To believe that any of 2023's neo-contenders can become bonafide champs over the next few months is to believe that a once-in-a-quarter-century occurrence is about to transpire. At Springs Valley High, Bird scored 1,125 career points, averaged 30.6 points and 20.5 rebounds, Dana Hunsinger Benbow recounted in the Indianapolis Star. Mark Shaw, in his book, Larry Legend, noted that "Larry Bird appeared almost as if by magic. Bird married Janet Condra in 1975, shortly after graduating from high school. All rights reserved. The Brigade was State Champion Runner-Up in 1978, 1992, 2007, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015. He was named the National Player of the Year in his senior year, and he would go on to have a Hall of Fame career in the NBA. Forward Larry Bird played 13 seasons for the Celtics. The team has an astounding record in the playoffs. Inducted: 2000High School: Springs Valley 1974College: Indiana State University 1979. We tried to maybe be good enough to maybe have an opportunity one day to play against the Crispus Attucks or Jeffersonville or New Albany, but, unfortunately, I played with a kid that kept missing free throws at the end of the game, and we didnt get there. PRO PHOTOGRAPHY. He made the All-NBA first team nine times, won three championships with the Celtics, two NBA Finals MVP trophies and is the. He became the head coach of the Indiana Pacers after retiring as a player. Bird still dislikes his high school classmates missed free throws from 40 years ago. Birds fame was always shared by his fellow players on and off the court. His second wife, Dinah Mattingly, met him at Indiana State and married him in 1989. In 1998, he was inducted into the Naismith . In the1979 NCAA Tournament Final, Bird and the Sycamores ran into a Michigan State team led by a point guard named Ervin Magic Johnson. Bird almost left basketball behind during college. They never give up on their dreams, and they never give up on anything they believe in. After high school, Bird attended Indiana State University. . By the time he retired, Larry Legend had brought two additional titles back to Boston, earning him a place in the sports-crazed citys history. Bird: They knew it, and they began fouling him, and we didnt make it. He is considered one of the greatest basketball players of all time. Bird became the first player to earn $5 million or more when he earned $7,070,000 in the 1991-92 season. Larry Bird Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft Status and more | Basketball-Reference.com Larry Bird Larry Joe Bird (Larry Legend, The Hick from French Lick, Kodak, The Great White Hope) Position: Small Forward and Power Forward Shoots: Right 6-9 , 220lb (206cm, 99kg) More bio, uniform, draft, salary info Hall of Fame 12x All Star He is currently the majority owner of the Indiana Pacers and has an estimated net worth of $75 million. Throughout his career in Boston, the publically-reserved Indiana native was known as the Hick from French Lick.. The Hick From French Lick was always out to prove that he was somebody, and you could underestimate him at your own peril. In a YouTube clip of Bird in high school, the future Indiana State and Boston Celtics greatshowcases all the skills that made him a BasketballHall of Famer. Career Stats He became a champion thanks to hisfabled competitive drive. Watch high school sports and events nationwide, live and on demand, via the NFHS Network. A New School Year Begins At Woodcreek High School: Exciting Opportunities And Experiences Await! Jul 1, 1984 - Larry Bird, previously with the Boston Celtics, became a free agent. Although things didnt follow a straight trajectory from after high school Bird almost left basketball behind during college things ended up working out. All content 2000-2023 RealGM, L.L.C. Tools and Resources Used by Real General Managers. . Larry Bird's high school yearbook photo. Bird grew up poor in French Lick, Indiana, where his parents worked at a factory. Exploring Factors Benefits And Drawbacks. The Spartans won 75-64 in the highest-rated and most-watched college basketball game ever. By his senior year Bird reached 6-7, but did not lose any of his ball-handling ability and quickness. He was a standout athlete from a young age, and was offered a basketball scholarship to Indiana University after his junior year of high school. People in his town remembered it as well: You know whats funny? In his last year, he led the small-school team to the No. He was named to the All-State team and was the leading scorer in his conference. Bird was named the NBAs Most Valuable Player