Larry Bird

The NBA has scene it’s fair share of clutch performers over the years, but does it get any more clutch than Larry Bird?

 

Drafted sixth overall by the Boston Celtics in the 1978 NBA Draft, Larry Bird graced the Boston Garden for thirteen seasons as a small and power forward. He joined center Robert Parish and forward Kevin McHale to form one of the best trios of players in NBA history. The three of them went on to win three NBA Championships with the Boston Celtics in the 1980s (1981, 1984, 1986).

 

After being drafted, Larry Bird didn’t take much time getting acclimated to the NBA. He won the 1980 NBA Rookie of the Year Award and was named to the NBA All-Rookie Team.

 

It was during his second season that Larry Bird provided one of his many memorable moments.

 

It was Game 7 of the 1981 Eastern Conference finals and the Boston Celtics were taking on the Philadelphia 76ers. Philadelphia had led the entire game, but inside the final minute, Boston had tied the contest at 89-89. Larry Bird then sank a mid-range bank shot with his left hand, which is a tough shot to execute under heavy defensive pressure. The shot put Boston up 91-89 and they eventually held on to beat the Sixers and head to its first NBA Finals since 1976.

 

Several years later in the 1987 Eastern Conference Finals, Larry Bird again provided the basketball world with a fantastic memory. While trailing 107-106 in Game 5 against the Detroit Pistons, Larry Bird stole an inbound pass intended for Bill Laimbeer. While falling out of bounds, Larry Bird found teammate Dennis Johnson with a pass and Johnson converted a 2-point layup with less than a second left on the clock. The Boston Celtics eventually held on and won in the series in seven games, yet again advancing them to another NBA Finals.

 

Larry Bird had numerous memorable moments throughout his career and as previously noted, is highly regarded as one of the most clutch players in NBA history. When asked one time about who he would want to take a shot with the game on the line, the great Michael Jordan undoubtedly responded, “Larry Bird.”

 

Larry Bird is highly regarded as one of the best players to ever don a Boston Celtics uniform and a true NBA legend. He won the NBA’s Most Valuable Player award three consecutive years from 1984 to 1986. He also was a two-time NBA Finals MVP (1984, 1986) and a nine-time All-NBA First Team Selection from 1980 to 1988.

 

Larry Bird was named to 12 All-Star Games and was also selected to the NBA’s 50^th Anniversary All-Time Team. He finished his career with 21,791 points, 5,695 assists and 1,556 steals. Larry Bird was also part of one of the best-known rivalries in basketball: Lakers vs. Celtics.

After he retired, Larry Bird went on to coach his hometown Indiana Pacers. In 1998, he won the NBA Coach of the Year after the Pacers finished with a 58-24 record and lost in the Eastern Conference Finals. Larry Bird again led the Pacers to the Eastern Conference Finals in 1999 and in 2000 they went on to lose in the NBA Finals. Larry Bird resigned as coach of the Indiana Pacers shortly after the 2000 season, but returned to the organization in 2003 as the team’s President of Basketball Operations.