History of Larry Bird in Timeline

Larry Bird, nicknamed "the Hick from French Lick" and "Larry Legend", is a retired American professional basketball player, coach, and executive. Widely considered one of basketball's all-time greats, Bird achieved the unique distinction of winning NBA Rookie of the Year, MVP, Finals MVP, All-Star MVP, Coach of the Year, and Executive of the Year awards. His career spanned from 1979 to 1992, all with the Boston Celtics, where he won three NBA championships and three MVP awards.

Sections (5)

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

1926: Birth of Claude Joseph Bird

In 1926, Claude Joseph "Joe" Bird, Larry Bird's father, was born. He was a veteran of World War II and the Korean War.

1930: Birth of Georgia Marie Kerns

In 1930, Georgia Marie Kerns, Larry Bird's mother, was born. She would later marry Claude Joseph Bird.

December 7, 1956: Larry Bird's Birth

On December 7, 1956, Larry Joe Bird was born. He would later become a celebrated 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, having starred for their basketball team.

1974: Scholarship to Indiana Hoosiers

In 1974, Larry Bird received a scholarship to play college basketball for the Indiana Hoosiers under coach Bob Knight.

February 1975: Father's Suicide

In February 1975, Larry Bird's father, Joe Bird, committed suicide after divorcing Georgia.

1975: Death of Claude Joseph Bird

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

1975: Marriage to Janet Condra

In 1975, Larry Bird married Janet Condra, but the marriage lasted less than a year.

1975: Enrolled at Indiana State University

In 1975, after a brief period at Northwood Institute, Larry Bird enrolled at Indiana State University in Terre Haute.

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 after his second year at Indiana State, but he chose to remain in college for another year.

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: Championship Game Against Michigan State

In 1979, Larry Bird and Indiana State played against Michigan State in the NCAA championship game, losing 75-64.

1979: Entered the NBA

In 1979, Larry Bird entered the NBA and made an immediate impact with the Boston Celtics.

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: Signed with Boston Celtics

In 1979, after protracted negotiations, 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 NBA season, the Celtics drafted Kevin McHale and acquired Robert Parish. This marked the formation of the big three in Boston and started the run of dominance in the 80's.

1981: NBA Championship with the Celtics

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

1982: NBA All-Star Game MVP Award

At the 1982 All-Star Game, Larry Bird scored 19 points en route to winning the All-Star Game MVP Award.

1982: Runner-up for Regular Season MVP

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

1983: Signed Extension

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

1983: Runner-up for Regular Season MVP

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

1983: Named MVP of 1983-84 Season

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

December 9, 1984: 48 Points Against Hawks

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

1984: NBA Finals Victory Over Lakers

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

1984: NBA Championship with the Celtics

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

1984: NBA Most Valuable Player Award

In 1984, Larry Bird won the NBA Most Valuable Player Award for the first time.

1984: Hard Salary Cap Implemented

In 1984, as part of a collective bargaining agreement, the NBA implemented a "hard" salary cap but quickly modified it to a "soft cap", allowing teams to re-sign their own free agents.

November 27, 1985: 47-Point Game vs. Pistons

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

1985: Celtics Trade for Bill Walton

Before the start of the 1985–86 season, the Celtics made a daring trade for Bill Walton, an All-Star center with a history of injury.

1985: Back Injury

During the 1985 offseason, Larry Bird injured his back shoveling crushed rock while creating a driveway at his mother's house, which led to back problems for the rest of his career.

1985: NBA Finals Victory Over Lakers

In 1985, Magic Johnson and the Lakers got the upper hand against Larry Bird, beating him in the NBA Finals.

1985: Celtics Ranked Among Greatest Teams

In 1985, the Celtics team was commonly ranked as one of the greatest basketball teams of all time by the Boston Globe and Grantland.

March 10, 1986: 50-Point Game vs. Mavericks

On March 10, 1986, Larry Bird recorded 50 points, 11 rebounds, and five assists in a 116–115 loss to the Dallas Mavericks.

1986: NBA Championship with the Celtics

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

1986: Second NBA Most Valuable Player Award

In 1986, Larry Bird won his third consecutive NBA Most Valuable Player Award, making him the only forward in league history to achieve this feat.

1986: NBA All-Star Weekend Three-Point Shootout

In 1986, at the NBA All-Star Weekend, Larry Bird famously predicted he would win the inaugural Three-Point Shootout and then won the shootout.

1987: Trash-Talking During Eastern Conference Finals

During the 1987 Eastern Conference finals, Larry Bird continually belittled Dennis Rodman's defensive abilities and trash-talked, showcasing his reputation as one of the most notable trash-talkers of his era.

