History of Larry Bird in Timeline

Larry Bird, nicknamed "the Hick from French Lick" and "Larry Legend", is an American former professional basketball player, coach, and executive in the NBA, widely considered one of the greatest of all time. Bird is the only person in NBA history to win Rookie of the Year, MVP, Finals MVP, All-Star MVP, Coach of the Year, and Executive of the Year, showcasing his multifaceted impact on the sport. His skill, competitiveness, and leadership were instrumental in the Boston Celtics' success during the 1980s.

Sections (5)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Legacy & Impact

1926: Birth of Claude Joseph "Joe" Bird

In 1926, Claude Joseph "Joe" Bird, Larry Bird's father, was born. He passed away in 1975.

1930: Birth of Georgia Marie Kerns

In 1930, Georgia Marie Kerns, later to become Larry Bird's mother, was born. She passed away in 1996.

December 7, 1956: Larry Bird's Birth

On December 7, 1956, Larry Joe Bird was born in West Baden Springs, Indiana. He later became a professional basketball player, coach, and executive in the NBA.

1974: Graduation from Springs Valley High School

In 1974, Larry Bird graduated from Springs Valley High School as the school's all-time leading scorer, averaging 31 points, 21 rebounds, and 4.0 assists as a senior.

1974: Scholarship to Indiana Hoosiers

In 1974, Larry Bird received a scholarship to play college basketball for the Indiana Hoosiers under head coach Bob Knight but dropped out after less than a month.

February 1975: Father's Suicide

In February 1975, Joe Bird, Larry Bird's father, committed suicide, adding to the family's troubles.

1975: Death of Claude Joseph "Joe" Bird

In 1975, Claude Joseph "Joe" Bird, Larry Bird's father, passed away.

1975: Enrollment at Indiana State University

In 1975, Larry Bird enrolled at Indiana State University in Terre Haute after a year of working municipal jobs in French Lick.

1975: Marriage to Janet Condra

In 1975, Larry Bird married Janet Condra.

1977: Birth of Daughter Corrie

In 1977, following an attempted reconciliation, Larry Bird and Janet Condra had a daughter, Corrie.

1978: Drafted by the Boston Celtics

In 1978, Larry Bird was drafted by the Boston Celtics with the sixth overall pick in the NBA draft, but he chose to play his final season at Indiana State.

November 14, 1979: First Career Triple-Double

On November 14, 1979, Larry Bird recorded his first career triple-double with 23 points, 19 rebounds, and 10 assists in a 115–111 victory over the Detroit Pistons.

1979: NBA Debut

In 1979, Larry Bird entered the NBA for the 1979–80 season, making an immediate impact and leading the Celtics to a 32-win improvement over the previous season.

1979: Graduation from Indiana State University

In 1979, Larry Bird graduated from Indiana State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in physical education.

1979: NCAA Championship Game

In 1979, Larry Bird led Indiana State to the NCAA championship game against Michigan State, where they lost 75–64 despite his 19 points.

1979: Signed with Boston Celtics

In 1979, Larry Bird signed a five-year, $3.25 million contract with the Boston Celtics, becoming the highest-paid rookie in sports history.

1980: Celtics Draft Kevin McHale and acquire Robert Parish

Before the 1980-81 season, the Celtics selected Kevin McHale and acquired Robert Parish, forming a Hall of Fame trio for years to come, contributing to a formidable front-court.

1981: NBA championship with the Celtics

In 1981, Larry Bird won an NBA championship with the Celtics.

1982: All-Star Game MVP Award

At the 1982 All-Star Game, Larry Bird scored 19 points and won the All-Star Game MVP Award.

1982: Regular season MVP runner-up

In 1982, Larry Bird was a regular season MVP runner-up.

1983: Signed seven-year extension

In 1983, Larry Bird signed his seven-year, $12.6 million contract extension with the Boston Celtics before the salary cap came into effect.

1983: Regular season MVP runner-up

In 1983, Larry Bird was a regular season MVP runner-up.

1983: Named MVP of the 1983-84 season

Larry Bird was named MVP of the 1983-84 season. He averaged 24.2 points, 10.1 rebounds, 6.6 assists, and 1.8 steals per game.

