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. [77], Bird was voted onto the NBA's 50th Anniversary All-Time Team list in 1996,[78][79] and inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1998. The next year he attended the smaller Indiana State University, ultimately playing three years for the Sycamores. [62], Despite the intensity of their rivalry, Bird and Johnson became friends off the court. [115] Bird then led the Pacers to consecutive Central Division titles in 1999 and 2000 and a berth in the 2000 NBA Finals. 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. [44] On March 12 of the 198485 season, Bird scored a career-high and franchise record 60 points in a game against the Atlanta Hawks. [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. [109] Since 2022, the NBA will award the MVPs for the Conference Finals; the Eastern Conference Finals MVP trophy is named in Bird's honor, while the Western Conference trophy is named after Johnson. [103] Bird was also referred to as "Larry Legend". In his own right McHale was one of the leagues great. Kevin Durant stands 610 and has a 75 wingspan. [99] He sometimes practiced shooting three-point shots with his eyes closed. What he used was his strength and court sense to outmaneuver and outrebound opponents. Larry Bird was 6'9" no wingspan numbers but he had average looking arms. [64][65][66] Bird finished with 34 points. However, I suggest going for Spot Up Shooter. Even after his retirement as a professional basketball player, Larry Bird's name still comes up in the NBA because of his coaching skills and the executive role he holds in the NBA. His shotblocking prowess is also noted as he has led the league twice in this category, and has a career average of 2.2 blocks. 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. LAST ATTENDED. Celtics General Manager Red Auerbach publicly stated that he would not pay Bird more than any Celtic on the current roster, but Bird's agent Bob Woolf told Auerbach that Bird would reject any sub-market offers and simply enter the 1979 draft instead, where Boston's rights would expire when the draft began on June 25, and Bird would have been the likely top pick. While standing 77, Bols wingspan was an unheard of 86. [40] Boston's misfortunes continued into the next season, with Bird again finishing second in MVP voting to Malone and the team losing in the Conference Semifinals to the Milwaukee Bucks. "She hates it when I say that. He was briefly married to first wife Janet Condra from 1975-76 and has a daughter with her named Corrie. Bird was rated the greatest NBA small forward of all time by Fox Sports in 2016. [3], Bird scored 24.3 points per game in his career on a .496 field goal percentage, an .886 free throw percentage, and a .376 percentage on three-point shots. LeBron was definitely a better player. Your players skill breakdown should certainly focus primarily on shooting. This will give your shooting attributes a bit of a boost. West was known for his extremely quick jump shot, and when coupled with his length, it formed one of the deadliest jump shots in NBA history. We present them here for purely educational purposes. Wilt Chamberlain is part of many extraordinary tales and finding accurate data on the legendary big man is no small feat. Larry Bird has dated - Janet Condra - Larry Bird was previously married to his high school sweetheart Janet Condra with whom he had a daughter named Corrie. A confirmation email has been sent. Corner Specialist Three-point shots taken near the baseline off the dribble or a pass are given a percentage boost. Girlfriend / Spouse. Coming into the league, many pundits wondered if Mourning could be a starting center at only 69. Maxiell shows how an undersized player can keep pace with taller guys when they possess elite wingspan. ", -Magic Johnson, as quoted at Bird's retirement party. If it goes, it goes.". This ratio is one of the higher percentages for players who have played in the NBA. [45] The performance came just nine days after Kevin McHale set the previous Celtics record for points in a game with 56. A big reason for those 9 blocks can be attributed to his gargantuan wingspan. 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. 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. We don't have much information about He's past relationship and any previous engaged. [82] In 1999, Bird ranked No. Unfortunately he's had a difficult time keeping pace with the speed of the NBA, and his limited offensive game has come to light. Oops! Your submission has been received! 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. 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. He also had a career high of 60 points against the Atlanta Hawks on March 12, 1985. With at least 10 potential upgrade points, you will have several options for playmaking badges. His most famous steal was in Game 5 of the 1987 Eastern Conference Finals. [7], Bird was born in West Baden Springs, Indiana, to Georgia (ne Kerns) and Claude Joseph "Joe" Bird, a veteran of the Korean War. He is the only player in NBA history to have more blocks than points (2,086 blocks vs. 1599 points). [46] At the conclusion of the year, Bird was named MVP for the second consecutive season behind averages of 28.7 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 6.6 assists per game. To put that in perspective, his hands are larger than that of LeBron James. To help you grind efficiently, we have a guide on how to earn more VCs in NBA 2K22. [98] Bird won NBA three-point-shooting contests in three consecutive years. 