[5] He was named NBA Executive of the Year for the 2012 season. The reason the Bobcats took a risk on this extremely raw player was due to his freakish wingspan. Clutch Shooter Shot attempts made during the final moments of the fourth quarter or overtime receive a large boost. Larry Bird [2023 Update]: Wife, Net worth & Family - Players Bio [96], Bird is also remembered as an excellent passer[100] and defender. He is also the youngest player to reach 1,000 rebounds, and each benchmark from that point through to 9,000 rebounds. This will give your shooting attributes a bit of a boost. These heights are still well below the NBA average and well below Kareem's height of 7'2". That is an 11% increase on his height. [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. Larry Bird cemented his legacy in the sport by leading the Boston Celtics to three championships in the 1980s. For these reasons, the other badges you should consider upgrading are Bullet Passer, Post Playmaker, and Special Delivery. Corner Specialist Three-point shots taken near the baseline off the dribble or a pass are given a percentage boost. [133], Bird married Dinah Mattingly in 1989. Because of this, you can just focus on what Bird was exceptionally good at. He says they build their hearts up so much that when they retire, the hearts just sit there. 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. [42], On December 9, 1984, Bird recorded 48 points to go along with 14 rebounds and 5 assists in a 128127 win over the Atlanta Hawks. [39] At the conclusion of the season, he earned his first All-Defensive Team selection. Larry Joe Bird (born December 7, 1956) is an American former professional basketball player, coach, and executive in the National Basketball Association (NBA). [75] It was the first time in the United States' Olympic history that the country sent NBA players to compete. 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. Get to know Larry Bird: Stats, records and more - RSN This ratio is one of the higher percentages for players who have played in the NBA. 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. The average NBA player will have a wingspan 4 inches greater than his height. Larry Bird NBA 2K23 Nationality: United States Team: All-Time Boston Celtics Archetype: 2-Way 3-Level Point Forward Position: SF / PF Height: 6'9" (206cm) | Weight: 220lbs (99kg) Jersey: #33 Prior to NBA: Indiana State University Ranks #8 out of 459 All-Time NBA Players Ranks #31 out of all NBA Players on 2K Compare Larry Bird Badges 3 4 23 9 39 What he used was his strength and court sense to outmaneuver and outrebound opponents. [10], He was raised in nearby French Lick, where his mother worked two jobs to support Larry and his five siblings. w/out shoes Ht. Anonymous. Bird had an average of 10.0 rebounds per game for his career and 6.3 assists. [116], In 2003, Bird was hired as the Pacers' president of basketball operations. Unfortunately he's had a difficult time keeping pace with the speed of the NBA, and his limited offensive game has come to light. 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. In eight games, Bird averaged 8.4 points. After leading the Pacers to the NBA Finals in 2000, he stepped down as head coach. Larry Bird Height - CelebHeights.com He then led his team to an undefeated regular season. Rebound Chaser Raises the players ability to track down rebounds from farther distances than normal. He also had a career high of 60 points against the Atlanta Hawks on March 12, 1985. Larry Bird Insane Peak From 1980-1988 (Consistent Top MVP - reddit The way you will be building your character will give you a lot of potential badge upgrades under the shooting category. A persons wingspan is the. 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. But dont let Birds efficient scoring distract you from the fact that he was proficient in the other aspects of his game. So, when selecting a physical profile for your player, I suggest choosing the combination of strength and agility. December 7, College basketball games are played with two 20 minute periods, while professional NBA basketball games consist of four quarters of 12 minutes each. Durant is a prime example that elite length, when combined with elite skills, make a truly special player. The 7'3 wing span is 11.5% greater than his height. KG Living Legend Don Nelson Posts: 8383 In 1999, he was listed at No. [25], In his rookie season (19791980), Bird immediately transformed the Celtics into a title contender. Subscribed! Larry Bird was 6'9" no wingspan numbers but he had average looking arms. A comprehensive reference database of dimensioned drawings documenting the standard measurements and sizes of the everyday objects and spaces that make up our world. Also, make sure to equip the Clutch Shooter badge. He made the All-Star team 12 times and was named the All-Star Game Most Valuable Player in 1982. The Celtics and Lakers dominated, with one team or the other, or both, appearing in every NBA championship throughout the decade. The dramatic play saved the series for the Celtics. 2004-2023 CBS Interactive. (Larry Legend, The Hick from French Lick, Kodak, The Great White Hope), Position: Leonardo Da Vincis Vitruvian man depicts the ideal human as having a wingspan equal to his height, but this was based off a human that was 55. 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. [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. Taller individuals have more growth hormone, which accumulates more damage and dysfunction at a faster pace, and tend to have shorter life expectancies due to rapid aging. 14 Dwight Howard International Stats at Basketball-Reference.com, College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com, Scores from any date in BAA/NBA or ABA history, Frequently Asked Questions about the NBA, WNBA and Basketball, Basketball-Reference.com Blog and Articles, Subscribe to Stathead Basketball: Get your first month FREE. [83] While he was relatively slow, Bird displayed a knack for anticipating the moves of his opponent, making him a strong team defender. 