[101] In recognition of his defensive abilities, Bird was named to three All-Defensive Second Teams. And it went down to the last shot of the game. This has lead some to believe that he is still growing, while most believe it is just a case of the Pelicans stretching the truth a little. In Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Pistons, with five seconds remaining in the fourth quarter and Boston trailing the Pistons 107106, Bird stole an inbound pass. [19][20] Indiana State lost the game 7564, with Bird scoring 19 points but making only 7 of 21 shots. . 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. . [133], Bird married Dinah Mattingly in 1989. Their friendship blossomed when the two players worked together to film the Converse commercial, which depicted them as archenemies. To help you operate in the lane, this guide discusses the most effective post moves in NBA 2K22. Someone like Boozer who's measured as 6'7 3/4 isn't any shorter than other players listed at 6'9 too. [8], The game achieved the highest-ever television rating for a college basketball game, in large part because of the matchup between Bird and Spartans' point guard Earvin "Magic" Johnson,[11] a rivalry that lasted throughout their professional careers. Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed on this website are those of the authors and do not state or reflect the views of PEx Online Community Corp. i remember when duncan and kg had an altercation, tim was looking up at KG. Of course, there are some who prefer using a player based on his archrival, Magic Johnson. [21] In the playoffs, the Celtics avenged their loss from the year before to the Bucks, winning in five games in the Conference Finals to advance to the Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers. Larry Bird was such a player. Because as previously discussed, Bird was an outstanding shooter. The most accurate reports found that West had an 81 inch wingspan, which would translate to 69. 2002 NBA Pre Draft Measurement 2002 NBA Pre-Draft Camp Measurements Player Ht. However, by then his formerly relentless attack on the court had been slowed by a bad back. 1 Answer. [86], Bird was widely considered one of Red Auerbach's favorite players. The season finished with a national championship game match-up of Indiana State against Michigan State and featured a highly anticipated match-up of Bird against Michigan State great Magic Johnson, thus beginning a career-long rivalry that the two shared for over a decade. Tayshaun Prince broke out in the Detroit Pistons championship run of 2004. Anonymous. The NBA logo features a silhouette of Jerry West, and that player does appear to have rather long arms. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. Corner Specialist Three-point shots taken near the baseline off the dribble or a pass are given a percentage boost. Brand thwarted the pre-draft analysis that claimed he would be too small to have a sustainable career in the NBA. Find out for yourself how a player like him would fare against this generations crop of basketball players by developing the best Larry Bird build in NBA 2K22. [54], With averages of 25.8 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 6.8 assists, and 2 steals per game, Bird became just the third player in NBA history to win three consecutive MVP Awards. All rights reserved. Talk about all topics relevant to Pinoys around the world. To put that in perspective, number 10 is legendary Robert Parish and he put up only 300 more blocks than Bol in his career, but it took him 45,704 minutes. Even when considering his height, the wingspan is still 12.1% larger than his body. Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players score points by shooting (throwing) a ball through an elevated hoop located on either side of the rectangular court. Thank you! The problem for Bol was his offensive game was non-existent. Top 15 Most Impressive Wingspans In NBA History, 10 WCW Character Transformations That Made No Sense, 10 Wrestlers Vince McMahon Signed From The AWA (& Turned Them Into Stars), Dominik Mysterio Speaks About Where His "Prison Dom" Character In WWE Came From. These include Blinders and Deadeye. His name is imprinted twice in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and besides being named Player of the Year frequently, he has received coach for the Year and Executive of the Year awards. Many people following the NBA would love to see Bird play in todays era of basketball. Being that tall will give you an advantage in-game. Many NBA bigs, including Larry Bird and Bill Walton, believe there's a negative relationship between height and longevity. Basketball icon Larry Bird won three MVP awards and three NBA championships during his 13-year career with the Boston Celtics. ", "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? Larry Bird Net Worth His net worth has been growing significantly in 2021-2022. Their rivalry continued on in the revived CelticsLakers Rivalry in the NBA. [89] Bird won three NBA championships (in 1981, 1984, and 1986) with the Celtics[83] and won two NBA Finals MVP Awards. At least partially as a result of this, he experienced back problems for the remainder of his career. Honestly, all of them fit Bird so well. Then you have a player like Dwyane Wade who is 65, but has a wingspan of 610. He is not dating anyone. 