Their rivalry continued on in the revived CelticsLakers Rivalry in the NBA. Larry Bird made at least $25,870,000 playing professional basketball. Falling out of bounds, Bird turned and passed the ball to teammate Dennis Johnson, who converted a game-winning 2-point layup with less than a second left. Bird is universally regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all time. They remained married for less than a year. 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. The World's Most Entertaining Car Website. The dramatic play saved the series for the Celtics. Larry Bird starred at Indiana State University before joining the NBA's Boston Celtics in 1979. USA. Growing up in French Lick, Indiana, he was a local basketball star. I've not seen that much of Chrichton reallycompared to seeing Bird, who can look taller than his listing at times. Bird had an uncanny ability of reading and anticipating opponents passes that helped him record 1.7 steals per game throughout his career. His other playmaking strengths include quick and flashy passes. Great wingspan measurements comes from players of all heights. That wingspan is the same size that the 75 Shawn Bradley had. 30 on ESPN SportsCentury's list of 50 Greatest Athletes of the 20th century. 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. Homepage Mock Drafts. 220lb (100kg) COUNTRY. With his added length, Durant is able to get the ball in a position that is very hard to defend. For this, you will need a ton of VCs. 6-keys: media/spln/nba/reg/free/stories, By pressing sign up, I confirm that I have read and agree to the. Magic got the upper hand against Bird, beating him in 1985 and 1987, while Bird beat Magic in 1984. That athleticism when combined with his physical attributes is going to reign terror over this league for many years, and it is going to be an utter joy to watch. His most famous steal was in Game 5 of the 1987 Eastern Conference Finals. Kahit sa imports coming into the PBA, after the official measurement, they are suddenly 2 inches shorter, heee. Girlfriend / Spouse. Larry Bird attended Springs Valley in French Lick, Indiana and Indiana State University. Bird was one of the greatest players ever in crunch time, making four buzzer-beaters throughout his career. He came out of nowhere to intercept an inbound pass by All-Star Isiah Thomas then immediately dished the ball to teammate Dennis Johnson who made the buzzer-beating layup to give the Celtics the win. Other vital statistics like weight or shoe size measurements have been sourced from newspapers, books, resumes or social media. The game will provide you with three takeover options. Have you heard of the 50-40-90 club? [86], Bird was widely considered one of Red Auerbach's favorite players. The losses of Moses Malone (60 years old), Darryl Dawkins (58), Anthony Mason (48), Christian Welp (51) and Jack Haley (51) all in the last year are a reminder of Bird's and others' contemporaries and peers during their playing days passing away far too young. Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? Larry Legend, The Hick from French Lick, Kodak, The Great White Hope are nicknames for Larry Bird. He also had a career high of 60 points against the Atlanta Hawks on March 12, 1985. Answer (1 of 14): Jordan supposedly being shorter than his listed 6'6 NBA height is not unfounded, as he was listed at 6'4 for the 1992 Olympics. Larry Bird was born in West Baden, Indiana. The Celtics won their first NBA title with Bird (and 14th overall) in 1981; they repeated with title wins in 1984 and 1986. Part of the reason, he admits, was his own fatalistic view of what the future would bring. However, I suggest going for Spot Up Shooter. [20] Bird also appeared in one game for the baseball team, going 1-for-2 with 2 RBI. Unfortunately, a trade-off with this player archetype is that there will be fewer points available for the others. Please check the opt-in box to acknowledge that you would like to subscribe. Although he announced his departure around that time, he reclaimed his post as team president in the summer of 2013. Bird is one of the best shooters in the history of the sport. After all, Bird dished out 6.3 assists per game for his entire career. The Boston Celtics won the NBA Championship thrice under his work, making Bird the NBA Most Valuable Player three times. At the age of 19, Biyombo averaged 2.8 blocks per 36 minutes and showed some promise. This will give your shooting attributes a bit of a boost. Mourning was blessed with God given length, but it was his heart and passion for the game that ultimately made him one of the best that ever stepped on an NBA court. Despite failing to win the championship, Bird earned numerous year-end awards and honors for his outstanding play, including the Naismith College Player of the Year Award. The next year he attended the smaller Indiana State University, ultimately playing three years for the Sycamores. [70], In the summer of 1992, Bird joined Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, and other NBA stars to play for the United States men's national basketball team in that year's Olympics in Barcelona, Spain. Because as previously discussed, Bird was an outstanding shooter. 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. Small Forward and Power Forward For the defense/rebounding badges, there will only be a limited number of options. Bird knows all about the problems with 7-footers and their health, and despite his wife's aversion to wanting to hear about it, reaching 75 years old isn't something Bird, 59 and now president of the Pacers, necessarily expects to accomplish. This is another case of parents being relatively short to their son. As listed, his height is 6 ft 9 inches (2.06m), and his weight is 220lb (100kg). [82] In 1999, Bird ranked No. 