Larry Bird.
progresifjaya.co.id, JAKARTA – Larry Bird is a Boston Celtics legend who played for 13 seasons (1979-1992) in the NBA. He also led his team to three NBA championships (1981, 1984, 1986). Born in Indiana on December 7, 1956, the 2,06-meter-tall player will always be remembered and recognized as one of the greatest basketball players of all time, and perhaps also the most agile clutch player.
Growing up in French Lick, Indiana, Larry Bird was a local basketball star. Initially, in 1974, he signed a contract to play college basketball under the esteemed Indiana Hoosiers coach, Bob Knight, who was later replaced by Bill Hodges. However, Larry Bird left after one month and returned to French Lick to attend a local college.
The following year, Larry Bird attended Indiana State University and played for the Sycamores for three years. In his sophomore year, the Boston Celtics selected Larry Bird with the sixth overall pick in the 1978 NBA draft. The collective bargaining agreement for the NBA draft was made public by legendary Boston Celtics General Manager Red Auerbach. He allowed Larry Bird and his agent to obtain a record-breaking rookie contract from the Celtics in the process. After agreeing, Larry chose to return to college and enter the NBA in the 1979 season.
During his final year at Indiana State in 1979, Larry Bird achieved a feat by leading his Sycamores to an undefeated NCAA basketball regular season. His record was 33-0.
The NCAA Finals against Michigan State University, led by his future NBA rival, Ervin “Magic” Johnson, was the perfect way to end the season. It also marked the beginning of a rivalry between the two players that would last for more than a decade.
Unfortunately, when Larry Bird appeared in the final, his Sycamores team was defeated. They suffered their first loss of the season, dropping their record to 33-1.
Even so, that year, Larry Bird was also awarded the Naismith Award and the Wooden Award for the best male collegiate basketball athlete. He also left college as the fifth-highest NCAA scoring player, averaging 30,3 points per game, 13,3 rebounds per game, and 4,6 assists per game.
Playing Two Forward Positions
Larry Bird.
Larry Bird entered the NBA in the 1979–1980 season. Equally skilled at playing both small forward and power forward, he had a strong influence on the team’s rhythm. He even seemed to be the driving force behind the Boston Celtics’ performance, leading them to 32 more wins than the previous season. However, the Celtics’ impressive run that season ended in the playoffs, particularly in the conference finals.
Larry Bird spent his entire 13-year NBA career with the Boston Celtics. He played in five NBA Finals and three NBA championships. Bird played most of those games alongside forward Kevin McHale and center Robert Parish. Some even consider it the best offensive lineup in NBA history.
Furthermore, as a 12-time NBA All-Star who also won two NBA Finals MVP awards, Larry Bird is also the only forward in NBA history to win three consecutive NBA Most Valuable Player awards (1984–1986).
Furthermore, as a member of the 1992 U.S. Olympic basketball “Dream Team,” Larry Bird joined other superstars like Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Patrick Ewing, and Scottie Pippen in winning a gold medal. The “Dream Team” holds a special and prestigious record for winning gold medals. They defeated all opponents during the tournament by an average of 44 points.
Furthermore, Larry Bird was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame twice. The first was as an individual player in 1998, and the second was in 2010 as a member of the “Dream Team.” Previously, he was also selected to the list of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History in 1996. A similar event occurred again in 2021 when he was named to the Boston Celtics’ All-Star Team during the 75th anniversary celebration.
As a versatile player who could play both forward positions, Larry Bird’s game capabilities were equally impressive. Furthermore, he possessed exceptional shooting, passing, and rebounding abilities, almost flawless.
His recognition as one of the first NBA players to utilize the newly adopted three-point line was also considered valid. It was no surprise to hear Fox Sports’ publication of Bird’s assessment as the greatest NBA small forward of all time in 2016.
The player, affectionately known as “Larry Legend,” also had a solid playing record. And that’s understandable. His average was 24,3 points, 10,0 rebounds, and 6,3 assists per game.
But psst, he also had a special record for his game, and it held true for even longer. It happened in 1985 when the Boston Celtics were facing the Atlanta Hawks. In this game, Larry Bird scored 60 points in just four quarters, or one game.
As befitting a legend who played 897 games during his 13-year career with the Boston Celtics, his number 33 jersey received the full and fitting honor of the Boston Celtics. His number 33 was honorably retired in a special ceremony at TD Garden, Massachusetts, Boston, on February 4, 1993. (Bembo)
