Larry Bird believes NBA big men die young. Is he right? - ESPN.com Unfortunately, thats not possible and some sacrifices will have to be made. Height 1 Feet 9.5 Inch Weight 100 kg Personal Info Date of Birth 1956, December 7 Age 65 Years Old Famous Name Country United States US Facts Birth Name Larry Joe Bird Net Worth $55 million Currently Married Yes Birth Country West Baden Springs, Indiana Married to Dannah Mattingly Famous Name Larry Past married if any Janet Condra Children Yes His extra length allows him to keep the ball away from incoming defenders, making for some spectacular finishes. [64][65][66] Bird finished with 34 points. He considered Bird to be the greatest basketball player of all time. 7mo ago. In 1999, he was listed at No. [11] Bird has said that being poor as a child still motivates him "to this day". [8], The game achieved the highest-ever television rating for a college basketball game, in large part because of the matchup between Bird and Spartans' point guard Earvin "Magic" Johnson,[11] a rivalry that lasted throughout their professional careers. [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. Larry Bird's Height 6ft 9 (205.7 cm) Former American basketball player, who played with The Boston Celtics. To round out the finishing, shooting, and playmaking categories, put some points on close shot, driving layup, driving dunk, and post hook. [25], In his rookie season (19791980), Bird immediately transformed the Celtics into a title contender. In eight games, Bird averaged 8.4 points. Small Forward and Power Forward The most accurate reports found that West had an 81 inch wingspan, which would translate to 69. Someone like Boozer who's measured as 6'7 3/4 isn't any shorter than other players listed at 6'9 too. Prince was never a skilled offensive player, but has been one of the best perimeter defenders of the last decade. 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. Everyone knows that Manute Bol was the tallest player in NBA history, but he also possessed the largest wingspan. Subscribe to Stathead Basketball: Get your first month FREEYour All-Access Ticket to the Basketball Reference Database. [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. 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. He was a great scorer, rebounder, passer, and defender. Note, this is done in an automated way, so we apologize for any errors, & please. With Wilt being the most dominant force of his era, it lends to the theory that his wingspan was truly elite. . 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. 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. Bird stands 6-foot-9, and his listed weight during his playing days was 220 lbs. However, Bird's height seems to come at a cost -- a cost he's well aware of and doesn't try to hide from. The next year he attended the smaller Indiana State University, ultimately playing three years for the Sycamores. Nonetheless, during the final years of his career, Bird maintained his status as one of the premier players in the game. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Name: Larry Bird Birth Year: 1956 Birth date: December 7, 1956 Birth State: Indiana Birth City: West Baden Springs Birth Country: United States Gender: Male Best Known For: Basketball icon Larry. Larry, there will never, ever be another Larry Bird. 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. What that actual measurement was, we may never know. [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. But dont let Birds efficient scoring distract you from the fact that he was proficient in the other aspects of his game. There is no denying the greatness of Wilt Chamberlain and a superior length was a major reason he was unstoppable. 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. KG Living Legend Don Nelson Posts: 8383 We don't have much information about He's past relationship and any previous engaged. A confirmation email has been sent. [114] Bird resigned his head coaching position shortly after the end of the 2000 season, following through on his initial promise to coach for only three years. He also had a career high of 60 points against the Atlanta Hawks on March 12, 1985. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. Site contains certain content that is owned A&E Television Networks, LLC. 30 on ESPN SportsCentury's Top 50 athletes of the 20th century, with only five other basketball players ranked higher. The Celtics failed to reach the NBA Finals for the first time in five years, losing to the Pistons in six games during the Eastern Conference Finals. [7], Bird was born in West Baden Springs, Indiana, to Georgia (ne Kerns) and Claude Joseph "Joe" Bird, a veteran of the Korean War. 