effective inside the paint. Clutch Shooter Shot attempts made during the final moments of the fourth quarter or overtime receive a large boost. So much so, that Charles Barkley even admitted that he wasn't 6'6, but . Charles Barkley has been quoted saying McHale was the best player he ever played against. Small Forward and Power Forward Chew on these numbers for a moment. [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 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. Prince was never a skilled offensive player, but has been one of the best perimeter defenders of the last decade. Bird returned to the Pacers in 2003 as president of basketball operations. Howard makes up for his height with an elite wingspan that measures 75. Thus, you have to upgrade the Break Starter badge. The team improved its win total by 32 games from the year before he was drafted and finished first in the Eastern Conference. This will give your shooting attributes a bit of a boost. His time leading the Boston Celtics was one of the most spectacular stretches of basketball you could imagine. 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. The "Dream Team" won the men's basketball gold medal. Mock Archives 2017 Mock Draft 2016 Mock Draft . He complemented his all-around game with accurate outside shooting and unmatched bravado. It seems like Leonard is only starting to scratch the surface of what he can do with such freaky physical attributes.