in 1980, when he led Boston to its first championship. He helped lead the team to a state title in his junior year, and he was named the states Mr. Basketball in his senior year. The Brigade moved to Class D in 1981. http://www.hoophall.com/hall-of-famers/tag/larry-j-bird, Springs Valley Junior-Senior High website, Springs Valley High School alumni website, Springs Valley High School Blackhawk Brigade website, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Springs_Valley_High_School&oldid=1092475361, Springs Valley Community School Corporation, This page was last edited on 10 June 2022, at 14:43. He helped lead the Celtics to three NBA championships, and is widely considered to be one of the greatest basketball players of all time. He was drafted by the Boston Celtics in 1978 and went on to have a Hall of Fame career. Larry Bird PPG 24.3 RPG 10.0 APG 6.3 HEIGHT 6'9" (2.06m) WEIGHT 220lb (100kg) COUNTRY USA LAST ATTENDED Indiana State BIRTHDATE December 7, 1956 DRAFT 1978 R1 Pick 6 EXPERIENCE 13 Years Stats. What are the most assists in a game by a rookie point guard? The reasons for their failure may have been inherent to the whole project. He was drafted into the NBA by the Boston Celtics in 1978 and went on to have an incredible career. He made $26 million in his career. The Trail Blazers defeated the Hawks 54 to 40 on March 15, 2016, with a career high of 92 points. Larry Bird is an American former professional basketball player who is widely considered to be one of the greatest players of all time. LikeSportscastingon Facebook. Exploring The Benefits Of College Now Classes For High School Students, The Power Of Speech: Exploring The Mandatory Speech Classes In Arkansas High Schools, Teaching With A High School Diploma: Exploring The Possibilities And Requirements. The reasons for their failure may have been inherent to the whole project. Yes, Larry Bird is still alive. All rights reserved. Select the first team from the drop down menu. His incredible basketball skills enabled him to become an all-time great. They defeated the Pacers on November 11, 1985, and on February 16, 2017, they defeated the Warriors. Drafted by the Celtics as a junior in 1978, he was selected 1980 National Basketball Association Rookie of the Year, guided the Celtics to three NBA titles, earned three MVP awards, and was a NBA All-Star each of his 12 seasons. They have beaten the opposition 46 times in 54 playoff games and have only been shut out once. This incredible achievement can be attributed to a number of factors. All rights reserved. 1 ranking in the county and the finals of the NCAA Tournament. Larry Bird retired as a professional basketball player and businessman in the United States and Canada. Larry Bird (Larry Legend; The Hick from French Lick) Position: Forward 6-9 , 220lb (206cm, 99kg) School: Indiana State (Men) Draft: Boston Celtics, 1st round (6th pick, 6th overall), 1978 NBA draft NCAA All-Tourney NCAA All-Region 1978-79 AP POY 2x Consensus AA Wooden Award Naismith Award Rupp Trophy SUMMARY Career G 94 PTS 30.3 TRB 13.3 AST 4.6 The school opened in 1957 after the consolidation of French Lick and West Baden High Schools. It is also critical to note that their players are always prepared for the playoffs. Follow us on Twitter@sportscasting19. He first attended Springs Valley High School in French Lick before transferring to New Castle Chrysler High School for his senior year. Sign up for the Celtics Wire newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning. He led his team to the state championship game, where they lost. All of that combined to make Bird one of the biggest names in basketball history. This wealth makes him one of the wealthiest people in the NBA. Since Larry Bird was born and raised in Indiana, its no surprise that he would end up attending one of the states high schools. Collegiate career While plenty of ink has been spilled on Hall of Famer Larry Birds career as a pro and his legendary battles against Earvin Magic Johnson in college, not as much attention has been paid to the iconic Boston Celtics small forwards basketball life before he was on the national radar. Michael Jordan. Dinah Mattingly (1989-Present) - Larry Bird married his second wife Dinah Mattingly in 1989. Ballinger had planned on driving down the road and HORN HOBBLING. In another clip, Bird shows off his nifty ball skills, using a pump fake to wiggle inside for a contested basket in the paint. That made him a superstar in high school, college and the NBA when he was drafted in 1978 by the Boston Celtics as the 6 th overall in the 1 st round of the 1978 