He was also quite adept at looking for the open man from the post. Highly recruited, he initially signed to play college basketball for coach Bob Knight of the Indiana Hoosiers, but Bird dropped out after one month and returned to French Lick to attend a local community college. '"[107] When playing against Dennis Rodman, a player known for his defensive abilities, in the 1987 Eastern Conference Finals, Bird continually belittled Rodman's ability, at one point asking the opposing head coach to send in someone up to the task of guarding him. Bird was born on December 7, 1956, in West Baden Springs, Indiana, and raised in the nearby town of French Lick, where he excelled at basketball at an early age. You will often hear basketball pundits state that a player has great length. 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. 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. CelebHeights.com Rob Paul 2004-2023. His effort helped to overcome a 47-point performance by Atlanta's Dominique Wilkins. Bird also led the Celtics in rebounding, with an average of 10.4 per game, as well as in steals and minutes played. His mother, Cora Lillian, had an above average height at six feet. You said there will be another Larry Bird. This is another case of parents being relatively short to their son. Despite no previous coaching experience, he led the Pacers to a 58-24 record the franchise's best at the time in the 1997-98 season and was named the NBA Coach of the Year. the official stats partner of the NBA, NHL and MLB. [67] Wilkins remarked, "The basket was like a well. Growing up in French Lick, Indiana, he was a local basketball star. Many NBA bigs, including Larry Bird and Bill Walton, believe there's a negative relationship between height and longevity. [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. Lastly, the wingspan can be reduced to around 83.0 inches. He is also the youngest player to reach 1,000 rebounds, and each benchmark from that point through to 9,000 rebounds. Bird averaged 10.0 rebounds per game in his career. HEIGHT. If it goes, it goes.". 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. Ganyan naman talaga, you usually take off 1 1/2 to 2 inches off their published height - and you get their real height. The World's Most Entertaining Car Website. Indiana State. w/ shoes Weight Wingspan Standing Reach. Many people following the NBA would love to see Bird play in todays era of basketball. He mentioned in his own book about his height, saying, Photo ImageCollect.com / Mike Springer-PHOTOlink.net. 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. Celebrity Fan Photos and Agency Pictures of stars are to their respective owners. [40] Boston's misfortunes continued into the next season, with Bird again finishing second in MVP voting to Malone and the team losing in the Conference Semifinals to the Milwaukee Bucks. [51][52], On November 27, 1985, Bird recorded 47 points to go along with 12 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals in a 132124 win over the Detroit Pistons. It seems like Leonard is only starting to scratch the surface of what he can do with such freaky physical attributes. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. Site contains certain content that is owned A&E Television Networks, LLC. His elite wingspan has allowed him to dominant the game over the last 10 years, and he has carved himself out a Hall of Fame worthy career. The four-time NBA scoring champ is a player who uses his impressive wingspan to gain an advantage on the offensive side of the court. Larry Bird was 6'9" no wingspan numbers but he had average looking arms. This entry could be part of Ripleys Believe it or Not. The strain that goes on the heart of someone that tall is tough, and despite being rewarded financially for their skills and size, having that life cut short because of that same size is their reality. This ratio is one of the higher percentages for players who have played in the NBA. What is not a stretch is that Davis is a premiere athlete, with an incredible wingspan. Larry Bird's wife, Dinah Mattingly, is his high school sweetheart who got engaged and married the former NBA legend in 1989. Prince will not go down in any record books, but ask some of the games best who the toughest defender they faced is, and Tayshaun Princes name will be be right up there. This is a very scary thought for a lot of NBA players, both past and present. Davis stands 610, and, at the 2012 pre-draft combine, was measured to have a 75 wing span. [99] He sometimes practiced shooting three-point shots with his eyes closed. Brand was the #1 overall pick in 1999 out of Duke. One such case is the legendary Jerry West. 4. [39] In the Conference Finals, the Celtics faced the 76ers for the third consecutive year, losing in seven games. Here's what the science reveals. However, I suggest going for Spot Up Shooter. 