100 kg or 220.5 lbs. .css-m6thd4{-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;display:block;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;font-family:Gilroy,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif;font-size:1.125rem;line-height:1.2;font-weight:bold;color:#323232;text-transform:capitalize;}@media (any-hover: hover){.css-m6thd4:hover{color:link-hover;}}Remembering Just Fontaine and His World Cup Record, The Man Behind the First All-Black Basketball Team, 8 Times Brothers Have Faced Off in a Championship, Every Black Quarterback to Play in the Super Bowl, Soccer Star Christian Atsu Survived an Earthquake. Biyombo stands 68, but has a wingspan that stretches out to 76. 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. That's the greatest game I've ever played in or seen played." Redick is 6'4 tall and has a wingspan of 6'3. Because Bird was wily in creating space for himself off the dribble, the Shot Creator takeover also sounds like a good option. KG Living Legend Don Nelson Posts: 8383 He is also the youngest player to reach 1,000 rebounds, and each benchmark from that point through to 9,000 rebounds. [13], 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. [99] He sometimes practiced shooting three-point shots with his eyes closed. Join us for a March Madness Webinar on Tuesday, March 7 at 8pm ET. But there are other players that are taller that their listed height like Garnett, McGrady (who Toronto played at PF in his early years and once averaged nearly 2 blocks a game) and probably Dirk (as Cuban once claimed). Howard has used that wingspan to become an elite rebounder and shot blocker. Rajon Rondo's length at the point guard position makes him a one of a kind player. Larry Bird played the small forward and power forward positions at a height of 6'9" (2.06 m). Bird is universally regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all time. Following his retirement in 1992, Bird became a successful head coach and front-office executive with the Indiana Pacers. In Game 7 of the 1988 Eastern Conference semifinals against the Atlanta Hawks, Bird shot 9 of 10 from the floor in the fourth quarter, scoring 20 points in that quarter and lifting the Celtics to a series-clinching victory over Atlanta. [21] Boston advanced through the playoffs to earn a rematch with the Lakers, this time losing in six games. Drafted by the Boston Celtics with the sixth overall pick in the 1978 NBA draft after his second year at Indiana State, Bird elected to stay in college and returned for the 19781979 season. Remarkably Leonards wingspan may not be his freakiest attribute, as that would go to his hand size. At the age of 19, Biyombo averaged 2.8 blocks per 36 minutes and showed some promise. Oops! His other playmaking strengths include quick and flashy passes. Although he announced his departure around that time, he reclaimed his post as team president in the summer of 2013. 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. 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. [77], Bird was voted onto the NBA's 50th Anniversary All-Time Team list in 1996,[78][79] and inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1998. the official stats partner of the NBA, NHL and MLB. Bird, Larry (1989), Drive: The Story of My Life. Larry Bird's Height 6ft 9 (205.7 cm) Former American basketball player, who played with The Boston Celtics. 3940. Bird's basketball prowess earned him an athletic scholarship to Indiana University, where he was to play for legendary coach Bob Knight. After all, Bird dished out 6.3 assists per game for his entire career. They each had charisma, deft shooting touch, extraordinary passing skills, and team-oriented mindset that ignited their team and the crowd. [96] Bird was the first player in NBA history to shoot 50% or better on field goals, 40% on three-pointers, and 90% on free-throws in a single NBA season while achieving the league minimum for makes in each category. 6. His Competitiveness Has Taken Its Toll. For these reasons, the other badges you should consider upgrading are Bullet Passer, Post Playmaker, and Special Delivery. Do you have a blog? In his final three seasons with the Celtics, Bird averaged over 20 points, 9 rebounds and 7 assists per game, shot better than 45% from the field, and led the Celtics to playoff appearances. USA. One such case is the legendary Jerry West. 30 on ESPN SportsCentury's Top 50 athletes of the 20th century, with only five other basketball players ranked higher. [113] Despite having no previous coaching experience, Bird led the Pacers to a 5824 recordthe franchise's best as an NBA team at the timein the 199798 season,[114] and pushed the Chicago Bulls to seven games in the Eastern Conference Finals. [58], In 1987, the Celtics made their last Finals appearance of Bird's career, fighting through difficult series against