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. Larry Bird | Biography & Facts | Britannica [39] In the Conference Finals, the Celtics faced the 76ers for the third consecutive year, losing in seven games. Please check the opt-in box to acknowledge that you would like to subscribe. He then led his team to an undefeated regular season. Magic got the upper hand against Bird, beating him in 1985 and 1987, while Bird beat Magic in 1984. Chew on these numbers for a moment. This will give your shooting attributes a bit of a boost. 1 Answer. His elite wingspan has allowed him to dominant the game over the last 10 years, and he has carved himself out a Hall of Fame worthy career. 6. Thats both confident and cold-blooded. He was named NBA Coach of the Year for the 19971998 season and later led the Pacers to a berth in the 2000 NBA Finals. 7. When they mention length, they are not talking about a players height, but more so his wingspan. Lastly, the wingspan can be reduced to around 83.0 inches. And it went down to the last shot of the game. In 2003, Bird was named president of basketball operations for the Pacers, holding the position until retiring in 2012. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. Because Bird was wily in creating space for himself off the dribble, the Shot Creator takeover also sounds like a good option. Scottie Pippen is one of the most versatile players in NBA history. The four-time NBA scoring champ is a player who uses his impressive wingspan to gain an advantage on the offensive side of the court. Astrological Sign: Sagittarius, Article Title: Larry Bird Biography, Author: Biography.com Editors, Website Name: The Biography.com website, Url: https://www.biography.com/athletes/larry-bird, Publisher: A&E; Television Networks, Last Updated: April 20, 2021, Original Published Date: April 2, 2014. ", "LeBron James: Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Julius Erving Are 3 Best Players Ever", "Who Has Made The Most NBA All-Star Game Appearances of All-Time", "NBA MVP award: Steph Curry on list of multiple-time winners", Sporting News: James Harden joins exclusive group with third MVP runner-up finish, "Who is the most clutch player in NBA history? One report claims McHale could tie his shoes without having to bend over. The "Dream Team" won the men's basketball gold medal. I'm not lying awake at night thinking about it. home/away, monthly, etc More Larry Bird Basketball Reference pages. Legends profile: Larry Bird | NBA.com - National Basketball Association [7], Bird was born in West Baden Springs, Indiana, to Georgia (ne Kerns) and Claude Joseph "Joe" Bird, a veteran of the Korean War. During the 2000s, Brand was one of the better rebounders and defenders. Difficult Shots High-difficulty jumpers attempted from the mid-range get an increased shot percentage. They each had charisma, deft shooting touch, extraordinary passing skills, and team-oriented mindset that ignited their team and the crowd. Because as previously discussed, Bird was an outstanding shooter. After protracted negotiations, Bird inked a five-year, $3.25 million contract with the team on June 8, making him the highest-paid rookie in sports history. 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. Height: 6'9" (206 cm) Weight: 220 lbs (100 kg) Position: F High School: . Following an attempted reconciliation, Bird and Condra had a daughter, Corrie, in 1977. A persons wingspan is the measurement from the tips of one finger to the other. [29] On November 23, Bird recorded his first 30-point scoring game (along with 11 rebounds and 3 assists) in a 118103 win over the Indiana Pacers. [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. Between them, Bird and Johnson captured eight NBA championships during the 1980s, with Magic getting five and Bird three. This ratio is one of the higher percentages for players who have played in the NBA. I couldn't miss. There is no denying the greatness of Wilt Chamberlain and a superior length was a major reason he was unstoppable. [96], Bird is also remembered as an excellent passer[100] and defender. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. Site contains certain content that is owned A&E Television Networks, LLC. Small Forward and Power Forward . The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. 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. The average NBA player will have a wingspan 4 inches greater than his height. Larry Legend, The Hick from French Lick, Kodak, The Great White Hope are nicknames for Larry Bird. At either end of the spectrum, the measurement would be considered elite. Larry Bird. He mentioned in his own book about his height, saying "I was almost six-four as a junior, six-six or so as a senior and I grew to Six-Nine. 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 following top 15 will look at the most impressive wingspans in NBA history. The most accurate reports found that West had an 81 inch wingspan, which would translate to 69. Brand was a great post defender and shot blocker, as he averaged 2 blocks a game from 2001-2008. During the early parts of his career, he even started at power forward for Boston. It was the first time the two star players would face each other in a head-to-head battle, and it began a friendship and rivalry that would span both players' careers. 30 on ESPN SportsCentury's Top 50 athletes of the 20th century, with only five other basketball players ranked higher. Biyombo has been playing center for Charlotte over the course of the past 3 years, and at 69, is one of the smaller centers in the league, but the wingspan more than makes up for the height deficiency. If Bol had any type of offensive game to merit him more minutes, he would have set the blocks record so high that it would have never been touched. AboutPressCopyrightContact. [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. [8][14], Bird's youngest brother, Eddie Bird, also played basketball at Indiana State University. 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. Part of the reason, he admits, was his own fatalistic view of what the future would bring. [71], Journalists speculated that Bird and Magic represented different contrasts, such as clashes between Celtics and Lakers, between East and West, and between Blacks and Whites. In the piece, Bird theorizes that the big men who played the hardest and ran the most are the most susceptible to passing away early. "She hates it when I say that. With Wilt being the most dominant force of his era, it lends to the theory that his wingspan was truly elite. Being that tall will give you an advantage in-game. Although he announced his departure around that time, he reclaimed his post as team president in the summer of 2013. Whether it be to reach for a block, getting into passing lanes, or poking balls away, extra length is a determining factor for a great defender. From Jackie MacMullan of ESPN the Magazine: Bird, who has an enlarged heart, was diagnosed in 1995 with atrial fibrillation, an abnormal heartbeat resulting from electrical signals being generated chaotically throughout the heart's upper chambers. With his freakish physical attributes, the future seems in very good, and large, hands. 2002 NBA Pre Draft Measurement 2002 NBA Pre-Draft Camp Measurements Player Ht. Bird, Larry (1989), Drive: The Story of My Life. I agree to receive the "CBS Sports HQ Newsletter" and marketing communications, updates, special offers (including partner offers), and other information from CBS Sports and the Paramount family of companies. 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 had off-season surgery to remove a disc from his back, but his back problems continued and he missed 37 games during the 199192 season. The Boston Celtics won the NBA Championship thrice under his work, making Bird the NBA Most Valuable Player three times. Then you have a player like Dwyane Wade who is 65, but has a wingspan of 610. Here's what the science reveals. Bird, Johnson, Michael Jordan and other NBA stars formed the American men's basketball team, which would become known as the "Dream Team." Howard is also the only player in league history to have won Defensive Player of the Year in three consecutive years. Elton Brand is entering his 16th year in the NBA this season with the Atlanta Hawks.
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