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. A confirmation email has been sent. Between them, Bird and Johnson captured eight NBA championships during the 1980s, with Magic getting five and Bird three. Deadeye Jump shots attempted with a defender closing out in front of the player will suffer a lower penalty. [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. [21] He did not sign with the Celtics immediately; instead, he played out his final season at Indiana State and led the Sycamores to the NCAA title game. Biyombo stands 68, but has a wingspan that stretches out to 76. Pippen used his incredible length to cover the best player on a nightly basis and whether they were a forward or a guard didn't matter, as Pippen had both the size and quickness to match up with anyone. What he showed us is that truly elite stats can be produced by some with almost no talent, but insanely freaky physical attributes. We present them here for purely educational purposes. KG Living Legend Don Nelson Posts: 8383 To help you grind efficiently, we have a guide on how to earn more VCs in NBA 2K22. Larry Bird and Magic Johnson are known to be "one of the greatest rivalries in sports. Bird stands 6-foot-9, and his listed weight during his playing days was 220 lbs. us, College: Larry Bird, along with "Magic" Johnson and Michael Jordan, is one of the most recognized names in the history of basketball. Their rivalry continued on in the revived CelticsLakers Rivalry in the NBA. 1. That is 6.5% greater than his height. Unfortunately he's had a difficult time keeping pace with the speed of the NBA, and his limited offensive game has come to light. [117] After the 20112012 NBA season, Bird was named NBA Executive of the Year, becoming the only man in NBA history to win the NBA MVP, Coach of the Year and Executive of the Year. Celtics General Manager Red Auerbach publicly stated that he would not pay Bird more than any Celtic on the current roster, but Bird's agent Bob Woolf told Auerbach that Bird would reject any sub-market offers and simply enter the 1979 draft instead, where Boston's rights would expire when the draft began on June 25, and Bird would have been the likely top pick. [10], Bird received a scholarship to play college basketball for the Indiana Hoosiers in 1974. Thus, you have to upgrade the Break Starter badge. Johnson and the Spartans triumphed, but Larry Bird left Indiana State that year with the USBWA College Player of the Year Award, the Naismith Award and the Wooden Award. In, Career statistics and player information from, This page was last edited on 28 February 2023, at 21:21. A recent promotional poster out of New Orleans shows Davis with a 77 wingspan. Wilt Chamberlain is part of many extraordinary tales and finding accurate data on the legendary big man is no small feat. Join us for a March Madness Webinar on Tuesday, March 7 at 8pm ET. To help you with the boards, you can upgrade the Rebound Chaser badge. DiamondLobby / NBA 2K22 / The Best Larry Bird Build in NBA 2K22. Data Provided By Larry Bird stands 6'9" tall and weighs 220 pounds during his NBA playing days. But Don't Bet That He Won't Be Back", "Larry Bird stepping down from Pacers post", "For 2nd time, Hall-of-Famer Bird resigns as Pacers president", "Larry Bird resigns as Pacers president, Kevin Pritchard to take over", "Pacers' Larry Bird is NBA Executive of the Year", "Indiana Pacers part ways with Larry Bird", "Bird Steps Down; Pritchard Named President of Basketball Operations", "Larry Bird No Longer Has an Active Role with the Pacers, Confirms Kevin Pritchard", NBA unveils redesigned Larry O'Brien, Bill Russell trophies, announces new conference finals MVP awards - CBS Sports.com, 1992 U.S. OLYMPIC MENS BASKETBALL TEAM - Team USA.org, "2017 Class of FIBA Hall of Fame: Dream Team", "FULL VERSION: McDonald's Commercial with LeBron James and Dwight Howard", "Twitter's Logo Is Named After Larry Bird", "Larry Bird is Always on Twitter Even Without Having an Account", "ESPN Classic - Bird had eye for victory", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Larry_Bird&oldid=1142161893, Trophy named in Bird's honor (Larry Bird Trophy) awarded to Eastern Conference Finals MVP (established in 2022), 1992 Olympic gold medal (U.S. national team). We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. Following an attempted reconciliation, Bird and Condra had a daughter, Corrie, in 1977. 2. Of course, there are some who prefer using a player based on his archrival, Magic Johnson. December 7, The other shooting badges you should look to upgrade are Catch & Shoot, Corner Specialist, Difficult Shots, Fade Ace, Slippery Off-Ball, and Volume Shooter. [42] Bird was named Finals MVP behind 27.4 points, 14 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game. Bird is universally regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all time. The Best Michael Jordan Build in NBA 2K22, How to Set Realistic Game Sliders in NBA 2K22, Teams With the Most Cap Space in NBA 2K22 MyGM. A 6-foot 9-inch (2.06-metre) forward, he was known for his unflappable confidence and clutch shooting ability, which together created an intimidating presence on the court. The smallest report records it at 78, while the largest account has it at 84 inches. His most famous steal was in Game 5 of the 1987 Eastern Conference Finals. Homepage Mock Drafts. [citation needed] The apparent contrast between the two players and their respective teams seemed scripted for television: Bird, the introverted small-town hero with the blue-collar work ethic, fit perfectly with the throwback, hard-nosed style of the Celtics, while the stylish, gregarious Johnson ran the Lakers' fast-paced Showtime offense amidst the bright lights and celebrities of Los Angeles. Magic got the upper hand against Bird, beating him in 1985 and 1987, while Bird beat Magic in 1984. [19][20] Indiana