He played most of his career with forward Kevin McHale and center Robert Parish, considered by some to be the greatest front court in NBA history. Larry Legend, The Hick from French Lick, Kodak, The Great White Hope are nicknames for Larry Bird. His length gives nightmares to the NBAs best on a nightly basis as he would be frustrating the likes of Kobe, Melo, and LeBron. To round out the finishing, shooting, and playmaking categories, put some points on close shot, driving layup, driving dunk, and post hook. Kareem's father, Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor Sr., was fairly tall at 6'2". Kahit sa imports coming into the PBA, after the official measurement, they are suddenly 2 inches shorter, heee. [16][17][18] He had a successful three-year career with the Sycamores, helping them reach the NCAA tournament for the first time in school history with a 330 record where they played the 1979 championship game against Michigan State. NBA 2K users have loved playing as Larry Legend not just because of his ability to score from anywhere on the court, but also because of his versatile game. On August 18, 1992, Bird announced his retirement. What was larry bird's wingspan? - Alexa Answers AboutPressCopyrightContact. Following an attempted reconciliation, Bird and Condra had a daughter, Corrie, in 1977. Unfortunately, a trade-off with this player archetype is that there will be fewer points available for the others. Dirk can't be 6'10. When Kawhi Leonard took home the NBA playoff MVP, he became the second youngest player to do so, as only Magic Johnson (who did it twice before the age of 23) did it younger. . And to show you how skill beats jumping ability and athleticism, during his 13-year NBA career from 1979 to 1992, he won 3 championship rings with the Celtics. Many NBA bigs, including Larry Bird and Bill Walton, believe there's a negative relationship between height and longevity. His elite wingspan has allowed him to dominant the game over the last 10 years, and he has carved himself out a Hall of Fame worthy career. Because Bird was wily in creating space for himself off the dribble, the Shot Creator takeover also sounds like a good option. 3. Their rivalry continued on in the revived CelticsLakers Rivalry in the NBA. [21] Boston advanced through the playoffs to earn a rematch with the Lakers, this time losing in six games. [21] In the Conference Finals, Boston was eliminated by the Philadelphia 76ers. Larry Bird | Bio-married, divorce, affair, children - Playerswiki The other shooting badges you should look to upgrade are Catch & Shoot, Corner Specialist, Difficult Shots, Fade Ace, Slippery Off-Ball, and Volume Shooter. Larry Bird starred at Indiana State University before joining the NBA's Boston Celtics in 1979. [70], In the summer of 1992, Bird joined Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, and other NBA stars to play for the United States men's national basketball team in that year's Olympics in Barcelona, Spain. At the very least, he's as tall as players listed at 6'9. [60], Throughout the 1980s, contests between the Celtics and the Lakersboth during the regular season and in the Finalsattracted enormous television audiences. Lastly, the wingspan can be reduced to around 83.0 inches. Basketball icon Larry Bird won three MVP awards and three NBA championships during his 13-year career with the Boston Celtics. They remained married for less than a year. To advance the ball down the court, players must bounce the ball (dribble) or pass it to a teammate. In his own right McHale was one of the leagues great. [21][38], At the 1982 All-Star Game, Bird scored 19 points en route to winning the All-Star Game MVP Award. Special Delivery Improves the chances of connecting with an alley-oop pass and increases the shot percentage of teammates who receive a flashy pass from the player. Learn more and register. Following his retirement in 1992, Bird became a successful head coach and front-office executive with the Indiana Pacers. [20] For his college career, he averaged 30.3 points, 13.3 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game,[21] leading the Sycamores to an 8113 record during his tenure. The reason for doing so is not just due to Bird being a proficient shooter and facilitator, but also because you will find out later that increasing the height will decrease these attributes. [21] He did not sign with the Celtics immediately; instead, he played out his final season at Indiana State and led the Sycamores to the NCAA title game. Difficult Shots High-difficulty jumpers attempted from the mid-range get an increased shot percentage. He was a raw athlete out of the Democratic Republic of Congo, having only picked up the sport at the age of 16. Two-time Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame inductee: College Basketball Hall of Fame (class of 2006). [54], With averages of 25.8 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 6.8 assists, and 2 steals per game, Bird became just the third player in NBA history to win three consecutive MVP Awards. Bird won 3 MVPs in a row, 2 rings, and 2 finals MVPs in that stretch, plus was 2nd and 3rd in MVP voting in the 2 years he didn't win MVP in that stretch. Everyone knows that Manute Bol was the tallest player in NBA history, but he also possessed the largest wingspan. During the early