the Milwaukee Bucks and Detroit Pistons. http://www.nbadraft.net/2002predraftmeasurements.htm, http://www.insidehoops.com/chicago-camp-measurements.shtml, http://www.insidehoops.com/draft-prospect-measurements.shtml, http://www.friendster.com/user.php?uid=27447626, http://canadahoops.blogspot.com/2007/05/nba-predraft-camp-measurements-2002.html, http://blog.oregonlive.com/behindblazersbeat/Orlando%202007-Complete%20%20Results.xls. However, Bird's height seems to come at a cost -- a cost he's well aware of and doesn't try to hide from. Howard makes up for his height with an elite wingspan that measures 75. McHale stood 610 and was reported to have a colossal wingspan that stretched to 80. Unless you allot more points to finishing attributes, you will only have one potential upgrade for finishing badges. The Celtics won their first NBA title with Bird (and 14th overall) in 1981; they repeated with title wins in 1984 and 1986. [20] For his college career, he averaged 30.3 points, 13.3 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game,[21] leading the Sycamores to an 8113 record during his tenure. Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? What you want to prioritize are those that will help you make shots even if defenders are right by you. Conversely, the height change will cause a negative impact on perimeter defense, lateral quickness, and steal. [70] Many people realized that the emergence of these two stars were linked with the rise in popularity of the NBA, as the NBA started to market towards these two stars. But dont let Birds efficient scoring distract you from the fact that he was proficient in the other aspects of his game. The 19871988 season was the highest-scoring season of Bird's career. Leonard is only 67, but possess a gigantic 73 wingspan, which is a full 8 inches longer than his height. An option for your characters secondary skill is playmaking. w/out shoes Ht. Other vital statistics like weight or shoe size measurements have been sourced from newspapers, books, resumes or social media. That would have been a 17% increase on his height. [69] Following Bird's departure, the Celtics promptly retired his jersey number 33. [42] Bird was named Finals MVP behind 27.4 points, 14 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game. [9] He has four brothers and a sister. [8] He returned to French Lick, enrolling at Northwood Institute (now Northwood University) in nearby West Baden, and working municipal jobs for a year before enrolling at Indiana State University in Terre Haute in 1975. To put that in perspective, his hands are larger than that of LeBron James. Larry Bird was 6'9" no wingspan numbers but he had average looking arms. We present them here for purely educational purposes. There were also stories that he would walk up to opponents and tell them where he was going to attempt a game-winning shot. A persons wingspan is the measurement from the tips of one finger to the other. Last edited on 28 February 2023, at 21:21, retired by Springs Valley High Blackhawks, 1992 United States men's Olympic basketball team, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, United States men's national basketball team, List of career achievements by Larry Bird, List of National Basketball Association career assists leaders, List of National Basketball Association career playoff assists leaders, List of National Basketball Association career playoff free throw scoring leaders, List of National Basketball Association career playoff rebounding leaders, List of National Basketball Association career playoff scoring leaders, List of National Basketball Association career playoff steals leaders, List of National Basketball Association career playoff turnovers leaders, List of National Basketball Association career scoring leaders, List of National Basketball Association career steals leaders, List of National Basketball Association career turnovers leaders, List of National Basketball Association players with most points in a game, List of National Basketball Association players with most steals in a game, List of National Basketball Association annual minutes leaders, List of NBA players who have spent their entire career with one franchise, List of NCAA Division I men's basketball career scoring leaders, List of NCAA Division I men's basketball players with 2000 points and 1000 rebounds, "Big Threes Beyond the Boston Celtics & Miami Heat: 50 Best Trios in NBA History", Fox Sports: Top 10 small forwards in NBA history, "Larry Bird resigns as Indiana Pacers president for second time", Larry Bird: Hall of Fame Basketball Superstar, "EDDIE BIRD HAS A TOUGH ACT TO FOLLOW AT INDIANA STATE", "Boston's Larry Bird, in what may be his finest season, gets Red Auerbach's voteover Bill Russellas the best ever", "Throwback Thursday: Celtics Draft Larry Bird Sixth Overall", "The story of how rookie phenom Larry Bird led the NBA's greatest turnaround season", "Larry Bird's baseball career: A lofty .500 batting average", "Houston Rockets at Boston Celtics Box Score, October 12, 1979", "Detroit Pistons at Boston Celtics Box Score, November 14, 