Larry Bird's Success and Achievements in Timeline

A success timeline featuring the most significant achievements of Larry Bird.

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

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.

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: 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: 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).

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: 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: 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: 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.

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.

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: 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."

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.

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: Led Pacers to NBA Finals

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

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.

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.

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.

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.