Duality underpins practically everything about the brief existence of the KD, Harden and Kyrie Nets. They were a massive disappointment, yes, but also so transcendent for brief moments. Bird retired from basketball in 1992 and became a successful businessman. Bird started for the boys basketball team, where he left as the school's all-time scoring leader. When it comes to team play, he never makes any mistakes and always encourages them to be their best. After retiring from the NBA, Larry embarked on a successful business career in the same field. Larry Bird retired as a professional basketball player and businessman in the United States and Canada. According to reports, the aspiring gym teacher assisted in saving the NBA. https://celticswire.usatoday.com/2021/07/28/nba-boston-celtics-bird-high-school/, Report: Boston's Evan Fournier expected to seek $18 million per season, Knicks interested, Report: Celtics still linked to Landry Fields as GM candidate, 2 other names to watch, Celtics reportedly working out Oklahoma guard Austin Reaves ahead of 2021 NBA draft, Celtics fans receptive to a trade for Bradley Beal - but only if Jaylen Brown is not involved, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. She definitely seems like someone who would be a great support system for her husband, and Im sure shes a great mother too. Larry charted a Winnebago just before leaving for Boston so that a group of us could accompany him on his trip to St. Louis, according to Compton. That was another stepping stone for Larry, his unending drive to prove himself, to prove he was far more than just a small town, country kid., Larry Bird Once Blew Kevin McHales Mind in Practice With a Pass Rather Than a Shot. Copyright 2023 Endgame360 Inc. All Rights Reserved. . He helped lead the team to a state title in his junior year, and he was named the states Mr. Basketball in his senior year. He is a 6 foot-9 forward. His incredible basketball skills enabled him to become an all-time great. I was at a party about two years ago it wasnt a party, it was a cookout and this lady in her 70s, she looked at my friend and says, What are you doing here? And he goes, Well, Im coming to the cookout. She goes, After missin them free throws back in 74, you shouldnt even show your face.. He joinedThe Dan Patrick Showto discuss the Pacers special edition Hickory High uniforms from the 1986 film. Bird told a magazine that he still enjoys playing basketball and would like to play in one last game. 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 NCAA All-Tourney NCAA All-Region 1978-79 AP POY 2x Consensus AA Wooden Award Naismith Award Rupp Trophy SUMMARY Career G 94 PTS 30.3 TRB 13.3 AST 4.6 One of the most amazing and undetailed aspects of the Larry Bird story involved the sudden and completely unexpected rise in the level of his play during his high school senior year season of 1973-1974. Bird finished with 47 points, 14rebounds, and 11 assists, including a game-winning free throw with less than a second left in overtime, to help lead a 120-119 victory over Utah. The Trail Blazers defeated the Hawks 54 to 40 on March 15, 2016, with a career high of 92 points. At Springs Valley, Bird was a star on the basketball team. Birds fame was always shared by his fellow players on and off the court. NFHS Network is part of the CBS Sports Digital Network. Bird grew up poor in French Lick, Indiana, where his parents worked at a factory. It is in rural Southern Indiana, about 100 miles southeast of Indianapolis and 60 miles northwest of Louisville, Kentucky. Theyve scored at least 40 points in each of their last eight playoff games, and theyve never been held to fewer than 40 points in any of those games. This would be the firsticonic Magic Johnson vs. Larry Bird games, but certainly not the last. Larry Bird PPG 24.3 RPG 10.0 APG 6.3 HEIGHT 6'9" (2.06m) WEIGHT 220lb (100kg) COUNTRY USA LAST ATTENDED Indiana State BIRTHDATE December 7, 1956 DRAFT 1978 R1 Pick 6 EXPERIENCE 13 Years Stats. During his 13 professional seasons, the forward averaged 24.3 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 6.3 assists per game. During his career, Bird won three NBA championships, two NBA Finals MVP awards, and three NBA MVP awards. Yes, Larry Bird is still alive. In the 1992 Olympic Games, Bird helped the U.S. win a gold medal. Name: Larry Bird Birth Year: 1956 Birth date: December 7, 1956 Birth State: Indiana Birth City: West Baden Springs Birth Country: United States Gender: Male Best Known For: Basketball icon. While plenty of ink has been spilled on Hall of Famer Larry Birds career as a pro and his legendary battles against Earvin Magic Johnson in college, not as much attention has been paid to the iconic Boston Celtics small forwards basketball life before he was on the national radar. Exploring The Benefits Of College Now Classes For High School Students, The Power Of Speech: Exploring The Mandatory Speech Classes In Arkansas High Schools, Teaching With A High School Diploma: Exploring The Possibilities And Requirements. The Legend demonstrated his competitive fire in 2015 when he toldradio host Dan Patrickthat missed free throws from a high school teammate still bother him 40-plus years later. Larry Joe Bird (born December 7, 1956) is an American former professional basketball player, coach, and executive in the National Basketball Association (NBA). 