Bird, Larry (1956-…), ranks among the best all-around basketball players in the history of the game. A 6-foot 9-inch (206-centimeter) forward, Bird played 13 seasons for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Bird excelled in all the phases of basketball—shooting, passing, rebounding, and defense.
Larry Joe Bird was born on Dec. 7, 1956, in West Baden, Indiana, and grew up in neighboring French Lick. He attended Indiana State University from 1975 to 1979. Bird was named College Player of the Year in 1979. He joined the Celtics after his graduation and was named NBA Rookie of the Year for the 1979-1980 season. Bird helped lead the Celtics to NBA titles in the 1980-1981, 1983-1984, and 1985-1986 seasons. He was also named the league’s Most Valuable Player for the 1983-1984, 1984-1985, and 1985-1986 seasons. He retired in 1992 after playing on the United States team that won the championship in the 1992 Olympic Games.
In 1997, Bird became coach of the Indiana Pacers of the NBA. He was named the league’s Coach of the Year for the 1997-1998 season. Bird retired as coach of the Pacers after the 1999-2000 season. He served as president of basketball operations for the Pacers from 2003 to 2012. He returned to the position in 2013. He was named the NBA Executive of the Year for the 2011-2012 season, becoming the first person to win player, coach, and executive honors.
Drive (1989) is Bird’s autobiography. He discussed playing and coaching basketball in Bird Watching (1999). Bird and fellow basketball star Magic Johnson co-wrote When the Game Was Ours (2009), an account of their careers, rivalry on the court, and friendship.