NBA Draft. Larry bird wife? In each of his four games, he averaged 30.3 points, 13.3 points, 9.8 boards, 4.4 assists, and 2.6 steals. The Legend demonstrated his competitive fire in 2015 when he toldradio host Dan Patrickthat missed free throws from a high school teammate still bother him 40-plus years later. Select the third team from the drop down menu. The HOF would like to say congratulations to the Fairfield Falcons on winning the class AAA State Championship! In an interview from The Dan Patrick Show dating back to 2015, Bird shed some light on his high school days and early career, as well as what it was like to play in the NBA in the early 1980s. Bird was a three-time Indiana All-Star who scored 1,125 points at Springs Valley High School in French Lick. Bird began a successful business career after retiring from the NBA in 1992. I dont know much about Larry Birds wife, but from what Ive heard she seems like a very sweet and caring person. Career Stats. Coaching Career Here are some of the records and historical rankings that Larry Bird achieved at Indiana State: A member of the 2,000-point, 1,000-rebound club: 2,850 points and 1,247 rebounds Indiana. NFHS Network is part of the CBS Sports Digital Network. Bird began playing basketball in high school, eventually concentrating on it. Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, Karl-Anthony Towns, Kawhi Leonard, Anthony Davis and Brandon Ingram will play outsized roles in how their respective teams close the season. They won two Central Division titles under his leadership in 1999 and 2000. So, if you want to know a little more about the formative years of one of the best to ever play the game, watch the video embedded below to get the lowdown of Larry Legend back when he was just some kid playing high school ball in Indiana. See trending Springs Valley Junior-Senior High School's athletic teams are nicknamed the "Blackhawks". This would be the firsticonic Magic Johnson vs. Larry Bird games, but certainly not the last. Bird grew up poorin this sparsely populated area, and, to this day, the median household income in French Lick is just $37,377. Larry Legends fly balls would fly over the fence and into the tennis court as if they were thrown to him. The reality is there are only four real contenders. Larry Bird SF #33. Bird ultimately decided to forgo college and instead entered the NBA draft. We are not making it all up in our heads, thinking well of Kris Dunn because we want to: he has real talents to bring, and a body that for the time being will allow him to use them. They refuse to take for granted anything. Larry Birdbecame one of the greatest basketball players in history thanks to his incredible skills on the court. Select the players you wish to trade from the rosters below. The Boston Celtics improved by 32 wins in the months following his hiring, and he led them to a championship chance. Bird grew up in the small town of West Baden, Indiana, and attended Springs Valley High School. Height: 6-9 (206cm) Weight: 220 (100kg), Current NBA Status: Unrestricted Free Agent, High School: Springs Valley High School [French Lick, Indiana]. They never give up on their goal and never give up on themselves. . Pre-Draft Team: Indiana State (So) High School: Springs Valley High School [French Lick, Indiana] . iconic Magic Johnson vs. Larry Bird games. Her husband rarely makes public appearances alongside her at basketball games, so Dinah keeps a low profile. He averaged a ridiculous 30 points and 20 rebounds in his final year at Spring Valley. Born: Dec 7, 1956 (66 years old) Birthplace/Hometown: West Baden, Indiana. They have been to the state finals more than twenty times. Select the first team from the drop down menu. Larry Bird is a retired American basketball player who has an estimated net worth of $75 million. Larry Bird currently has a net worth of $75 million. Copyright 2023 Endgame360 Inc. All Rights Reserved. He also earned regular-season MVP honors on three occasions, which is even more impressive when you consider the NBA talent at the time. Larry Bird was born in West Baden, Indiana, and raised in French Lick, Indiana. In the Association, Bird made an immediate impact. The reality is there are only four real contenders. As a junior "Larry Legend" sprouted to 6-5. Bird was a three-sport athlete at Springs Valley High School, where he won two state titles in basketball and track. The Trail Blazers defeated the Hawks 54 to 40 on March 15, 2016, with a career high of 92 points. Bird, who was the Pacers head coach for the entire 1997-98 season, was let go. The moral of this story is that basketball is no joke in French Lick, Indiana. And we just didnt make it., Youre not over it, are you? Patrick guessed. And, lest you think that the forward was simply a member of some talented teams, his stats prove that Bird was leading from the front. After retiring from the NBA, Larry embarked on a successful business career in the same field. He is a 6 foot-9 forward. He is a former professional basketball player who played for the Boston Celtics. Larry Legend was born in West Baden Springs, Indiana, on December 7, 1956, the son of Larry Joe Bird and Lois Legend. Turns out even at a young age, Larry was always quite legendary. .. 