State lost the game 7564, with Bird scoring 19 points but making only 7 of 21 shots. Or write about sports? . At least partially as a result of this, he experienced back problems for the remainder of his career. You can use it on Post Spin Technician to allow your player to be more effective inside the paint. Special Delivery Improves the chances of connecting with an alley-oop pass and increases the shot percentage of teammates who receive a flashy pass from the player. The summer of 1992 marked the first time the United States sent professional athletes to the Olympic Games. He was one of the best shot blockers in NBA history and a lot of that, obviously, had to do with the enormous wingspan. If Bol had any type of offensive game to merit him more minutes, he would have set the blocks record so high that it would have never been touched. [27], Before the 198081 season, the Celtics selected forward Kevin McHale in the draft and acquired center Robert Parish from the Golden State Warriors,[31][32] forming a Hall of Fame trio for years to come; the front-court of Bird, McHale, and Parish is regarded as one of the greatest front-courts in NBA history. Two-time Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame inductee: College Basketball Hall of Fame (class of 2006). Find out more. The three-time MVP helped redefine the position and his battles with Magic Johnson and the Los Angeles Lakers is the standard for NBA rivalry even today. [102] Bird's humble roots were the source of his most frequently used moniker, "The Hick from French Lick". From Jackie MacMullan of ESPN the Magazine: Bird, who has an enlarged heart, was diagnosed in 1995 with atrial fibrillation, an abnormal heartbeat resulting from electrical signals being generated chaotically throughout the heart's upper chambers. [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. He also had a career high of 60 points against the Atlanta Hawks on March 12, 1985. ", -Magic Johnson, as quoted at Bird's retirement party. (Larry Legend, The Hick from French Lick, Kodak, The Great White Hope), Position: Larry Bird cemented his legacy in the sport by leading the Boston Celtics to three championships in the 1980s. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. [20] Bird also appeared in one game for the baseball team, going 1-for-2 with 2 RBI. [115] Bird then led the Pacers to consecutive Central Division titles in 1999 and 2000 and a berth in the 2000 NBA Finals. The Celtics ended up losing to the Lakers in six games, with Bird averaging 24.2 points on .445 shooting, 10 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game in the championship series. 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. Do you have a sports website? 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. 3940. He is a 6'6 player, and he's held his own thanks to a 260 pound base and a 7'3 wingspan. That is an 11% increase on his height. A 6-foot-9 forward who could dribble, pass and shoot the way Bird could made him one of the greatest NBA players we've ever seen and will ever see. 3. As for the defense/rebounding class, set the interior defense, offensive rebound, and defensive rebound to around 10 points below the upper limit. [39] At the conclusion of the season, he earned his first All-Defensive Team selection. You will often hear basketball pundits state that a player has great length. [2] 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 (19841986), making him the only forward in league history to do so. Larry Bird was drafted by Boston Celtics, 1st round (6th pick, 6th overall), 1978 NBA Draft. He chose to return to Indiana State for one more year and led the Sycamores to the NCAA championship game against the Michigan State Spartans, a team led by another future NBA superstar, Ervin .css-47aoac{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-thickness:0.0625rem;text-decoration-color:inherit;text-underline-offset:0.25rem;color:#A00000;-webkit-transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;}.css-47aoac:hover{color:#595959;text-decoration-color:border-link-body-hover;}"Magic" Johnson. The couple . Bird is one of the best shooters in the history of the sport. [62], Despite the intensity of their rivalry, Bird and Johnson became friends off the court. NBA 2K23 Larry Bird Packs Card Name Overall Position Offense Defense Height Wingspan Weight Badges Total Stats Larry Bird Premium End Game 99 SF/PF 99 99 6'9 7'0 220 lbs 0, 0, 0, 80 3366 Larry Bird Premium Invincible 99 PG/SF 99 99 6'9 7'0 220 lbs 0, 0, 13, 65 3365 Larry Bird Premium Continue reading "NBA 2K23 Larry Bird Packs Card Challenge" This will give your shooting attributes a bit of a boost. [93][94][95] In October 2021, as part of the NBA's 75th Anniversary, Bird was honored as one of the 75 greatest players of all time, by being named to the NBA's 75th Anniversary All-Time Team. At the end of the 2011-12 season, he was named NBA Executive of the Year, making him the only person to be named the NBA's MVP, Coach of the Year and Executive of the Year. Larry Joe Bird (born December 7, 1956) is an American former professional basketball player, coach, and executive in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Bird entered the NBA for the 19791980 season, where he made an immediate impact, starting at power forward and leading the Celtics to a 32-win improvement over the previous