Larry Joe Bird, a former professional basketball player, NBA coach, and executive is considered the greatest shooter of all time even years after his retirement. Considered a player without a weakness in his entire 13 years of NBA career playing for the Boston Celtics.
Larry Bird in 13 years of his NBA career won three championship rings while he was a part of the Boston Celtics.
He won the championship in 1981, 1984, and 1986. Bird helped the Celtics reach the playoffs in every season.
He was a 12-times NBA all-star, 9 times All-NBA first-team honors, two NBA Finals MVP, and three times NBA Most Valuable Player award. Aside from that, Bird was also a member of the gold medal-winning team in the 1992 Olympics.
Larry Bird’s Career Post-Retirement
Bird was a head coach of the Indiana Pacers from 1997 to 2000 after retiring as an NBA player. For the 1997- 1998 season, he was named as the NBA coach of the year.
Larry was declared President of basketball operations for Indiana Pacers in 2003. He took a season off in 2012.
And in 2013, Bird again became President of basketball operations for the Pacers and held the position till 2017.
Personal Life
Larry Bird was born on December 7, 1956, in West Baden Springs. His father was a veteran of the Korean war. Bird along with 5 siblings and mother used to live in the nearby town of French Lick, Indiana. His parents divorced while he was in high school and a year later his father committed suicide.
Larry started playing basketball to divert his attention from family problems. In 1974, Bird received a scholarship to play basketball for the Indiana Hoosiers. Bird married Janet Condra in 1975 and separated within one year of their marriage. In 1977, they reconciled and had a daughter, Corrie.
Later, they separated permanently and Larry married Dinah Mattingly in 1989. The couple adopted two children, Mariah and Conner.
Bird’s Rivalry with Magic Johnson
Larry Bird’s rivalry with Magic Johnson is known to all. Their rivalry started in 1979 when they faced off for the first time.
The rivalry between the legends that started with the 1979 NCAA basketball championship lasted throughout their careers in the NBA. A courtship of Bird’s and Magic’s rivalry was made into a documentary that was broadcast in 2010 on HBO.
How Many Rings Does Magic Johnson Have?
Magic Johnson was one NBA legend who was compared to Bird due to their rivalry. Magic Johnson won five NBA championships during his whole career.
He won all of his championship rings with the Los Angeles Lakers and managed to take the LA Lakers into the finals nine times during his entire career.
He won NBA championships in the years: 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, and 1988.
Who Was Better: Larry or Magic?
Johnson led the Los Angeles Lakers and won five NBA championships and three MVPs finals whereas Bird led the Boston Celtics and won three NBA championships and two MVPs finals. Both the players had a fair share of success in the past era and are true legends of the NBA.
A Snapshot of Larry Bird’s NBA Championship Wins
1981 Championship Win
1981 was Larry’s first season as a member of the Boston Celtics. Being the top pick of the team, Bird won his first NBA championship in 1981 by defeating the Houston Rockers in the final match.
1984 Championship Win
1984 was the most memorable championship win of Larry Bird’s career. It put together Larry Bird and Magic Johnson on the same court at the final match of the NBA 1984 championship. Bird and the Celtics managed to win the final match of the championship by defeating the Los Angeles Lakers. The 1984 win is closest to the heart of Bird since he put his complete hard work to win the ring.
1986 Championship Win
After losing it to the Los Angeles Lakers in 1985, Bird and his team Boston Celtics came out strong in the 1986 championship. Larry Bird won the NBA ring for the third time by defeating the Houston Rockets.
Larry Bird’s Championship Rings as a Coach
After retiring as a professional basketball player in 1992, Larry Bird retired to the NBA as a coach for the Indiana Pacers. He coached the team for three years.
Though he did not win any championship ring as a coach, he earned a few accolades.
In 1998, he won the NBA all-star Game Head Coach. He also won the NBA coach of the year award in the same year.
Larry Bird’s Net Worth
The net worth of Larry Bird is estimated to be around $75 million, as of 2021. Apart from his NBA playing career, he has been able to earn through coaching for Indiana Pacers, Presidency, and endorsements.
Final Words
Larry Bird is undoubtedly a true NBA legend. With 3 championships rings in his career of 13 years, he is a true inspiration to so many players.
If Larry Bird’s health problems and injuries had not become a concern, he might have continued to play for more years and win more NBA championship rings.