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 Larry Bird Gave Bill Walton His Life Back: You Have Not Spent Six Years of Your Life on the Clippers. He was drafted by the Boston Celtics in 1978 and went on to have a Hall of Fame career. As a junior "Larry Legend" sprouted to 6-5. Michael Jordan averaged 33.5 points, 6.1 rebounds and 5.8 assists in 28 games versus Larry Bird in his career. Today, Springs Valley High School in French Lick resides on South Larry Bird Boulevard, and it's clear that Bird was destined for basketball immortality as soon as he touched the court. He serves on the boards of directors of Bain Capital, a venture capital firm, and the Boston Red Socks. Bird grew up poorin this sparsely populated area, and, to this day, the median household income in French Lick is just $37,377. According to the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame, he averaged 30.6 points and 20.5 rebound as a senior. Of course, the video ends with Bird's picture-perfectjump shot, as he drainsa jumper from the baseline, right in the face of on oncoming defender. In the1979 NCAA Tournament Final, Bird and the Sycamores ran into a Michigan State team led by a point guard named Ervin Magic Johnson. Larry Bird is one of the most successful basketball players of all time. 15-8 (L) Brockport @ Greece Athena On 3/31, the Brockport varsity softball team lost their away non-conference game against Greece Athena (Rochester, NY) by a score of 15-8 . Confirm that your trade proposal is valid according to the NBA collective bargaining agreement. The Hick From French Lick was always out to prove that he was somebody, and you could underestimate him at your own peril. Height: 6-9 (206cm) Weight: 220 (100kg), Current NBA Status: Unrestricted Free Agent, High School: Springs Valley High School [French Lick, Indiana]. He was a First Team All-State selection and led his team to the state . All of these factors make the Boston Celtics the most likely team to win the NBA championship this season. Springs Valley Junior-Senior High School's athletic teams are nicknamed the "Blackhawks". He helped lead the Celtics to multiple NBA championships in the 1980s. To believe that any of 2023's neo-contenders can become bonafide champs over the next few months is to believe that a once-in-a-quarter-century occurrence is about to transpire. The reasons for their failure may have been inherent to the whole project. As a junior "Larry Legend" sprouted to 6-5. Confirm that your trade proposal is valid according to the NBA collective bargaining agreement. In his last year, he led the small-school team to the No. We are not making it all up in our heads, thinking well of Kris Dunn because we want to: he has real talents to bring, and a body that for the time being will allow him to use them. As a senior, he averaged 30.6 points and 20.5 boards per game, according to the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame. Larry Bird's high school portrait from 1974 #stud pic.twitter.com/rM4ddWXf, Birds most famous nickname comes from his hometown. This earned him a scholarship to play for the jewel of Indiana basketball, Bobby Knights Indiana Hoosiers, perNBA.com. In the Blackhawks' first season of 1957-58 in basketball, they advanced to the final four of the Indiana state tournament losing to the eventual state champion, Fort Wayne South Side, 55-42. That made him a superstar in high school, college and the NBA when he was drafted in 1978 by the Boston Celtics as the 6 th overall in the 1 st round of the 1978 NBA Draft. We tried to maybe be good enough to maybe have an opportunity one day to play against the Crispus Attucks or Jeffersonville or New Albany, but, unfortunately, I played with a kid that kept missing free throws at the end of the game, and we didnt get there. Bird was a three-time Indiana All-Star who scored 1,125 points at Springs Valley High School in French Lick. If he wanted to prove he could make something of himself, he passed that test with flying colors. Select the third team from the drop down menu. Photo Galleries Explore and purchase photos of your local teams. He became the first player in NBA history to shoot 50% or better on field goals, 40% on three-pointers, and 90% on free throws in the same NBA season. Left-handedness is the best way to write, so why shouldnt he do so? He was a standout athlete