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. It is that length that has sustained Brands career. [119] Bird returned to the Pacers as president of basketball operations in 2013. Maxiell shows how an undersized player can keep pace with taller guys when they possess elite wingspan. 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. Following his retirement in 1992, Bird became a successful head coach and front-office executive with the Indiana Pacers. [48], Before the start of the 198586 season, the Celtics made a daring trade for Bill Walton, an All-Star center with a history of injury. In the commercial, Bird is practicing alone on a rural basketball court (in reality the court was one Bird had made on the property in French Lick that he had purchased for his mother), when Johnson pulls up in a sleek limousine and challenges him to a one-on-one match. [101] In recognition of his defensive abilities, Bird was named to three All-Defensive Second Teams. Bird averaged 10.0 rebounds per game in his career. Bird has been married to Dinah Mattingly since 1989. Nicknamed Larry Legend or The Hick from French Lick, Bird played the small forward and power forward positions for the Boston Celtics in his entire career. 1956 The Celtics failed to reach the NBA Finals for the first time in five years, losing to the Pistons in six games during the Eastern Conference Finals. A 1980s Converse commercial for its "Weapon" line of basketball shoes (endorsed by both Bird and Johnson) reflected the perceived dichotomy between the two players. I couldn't miss. Larry, there will never, ever be another Larry Bird. Their rivalry continued on in the revived CelticsLakers Rivalry in the NBA. Another badge you must target is Interceptor. Kevin McHale was one of the best players of the 1980s. [70], In the summer of 1992, Bird joined Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, and other NBA stars to play for the United States men's national basketball team in that year's Olympics in Barcelona, Spain. 4. 1 Answer. The game will provide you with three takeover options. There is no denying the greatness of Wilt Chamberlain and a superior length was a major reason he was unstoppable. Although there are only 48 total minutes of time on the clock in an NBA game, the regulation time is stopped often for fouls, timeouts, and when the ball is out of bounds. He made the All-Star team 12 times and was named the All-Star Game Most Valuable Player in 1982. Bird's basketball prowess earned him an athletic scholarship to Indiana University, where he was to play for legendary coach Bob Knight. When adjusting your players height, you can just copy Birds real height. He was also quite adept at looking for the open man from the post. The team improved its win total by 32 games from the year before he was drafted and finished first in the Eastern Conference. The 73 wing span is 11.5% greater than his height. When they mention length, they are not talking about a player's height, but more so his wingspan. [89] Bird won three NBA championships (in 1981, 1984, and 1986) with the Celtics[83] and won two NBA Finals MVP Awards. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. 7mo ago. Please check the opt-in box to acknowledge that you would like to subscribe. Height: 5 feet 5 inches (167 cm) Weight: 56 kg (123 lb) Eye Colour: Hazel: Hair Colour: Golden: Shoe Size: N/A: Martial Status: Married: Husband: Larry Bird . That wingspan is the same size that the 75 Shawn Bradley had. 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. 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. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. Site contains certain content that is owned A&E Television Networks, LLC. Bird got his 3rd 2nd team all defense in 84, it's not like he was slouch on that end, even if Lebron was the better defender. Rajon Rondo's length at the point guard position makes him a one of a kind player. 9. Nicknamed The Claw, Leonard possess a hand spread that measures 11.25 inches, which is bigger than Wilt, Shaq or Bill Russell. Bird returned to the Pacers as president of basketball operations in 2013,[6] and remained in that role until 2017. Biography and associated logos are trademarks of A+E Networksprotected in the US and other countries around the globe. Small Forward and Power Forward Many people following the NBA would love to see Bird play in todays era of basketball. HEIGHT. 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 The hop shooting style allows him to get his shot off very quickly, and what makes Durant special is his point of release. Durant is what is referred to as a hop shooter, something rare for a player of his height. 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" Despite many peoples belief, Bol was not solely a freakshow, as he sustained a 10 year NBA career, playing for 4 different teams. Magic got the upper hand against Bird, beating him in 1985 and 1987, while Bird beat Magic in 1984. 1. Charles Barkley has been quoted saying McHale was the best player he ever played against. [8][14], Bird's youngest brother, Eddie Bird, also played basketball at Indiana State University. It's an entirely different game when you're Six-Nine." Want updates on new Dimensions content? 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. Davis stands 610, and, at the 2012 pre-draft combine, was measured to have a 75 wing span. When in his defensive stance, Price looks almost impossible to get around, and his long arms allow him to play off players while contesting every shot. There were also stories that he would walk up to opponents and tell them where he was going to attempt a game-winning shot. Redick is 6'4 tall and has a wingspan of 6'3. All rights reserved. 