 |
|
|
|
|
|
Bird, Larry
- 1992 Olympic gold medalist, co-captain of The Dream Team
- 12-time NBA All-Star (1980-88, 1990-92)
- Three-time NBA World champion (1981, 1984, 1986)
- Named to the NBA 50th Anniversary All-Time Team (1996)
- Reached 20,000 career points and 5,000 career assists in 1990
- Awarded The Sporting News College Player of the Year, Naismith Award winner and John R. Wooden Award winner in 1979
- Named the 1980 NBA Rookie of the Year, 1982 NBA All-Star Game MVP, 1984 and 1986 NBA Playoff MVP and three-time NBA MVP (1984-1986)
- Crowned the “three-point king” after winning the distance shooting event at the All-Star Weekend the first three years of competition
- Coached the NBA Indiana Pacers from 1997-2000 with a 147-67 record and was named NBA Coach of the Year (1998) following an 58-24 season
- Became the Indiana Pacers President of Basketball Operations on July 11, 2003
- Michael Jordan was asked who he would want to take a shot with the game on the line and before the question was finished, Jordan said, “Larry Bird.” (Sports Illustrated)
- Nicknames: Larry Legend, The Mustard Kid and Kodak – Celtics coach Bill Fitch gave Bird the nickname Kodak because he seemed to formulate mental pictures of every play that took place on the court – “I see a situation occur, and I respond,” Bird said.
- Holds the annual "Larry Bird Pro All-Star Scholarship Classic" during the off-season in Indiana
- Owns "Larry Bird’s Home Court Hotel", a hotel/restaurant in Terre Haute
- Is an avid outdoors man … likes country music, especially Kenny Rogers’ music … major fan of the St. Louis Cardinals … shoe size is 13 ½ … a street in French Lick named in his honor
- Married Janet Condra, one daughter Corrie…married to Dinah Mattingly, two children Connor and Mariah
Bird is considered one of the most influential players in basketball history even though he was once called ‘the hick from French Lick.’ He has many records to prove his significant impact on the game. He has 30 Indiana State University records including most points (2,850), steals (240) and rebounds (1,247). Bird retired with 21,791 points, 8,974 rebounds and 5,695 assists in 897 games. He is ranked fifth in the all-time category for free-throws with .886 from the line. The Boston Celtics retired the No. 33 jersey. He also held or shared 27 Celtics’ records when he retired. Bird became a Hall of Famer in 1998. "Larry Bird has helped define the way a generation of basketball fans has come to view and appreciate the NBA," said Commissioner David J. Stern when Bird retired due to a painful back condition in 1992 (from NBA.com).
On what it takes to be a winner: “A winner is someone who recognizes his God-given talents, works his tail off to develop them into skills, and uses these skills to accomplish his goals.” (from brainyquote.com)
|
|
Height: 6' 9"
Born: 12/7/1956
Hometown: West Baden, Ind.
Resides: French Lick, Ind.
Sport: Basketball
Event: Forward
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
Enter your e-mail;
get free U.S. Olympic Team News
|
|
|
|
|