December 9, 1984: 48 Points against Atlanta Hawks

On December 9, 1984, Larry Bird recorded 48 points, 14 rebounds, and 5 assists in a 128–127 victory over the Atlanta Hawks.

1984: Bird beats Magic in the NBA Finals

In 1984, Larry Bird and the Celtics beat Magic Johnson and the Lakers in the NBA Finals.

1984: NBA championship with the Celtics and NBA Finals MVP Award

In 1984, Larry Bird won an NBA championship with the Celtics and won an NBA Finals MVP Award.

1984: NBA MVP Award

In 1984, Larry Bird won the NBA Most Valuable Player Award for the first time, marking the beginning of three consecutive MVP awards (1984–1986).

1984: Implementation of Soft Salary Cap

In 1984, the NBA implemented a "soft cap", meaning the cap could be exceeded in order for a team to re-sign its own free agents, which came to be erroneously known as the "Larry Bird Rule".

November 27, 1985: 47 point game vs. Detroit Pistons

On November 27, 1985, Larry Bird scored 47 points, grabbed 12 rebounds, dished out two assists, and had two steals in a 132–124 victory over the Detroit Pistons.

1985: Celtics trade for Bill Walton

Before the 1985–86 season, the Celtics made a trade for Bill Walton, which helped Boston win a league best 67 games.

1985: Back Injury from Shoveling Rock

During the 1985 offseason, Larry Bird injured his back shoveling crushed rock to create a driveway at his mother's house, leading to recurring back problems for the remainder of his career.

1985: Larry Bird and Magic Johnson rivalry

In 1985, Larry Bird's Celtics and Magic Johnson's Lakers met in the NBA Finals, with Magic getting the upper hand.

1985: The Celtics are considered one of the greatest basketball teams of all time

In 1985, the Celtics are commonly ranked as one of the greatest basketball teams of all time, with the Boston Globe's Peter May and Grantland's Bill Simmons listing them at number one.

1986: Jordan scored an NBA playoff-record 63 points

After Game 2 of the Celtics' first-round series against the Bulls during the 1986 playoffs when Jordan scored an NBA playoff-record 63 points in a 135-131 Celtics win, Bird was widely considered one of Red Auerbach's favorite players, and he considered Bird to be the greatest basketball player of all time.

1986: Third Consecutive NBA MVP Award

In 1986, Larry Bird received the NBA Most Valuable Player Award for the third consecutive time (1984-1986), making him the only forward in league history to achieve this.

1986: NBA championship with the Celtics

In 1986, Larry Bird won an NBA championship with the Celtics.

1986: Three-Point Shootout Victory

In 1986, during the NBA All-Star Weekend, Larry Bird won the inaugural Three-Point Shootout after confidently asking who was going to finish second.

1987: Trash-talking on the court

During the 1987 Eastern Conference finals, Larry Bird continually belittled Dennis Rodman's ability, at one point asking Chuck Daly, Detroit's head coach, to send in someone up to the task of guarding him.

1987: Magic got the upper hand against Bird

In 1987, Magic Johnson and the Lakers beat Larry Bird and the Celtics in the NBA Finals.

1987: Celtics' last Finals appearance of Bird's career

In 1987, the Celtics reached their last NBA Finals with Larry Bird, overcoming the Milwaukee Bucks and Detroit Pistons. During Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Pistons, with five seconds remaining and Boston trailing 107–106, Bird stole an inbound pass and passed it to Dennis Johnson, who made the game-winning layup. The Celtics lost to the Lakers in six games, with Bird averaging 24.2 points, 10 rebounds, and 5.5 assists.

1987: Classic game between Celtics and Lakers

In the 1987-88 season, the first regular-season game between the Celtics and the Lakers 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 narrow 115–114 Lakers victory at Boston Garden.

1988: Regular season MVP runner-up

In 1988, Larry Bird was a regular season MVP runner-up.