2", "Atlanta Hawks at Boston Celtics Box Score, December 9, 1984", "Relive the Moment: Larry Bird Easily Wins Inaugural 3-Point Contest After Asking Field Who Would Finish Second", "Detroit Pistons at Boston Celtics Box Score, November 27, 1985", "Boston Celtics at Dallas Mavericks Box Score, March 10, 1986", "Larry Legend Bird wins third straight MVP", "Houston Rockets at Boston Celtics Box Score, June 8, 1986", "Converse Commercial (1986) with Larry Bird and Magic Johnson", "Bird's Garden Party: Celtics Make It a Magical Night for Larry Legend", "Against All Those Hawks, One Bird Is Enough for Celtics", "Legendary Moments in NBA History: Larry Bird and Dominique Wilkins battle in Game 7", "Bird Bids Farewell, Retires From Celtics", "Dream Team a star-studded sight to behold for gazers on, off court", "The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame - Hall of Famers", "10 reasons we still love Larry Bird on his 60th birthday", "PRO BASKETBALL; A Bashful Larry Bird Joins Hall Of Fame", "The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Hall of Famers", "1992 Dream Team Inducted into Hall of Fame", It started in Sacramento: LeBron James, back in NBA Finals, makes our all-time starting 5, "Who's The Best Small Forward Of All Time: Larry Bird Or LeBron James? So, you will have to allocate some of the points to these attributes. Bol is 15th all time in blocked shots with 2,086, but he did that in only 11,698 minutes. The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. Larry Legend, The Hick from French Lick, Kodak, The Great White Hope are nicknames for Larry Bird. When they mention length, they are not talking about a players height, but more so his wingspan. He was voted onto the NBA's 50 Greatest Players in NBA History list in 1996, and consequently the 75th Anniversary Team list in 2021. Break Starter Deep outlet passes attempted immediately after grabbing a defensive rebound are more likely to connect. [43] Boston came back to win the game, eventually winning the series in seven. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame twice as a playerfirst in 1998 as an individual, and again in 2010 as a member of the "Dream Team". Rajon Rondo is currently one of the best point guards in the league. His other playmaking strengths include quick and flashy passes. Larry Bird's wingspan is 86.9 inches. at Menu. "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. On the offensive side of the ball, Rondo like to drive with a scooping layup. 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. He is also the last player to win three straight MVP awards. Talk about all topics relevant to Pinoys around the world. Height 1 Feet 9.5 Inch Weight 100 kg Personal Info Date of Birth 1956, December 7 Age 65 Years Old Famous Name Country United States US Facts Birth Name Larry Joe Bird Net Worth $55 million Currently Married Yes Birth Country West Baden Springs, Indiana Married to Dannah Mattingly Famous Name Larry Past married if any Janet Condra Children Yes [8] He returned to French Lick, enrolling at Northwood Institute (now Northwood University) in nearby West Baden, and working municipal jobs for a year before enrolling at Indiana State University in Terre Haute in 1975. That length helped him become one of the most prolific shot blocker in league history. [3], A versatile player at both forward positions, he could play both inside and outside, being one of the first players in the league to take advantage of the newly adopted three-point line. Celtics booed off floor after blowing 28-point lead, Randle's game-winner runs Knicks' win streak to eight, Durant passes Robertson for 13th on NBA scoring list, Grizzlies' Brooks: 'I don't like Draymond at all', Magic's Isaac undergoes season-ending surgery, Suns vs. Bulls odds, picks, predictions, bets. [113] Despite having no previous coaching experience, Bird led the Pacers to a 5824 recordthe franchise's best as an NBA team at the timein the 199798 season,[114] and pushed the Chicago Bulls to seven games in the Eastern Conference Finals. During the early parts of his career, he even started at power forward for Boston. Some pundits consider Bird as one of the best outlet passers in the history of the league. [51][52], On November 27, 1985, Bird recorded 47 points to go along with 12 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals in a 132124 win over the Detroit Pistons. Both Dinah and Larry studied at Indiana State University. KG Living Legend Don Nelson Posts: 8383 [12] Georgia and Joe divorced when Larry was in high school, and Joe died by suicide about a year later. Bird won 3 MVPs in a row, 2 rings, and 2 finals MVPs in that stretch, plus was 2nd and 3rd in MVP voting in the 2 years he didn't win MVP in that stretch. [85], Bird has been described as one of the greatest basketball players and greatest shooters of all time. Although he announced his departure around that time, he reclaimed his post as team president in the summer of 2013. Anonymous. Reggie Miller 6'7" 6'11" wingspan What players could were elite shooters with a wingspan ratio better than 10% of height Yenohb Robert Williams Posts: 345 Tommy Points: 73 Brandon Ingram would definitely be an exception. Kahit sa imports coming into the PBA, after the official measurement, they are suddenly 2 inches shorter, heee. His extra length allows him to keep the ball away from incoming defenders, making for some spectacular finishes. One of those things was being a relentless defender. His mother, Cora Lillian, had an above average height at six feet. Do you have a blog? Slippery Off-Ball Increases the players chances of shaking off an opponent when attempting to get open using off-ball screens. Because of this, you can just focus on what Bird was exceptionally good at. Dwight Howard is one of the premiere big men of the modern area, but stands at only 610. The most accurate reports found that West had an 81 inch wingspan, which would translate to 69. 