1987: NBA Finals Appearance and Game-Saving Steal

In 1987, Larry Bird led the Celtics to the NBA Finals after a dramatic Game 5 steal against the Detroit Pistons, passing to Dennis Johnson for the game-winning layup. However, the Celtics lost to the Lakers in six games.

1987: NBA Finals Victory Over Celtics

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

1987: Celtics-Lakers Rivalry Attracts Enormous Audiences

Throughout the 1980s, contests between the Celtics and the Lakers attracted enormous television audiences. In 1987, the rivalry between Larry Bird and Magic Johnson intensified, captivating television audiences due to their contrasting styles and backgrounds, as highlighted in a Converse commercial.

1988: High-Scoring Season and Game 7 Performance

In 1988, Larry Bird had his highest-scoring season. During Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Atlanta Hawks, Bird scored 20 points in the fourth quarter, finishing with 34, to secure a series-clinching victory, overcoming Dominique Wilkins' 47-point performance. The Celtics, however, lost to the Pistons in the Eastern Conference Finals.

1988: Runner-up for Regular Season MVP

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

1988: Surgical Removal of Bone Spurs

In 1988, Larry Bird's season ended after six games due to the surgical removal of bone spurs from both of his heels.

1988: Loss to Pistons in Eastern Conference Finals

In 1988, the Celtics, with Larry Bird, lost to the Detroit Pistons in six games in the Eastern Conference Finals.

1989: Marriage to Dinah Mattingly

In 1989, Larry Bird married Dinah Mattingly, and they have two adopted children, Conner and Mariah.

1989: Return to the Celtics

In 1989, Larry Bird returned to the Celtics after surgery for bone spurs, facing debilitating back problems that impacted his prime form, though he maintained a high level of play.

1990: Compressed Nerve Root in Back

After leading the Celtics to a 29-5 start to the 1990-91 season, Larry Bird missed 22 games due to a compressed nerve root in his back.

1991: Off-Season Back Surgery

In 1991, Larry Bird had off-season surgery to remove a disc from his back, but his back problems persisted.

August 18, 1992: Retirement Announcement

On August 18, 1992, Larry Bird announced his retirement from the NBA, after which the Celtics promptly retired his jersey number 33.

1992: Missed Games Due to 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: Olympic Gold Medal with the Dream Team

During the summer of 1992, Larry Bird joined the "Dream Team" and won a gold medal at the Olympics in Barcelona, Spain, averaging 8.4 points in eight games.

1992: Special Assistant for the Celtics

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

February 4, 1993: Bird's Retirement Ceremony

On February 4, 1993, Magic Johnson attended Larry Bird's retirement ceremony and emotionally referred to Bird as a "friend forever," highlighting the deep friendship that developed despite their intense rivalry.

1996: Death of Georgia Marie Bird

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

1996: Named One of NBA's 50 Greatest Players

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

1996: Named to NBA's 50th Anniversary All-Time Team

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

1997: Coach of the Indiana Pacers

In 1997, Larry Bird accepted the position of coach of the Indiana Pacers, committing to the job for a maximum of three years.

1998: Inducted into the 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 Pacers to consecutive Central Division titles

1999: Ranked Among Greatest Athletes of the 20th Century

In 1999, Larry Bird was ranked No. 30 on ESPN SportsCentury's list of 50 Greatest Athletes of the 20th century.

2000: NBA Finals Berth and Resignation

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

2000: Led Pacers to NBA Finals

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

2003: President of Basketball Operations for Pacers

In 2003, Larry Bird was hired as the Indiana Pacers' president of basketball operations.

2010: Hall of Fame Induction as Dream Team Member

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

2010: Second Hall of Fame Induction

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

2011: NBA Executive of the Year

After the 2011-2012 NBA season, Larry Bird was named NBA Executive of the Year.

2012: Parting Ways with Pacers

In 2012, Larry Bird and the Pacers announced that they would be parting ways due to health issues.

2012: NBA Executive of the Year

In 2012, Larry Bird was named NBA Executive of the Year.

2013: Return to Pacers as President

In 2013, Larry Bird returned to the Indiana Pacers as president of basketball operations.

2016: Rated Greatest NBA Small Forward

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

2016: "Sometimes my job really sucks."

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

2017: Stepping Down as President

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

2019: NBA Lifetime Achievement Award

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

2020: Named to 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 alongside Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, LeBron James, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

2020: Bird Ranked Among Top Players of All Time

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: Named to NBA's 75th Anniversary All-Time Team

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.

July 2022: Stepped Back from Active Role with Pacers

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 brief break.

2022: Eastern Conference Finals MVP Trophy 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.