Get to know Larry Bird: Stats, records and more

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Larry Bird, AKA "Larry Legend," was selected by the Boston Celtics with the sixth overall pick in the 1978 NBA Draft. He was the heart and soul of the 1980s Celtics, leading them to three NBA championships while earning a reputation as one of the greatest players in league history.

Get to know more about the C's legend below:

Larry Bird's bio

  • Height: 6-foot-9
  • Weight: 220 pounds
  • Birthdate: Dec. 7, 1956
  • College: Indiana State
  • NBA experience: 13 years
  • Jersey number: 33

Larry Bird's career NBA stats

Here are some of Larry Bird's notable career achievements and statistics:

  • Three-time NBA champion (1981, 1984, 1986)
  • Two-time NBA Finals MVP (1984, 1986)
  • Three-time NBA MVP (1984-86)
  • 12-time NBA All-Star (1980-88, 1990-92)
  • Nine-time All-NBA First Team (1980-88)
  • All-NBA Second Team (1990)
  • Three-time All-NBA Defensive Second Team (1982-84)
  • NBA Rookie of the Year (1980)
  • NBA All-Rookie Team (1980)
  • Three-time NBA Three-Point Contest champion (1986-88)
  • Career-high in points: 60 (March 12, 1985) -- tied for franchise record with Jayson Tatum
  • No. 33 retired by Celtics
  • Career averages:
    • 24.3 points per game
    • 10.0 rebounds per game
    • 6.3 assists per game
    • 88.6% free throw percentage
    • 49.6% field goal percentage
    • 37.6% 3-point percentage

Larry Bird's college career

Bird received a scholarship to play for the Indiana Hoosiers in 1974, but he dropped out after only one month at Indiana University. In 1975, he enrolled at Indiana State.

The highlight of Bird's three-year collegiate career came in 1979, when he led the Sycamores to a 33-0 record and their first NCAA Tournament berth in the program's history. They battled against Earvin "Magic" Johnson -- Bird's rival throughout his professional career -- and Michigan State in the championship game, falling 75-64.

Bird earned an assortment of accolades during his time at Indiana State. He was a two-time consensus first-team All-American in 1978-79, the College Player of the Year in 1979, a two-time MVC Player of the Year in 1978-79, and had his No. 33 retired by the school.

Larry Bird's head coaching career

Bird returned home to become the head coach of the Indiana Pacers in 1997 and led them to the conference finals. Bird's Pacers fell in the East finals in '98 and '99, then came up short in the NBA Finals in 2000 against the Los Angeles Lakers. He was named NBA Head Coach of the Year in 1998.

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