How Long Did Larry Bird Play In The Nba?
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How long did Larry Bird play in the NBA?
The answer may surprise you.
Larry Bird’s NBA Career
Larry Bird played in the NBA for thirteen seasons, all with the Boston Celtics. He is considered one of the greatest players of all time, and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1998. During his time with the Celtics, he won three NBA Championships, and was named the NBA Finals MVP twice.
Drafted by the Boston Celtics
In 1978, Larry Bird was drafted by the Boston Celtics with the sixth overall pick. He immediately made an impact on the team, winning the Rookie of the Year Award after averaging 21.3 points per game. Bird became a perennial All-Star and helped lead the Celtics to three NBA Championships in 1981, 1984, and 1986. He was named the NBA Finals MVP all three times. In his thirteen seasons with the Celtics, Bird was named to the All-NBA First Team ten times and won two MVP Awards.
Three-time NBA champion
Larry Bird is a retired American professional basketball player who played his entire professional career for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Due to his accomplishments and contributions during his 13 seasons with the team, he is regarded by many as one of the greatest players in NBA history.
Bird was a 12-time NBA All-Star and was named the league’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) three consecutive times (1984–1986). He helped lead the Celtics to three NBA championships, winning two Finals MVP awards along the way. Bird was also a member of the 1992 United States men’s Olympic basketball team (“The Dream Team”), which won the gold medal at the 1992 Summer Olympics.
After his playing career, Bird served as head coach of the Indiana Pacers from 1997 to 2000. He was named NBA Executive of the Year in 2012 while serving as president of basketball operations for the Pacers. He was inducted into Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1998, being voted in alongside Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan.
Two-time NBA Finals MVP
Larry Joe Bird (born December 7, 1956) is an American former professional basketball player. He played his entire 13-year career for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Nicknamed “The Hick from French Lick”, he is widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all time.
During his playing days, Bird was a forward who could shoot accurately from long range. He possesses a high level of basketball IQ and court sense. In 1979, he was drafted into the NBA by the Boston Celtics, with whom he played until his retirement in 1992.
Bird became a 2-time NBA Finals MVP and a 3-time NBA champion during his time with the Celtics. He also won 2 NBA MVP awards and 3 NBA 3-Point Shootout Championships. Upon his retirement, he held many NBA records, including most career 3-point field goals made (2,973), most consecutive seasons leading the league in 3-point percentage (.444), and most seasons with a 50–40–90 shooting percentage (5). He has been inducted into both the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame, and was named to the NBA’s 50th Anniversary All-Time Team in 1996.
NBA’s 50th Anniversary All-Time Team
In 1996, to commemorate the NBA’s 50th anniversary, a panel of sportswriters, broadcasters and former players selected the 50 greatest players in NBA history. Larry Bird was selected as one of these 50 players.
Larry Bird played in the NBA for 13 seasons, all with the Boston Celtics. He won three consecutive NBA championships with the Celtics from 1981 to 1983, and was a two-time NBA Finals MVP. He was also a 12-time All-Star and won two NBA MVP awards.
At the time of his retirement in 1992, Larry Bird was one of only three players in NBA history to have won three championships, been named Finals MVP three times, and been named MVP three times. The other two players are Bill Russell and Michael Jordan.
Bird’s Post-NBA Career
After Bird’s retirement from the NBA in 1992, he became head coach of the Indiana Pacers in 1997, leading them to a 61-21 record and the Eastern Conference Finals in his first season. He remained with the Pacers until 2000, when he resigned after a disappointing second-round playoff loss to the New York Knicks.
Head coach of the Indiana Pacers
After his playing career ended, Bird became head coach of the Indiana Pacers in 1997. He took the team to the playoffs in 1998 and 2000, but they were defeated each time in the first round. In 2000, Bird was named NBA Coach of the Year. He stepped down as coach in 2003 after a disappointing season.
General manager of the Pacers
After his retirement from playing in 1992, Bird assumed head coaching duties for the Pacers in 1997. He led the team to a berth in the NBA Finals in 2000, but they were defeated by the Los Angeles Lakers in six games. In 2003, Bird was named President of Basketball Operations for the Pacers, a position he would hold until retiring in 2012. He is currently serving as an advisor for the Pacers organization
President of basketball operations for the Pacers
On March 18, 1997, Bird was named head coach of the Indiana Pacers, a position he would hold for three seasons. His first season as coach resulted in a 36–46 record and a trip to the playoffs. The next season, the Pacers improved to 47–35 and made it to the Eastern Conference Finals, where they lost to the eventual champion Chicago Bulls in seven games. In his final season as coach, Bird led the Pacers to a 58–24 record and their second trip to the Eastern Conference Finals in three years. Bird was named NBA Coach of the Year for his efforts.