season before being eliminated from the playoffs in the Conference Finals. Biography and associated logos are trademarks of A+E Networksprotected in the US and other countries around the globe. On the offensive side of the ball, Rondo like to drive with a scooping layup. inWest Baden,Indiana He made the All-Star team 12 times and was named the All-Star Game Most Valuable Player in 1982. Updated daily. When Kawhi Leonard took home the NBA playoff MVP, he became the second youngest player to do so, as only Magic Johnson (who did it twice before the age of 23) did it younger. At the time, he was also the fifth-highest scorer in NCAA history. Larry Bird played the small forward and power forward positions at a height of 6'9" (2. . [12] Georgia and Joe divorced when Larry was in high school, and Joe died by suicide about a year later. [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. 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. Please check the opt-in box to acknowledge that you would like to subscribe. Bird, Johnson, Michael Jordan and other NBA stars formed the American men's basketball team, which would become known as the "Dream Team." 2. After leading the Pacers to the NBA Finals in 2000, he stepped down as head coach. Durant is a prime example that elite length, when combined with elite skills, make a truly special player. Break Starter Deep outlet passes attempted immediately after grabbing a defensive rebound are more likely to connect. 1956 Bird has appeared in three movies, each time playing himself: Bird's likeness has appeared in several video games. He then led his team to an undefeated regular season. [86][87][88] He was selected to 12 NBA All-Star teams. The reason the Bobcats took a risk on this extremely raw player was due to his freakish wingspan. The Boston Celtics won the NBA Championship thrice under his work, making Bird the NBA Most Valuable Player three times. Other vital statistics like weight or shoe size measurements have been sourced from newspapers, books, resumes or social media. His concentration and composure were unrivaled as well, and he established himself as one of the most unshakable and driven players in the NBA. In 1997 Bird accepted the head coach position with the Indiana Pacers, a move that returned him to his home state. Johnson appeared at Bird's retirement ceremony on February 4, 1993, and emotionally described Bird as a "friend forever".[63]. Jason Maxiell was drafted by the Detroit Pistons in the 1st round of the 2005 draft. During the early parts of his career, he even started at power forward for Boston. Not since Bill Russell squared off against Wilt Chamberlain had professional basketball enjoyed such a marquee matchup. That season, the Celtics posted a 61-21 record and defeated the Houston Rockets to take the first NBA championship of Bird's career. Rajon Rondo's length at the point guard position makes him a one of a kind player. Unfortunately, a trade-off with this player archetype is that there will be fewer points available for the others. [104], Bird was known for his trash-talking on the court and is remembered as one of the most notable trash-talkers of his era. All rights reserved. [21] In the Conference Finals, Boston was eliminated by the Philadelphia 76ers. The two adopted a son and daughter, Conner and Mariah. A 1980s Converse commercial for its "Weapon" line of basketball shoes (endorsed by both Bird and Johnson) reflected the perceived dichotomy between the two players. [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. What he used was his strength and court sense to outmaneuver and outrebound opponents. A 6-foot-9 forward who could dribble, pass and shoot the way Bird could made him one of the greatest NBA players. More player info Scottie Pippen stood 68 inches, but had a wingspan of 73, which is modest in comparison to some of the other players on this list, but Pippen used that length to its full extent. We strive for accuracy and fairness.If you see something that doesn't look right,contact us! 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. [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. [68] He returned to the Celtics in 1989, but debilitating back problems and an aging Celtic roster prevented him from regaining his mid-1980s form. Available in DWG (CAD, Imperial &Metric), SVG, JPG formats, For 3D Downloads of this element, upgrade to a Dimensions Pro Membership. LeBron was definitely a better player. He says they build their hearts up so much that when they retire, the hearts just sit there. The average NBA player will have a wingspan 4 inches greater than his height. The legend was quite ahead of his time. To put that into perspective that is only one inch shorter than Shaq's wingspan. West only stood 62 which would make his wingspan 9.5% greater than his height. Your submission has been received! Larry Bird's wingspan is 86.9 inches. So, you will have to allocate some of the points to these attributes. The hop shooting style allows him to get his shot off very quickly, and what makes Durant special is his point of release. Bird has been married to Dinah Mattingly since 1989. The most accurate reports found that West had an 81 inch wingspan, which would translate to 69. Part of the reason, he admits, was his own fatalistic view of what the future would bring.

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