1979", "Indiana Pacers at Boston Celtics Box Score, November 23, 1979", "5 best players in Boston Celtics history", "NBA expert panel: Warriors not the greatest of all time, or even No. Although there are only 48 total minutes of time on the clock in an NBA game, the regulation time is stopped often for fouls, timeouts, and when the ball is out of bounds. Larry Bird cemented his legacy in the sport by leading the Boston Celtics to three championships in the 1980s. [5] He was named NBA Executive of the Year for the 2012 season. These heights are still well below the NBA average and well below Kareem's height of 7'2". Underscoring his place in the game's history, he was named one of the NBA's Top 50 players in 1996, and inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1998. To round out the finishing, shooting, and playmaking categories, put some points on close shot, driving layup, driving dunk, and post hook. He was also quite adept at looking for the open man from the post. Larry Bird and Magic Johnson are known to be "one of the greatest rivalries in sports. During the 2000s, Brand was one of the better rebounders and defenders. A comprehensive reference database of dimensioned drawings documenting the standard measurements and sizes of the everyday objects and spaces that make up our world. Volume Shooter Gives an additional boost to shot attributes to every subsequent shot attempted after the player has already taken a handful of shots. Bird returned to the Pacers as president of basketball operations in 2013,[6] and remained in that role until 2017. What we do know is Chamberlain stood about 71, while his wingspan is up for debate. Remembering Just Fontaine and His World Cup Record, Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads, Name: Larry Bird, Birth Year: 1956, Birth date: December 7, 1956, Birth State: Indiana, Birth City: West Baden Springs, Birth Country: United States. He was one of the best shot blockers in NBA history and a lot of that, obviously, had to do with the enormous wingspan. Have you heard of the 50-40-90 club? He was a great post scorer and could dominate the paint like a big man. Only eight other NBA players have achieved the rare feat. On August 18, 1992, Bird announced his retirement. Catch & Shoot The badge increases the shooting percentage of a player attempting a three-pointer immediately after receiving a pass. Bird won a gold medal in the 1992 Olympics besides being a three-time NBA MVP, twelve-time NBA All-Star, and two-time Finals MVP. [57], The '86 Celtics are commonly ranked as one of the greatest basketball teams of all time, with the Boston Globe's Peter May and Grantland's Bill Simmons listing them at number one. [121], In 1975, Bird married Janet Condra. He played most of his career with forward Kevin McHale and center Robert Parish, considered by some to be the greatest front court in NBA history. [28] On November 14, 1979, Bird recorded his first career triple-double with 23 points, 19 rebounds and 10 assists in a 115111 win over the Detroit Pistons. On the offensive side, superior wingspan allows a shooter to have less shots contested, as he can get the ball further away from a defender. What is so impressive is that he has maintained those percentages despite the heavy volume of shots he takes. When they mention length, they are not talking about a players height, but more so his wingspan. In 1999, when he won his first Defensive Player of the Year, he had an insane 3.9 blocks a game. Learn more and register. What does stand out is Maxiells stature. You will often hear basketball pundits state that a player has great length. Larry Bird has dated - Janet Condra - Larry Bird was previously married to his high school sweetheart Janet Condra with whom he had a daughter named Corrie. Positions: Small forward, power forwardYears Active: 19791992, Drawings include:Larry Bird standing, shooting, dribbling, NBA - National Basketball AssociationWikipedia - Basketball. That length has made him one of the best point guard defenders. Nonetheless, during the final years of his career, Bird maintained his status as one of the premier players in the game. He was a raw athlete out of the Democratic Republic of Congo, having only picked up the sport at the age of 16. Bird stands 6-foot-9, and his listed weight during his playing days was 220 lbs. Those three players would form a legendary frontline, perhaps the greatest in NBA history. The reason for doing so is not just due to Bird being a proficient shooter and facilitator, but also because you will find out later that increasing the height will decrease these attributes. They remained married for less than a year. If it goes, it goes.". One report claims McHale could tie his shoes without having to bend over. The first regular-season game between the Celtics and the Lakers in the 198788 season proved to be a classic with Magic Johnson banking in an off-balance shot from near the three-point line at the buzzer for a 115114 Lakers win at Boston Garden. The Celtics and Lakers dominated, with one team or the other, or both, appearing in every NBA championship throughout