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. [33][34][35] Behind Bird's leadership and Boston's upgraded roster, the Celtics again advanced to the Conference Finals for a rematch with the 76ers. 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. Maxiell shows how an undersized player can keep pace with taller guys when they possess elite wingspan. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. [109] Since 2022, the NBA will award the MVPs for the Conference Finals; the Eastern Conference Finals MVP trophy is named in Bird's honor, while the Western Conference trophy is named after Johnson. Height: 6'9" (206 cm) Weight: 220 lbs (100 kg) Position: F High School: . Leonard is only 67, but possess a gigantic 73 wingspan, which is a full 8 inches longer than his height. A big reason for those 9 blocks can be attributed to his gargantuan wingspan. 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. Nicknamed " the Hick from French Lick " and " Larry Legend ", Bird is widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all time. Nicknamed Larry Legend or The Hick from French Lick, Bird played the small forward and power forward positions for the Boston Celtics in his entire career. Javascript is required for the selection of a player. Honestly, all of them fit Bird so well. [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. w/out shoes Ht. What you want to prioritize are those that will help you make shots even if defenders are right by you. [98] Bird won NBA three-point-shooting contests in three consecutive years. LIVE. Height: 5 feet 5 inches (167 cm) Weight: 56 kg (123 lb) Eye Colour: Hazel: Hair Colour: Golden: Shoe Size: N/A: Martial Status: Married: Husband: Larry Bird . As morbid as the subject is, Bird doesn't really duck away from it and what it means for him and his family. One of those things was being a relentless defender. [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. 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. Bird also led the Celtics in rebounding, with an average of 10.4 per game, as well as in steals and minutes played. Larry Bird played the small forward and power forward positions at a height of 6'9" (2.06 m). Those three players would form a legendary frontline, perhaps the greatest in NBA history. He made the All-Star team 12 times and was named the All-Star Game Most Valuable Player in 1982. [8] Bird's parents were of Irish, Scottish and some Native American descent. The two adopted a son and daughter, Conner and Mariah. The way you will be building your character will give you a lot of potential badge upgrades under the shooting category. Height. Celebrity Fan Photos and Agency Pictures of stars are to their respective owners. Howard makes up for his height with an elite wingspan that measures 75. To help you grind efficiently, we have a guide on how to earn more VCs in NBA 2K22. The couple . Only eight other NBA players have achieved the rare feat. 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. Rondo also poses very large hands at 9.5 inches long, and 10 inches wide. He stood 6 feet, 11.25 inches tall, with a wingspan of 7 inches, 5.25 inches, and possessed the Combine's longest hands at 10 inches. But I recommend opting for defense/rebounding instead. But, as one journalist would say, They looked different, perhaps, but take a chainsaw to their souls and they were fraternal, if not identical, friends.[72] Watching Bird play was like watching Magic play, as they both shared this talent that the league had never seen before. Conversely, the height change will cause a negative impact on perimeter defense, lateral quickness, and steal. 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. [74], Bird and Magics presence on the court was only a small part of their contribution to basketball, as their rivalry changed the landscape of the NBA, transforming it from a struggling, barely profitable league into a highly visible, financial and marketing dream for teams and players alike. 1. The Hick from the French Lick has got yellow-toned tan skin. BEST LARRY BIRD BUILD 2K22 NEXT GEN (EXACT HEIGHT, WEIGHT & WINGSPAN) REAL LIFE BUILD SERIES VOL.44. As for the weight, you can lower it by one pound (219 lbs) to give your player an additional point in acceleration. Do you have a sports website? Bird attended Springs Valley High School in French Lick and was a key component of the school's basketball team, becoming its all-time leading scorer by the time he graduated in 1974. Nicknamed The Claw, Leonard possess a hand spread that measures 11.25 inches, which is bigger than Wilt, Shaq or Bill Russell. 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. A triple-double in basketball is a term used to describe the impactful performance of a player that achieved a double-digit number in three of the five statistical basketball categories of points, assists, rebounds, steals, and blocked shots. [21] Boston advanced through the playoffs to earn a rematch with the Lakers, this time losing in six games. That season, the Celtics posted a 61-21 record and defeated the Houston Rockets to take the first NBA championship of Bird's career. [103] Bird was also referred to as "Larry Legend". Who was going to make the last shot? Howard has used that wingspan to become an elite rebounder and shot blocker. An elite wingspan is considered as a measurement that is 6.5% greater than the players height. Bird had an average of 10.0 rebounds per game for his career and 6.3 assists. 