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. The Celtics won their first NBA title with Bird (and 14th overall) in 1981; they repeated with title wins in 1984 and 1986. [92] Bird is also remembered as one of the foremost clutch performers in the history of the NBA; he was known for his excellent play in high-stakes, high-pressure situations. 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. Bullet Passer Increases the velocity of passes and speeds up how quickly the player gets the ball out of their hands. This is a player who has shot 50% from the field, 40% from 3 point land, and 90% from the line. . [121], In 1975, Bird married Janet Condra. [7], Bird was born in West Baden Springs, Indiana, to Georgia (ne Kerns) and Claude Joseph "Joe" Bird, a veteran of the Korean War. Bol is 15th all time in blocked shots with 2,086, but he did that in only 11,698 minutes. 1 Answer. Along with Larry Bird, and Robert Parish, McHale formed the most dominant front line in NBA history. 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. 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. Some pundits consider Bird as one of the best outlet passers in the history of the league. Top 15 Most Impressive Wingspans In NBA History - TheSportster 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. [48], Before the start of the 198586 season, the Celtics made a daring trade for Bill Walton, an All-Star center with a history of injury. With Wilt being the most dominant force of his era, it lends to the theory that his wingspan was truly elite. Signing with the Celtics for a then-record $650,000 a year, Bird justified his salary right out of the gate, averaging 21.3 points per game and claiming Rookie of the Year honors for the 1979-80 NBA season. [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. Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? Even after his retirement as a professional basketball player, Larry Bird's name still comes up in the NBA because of his coaching skills and the executive role he holds in the NBA. [49] The risk paid off; Walton's acquisition helped Boston win a league best 67 games. The Boston Celtics won the NBA Championship thrice under his work, making Bird the NBA Most Valuable Player three times. The reality is that Pippen did a lot of things that made Jordan a better player. [39] In the Conference Finals, the Celtics faced the 76ers for the third consecutive year, losing in seven games. The most accurate reports found that West had an 81 inch wingspan, which would translate to 69. Height: 6'9" (206 cm) Weight: 220 lbs (100 kg) Position: F High School: . Your players skill breakdown should certainly focus primarily on shooting. The World's Most Entertaining Car Website. . [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. Bird excelled in almost all facets of basketball. [50] One of Bird's career highlights occurred at the 1986 NBA All-Star Weekend when he walked into the locker room at the inaugural Three-Point Shootout and asked who was going to finish second before winning the shootout. When Durant drives the lane, his length allows him to finish with greater success, and have less shots contested. His concentration and composure were unrivaled as well, and he established himself as one of the most unshakable and driven players in the NBA. Bird stands 6-foot-9, and his listed weight during his playing days was 220 lbs. He played both the small forward and power forward positions. One report claims McHale could tie his shoes without having to bend over. 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. The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. 2022 Dimensions.com |All rights reserved. Larry Bird is 6 foot 9 inches (2.06 m) tall. At the age of 19, Biyombo averaged 2.8 blocks per 36 minutes and showed some promise. [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. In the commercial, Bird is practicing alone on a rural basketball court (in reality the court was one Bird had made on the property in French Lick that he had purchased for his mother), when Johnson pulls up in a sleek limousine and challenges him to a one-on-one match. [30], With averages of 21.3 points, 10.4 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 1.7 steals per game for the season, he was selected to the All-Star Team and named Rookie of the Year. LIVE. [36] Boston fell behind 31 to start the series but won the next three games to advance to the Finals against the Houston Rockets,[37] winning in six games and earning Bird his first championship. Nicknamed " the Hick from French Lick " and " Larry Legend ", Bird is widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all time. Bird returned to the Pacers as president of basketball operations in 2013,[6] and remained in that role until 2017. 7. [86], Bird was widely considered one of Red Auerbach's favorite players. [98] Bird won NBA three-point-shooting contests in three consecutive years. Bird's 198889 season ended after six games when he had bone spurs surgically removed from both of his heels. Tayshaun Prince broke out in the Detroit Pistons championship run of 2004. News on all your favorite celebs, reality TV, and movies. 1. So much so, that Charles Barkley even admitted that he wasn't 6'6, but . Bird had an uncanny ability of reading and anticipating opponents passes that helped him record 1.7 steals per game throughout his career. [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 was Larry Bird's height that made his basketball skills so remarkable. [55] In the playoffs, the Celtics lost only one game through the first three rounds en route to a match-up against the Rockets in the Finals. Dirk can't be 6'10. 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. [43] Boston came back to win the game, eventually winning the series in seven. There is no denying the greatness of Wilt Chamberlain and a superior length was a major reason he was unstoppable. Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. [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. [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. 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. 