Larry Bird
About Larry Bird :
After 13 seasons as a player in the NBA, including three championships with the Boston Celtics, Larry Bird returned to Indiana to coach the Pacers in 1997. He agreed to coach for three seasons stepping down at the end of the 2000 season.
In his third and final season as coach the Pacers went to the NBA Finals for the first time, but lost in six games to the Los Angeles Lakers. He was asked to stay on as coach and declined, also turning down offers of a front-office position. But on July 11, 2003, the Pacers announced Bird would return to become the team's president of basketball operations.
GROWING UP IN INDIANA
A native of French Lick, Larry Joe Bird was born on Dec. 7, 1956, the fourth child of Joe and Georgia Bird. At Springs Valley High School he played guard during his sophomore and junior years but did not truly excel until his senior year. During his senior year he averaged 30.6 points and 20 rebounds per game, and colleges around the country began scouting him.
Bird initially decided to play for Indiana University but felt overwhelmed by the size of the campus and left after only 24 days. He returned to French Lick and entered the Northwood Institute for a brief time. He finally decided to attend Indiana State University but had to sit out the first season. He began his college playing career with the Sycamores in 1976 and emerged a national collegiate star.
NBA STARDOM
On June 8, 1979, Bird signed with the Boston Celtics. The contract netted him $3,250,000 for five years -- at the time the largest rookie contract in NBA history.
During his years with the Celtics Bird grew to become one of the greatest talents in the NBA. He led Boston to three NBA championships, won numerous MVP awards, and is credited with again making the Celtics a formidable franchise.
In 1992, plagued by back problems Bird retired and accepted the position of special assistant in the Celtics front office for five seasons. In 1997, frustrated with his largely ceremonial duties, Bird decided to pursue other options.
COACH OF THE PACERS
On May 12, 1997, he became head coach of the Indiana Pacers, and a year later he was named NBA Coach of the Year after leading the Pacers to a 58-24 season, the best in franchise history. That same year he was elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame.
In 2000, the Pacers finally made it past the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference and to the NBA Finals against Los Angeles. Led by NBA MVP Shaquille O'Neal, the
Lakers defeated Indiana in six games to win the NBA championship. Although the Pacers offered him a new contract to continue as coach, Bird declined and stepped down when his three-year contract expired. The Pacers hired another former NBA star to replace him – Isiah Thomas
When Bird returned in 2003 to take the newly-created position of president of basketball operations, his first move was to fire Thomas.
Career Highlights:
1974- Honorable Mention All-State (High School)
1979-Collegiate Player of the Year awards from Associated Press, United Press International, and National Association of Coaches; wins John Wooden Award, given to the nation’s best college basketball player; selected to the 1979 All-America team; leads ISU to the NCAA Final Four, losing in the championship game to Magic Johnson-led Michigan State University; signs a five-year, $3.25 million contract with the Celtics.
1980- NBA Rookie of the Year; named to the All-Rookie team and first-team All-NBA.
1981- Wins NBA championship; held scoreless at Golden State; voted first team All-NBA.
1982- All-Star Game MVP.
1983- Breaks Sam Jones’ 18-year team regular-season single-game scoring record (51) by scoring 53 points against the Indiana Pacers; in the same game sets a Celtics record with 24 points in the third quarter.
1984- Career high 17 assists in a win against the Golden State Warriors; wins NBA championship; named Finals MVP; named league MVP for the first time.
1985- With a 33-point game against the Washington Bullets, he goes over 10,000 career points; wins second straight league MVP award.
1986- Wins the inaugural long-distance shootout at All-Star Weekend; wins third consecutive MVP award; wins NBA championship; wins Finals MVP award.
1987- Wins second straight long-distance shootout at All-Star Weekend; becomes first player in NBA history to shoot .500 from the floor and .900 from the free-throw line; wins NBA championship.
1988- Wins third and final All-Star Weekend long-distance shootout; Finishes the season with a career high of 29.9 points per game.
1989- In the season opener against the Milwaukee Bucks scores 32 points in 33 minutes.
1990- Collects 5,000th assist of his career against the Charlotte Hornets; scores the 20,000th point of his career against the Washington Bullets.
1991- Has surgery to repair a herniated disc in his back.
1992- Wins gold medal in Barcelona as a member of the original Dream Team; announces his retirement, finishing his career with 21,791 points, 8,974 rebounds, and 5,695 assists.
1993- The Celtics hold 'Larry Bird Night' in the Garden -- with no game scheduled -- to celebrate Bird’s career and retire his number.
1997- Becomes head coach of the Indiana Pacers, signing a five-year, $22.5 million deal
1998- Named NBA Coach of the Year, having led the Pacers to a 58-24 record, the best in franchise history; coaches the East to a win in the All-Star game; Elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame
2000 - Leads Pacers to NBA Finals, but stands by his previous decision to retire after three years as coach.
2003 - Joined the Pacers as president of basketball operations; replaces Isiah Thomas with Rick Carlisle as head coach.
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