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. Former American basketball player, who played with The Boston Celtics. Larry Bird is 6 foot 9 inches (2.06 m) tall. . Unfortunately he's had a difficult time keeping pace with the speed of the NBA, and his limited offensive game has come to light. [47], During the 1985 offseason, Bird injured his back shoveling crushed rock to create a driveway at his mother's house. He has seen his points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks and field goal percentage increase in each of his first three seasons in the league. And it went down to the last shot of the game. Durant is one of the 6 members of the 50-40-90 club. 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. D raft E xpress. inWest Baden,Indiana [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. Over the course of his 13-year Hall of Fame career, the sharpshooting forward led the Celtics to three NBA titles and claimed three MVP awards. Another badge you must target is Interceptor. [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. Any data prior to that is not a guarantee, and much of it is urban legend that grew a life of its own. In his career, he averaged 2 steals a game and was named to the all-defensive team 10 out of 17 years he was in the league. With Wilt being the most dominant force of his era, it lends to the theory that his wingspan was truly elite. Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. Alonzo Mourning had a decorated NBA career as a seven-time all-star who had two Defensive Player of the Year awards and one NBA title. However, the sharpshooting forward felt some trepidation about the size of the Hoosier campus and withdrew from school, enrolling at Indiana State the next year. Shooting badges will allow you to convert more field goal attempts from anywhere outside the key. Join our linker program. [49] In Game 6 of the Finals series, Bird recorded a triple-double of 29 points, 11 rebounds and 12 assists as the Celtics won the Finals series 4 games to 2 against the Rockets. Kareem's father, Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor Sr., was fairly tall at 6'2". Navigation Toggle NBA. This is a player who has shot 50% from the field, 40% from 3 point land, and 90% from the line. In eight games, Bird averaged 8.4 points. A 6-foot-9 forward who could dribble, pass and shoot the way Bird could made him one of the greatest NBA players. There were also stories that he would walk up to opponents and tell them where he was going to attempt a game-winning shot. As for the defense/rebounding class, set the interior defense, offensive rebound, and defensive rebound to around 10 points below the upper limit. Redick is 6'4 tall and has a wingspan of 6'3. Chew on these numbers for a moment. Of course, there are some who prefer using a player based on his archrival, Magic Johnson. [4] After retiring as a player, Bird served as head coach of the Indiana Pacers from 1997 to 2000. Howard is also the only player in league history to have won Defensive Player of the Year in three consecutive years. Right, Born: 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. What he used was his strength and court sense to outmaneuver and outrebound opponents. Durant is a prime example that elite length, when combined with elite skills, make a truly special player. [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. He is not dating anyone. Standing 69, Prince has a 72 inch wingspan, which appears even greater due to his rail thin physique (some people claim his wingspan is closer to 76). Along with Larry Bird, and Robert Parish, McHale formed the most dominant front line in NBA history. [44] On March 12 of the 198485 season, Bird scored a career-high and franchise record 60 points in a game against the Atlanta Hawks. Elton Brand is entering his 16th year in the NBA this season with the Atlanta Hawks. In 2003, Bird was named president of basketball operations for the Pacers, holding the position until retiring in 2012. The Celtics, led by Bird, and the Lakers, led by Magic, were present in every NBA Finals series in the 80s, with Bird and Magic meeting three times. [11] Bird has said that being poor as a child still motivates him "to this day". Bird and his teammates easily won the Olympic gold medal for the United States, and just a few weeks later, Bird announced his retirement as a player. Anonymous. [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. Bird was rated the greatest NBA small forward of all time by Fox Sports in 2016. Nicknamed "Larry Legend" or "The Hick from French Lick," Bird played the small forward and power forward positions. Biyombo has been playing center for Charlotte over the course of the past 3 years, and at 69, is one of the smaller centers in the league, but the wingspan more than makes up for the height deficiency. ", -Magic Johnson, as quoted at Bird's retirement party. When Durant drives the lane, his length allows him to finish with greater success, and have less shots contested. Bol is 15th all time in blocked shots with 2,086, but he did that in only 11,698 minutes. We present them here for purely educational purposes. Larry Bird DraftExpress Profile: scouting reports, videos, stats and logs. Biography and associated logos are trademarks of A+E Networksprotected in the US and other countries around the globe. Everyone knows that Manute Bol was the tallest player in NBA history, but he also possessed the largest wingspan. [22] He graduated in 1979 with a Bachelor of Science degree in physical education. [99] He sometimes practiced shooting three-point shots with his eyes closed. He's closer to 7'1 I think. Bird's 198889 season ended after six games when he had bone spurs surgically removed from both of his heels. Reggie Miller 6'7" 6'11" wingspan What players could were elite shooters with a wingspan ratio better than 10% of height Yenohb Robert Williams Posts: 345 Tommy Points: 73 Brandon Ingram would definitely be an exception.