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. Part of the reason, he admits, was his own fatalistic view of what the future would bring. 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." He was a great scorer, rebounder, passer, and defender. At 66 years old, Larry Bird height is 206 cm . For three consecutive years, from 1984 to 1986, Bird was named the NBA's MVP, and in 1990, he hit a milestone by reaching 20,000 career points. D raft E xpress. Bird had an average of 10.0 rebounds per game for his career and 6.3 assists. In, Career statistics and player information from, This page was last edited on 28 February 2023, at 21:21. Subscribe to Stathead Basketball: Get your first month FREEYour All-Access Ticket to the Basketball Reference Database. What you want to prioritize are those that will help you make shots even if defenders are right by you. Ganyan naman talaga, you usually take off 1 1/2 to 2 inches off their published height - and you get their real height. [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. This will give your shooting attributes a bit of a boost. As for the weight, you can lower it by one pound (219 lbs) to give your player an additional point in acceleration. To help you operate in the lane, this guide discusses the most effective post moves in NBA 2K22. And it went down to the last shot of the game. Prior to Bird's second year, the Celtics acquired center Robert Parrish from the Golden State Warriors and drafted Kevin McHale. [67] Wilkins remarked, "The basket was like a well. 1. Subscribed! Updated daily. Clutch Shooter Shot attempts made during the final moments of the fourth quarter or overtime receive a large boost. [5] He was named NBA Executive of the Year for the 2012 season. Doubleday, pp. During the 1980s, either Boston or Los Angeles appeared in every NBA Finals. To help you with the boards, you can upgrade the Rebound Chaser badge. Lastly, the wingspan can be reduced to around 83.0 inches. The average NBA basketball game lasts between two and two and a half hours. [20] Bird also appeared in one game for the baseball team, going 1-for-2 with 2 RBI. Highly recruited, he initially signed to play college basketball for coach Bob Knight of the Indiana Hoosiers, but Bird dropped out after one month and returned to French Lick to attend a local community college. The Celtics and Lakers dominated, with one team or the other, or both, appearing in every NBA championship throughout the decade. 2021 Dimensions.com |All rights reserved, For 2D Downloads of this element, upgrade to a Dimensions Pro Membership. One report claims McHale could tie his shoes without having to bend over. Bird began the next chapter of his life as a front-office special assistant for the Celtics, a post he held for five years. College basketball games are played with two 20 minute periods, while professional NBA basketball games consist of four quarters of 12 minutes each. [59] The Celtics fell short in 1988 losing to the Detroit Pistons in 6 games in the Eastern Conference Finals as the Pistons made up from the heartbreak the previous season. Volume Shooter Gives an additional boost to shot attributes to every subsequent shot attempted after the player has already taken a handful of shots. Nicknamed " the Hick from French Lick " and " Larry Legend ", Bird is widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all time. Bird had an uncanny ability of reading and anticipating opponents passes that helped him record 1.7 steals per game throughout his career. Mock Archives 2017 Mock Draft 2016 Mock Draft . We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. Despite not being as tall as the Lakers legend, Leonard is just as long. 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. Dirk can't be 6'10. Larry Bird and Magic Johnson are known to be "one of the greatest rivalries in sports. Larry Bird stands 6'9" tall and weighs 220 pounds during his NBA playing days. [42] Bird was named Finals MVP behind 27.4 points, 14 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game. In 1997 Bird accepted the head coach position with the Indiana Pacers, a move that returned him to his home state. Top 15 Most Impressive Wingspans In NBA History, 10 WCW Character Transformations That Made No Sense, 10 Wrestlers Vince McMahon Signed From The AWA (& Turned Them Into Stars), Dominik Mysterio Speaks About Where His "Prison Dom" Character In WWE Came From. 6-keys: media/spln/nba/reg/free/stories, By pressing sign up, I confirm that I have read and agree to the. [76] The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame called the team "the greatest collection of basketball talent on the planet". Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? Elton Brand is entering his 16th year in the NBA this season with the Atlanta Hawks. the official stats partner of the NBA, NHL and MLB. When they reached the NBA Finals, the Celticshampered by devastating injurieslost to a dominant Lakers team that had won 65 games during the season. Charles Barkley was measured at 6 ft 4 5/8, Jordan is anywhere from 6 ft 4 to 6 ft 4 1/2. Larry Bird DraftExpress Profile: scouting reports, videos, stats and logs. he's at least 2 inches taller than duncan. Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players score points by shooting (throwing) a ball through an elevated hoop located on either side of the rectangular court.