1988: Highest-scoring season of Bird's career

The 1987-88 season was the highest-scoring season of Bird's career. In 1988, Bird averaged nearly 30 points on 53% shooting. In Game 7 of the 1988 Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Atlanta Hawks, Bird shot 9-of-10 from the floor in the fourth quarter, scoring 20 points in that quarter and lifting the Celtics to a series-clinching victory, finishing with 34 points. 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.

1989: Marriage to Dinah Mattingly and Autobiography Release

In 1989, Larry Bird married Dinah Mattingly and released his autobiography, "Drive: The Story of My Life," co-written with Bob Ryan.

1989: Bird's season ends after six games

Larry Bird's 1988–89 season ended after six games in 1989 when he had bone spurs surgically removed from both of his heels.

1990: Bird misses games due to a compressed nerve root in his back

After leading the Celtics to a 29–5 start to the 1990–91 season, Larry Bird missed 22 games in 1990 due to a compressed nerve root in his back, a condition that eventually led to his retirement.

1991: Bird has off-season surgery to remove a disc from his back

In 1991, Larry Bird had off-season surgery to remove a disc from his back, but his back problems continued and Bird missed 37 games during the 1991–92 season.

August 18, 1992: Bird announces his retirement from the NBA

On August 18, 1992, Larry Bird announced his retirement from the NBA. Following Bird's departure, the Celtics promptly retired his jersey number 33.

1992: Bird misses games due to recurring back problems

During the 1992 Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Larry Bird missed four of the seven games due to recurring back problems.

1992: Bird joins the "Dream Team" for the Olympics

During the summer of 1992, Larry 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. Bird and Magic Johnson had co-captaincy of the team.

1992: Special assistant in the team's front office

From 1992 until 1997, Larry Bird served as a special assistant in the Celtics' front office.

1992: Jordan deferred to Bird and Magic Johnson

In 1992, Jordan deferred to Bird and Magic Johnson for co-captaincy of the United States men's Olympic basketball team.

1992: Gold Medal with 'Dream Team'

In 1992, Larry Bird was a member of the gold medal-winning U.S. Olympic basketball team, known as the "Dream Team."

February 4, 1993: Magic Johnson at Bird's retirement ceremony

On February 4, 1993, Magic Johnson attended Larry Bird's retirement ceremony and emotionally described Bird as a "friend forever."

1996: Death of Georgia Marie (Kerns) Bird

In 1996, Georgia Marie (Kerns) Bird, Larry Bird's mother, passed away.

1996: Named to NBA's 50 Greatest Players List

In 1996, Larry Bird was voted onto the NBA's 50 Greatest Players in NBA History list.

1996: Voted onto the NBA's 50th Anniversary All-Time Team list

In 1996, Larry Bird was voted onto the NBA's 50th Anniversary All-Time Team list.

1997: Head Coach of the Indiana Pacers

In 1997, Larry Bird accepted the head coach position for the Indiana Pacers, committing to a three-year tenure. Despite lacking prior coaching experience, he led the team to a 58–24 record in the 1997–98 season.

1997: End of role as special assistant

In 1997, Larry Bird finished his role as special assistant in the Celtics' front office.

1998: Induction into Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame

In 1998, Larry Bird was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as an individual player.

1999: Central Division Title

In 1999, Larry Bird led the Indiana Pacers to a Central Division title.

1999: Ranked No. 30 on ESPN SportsCentury's list of 50 Greatest Athletes of the 20th century

In 1999, Larry Bird ranked No. 30 on ESPN SportsCentury's list of 50 Greatest Athletes of the 20th century and also ranked No. 24 on the Associated Press's list of the 100 Greatest Athletes of the 20th century.

2000: NBA Finals Berth and Resignation

In 2000, Larry Bird coached the Indiana Pacers to the NBA Finals, where they lost to the Los Angeles Lakers. Following the 1999-2000 season, Bird resigned as head coach after fulfilling his three-year commitment.

2000: Led Pacers to NBA Finals

In 2000, Larry Bird led the Indiana Pacers to a berth in the NBA Finals as their head coach.

2003: President of Basketball Operations

In 2003, Larry Bird was hired as the Indiana Pacers' president of basketball operations, replacing Isiah Thomas with Rick Carlisle as head coach.