6. His Competitiveness Has Taken Its Toll. Sign in or Register to join the conversations! Something went wrong while submitting the form. Even though he was a superstar, he also had no problem doing the dirty work, like playing hard-nose defense and hustling for loose balls. Elton Brand is entering his 16th year in the NBA this season with the Atlanta Hawks. Charles Barkley has been quoted saying McHale was the best player he ever played against. [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. [105][106] He was known for telling his opponents how and where in the court he would score against them; Xavier McDaniel recounted that Bird predicted a game-winning shot against him, then "shot a shot right in my face and was like 'Damn, I didn't mean to leave two seconds on the clock. Same with Amare who's listed at 6'10 but measured at 6'8 1/2. 5. Bird's basketball prowess earned him an athletic scholarship to Indiana University, where he was to play for legendary coach Bob Knight. Kahit sa imports coming into the PBA, after the official measurement, they are suddenly 2 inches shorter, heee. McHale is known as one of the best post players in NBA history due to his great footwork and arsenal of moves. HEIGHT. Celebrity Fan Photos and Agency Pictures of stars are to their respective owners. w/ shoes Weight Wingspan Standing Reach. Blinders Jump shots attempted with an opponent closing out in the players peripheral vision will not be penalized that much. Prince was never a skilled offensive player, but has been one of the best perimeter defenders of the last decade. [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. 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. Larry Bird weighed 220 lbs (99 kg) when playing. Two-time Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame inductee: College Basketball Hall of Fame (class of 2006). [115] Bird then led the Pacers to consecutive Central Division titles in 1999 and 2000 and a berth in the 2000 NBA Finals. Despite not being as tall as the Lakers legend, Leonard is just as long. Hit the button below and we'll send this post to your inbox! [53] On March 10, 1986, Bird scored 50 points to go along with 11 rebounds and 5 assists in a 115116 loss to the Dallas Mavericks. Jason Maxiell was drafted by the Detroit Pistons in the 1st round of the 2005 draft. Bird began the next chapter of his life as a front-office special assistant for the Celtics, a post he held for five years. The summer of 1992 marked the first time the United States sent professional athletes to the Olympic Games. Astrological Sign: Sagittarius, Article Title: Larry Bird Biography, Author: Biography.com Editors, Website Name: The Biography.com website, Url: https://www.biography.com/athletes/larry-bird, Publisher: A&E; Television Networks, Last Updated: April 20, 2021, Original Published Date: April 2, 2014. 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 other playmaking strengths include quick and flashy passes. Everyone knows that Manute Bol was the tallest player in NBA history, but he also possessed the largest wingspan. During the MyCareer mode, you can be tasked to play some minutes at power forward depending on the rotation. The team improved its win total by 32 games from the year before he was drafted and finished first in the Eastern Conference. 2. [86][87][88] He was selected to 12 NBA All-Star teams. During the 2000s, Brand was one of the better rebounders and defenders. Find out more. He is not dating anyone. Lastly, the wingspan can be reduced to around 83.0 inches. With his added length, Durant is able to get the ball in a position that is very hard to defend. [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. [102] Bird's humble roots were the source of his most frequently used moniker, "The Hick from French Lick". 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. 1. Being that tall will give you an advantage in-game. After all, Bird dished out 6.3 assists per game for his entire career. Data Provided By Larry Bird made at least $25,870,000 playing professional basketball. Larry Bird NBA 2K23 Rating (All-Time Boston Celtics) - 2KRatings.com [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. 6'9" (2.06m) WEIGHT. [21] He eventually finished runner-up in Most Valuable Player Award voting to Moses Malone. He's closer to 7'1 I think. He was briefly married to first wife Janet Condra from 1975-76 and has a daughter with her named Corrie. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. He was also quite adept at looking for the open man from the post. It's a given that most players are listed 1-1.5 inches taller than they're actual heights since they're measured with shoes. 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.[1]. One of those things was being a relentless defender. Rajon Rondo is currently one of the best point guards in the league. 3940. 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. 4. In, Career statistics and player information from, This page was last edited on 28 February 2023, at 21:21. Larry Bird | Boston Celtics | NBA.com Larry Bird's wife, Dinah Mattingly, is his high school sweetheart who got engaged and married the former NBA legend in 1989. Larry Bird stands 6'9" tall and weighs 220 pounds during his NBA playing days. Rajon Rondo only stands 61, but has a wingspan that stretches to 69. he's at least 2 inches taller than duncan. What is not a stretch is that Davis is a premiere athlete, with an incredible wingspan. For three consecutive years, from 1984 to 1986, Bird was named the NBA's MVP, and in 1990, he hit a milestone by reaching 20,000 career points. 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. 4:15 pm ET. ", "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? The following top 15 will look at the most impressive wingspans in NBA history. LeBron was definitely a better player. [21] Boston advanced through the playoffs to earn a rematch with the Lakers, this time losing in six games. Ideally, you should be able to select a player archetype that excels in finishing, shooting, playmaking, and defense/rebounding to make the best Larry Bird build in NBA 2K22. [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.
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