Larry Bird
The Hick from French Lick who became a Celtics legend and Olympic gold medalist.
Larry Joe Bird (born December 7, 1956) is an American former professional basketball player, coach, and executive in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Nicknamed "the Hick from French Lick" and "Larry Legend", Bird is widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all time. He is the only person in NBA history to be named Rookie of the Year, Most Valuable Player, Finals MVP, All-Star MVP, Coach of the Year, and Executive of the Year.
- role
- Forward
- affiliation
- United States men's national basketball team (1992 Dream Team)
- first_appears
- 1992 Summer Olympics, Barcelona
- status
- Retired (NBA and international play)
- notable_achievement
- Gold medal at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics
- nba_teams
- Boston Celtics (1979–1992)
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
Growing up in French Lick, Indiana, Bird was a local basketball star. He led Indiana State to an undefeated regular season and a berth in the national championship, where they faced Michigan State and Magic Johnson. Bird was a member of the gold medal-winning 1992 U.S. Olympic basketball team, known as the "Dream Team". He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame twice as a player—first in 1998 as an individual, and again in 2010 as a member of the "Dream Team". Bird was voted onto the NBA's 50 Greatest Players in NBA History list in 1996, and subsequently the 75th Anniversary Team list in 2021.
In Their Own Story
The Barcelona heat was thick, but Bird's focus was sharper. As a member of the 1992 U.S. Olympic basketball team, he joined a roster of NBA superstars that would become known as the "Dream Team." On the court, he moved like a chess master, always two passes ahead. When a defender lunged, Bird flicked a no-look pass to a teammate for an easy score. The crowd roared, but Bird only smiled—a quiet, knowing smile. This was his Olympic moment, and he was going out on top with a gold medal.
Reader's Guide
Bird played for the Boston Celtics during his entire 13-season professional career, leading them to five NBA Finals appearances and three NBA championships. He played most of his career with forward Kevin McHale and center Robert Parish. Bird was a 12-time NBA All-Star, won two NBA Finals MVP awards and received the NBA Most Valuable Player Award three consecutive times (1984–1986). After retiring as a player, Bird served as head coach of the Indiana Pacers from 1997 to 2000, and later as president of basketball operations.
Did You Know?
- Bird was selected by the Boston Celtics as the sixth overall pick in the 1978 NBA draft.
- He led Indiana State to an undefeated regular season and a berth in the national championship, where they lost to Michigan State.
- Bird was named NBA Coach of the Year for the 1997–98 season.
- He was named NBA Executive of the Year for the 2012 season.
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