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. Indiana State University, High School: Ganyan naman talaga, you usually take off 1 1/2 to 2 inches off their published height - and you get their real height. Larry Bird Stats and news - NBA stats and news on Boston Celtics Forward Larry Bird. ", "Kobe Bryant, Larry Bird, Michael Jordan, and the 10 Best Closers in NBA History", "Ranking 10 Most Clutch Players in NBA History", "StaTuesday: Bucks' Malcolm Brogdon on pace for rare 50-40-90 season", "How Larry Bird won the first 3 All-Star shootouts", "Professor LeBron delivered a history lesson on Larry Bird's legendary game", "Larry Bird in photos: The 'Hick from French Lick' becomes Celtics legend", "Talking the talk: An '86 Celtics trash-talking tale", "Kevin McHale shares a classic Larry Bird trash talk story", "On This Day 22 Years Ago, the NBA's Best Trash Talker Retired", "Dennis Rodman recounts how Larry Bird schooled him in '87 playoffs", "Larry Bird and Magic Johnson Receive NBA Lifetime Achievement Award", "Bird Shoots for Coaching Greatness With the Pacers", "After the NBA Finals, Larry Bird Will Quit as Indiana's Coach. Unfortunately he's had a difficult time keeping pace with the speed of the NBA, and his limited offensive game has come to light. Wade is measure at 6 ft 3 3/4 Barefeet and he is also the same height as Kobe Bryant. Oops! Join us for a March Madness Webinar on Tuesday, March 7 at 8pm ET. [84], "Larry, you only told me one lie. Kareem's father, Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor Sr., was fairly tall at 6'2". Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. Davis stands 610, and, at the 2012 pre-draft combine, was measured to have a 75 wing span. Find out for yourself how a player like him would fare against this generations crop of basketball players by developing the best Larry Bird build in NBA 2K22. During the 1992 Eastern Conference semi-finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Bird missed four of the seven games due to recurring back problems. Magic got the upper hand against Bird, beating him in 1985 and 1987, while Bird beat Magic in 1984. Many NBA bigs, including Larry Bird and Bill Walton, believe there's a negative relationship between height and longevity. Because that was usually how the Hall of Famer took over games. D raft E xpress. When Durant drives the lane, his length allows him to finish with greater success, and have less shots contested. Biyombo stands 68, but has a wingspan that stretches out to 76. His length gives nightmares to the NBAs best on a nightly basis as he would be frustrating the likes of Kobe, Melo, and LeBron. By visiting Celeb Heights you agree to its. It is that length that has sustained Brands career. Difficult Shots High-difficulty jumpers attempted from the mid-range get an increased shot percentage. 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. Talk about all topics relevant to Pinoys around the world. That length helped him become one of the most prolific shot blocker in league history. [96] Bird was the first player in NBA history to shoot 50% or better on field goals, 40% on three-pointers, and 90% on free-throws in a single NBA season while achieving the league minimum for makes in each category. He couldn't miss. [97] He accomplished this feat twice. One such case is the legendary Jerry West. By going for a shooting plus defense/rebounding build, you will have a two-way player at your disposal. Who was going to make the last shot? 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]. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. Larry Bird played the small forward and power forward positions at a height of 6'9" (2.06 m). He complemented his all-around game with accurate outside shooting and unmatched bravado. [111] In 1997, Bird accepted the position of coach of the Indiana Pacers[112] and said he would be on the job for no more than three years. Honestly, all of them fit Bird so well. At the very least, he's as tall as players listed at 6'9. However, I suggest going for Spot Up Shooter. His effort helped to overcome a 47-point performance by Atlanta's Dominique Wilkins. Get to know Larry Bird: Stats, records and more - RSN 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. Rondo also poses very large hands at 9.5 inches long, and 10 inches wide. You can use it on Post Spin Technician to allow your player to be more effective inside the paint. [10], Bird received a scholarship to play college basketball for the Indiana Hoosiers in 1974. Best Known For: Basketball icon Larry Bird won three MVP awards and three NBA championships during his 13-year career with the Boston Celtics. During the MyCareer mode, you can be tasked to play some minutes at power forward depending on the rotation. He finished his career with sterling averages of 24.6 points and 10 rebounds per game. Maxiell shows how an undersized player can keep pace with taller guys when they possess elite wingspan. 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. Howard has used that wingspan to become an elite rebounder and shot blocker. Dirk can't be 6'10. 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) During the 2000s, Brand was one of the better rebounders and defenders. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. This entry could be part of Ripleys Believe it or Not.