2 playoff MVP awards Bird retired from basketball in 1992 and became a successful businessman. He led Indiana State to the NCAA Final Four in his final season. Bird earned 15 All-Star appearances in his career, and he was twice named to the All-NBA Second Team. A franchise like this has been recognized as a model franchise by all other franchises. Where did Larry Bird go to high school? Born: Dec 7, 1956 (66 years old) Birthplace/Hometown: West Baden, Indiana. Bird is the only player in NBA history to win the award for three straight years. #TBT pic.twitter.com/Ol8x8Pbm9s. During his 13 professional seasons, the forward averaged 24.3 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 6.3 assists per game. Larry Bird is one of the greatest players in the history of the NBA. Height: 6-9 (206cm) Weight: 220 (100kg), Current NBA Status: Unrestricted Free Agent, High School: Springs Valley High School [French Lick, Indiana]. He is regarded as one of the greatest athletes of all time. Larry Bird Vertical Jump - Height, Stats, Draft and Career Highs. He helped lead the Celtics to multiple NBA championships in the 1980s. MP Stats for iPad Stat keeping for basketball teams. Larry Bird SF #33. Well, with my point guard, he got a little nervous, and they knew it, and so they started fouling him, Bird explained. In fact, Bird went to two different high schools during his time in Indiana. Johnson scored 24 points and was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player. The Junior High/High School band the "Blackhawk Brigade" was directed by Gilbert Aylsworth. Larry Bird Gave Bill Walton His Life Back: You Have Not Spent Six Years of Your Life on the Clippers. The HOF send congratulations to the BNL Stars on their 4A State Championship! During his career, Bird won three NBA championships, two NBA Finals MVP awards, and three NBA MVP awards. He made the varsity team as a 6-1, 135-pound sophomore. In his last year, he led the small-school team to the No. He played his entire professional career for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He is best known for being a member of the Boston Celtics from 1979 to 1992. averaged 33.5 points, 6.1 rebounds and 5.8 assists in 28 games versus. Copyright 2023 Endgame360 Inc. All Rights Reserved. Bird was born and raised in small-town Indiana and played basketball for Indiana State University. Bird was a three-time Indiana All-Star selection after playing for Springs Valley High School in French Lick and scoring 1,125 points. In 2015, Bird was anexecutive for the Indiana Pacers. The couple owns multiple houses and lives a luxurious life of their own. So, if you want to know a little more about the formative years of one of the best to ever play the game, watch the video embedded below to get the . Theyve scored at least 40 points in each of their last eight playoff games, and theyve never been held to fewer than 40 points in any of those games. Nicknamed "the Hick from French Lick" and "Larry Legend", Bird is widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all time.He is the only person in NBA history to be named Rookie of the Year, Most Valuable Player, Finals . Select the fourth team from the drop down menu. It is in rural Southern Indiana, about 100 miles southeast of Indianapolis and 60 miles northwest of Louisville, Kentucky. The school is part of the Springs Valley Community School Corporation. He was selected by the Boston Celtics in the 1978 NBA draft. Larry Bird's Wife: Social Media Dinah tries her best to avoid it on the day when most celebrities are rocking social media. According to the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame, he averaged 30.6 points and 20.5 rebound as a senior. He scored 20 points in the left hand on a pair of 10-foot 3-point shots and a pair of 10-foot 1-point shots. The Big 10 squad overpowered the small school and won the National Championship 75-64. 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