from a young age, and was offered a basketball scholarship to Indiana University after his junior year of high school. He had a successful college career, leading the Sycamores to the NCAA Championship game in 1979. The Brigade was State Champion Runner-Up in 1978, 1992, 2007, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015. This incredible achievement can be attributed to a number of factors. And, lest you think that the forward was simply a member of some talented teams, his stats prove that Bird was leading from the front. He was drafted into the NBA by the Boston Celtics in 1978 and quickly became one of the teams star players. The Trail Blazers defeated the Hawks 54 to 40 on March 15, 2016, with a career high of 92 points. Turns out even at a young age, Larry was always quite legendary. In each of those seasons, he was named to the All-NBA First Team, and he repeated as the leagues Most Valuable Player in 1981 and 1982. Bird himself has said that he graduated a year early, in 1975, but most sources list 1976 as his graduation year. MaxPreps Follow your favorite high school teams and players. Bird, who was the Pacers head coach for the entire 1997-98 season, was let go. Larry Bird - Hall of fame forward, former NBA player for the Boston Celtics, former coach and executive of the Indiana Pacers. This week's New York high school softball computer rankings, stat leaders, schedules & scores - live & final. All that shooting off the side of a barn turned into Bird becoming a high school star. Select the second team from the drop down menu. Bird worked as a consultant for the Celtics after retiring as a player. Although things didnt follow a straight trajectory from after high school Bird almost left basketball behind during college things ended up working out. He was named an Indiana All-Star.. The couple owns multiple houses and lives a luxurious life of their own. He played on his high school basketball team and was the star player. If the forward was out to prove he could be somebody, he more than exceeded those goals. He first attended Springs Valley High School in French Lick before transferring to New Castle Chrysler High School for his senior year. In 1998, he was inducted into the Naismith . Larry Joe Bird Born: December 7, 1956 West Baden, IN USA Position: F-G High School: Springs Valley College: Indiana State, Indiana/Northwood Institute Drafted: 1978, Round 1 Pick 6, #6 Overall Height: 6'9" Weight: 220 Career: 1979-80-1991-92 Elected to Basketball Hall of Fame in 1998. All rights reserved. Duality underpins practically everything about the brief existence of the KD, Harden and Kyrie Nets. He played his entire professional career for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association (NBA). .. 2 playoff MVP awards AII-Star MVP. The school opened in 1957 after the consolidation of French Lick and West Baden High Schools. Larry used basketball as an escape from his family troubles, starring for Springs Valley High School and averaging 31 points, 21 rebounds, and 4 assists as a senior on his way to becoming the school's all-time scoring leader. Born: Dec 7, 1956 (66 years old) Birthplace/Hometown: West Baden, Indiana. When he transferred to New Castle, he continued his success on the court. Sign up for the Celtics Wire newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning. Larry Bird's high school yearbook photo. Michael Jordan. Bird began playing basketball in high school, eventually concentrating on it. Mark Shaw, in his book, Larry Legend, noted that "Larry Bird appeared almost as if by magic. He was named to the All-State team and was the leading scorer in his conference. He was a member of the United States national basketball team for four years (1984, 1992, 1996, 1999), during which time he won three Olympic gold medals. Where did Larry Bird go to high school? Height: 6-9 (206cm) Weight: 220 (100kg) Current NBA Status: Unrestricted . Watch high school sports and events nationwide, live and on demand, via the NFHS Network. . Please check your email for a confirmation. He was picked by the Boston Celtics with the sixth overall pick in the 1978 NBA draft. He is a three-time NBA champion, two-time NBA Finals MVP, and a three-time NBA MVP. He was drafted into the NBA by the Boston Celtics in 1978 and went on to have an incredible career. Springs Valley Junior-Senior High School is a public high school located in French Lick, Indiana. Batting . Larry Bird. Larry believed in Larry, Benner explained, long before anyone else believed in him.. Nationality: United States. His career averages were 24.3 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 6.3 assists in 897 regular season games. By his senior year Bird reached 6-7, but did not lose any of his ball-handling ability and quickness. He is also considered one of the best shooters in NBA history. Coaching Career In