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Who is Larry Bird?
Larry Bird was a legendary basketball player, coach, and executive in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Larry Bird’s one-of-a-kind number cemented his reputation as one of the greatest players of all time.
He had definitely inspired many basketball players who aspire to rise from humble beginnings, defying all obstacles and forging their own identity through skill and adversity.
Childhood And Family
Larry Bird was born on December 7, 1956, in West Baden Springs, Indiana, and raised in French Lick.
After his parents divorced and his father committed himself when he was in high school, he had to deal with emotional turmoil. As a result, Larry’s family had financial difficulties.
Bird has three brothers, Mike, Mark, Jeff, and Eddie, as well as a sister, Linda. Georgia, his mother, struggled to raise the six children after her divorce and husband’s demise.
Larry Legend was affected by all of his family’s tragedies because he abandoned his family, but this motivated him to pursue his dream of becoming a basketball player.
As a basketball player, he became a sportsman, which enabled him to escape his family’s problems.
He has been a top player since his high school days at Spring Valley High School when he averaged 31 points, 21 rebounds, and four assists as a senior.
Bird won a scholarship to Indiana State University in 1974 after demonstrating his ability as a standout player in high school.
Larry, however, was unable to complete his studies in Indiana owing to unforeseen circumstances.
Just a year before Indiana, the American athlete returned to French Lick and enrolled at Northwood University.
In 1979, Larry Legend earned a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education.
On the other hand, he had a good college basketball career as well.
He earned multiple trophies during his college career, including the Naismith College Player of the Year Award.
Height And Body Measurements
Larry Bird is a charming man with brown eyes and dark brown hair.
The Hick from the French Lick has got yellow-toned tan skin.
As listed, his height is 6 ft 9 inches (2.06m), and his weight is 220lb (100kg).
Larry looks fit and has an athletic body, but he had to go through back fusion surgery, leading him to end his playing career.
Currently, he is in his 60s, due to which his bodily figure is not as athletic as before.
His hair color has faded slightly, but Bird still has that blue-colored beautiful eyes.
Facts of Larry Bird
| Full Name | Larry Joe Bird |
| Birth Date | December 7, 1956 |
| Birth Place | West Baden Springs, Indiana, United States of America |
| Nick Name | The Hick from French Lick and Larry Legend |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | Caucasian |
| Education |
|
| Horoscope | Sagittarius |
| Father’s Name | Claude Joseph “Joe” Bird |
| Mother’s Name | Georgia |
| Siblings | Yes (Ally Elaine Smith) |
| Age | 65 Years Old |
| Height | 6’9″(2.06 m) |
| Weight | 220 lb (100 kg) may vary now |
| Shoe Size | 17 |
| Hair Color | Blonde |
| Eye Color | Grey |
| Body Measurement | Unknown |
| Figure | Athletic |
| Married | Yes |
| Wife |
|
| Children | 3 children |
| Profession | Basketball Player, Coach, and executive |
| Net Worth | $75 million |
| Position | Small Forward/Power Forward |
| Jersey Number | #33 |
| Affiliations | NBA |
| Active Since |
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| Merch | Jersey, Posters, Autographed Basketball, Rookie Card |
| Social Media | Twitter, Instagram |
| Last Update | April 2022 |
Net Worth, Salary, and Earnings Throughout His Career
Larry Bird is estimated to be over $75 million. The legendary player was the first player to earn $5 million.
The Indiana native was the highest-paid rookie of the year, earning $3.25 million over five years with the Celtics, an average of $650,000 per year. Bird retired in 1992 after a career that spanned 879 games.
The NBA’s greatest basketball player continued to work as a coach and executive, which had helped him overcome the low-income lifestyle he had experienced as a child, which he had discussed in several interviews.
Besides that, the basketballer’s career earnings in the NBA were $24,070,000. He earned the highest salary, $7,070,000, during the 1991-92 season.
Furthermore, he has also dipped his toe in the business world and owned a hotel and restaurant, and a car dealership in Indiana.
Similarly, the popular figure earns a decent amount through endorsement deals from companies like Heinz Corporation.
Professional Career
Larry was drafted by the Boston Celtics in 1978, but he declined to join the team because he wanted to finish his senior year at Indiana University.
The Celtics had opted not to pay Bird any more than the other players, but he finally signed a five-year, $3.25 million contract with them, making him the highest-paid rookie in his career.
With Bird’s addition to the squad, the Celtics’ performance improved when compared to the previous season’s 32 games.
As a result of his outstanding play with the Celtics, he was named to the All-Star team and awarded the title of Rookie of the Year.
He was a Celtics player until he retired, but he was always a part of the team as an advisor.
Bird also competed in the World University Games in Sofia in 1977, winning gold with the US team, and in the Summer Olympics in 1992.
Highlights and Achievements
The 63-year-career old’s has always been marked by a string of accomplishments, which he has acquired via his persistent and laborious efforts, as well as his classy and energetic resolve.
His passion for basketball began in high school and culminated with his becoming the most valuable aid rookie of all time for the Boston Celtics.
Bird was named Rookie of the Year in 1980. Larry won the NBA championship three times with the Boston Celtics in 1981, 1984, and 1986.
In addition, in the years 1984, 1985, and 1986, he earned three consecutive NBA MVP trophies.
He was a 12-time NBA All-Star and twice reached the NBA MVP finals in 1984 and 1986.
Bird was also the first individual to be named NBA MVP, NBA Coach of the Year, and NBA Executive all at the same time.
Bird and Jhonson shared the NBA Lifetime Achievement Award on June 24, 2019.
In 1996, he was ranked No. 30 on ESPN Sports Century’s Top 50 athletes, and in 1999, he was ranked No. 30 on ESPN Sports Century’s Top 50 athletes.
Wife and Kids
Larry Bird married Janet Condra in 1975, but after a year of marriage, they began to have problems, which nearly led to their divorce.
They did, however, reconcile for a time and have a daughter, Corrie, before divorcing completely in 1977.
Bird married Dinah Mattingly in 1989, and the pair has two children together.
Bird’s early upbringing was marred by emotional and financial turmoil following the death of his father, Claude Joseph, a Korean War veteran.
Larry indicated in multiple interviews that his upbringing had always kept him motivated, even despite all of his current success and financial comfort.
Injury, Rumors, And Controversies
Larry injured his back while shoveling crushed rock to create a driveway at his mother’s house during the 1985 NBA season.
As a result, he has had back difficulties ever since.
Furthermore, the basketball player had to have back fusion surgery, which forced him to retire at the age of 36. There have been moments when Bird has been accused of being overrated.
Despite this, he had always been adored. Once, a man named Eric James Trophy, who was convicted of robbery with the intent to kill, requested that his 30-year sentence be reduced to 33 years so that he could match Bird’s number 33 jersey.
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Social Media Presence
Twitter itself seems inspired by basketball’s legend as its logo is dedicated and named after Larry Bird.
Larry Legend’s fan page on Instagram has over 28.3k followers. It has only 27 posts and he hasn’t posted since February 8, 2015.