2006: Roster Overhaul

From 2006 onwards, as president of basketball operations, Larry Bird overhauled the Indiana Pacers' roster by trading away veteran players and making savvy draft picks.

2010: Inducted into the Hall of Fame as a member of the "Dream Team."

In 2010, Larry Bird was inducted into the Hall of Fame again as a member of the "Dream Team."

2010: Hall of Fame Induction as Part of the 'Dream Team'

In 2010, Larry Bird was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame for the second time as a member of the "Dream Team".

2011: Honored with a lifetime achievement award

In 2011, Larry Bird was honored with a lifetime achievement award at The Sports Museum's 10th annual The Tradition event held at TD Garden.

2011: Pacers Secure No. 3 Seed

In 2011-2012 NBA season, Larry Bird secured the No. 3 seed in the East and had the fifth-best record (42–24) in the league.

2012: NBA Executive of the Year

In 2012, Larry Bird was named NBA Executive of the Year for his role as president of basketball operations for the Pacers.

2012: NBA Executive of the Year and Departure

In 2012, Larry Bird was named NBA Executive of the Year. He and the Pacers announced they would be parting ways due to health issues.

2013: Unveiling of a bronze statue of Bird

In 2013, Indiana State University unveiled a bronze statue of Larry Bird (wearing his Sycamores jersey, in mid-jump-shot pose) in front of the Hulman Center. In addition, Nov. 9th was proclaimed as Larry Bird Day in the state of Indiana.

2013: Return as President of Basketball Operations

In 2013, Larry Bird returned to the Indiana Pacers as president of basketball operations after a brief retirement from the role.

2016: "Sometimes my job really sucks."

In 2016, Larry Bird stated, "Sometimes my job really sucks."

2016: Rated Greatest NBA Small Forward of All Time

In 2016, Larry Bird was rated the greatest NBA small forward of all time by Fox Sports.

2017: Stepping Down as President, Staying as Advisor

In 2017, Larry Bird stepped down as president of basketball operations for the Indiana Pacers but stayed with the team in an advisory capacity.

2017: Departure as President of Basketball Operations

In 2017, Larry Bird stepped down from his role as president of basketball operations for the Indiana Pacers.

2019: Received the NBA Lifetime Achievement Award

At the 2019 NBA Awards, Larry Bird received the NBA Lifetime Achievement Award, shared with Magic Johnson.

2020: Players to accomplish this feat are Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain

As of 2020, Larry Bird is one of the only players to accomplish this feat are Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain.

2020: Placed at the power forward position on an NBA all-time starting five roster

In 2020, Larry Bird was placed at the power forward position on an NBA all-time starting five roster with fellow superstars Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, LeBron James, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

October 2021: Honored as one of the 75 greatest players of all time

In October 2021, as part of the NBA's 75th Anniversary, Larry Bird was honored as one of the 75 greatest players of all time, by being named to the NBA's 75th Anniversary All-Time Team.

2021: Named to NBA's 75th Anniversary Team

In 2021, Larry Bird was named to the NBA's 75th Anniversary Team list.

July 2022: Stepping back from active role

In July 2022, Larry Bird "stepped back from maintaining an active role with the Indiana Pacers."

July 2022: Return to Pacers as Consultant

In July 2022, Larry Bird returned to the Indiana Pacers organization as a consultant, after a break of nearly a year.

2022: The Eastern Conference Finals MVP trophy is named in Bird's honor

Since 2022, the NBA will award the MVPs for the conference finals; the Eastern Conference Finals MVP trophy is named in Larry Bird's honor, while the Western Conference trophy is named after Magic Johnson.

June 2023: Re-hired as Consultant

In June 2023, it was announced that the Indiana Pacers re-hired Larry Bird to serve as a consultant.

May 2024: The Larry Bird Museum was opened

In May 2024, the Larry Bird Museum was opened in Terre Haute, Indiana. The museum contains memorabilia from Bird's high school, college and NBA career along with interactive exhibits and interviews with coaches, teammates and rivals.

2025: Consultant for the Pacers

As of 2025, Larry Bird continues to serve as a consultant for the Indiana Pacers.

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