another clip, Bird shows off his nifty ball skills, using a pump fake to wiggle inside for a contested basket in the paint. He is the owner of six NBA championship rings, having previously led the Chicago Bulls to six titles. He was named the National Player of the Year in his senior year, and he would go on to have a Hall of Fame career in the NBA. George Hendrick, one of the Cardinals relief pitchers, and Gary Templeton, another, were constantly following Larry around like a puppy. The Spartans won 75-64 in the highest-rated and most-watched college basketball game ever. Larry Bird was born in West Baden, Indiana, and raised in French Lick, Indiana. Birds father died by suicide and divorced his daughter shortly after their marriage. Bird was born and raised in small-town Indiana and played basketball for Indiana State University. He also earned regular-season MVP honors on three occasions, which is even more impressive when you consider the NBA talent at the time. With the most lucrative NBA contracts recently surpassing $40 million, the highest-paid players have had their contracts extended. Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, Karl-Anthony Towns, Kawhi Leonard, Anthony Davis and Brandon Ingram will play outsized roles in how their respective teams close the season. It is also critical to note that their players are always prepared for the playoffs. Larry Bird High School Stats | StatMuse Larry Bird attended high school at Springs Valley. Tools and Resources Used by Real General Managers. He has since earned a total of $34,740,000 in salary. Larry Bird is one of the most iconic basketball players of all time. He led his team to the state championship game, where they lost. The reason Bird got out is because of his incredible basketball skills. Larry Bird currently has a net worth of $75 million. Bird won Naismith College Player of the Year. He became the head coach of the Indiana Pacers after retiring as a player. After high school, Bird attended Indiana State University. The accumulated varsity totals are in the last row of each table. The Blackhawk Brigade won the Class C state championship in 1977, the class D state championship in 2010, 2016, and 2017. As a result of his efforts, the Celtics reclaimed their status as one of the basketball worlds best teams. http://larrybird.es.tl/ He helped lead the Celtics to three NBA championships, and is widely considered to be one of the greatest basketball players of all time. He became a champion thanks to hisfabled competitive drive. Jul 1, 1984 - Larry Bird, previously with the Boston Celtics, became a free agent. At Springs Valley High, Bird scored 1,125 career points, averaged 30.6 points and 20.5 rebounds, Dana Hunsinger Benbow recounted in the Indianapolis Star. Bird is the only player in NBA history to win the award for three straight years. Forward Larry Bird played 13 seasons for the Celtics. The school is part of the Springs Valley Community School Corporation. What are the most assists in a game by a rookie point guard? They never give up, and they never give up on their goal. They never give up on their dreams, and they never give up on anything they believe in. The team has an astounding record in the playoffs. Pippen, an American basketball player who played in the NBA for 17 seasons, has died. While he might have been a little less outwardly aggressive, Larry Bird possessed a similar drive. After the 1994 season, John retired and during the next seven years, the band had three different directors. Larry Bird is an American former professional basketball player who is widely considered to be one of the greatest players of all time. His second wife, Dinah Mattingly, met him at Indiana State and married him in 1989. In 2015, Bird was anexecutive for the Indiana Pacers. Its because they play hard all the time. He was a 12-time NBA All-Star and is often regarded as one of the best shooters of all time. Larry Bird averaged 23.1 points, 11.6 rebounds and 6.0 assists in 31 games in the NBA Finals in his career. Select the players you wish to trade from the rosters below. During his first season, he was named the NBAs rookie of the year, and he went on to win three NBA titles. Larry Legend was born in West Baden Springs, Indiana, on December 7, 1956, the son of Larry Joe Bird and Lois Legend. Since Larry Bird was born and raised in Indiana, its no surprise that he would end up attending one of the states high schools. The Brigade moved to Class D in 1981. http://www.hoophall.com/hall-of-famers/tag/larry-j-bird, Springs Valley Junior-Senior High website, Springs Valley High School alumni website, Springs Valley High School Blackhawk Brigade website, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Springs_Valley_High_School&oldid=1092475361, Springs Valley Community School Corporation, This page was last edited on 10 June 2022, at 14:43.