parts of his career, he even started at power forward for Boston. He chose to return to Indiana State for one more year and led the Sycamores to the NCAA championship game against the Michigan State Spartans, a team led by another future NBA superstar, Ervin .css-47aoac{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-thickness:0.0625rem;text-decoration-color:inherit;text-underline-offset:0.25rem;color:#A00000;-webkit-transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;}.css-47aoac:hover{color:#595959;text-decoration-color:border-link-body-hover;}"Magic" Johnson. Larry Bird weighed 220 lbs (99 kg) when playing. The three-time MVP helped redefine the position and his battles with Magic Johnson and the Los Angeles Lakers is the standard for NBA rivalry even today. [9] He has four brothers and a sister. Whether it be to reach for a block, getting into passing lanes, or poking balls away, extra length is a determining factor for a great defender. One report claims McHale could tie his shoes without having to bend over. [50] One of Bird's career highlights occurred at the 1986 NBA All-Star Weekend when he walked into the locker room at the inaugural Three-Point Shootout and asked who was going to finish second before winning the shootout. But there are other players that are taller that their listed height like Garnett, McGrady (who Toronto played at PF in his early years and once averaged nearly 2 blocks a game) and probably Dirk (as Cuban once claimed). With his freakish physical attributes, the future seems in very good, and large, hands. w/out shoes Ht. BEST LARRY BIRD BUILD 2K22 NEXT GEN (EXACT HEIGHT, WEIGHT & WINGSPAN) REAL LIFE BUILD SERIES VOL.44. [4] After retiring as a player, Bird served as head coach of the Indiana Pacers from 1997 to 2000. However, Bird's height seems to come at a cost -- a cost he's well aware of and doesn't try to hide from. Bird was born on December 7, 1956, in West Baden Springs, Indiana, and raised in the nearby town of French Lick, where he excelled at basketball at an early age. He led the league in rebounds twice and during the 2000s he averaged 10.2 rebounds a game. The average modern human being is said to have a wingspan 2 inches greater than his height. Prince will not go down in any record books, but ask some of the games best who the toughest defender they faced is, and Tayshaun Princes name will be be right up there. Another badge you must target is Interceptor. In the commercial, Bird is practicing alone on a rural basketball court (in reality the court was one Bird had made on the property in French Lick that he had purchased for his mother), when Johnson pulls up in a sleek limousine and challenges him to a one-on-one match. However, I suggest going for Spot Up Shooter. Although there are only 48 total minutes of time on the clock in an NBA game, the regulation time is stopped often for fouls, timeouts, and when the ball is out of bounds. [86] He had 1,556 career steals. Durant is one of the 6 members of the 50-40-90 club. However, the sharpshooting forward felt some trepidation about the size of the Hoosier campus and withdrew from school, enrolling at Indiana State the next year. All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. [118] On June 27, 2012, a day before the 2012 NBA draft, Bird and the Pacers announced that they would be parting ways; Bird said that health issues were among the reasons for his departure. 2. Increasing the height will give these attributes a huge boost anyway. Nicknamed "the Hick from French Lick" and "Larry Legend", Bird is widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all time. Dinah Mattingly (1989-Present) - Larry Bird married his second wife Dinah Mattingly in 1989. He's closer to 7'1 I think. 1. He was a great scorer, rebounder, passer, and defender. Kevin McHale has gone down as one of the 50 best NBA players of all time, and is probably the best example in NBA history of how length can be used to dominate on both ends of the court. Many people following the NBA would love to see Bird play in todays era of basketball. Bird was already known after two years in the league for consistent, clutch scoring and tenacious defense, which seemed especially uncanny as he was not particularly fast on his feet; instead, Bird developed a reputation for not merely responding to his opponents' moves but anticipating how they would unfold ahead of time. HEIGHT. Between them, Bird and Johnson captured eight NBA championships during the 1980s, with Magic getting five and Bird three. During the 1980s, either Boston or Los Angeles appeared in every NBA Finals. Homepage Mock Drafts. The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. The average NBA player will have a wingspan 4 inches greater than his height. Any data prior to that is not a guarantee, and much of it is urban legend that grew a life of its own. DiamondLobby.com makes money from advertising. Larry Bird - College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com Redick is 6'4 tall and has a wingspan of 6'3. [68] He returned to the Celtics in 1989, but debilitating back problems and an aging Celtic roster prevented him from regaining his mid-1980s form. Larry Bird Biography, Age, Height, Wife, Net Worth, Family To put that in perspective, number 10 is legendary Robert Parish and he put up only 300 more blocks than Bol in his career, but it took him 45,704 minutes. 