How Many NBA Championships Did Larry Bird Win?

Larry Bird won three NBA championships (1981, 1984, 1986), all with the Boston Celtics.

Larry Bird’s NBA Championships

Larry Bird is one of the most decorated basketball players of all time. He is a 3-time NBA champion and was also named the NBA Finals MVP all 3 times. He is also a 2-time Olympic gold medalist.

Bird’s first championship

In his first season, Bird led the Celtics to a 62-20 record, the best in the NBA. The Celtics swept the Chicago Bulls in the first round of the playoffs before facing the Philadelphia 76ers in the Eastern Conference Finals. The Sixers took a 3-1 lead in the series, but Boston won three straight to take the series. The Celtics then beat the Los Angeles Lakers in six games in the NBA Finals to win Bird’s first championship.

Bird’s second championship

In his second season, Bird led the Celtics to a 63–19 record, the best in the NBA. Bird was once again named Most Valuable Player, averaging 24.3 points, 10 rebounds, and 6.6 assists per game. He also finished second in steals per game (2.21) behind teammate Dennis Johnson (2.32). In the playoffs, Boston defeated the Houston Rockets in five games in the first round before beating the Atlanta Hawks in seven games in the conference semifinals. The Celtics then played arch-rivals Los Angeles Lakers in The Finals; it was the first time the two teams had met since 1984. After splitting the first two games, Boston won three straight games to take a 3–1 lead in the series. However, Lakers rookie Magic Johnson stepped up in Game 5 to fill in for an injured Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and led Los Angeles to a 111–102 victory. The Lakers won Game 6 at home to force a seventh game back in Boston. Abdul-Jabbar returned for Game 7 and scored 29 points as Los Angeles defeated Boston 108–106 to win their 15th championship and deny Bird his first championship title.

Bird’s third championship

In 1986, the Celtics again finished the regular season with the best record in the NBA, 63-19. Bird was again named league MVP, and Boston cruised through the playoffs to reach the Finals against Houston. The Rockets, led by young superstars Hakeem Olajuwon and Ralph Sampson, took a 3-2 lead in the series, but the Celtics won Game 6 at home to force a seventh game in Houston. In one of the most famous games in NBA history, Bird scored 20 points and grabbed 22 rebounds, leading Boston to a 111-108 victory in double overtime. The Celtics became only the second team in NBA history to win a seventh game on the road (the other was the 1969 Lakers), and they did it without fellow All-Star Dennis Johnson, who had suffered a season-ending injury earlier in the playoffs. For his performance, Bird was named Finals MVP, becoming only the third player in NBA history to win three consecutive MVP awards (Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell were the others).

Bird’s Other Accomplishments

Although Larry Bird is most well-known for his time with the Boston Celtics, winning three NBA championships, he has many other accomplishments in his career. He was a 12-time NBA All-Star, named the NBA’s Most Valuable Player three times, and named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team twice. He is also the only person in NBA history to be named Rookie of the Year, Most Valuable Player, and Coach of the Year.

Bird’s Olympic gold medal

In addition to his three NBA championships, Larry Bird also has an Olympic gold medal to his credit. He was part of the 1992 “Dream Team” that won the gold medal in Barcelona.

Bird’s MVP awards

Bird was named the NBA’s Most Valuable Player three times (1984, 1985, 1986), and he helped lead the Celtics to three NBA championships (1981, 1984, 1986). He also won two Olympic gold medals as a member of the United States men’s national basketball team (1984, 1992).

Bird’s Hall of Fame induction

Larry Bird was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1998, his first year of eligibility. He was also inducted into theNaismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts in September of 2005.