NBA’S GREATEST – LARRY BIRD

Playing in the tough 1980’s, Larry Bird separated himself from the rest of the pack due to his size, skill and attitude. One of the best shooting big men in the history of the game as well as being one of the most toughest and competitive players, Bird played for the legendary Boston Celtics and helped them win 3 NBA championships. Guiding the Celtics to 5 Finals appearances and capturing 2 Finals MVP awards, Bird had a legendary career few could ever hope to match.

Larry Bird was born in Indiana and played most of high school and college ball for the same state. After finishing his school career as the highest scoring player to ever play for the school, Bird set his sights on college and the NCAA tournament. Playing for the Indiana State University, Bird guided them to an impeccable 33-0 record before losing out to his famous rival ‘Magic’ Johnson and Michigan State. The loss left Bird heartbroken and winning the Player of the Year award was scant consolation. After getting drafted by the Celtics as the sixth overall pick, Bird would go on to change the shape of the storied franchise.

Boston had long been the stand out franchise of the NBA along with the Lakers, dominating in the late 50’s and throughout the 60’s thanks to their superstars like Bill Russell, Bob Cousy and coach Red Auerbach. After a relatively barren 1970’s, the introduction of Larry Bird changed Boston and immediately made them title contenders. His numbers as a rookie were impressive to say the least and he would win the Rookie of the Year award. With the acquisition of future hall of famers Robert Parrish and Kevin McHale in the coming seasons, Boston now had one of the best frontcourts in the league, one that would serve them for years to come. All three players dominated the game, but none could do it like Bird. He would help the Celtics to titles in 1981, 1984 and 1986, winning the Finals MVP in ’84 and ’86. He also won the league MVP award for three successive years between 1984-86, along with other major accolades.

Bird was a devastating shooter, one of the best from beyond the arc in his time. In an era when 6’9 guys rarely stepped out of the paint, Bird was a deviation from the norm and made the jump shot his staple. He’s a two time member of the 50-40-90 club, an exclusive club reserved only for the best shooters of the league. He was also known for his clever basketball plays, his ability to finish inside with improvisation and was an adept passer. He was so good with his fundamentals and technique that he could play any position on the floor and serve any role and still do it with aplomb. A good rebounder and fantastic defender, he was frequently inducted into the All-NBA defensive teams. His attitude was vision for the game was unparalleled, and there was probably no tougher competitor than him. He had the ability to get into the minds of his opponents and win games based solely on his intangible attributes without ever having to really hit top gear. One such instance was the first ever 3-point shootout competition, when Bird walked out onto the court and asked his fellow colleagues “Who was coming second?”

Apart from his achievements with the Celtics, Bird was also a member of the original 1992 Dream Team, the USA side that won the gold at the 1992 Olympics and dazzled the world. He was responsible for bringing back the game’s popularity in collaboration with Magic Johnson, and their matchups would be as legendary as the ones between Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell many years before. The Laker or the Celtics played in every final in the 1980’s, winning 8 titles between them. Bird also had great matchups with Moses Malone and Julius Erving of the Philadelphia 76ers in his early years, and then with Isaiah Thomas and Michael Jordan post the mid 80’s.

Although Bird retired after the 1992 summer Olympics, he continues to be involved with the sport. He was named coach of the Year in 1998 for the Indiana Pacers and later became a prominent and successful Executive for the same team. He is still respected in the NBA and sporting communities and continues to provide his support. Larry Bird is one of the top 10 players of all time to play in the NBA, and one of the very few to accomplish things the way he did.