the decade. As morbid as the subject is, Bird doesn't really duck away from it and what it means for him and his family. What he used was his strength and court sense to outmaneuver and outrebound opponents. [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. This is a very scary thought for a lot of NBA players, both past and present. [46] At the conclusion of the year, Bird was named MVP for the second consecutive season behind averages of 28.7 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 6.6 assists per game. [49] The risk paid off; Walton's acquisition helped Boston win a league best 67 games. Larry Bird was born in West Baden, Indiana. He has seen his points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks and field goal percentage increase in each of his first three seasons in the league. A big reason for those 9 blocks can be attributed to his gargantuan wingspan. DiamondLobby.com makes money from advertising. When they mention length, they are not talking about a player's height, but more so his wingspan. So, when selecting a physical profile for your player, I suggest choosing the combination of strength and agility. [61] The historical rift between the teams, which faced each other several times in championship series of the 1960s, fueled fan interest in the rivalry. Small Forward and Power Forward As an alternative to relying on badges for in-game boosts, you can target improving many of your attributes as soon as possible. Please check the opt-in box to acknowledge that you would like to subscribe. After retiring as a player in 1992, he was appointed as the coach for the team the Boston Celtics. This year marks his 10th year in the league, and by all accounts, he's had a relative unspectacular career. [59] The Celtics fell short in 1988 losing to the Detroit Pistons in 6 games in the Eastern Conference Finals as the Pistons made up from the heartbreak the previous season. Subscribed! There is no denying the greatness of Wilt Chamberlain and a superior length was a major reason he was unstoppable. The World's Most Entertaining Car Website. Honestly, all of them fit Bird so well. Doubleday, pp. Not since Bill Russell squared off against Wilt Chamberlain had professional basketball enjoyed such a marquee matchup. Your players skill breakdown should certainly focus primarily on shooting. Clutch Shooter Shot attempts made during the final moments of the fourth quarter or overtime receive a large boost. Take a look at the great defenders in the NBA, and the one common thread you will find in all of them is an impressive wingspan. [12] Georgia and Joe divorced when Larry was in high school, and Joe died by suicide about a year later. December 7, Scottie Pippen is one of the most versatile players in NBA history. [60], Throughout the 1980s, contests between the Celtics and the Lakersboth during the regular season and in the Finalsattracted enormous television audiences. Nicknamed " the Hick from French Lick " and " Larry Legend ", Bird is widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all time. 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. [91] Bird was also a four-time regular season MVP runner-up in 1981, 1982, 1983, and 1988. [10], Bird received a scholarship to play college basketball for the Indiana Hoosiers in 1974. When Durant drives the lane, his length allows him to finish with greater success, and have less shots contested. All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. I couldn't miss. [16][17][18] He had a successful three-year career with the Sycamores, helping them reach the NCAA tournament for the first time in school history with a 330 record where they played the 1979 championship game against Michigan State. Pippen could pass like a point guard, rebound like a power forward, and score like a shooting guard. Because of this, you can just focus on what Bird was exceptionally good at. Who was going to make the last shot? [103] Bird was also referred to as "Larry Legend". [73] This style of play was starting to influence a new hoard of fans as they would sit and marvel at what they [Bird and Magic] can do while giving younger kids a different perspective of the game. We don't have much information about He's past relationship and any previous engaged. Kevin McHale has gone down as one of the 50 best NBA players of all time, and is probably the best example in NBA history of how length can be used to dominate on both ends of the court. According to our Database, He has no children. The other shooting badges you should look to upgrade are Catch & Shoot, Corner Specialist, Difficult Shots, Fade Ace, Slippery Off-Ball, and Volume Shooter. He finished his career with sterling averages of 24.6 points and 10 rebounds per game. [24][14][25] Shortly afterwards, NBA draft eligibility rules were changed to prevent teams from drafting players before they were ready to sign, a rule known as the Bird Collegiate Rule. [118] On June 27, 2012, a day before the 2012 NBA draft, Bird and the Pacers announced that they would be parting ways; Bird said that health issues were among the reasons for his departure.