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 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

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: 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: 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.

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.

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: 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.

1988: Runner-up for Regular Season MVP

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

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.

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.

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: Led Pacers to NBA Finals

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

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: NBA Executive of the Year

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

2016: Rated Greatest NBA Small Forward

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

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.

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.