Early Life and High School Career
Larry Bird was born in 1956 in French Lick, Indiana. He was the son of a man who had been a professional basketball player, and a mother who had been a college basketball player. When he was growing up, he idolized both his parents and dreamed of being a basketball player. Bird attended Springs Valley High School, and played for their basketball team. In his junior year, the team made it to the state finals, where they lost. That year, Bird scored 25 points per game, a state record for juniors at the time. In his senior year, the team lost in the state semi-finals. Bird won many awards during his high school career, including the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame Induction for his high school career.
Larry Bird Springs Valley High School highlights
College and Drafting to the NBA
After graduating from high school, Bird attended Indiana State University, where he continued to play basketball. He became a starter during his sophomore year, and his team made it to the NCAA Tournament. But they lost in the first round. During his junior year, his team made it to the Elite Eight, where they lost to UNLV. In the 1978–1979 season, the team made it to the championship game, where they lost to Michigan State University. After completing his junior year, he decided to enter the 1979 NBA draft. The Boston Celtics selected him with the sixth pick in the first round of the draft. After playing two seasons with the Celtics, he helped the team win the NBA championships in both 1981 and 1984.
The Story of How the Boston Celtics Drafted Larry Bird | NBC Sports Boston
Professional Career with the Boston Celtics
During his 13 seasons with the Boston Celtics, Bird was an NBA All-Star every year except for his last season. He was also named the league MVP three times and was selected to the All-NBA First Team nine times. His most remarkable achievement, however, is that he had a career-winning percentage of 69 percent, which is the highest of any NBA player. He was also renowned for his shooting and passing ability, hustle, uncompromising attitude, and remarkable success. Bird retired after the 1992–1993 season, ending his career as one of the best to ever play the game.
Larry Bird 50 Greatest Moments | NBATV Doco | 1080p
Legacy and Accomplishments
Larry Bird is a basketball legend who was able to make his mark on the sport during his 13 seasons with the Boston Celtics. His career spanned from 1979–1992 and he won three NBA championships during this time. During his career, Bird scored over 21,000 points, collected over 10,000 rebounds, and won three NBA titles. He was named the league MVP three times and was selected to the All-NBA First Team nine times. He is widely considered one of the greatest players of all time and is the model of hard work and dedication for young athletes aspiring to make it in the NBA.
Personal Life
In 1986, Bird married his college sweetheart, Kimberly Conrad. The couple had three children together and remained married until Conrad died in 2019, two years after Bird's passing. The bird was a devout Christian and was very public about his faith. He was involved in many charities and his contributions were recognized by the NBA which named him the NBA Community Ambassador in 2001.
Philanthropy and Endorsements
Besides playing basketball, Bird was also very involved in philanthropy. He was part of the Hoosier Health Initiative, which helped people with diabetes in Indiana. The bird was also a spokesperson for Ameriquest and was involved in several charities such as the Special Olympics, Make a Wish Foundation, United Way, and the Whitney Young Health Center. He was also a member of the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports. The bird was named the NBA Community Ambassador in 2001. The title came with a large paycheck and allowed him to give back to his home state. He used the money to open up the Silver and Black Club in his hometown of French Lick. The center had a basketball court, computer lab, weight room, and a place to hold functions. In 2002, he also signed a deal with Converse that would pay him 20 million dollars over 10 years.
Quotes and Popular Sayings
“The only thing that I can control is what happens between the white lines.”
“No one is going to remember how many points you scored. They only remember the wins and losses.”
“At the end of the day, you’re judged by your winning and losing percentage.”
“I’ll use what I’ve got, and try to make the most out of it for myself and my family.”
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