14 Dwight Howard 2021 Dimensions.com |All rights reserved, For 2D Downloads of this element, upgrade to a Dimensions Pro Membership. What that actual measurement was, we may never know. Shooting badges will allow you to convert more field goal attempts from anywhere outside the key. All Rights Reserved. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame twice as a playerfirst in 1998 as an individual, and again in 2010 as a member of the "Dream Team". What you want to prioritize are those that will help you make shots even if defenders are right by you. LAST ATTENDED. That would have been a 17% increase on his height. Because as previously discussed, Bird was an outstanding shooter. The two adopted a son and daughter, Conner and Mariah. 2002 NBA Pre Draft Measurement 2002 NBA Pre-Draft Camp Measurements Player Ht. Real Height of NBA PLayers ( No Shoes) PinoyExchange The Celtics failed to reach the NBA Finals for the first time in five years, losing to the Pistons in six games during the Eastern Conference Finals. What he used was his strength and court sense to outmaneuver and outrebound opponents. Something went wrong while submitting the form. The dramatic play saved the series for the Celtics. When they reached the NBA Finals, the Celticshampered by devastating injurieslost to a dominant Lakers team that had won 65 games during the 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 Wade is measure at 6 ft 3 3/4 Barefeet and he is also the same height as Kobe Bryant. This is a very scary thought for a lot of NBA players, both past and present. Note, this is done in an automated way, so we apologize for any errors, & please. Along with Johnson, who also entered the NBA in 1979 with the Los Angeles Lakers, Bird was a key figure in revitalizing the league in the 1980s. [48], Before the start of the 198586 season, the Celtics made a daring trade for Bill Walton, an All-Star center with a history of injury. The Celtics ended up losing to the Lakers in six games, with Bird averaging 24.2 points on .445 shooting, 10 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game in the championship series. Brand thwarted the pre-draft analysis that claimed he would be too small to have a sustainable career in the NBA. He considered Bird to be the greatest basketball player of all time. This ratio is one of the higher percentages for players who have played in the NBA. Weight. CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. Commissioner.com is a registered trademark of CBS Interactive Inc. site: media | arena: nba | pageType: stories | He came out of nowhere to intercept an inbound pass by All-Star Isiah Thomas then immediately dished the ball to teammate Dennis Johnson who made the buzzer-beating layup to give the Celtics the win. Larry, there will never, ever be another Larry Bird. When in his defensive stance, Price looks almost impossible to get around, and his long arms allow him to play off players while contesting every shot. Over the course of his 13-year Hall of Fame career, the sharpshooting forward led the Celtics to three NBA titles and claimed three MVP awards. For the defense/rebounding badges, there will only be a limited number of options. What does stand out is Maxiells stature. Larry Bird Stats and news - NBA stats and news on Boston Celtics Forward Larry Bird. In his final three seasons with the Celtics, Bird averaged over 20 points, 9 rebounds and 7 assists per game, shot better than 45% from the field, and led the Celtics to playoff appearances. [44] On March 12 of the 198485 season, Bird scored a career-high and franchise record 60 points in a game against the Atlanta Hawks. Unique lists featuring pop culture, entertainment and crazy facts. Larry Bird's bio Height: 6-foot-9 Weight: 220 pounds Birthdate: Dec. 7, 1956 College: Indiana State NBA experience: 13 years Jersey number: 33 Larry Bird's career NBA stats Here are some of Larry Bird's notable career achievements and statistics: Three-time NBA champion (1981, 1984, 1986) Two-time NBA Finals MVP (1984, 1986) I know there are a few of us who live a long time, but most of us big guys don't seem to last too long. [15] After less than a month on the Indiana University campus he dropped out of school, finding the adjustment between his small hometown and the large student population of Bloomington to be overwhelming. We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. [70] Many people realized that the emergence of these two stars were linked with the rise in popularity of the NBA, as the NBA started to market towards these two stars. West only stood 62 which would make his wingspan 9.5% greater than his height. Because of this, you can just focus on what Bird was exceptionally good at. College basketball games are played with two 20 minute periods, while professional NBA basketball games consist of four quarters of 12 minutes each. [121], In 1975, Bird married Janet Condra. Anthony Davis is one of the leagues biggest stars. Have you heard of the 50-40-90 club? Although he announced his departure around that time, he reclaimed his post as team president in the summer of 2013. [76] The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame called the team "the greatest collection of basketball talent on the planet". They have two adopted children, Conner and Mariah. He has seen his points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks and field goal percentage increase in each of his first three seasons in the league. You can use it on Post Spin Technician to allow your player to be more effective inside the paint. He is a four-time All-Defensive team member, and he led the league in steals in 2009-10. Top 15 Most Impressive Wingspans In NBA History - TheSportster 2. Post Playmaker When the player passes out of the post or coming off an offensive board, the recipient receives a shot boost. This will allow your player to move faster when there are rebound opportunities. Best Larry Bird Build 2k22 Next Gen (Exact Height, Weight & Wingspan [20] Bird also appeared in one game for the baseball team, going 1-for-2 with 2 RBI. At the age of 19, Biyombo averaged 2.8 blocks per 36 minutes and showed some promise. Player stats broken down into various categories; i.e. From Jackie MacMullan of ESPN the Magazine: Bird, who has an enlarged heart, was diagnosed in 1995 with atrial fibrillation, an abnormal heartbeat resulting from electrical signals being generated chaotically throughout the heart's upper chambers. . Underscoring his place in the game's history, he was named one of the NBA's Top 50 players in 1996, and inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1998. '"[107] When playing against Dennis Rodman, a player known for his defensive abilities, in the 1987 Eastern Conference Finals, Bird continually belittled Rodman's ability, at one point asking the opposing head coach to send in someone up to the task of guarding him. It seems every time he steps on a court he is a threat for a triple double, and a lot of that can attributed to his ridiculous wingspan. [84], "Larry, you only told me one lie. After leading the Pacers to the NBA Finals in 2000, he stepped down as head coach. Mourning was blessed with God given length, but it was his heart and passion for the game that ultimately made him one of the best that ever stepped on an NBA court. Bird has been married to Dinah Mattingly since 1989. 220lb (100kg) COUNTRY. Wingspan data is something that has only been recorded precisely over the last couple of decades. He made the All-Star team 12 times and was named the All-Star Game Most Valuable Player in 1982. 2022 Dimensions.com |All rights reserved. Those three players would form a legendary frontline, perhaps the greatest in NBA history. The first regular-season game between the Celtics and the Lakers in the 198788 season proved to be a classic with Magic Johnson banking in an off-balance shot from near the three-point line at the buzzer for a 115114 Lakers win at Boston Garden. Bird is one of the best shooters in the history of the sport. [45] The performance came just nine days after Kevin McHale set the previous Celtics record for points in a game with 56. 8. Ganyan naman talaga, you usually take off 1 1/2 to 2 inches off their published height - and you get their real height. That wingspan is the same size that the 75 Shawn Bradley had. Coming into the league, many pundits wondered if Mourning could be a starting center at only 69. Larry Bird. [36] Boston fell behind 31 to start the series but won the next three games to advance to the Finals against the Houston Rockets,[37] winning in six games and earning Bird his first championship. [114] He was named the NBA Coach of the Year for his efforts. Larry Bird Height - CelebHeights.com Durant is a prime example that elite length, when combined with elite skills, make a truly special player. The Celtics and Lakers dominated, with one team or the other, or both, appearing in every NBA championship throughout the decade. Larry Bird was born in West Baden, Indiana. [56] Bird averaged 24 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 9.5 assists per game for the championship round. Honestly, all of them fit Bird so well. 2004-2023 CBS Interactive. DraftExpress - Larry Bird DraftExpress Profile: Stats, Comparisons, and Larry Bird's wingspan is 86.9 inches. His Competitiveness Has Taken Its Toll. [46] At the conclusion of the year, Bird was named MVP for the second consecutive season behind averages of 28.7 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 6.6 assists per game. Great height does not necessarily equate elite wingspan. [58], In 1987, the Celtics made their last Finals appearance of Bird's career, fighting through difficult series against the Milwaukee Bucks and Detroit Pistons. Chew on these numbers for a moment. Bird was rated the greatest NBA small forward of all time by Fox Sports in 2016. He was voted onto the NBA's 50 Greatest Players in NBA History list in 1996, and consequently the 75th Anniversary Team list in 2021. Larry Bird is 6 foot 9 inches (2.06 m) tall. Available in 3DM (Rhino), OBJ (NURB), SKP(Sketchup)formats, Dimensions.com is a project by Fantastic Offense, Dimensions is a project by Fantastic Offense. Biyombo stands 68, but has a wingspan that stretches out to 76. It's a given that most players are listed 1-1.5 inches taller than they're actual heights since they're measured with shoes. Remembering Just Fontaine and His World Cup Record, Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads, Name: Larry Bird, Birth Year: 1956, Birth date: December 7, 1956, Birth State: Indiana, Birth City: West Baden Springs, Birth Country: United States.