[45] The performance came just nine days after Kevin McHale set the previous Celtics record for points in a game with 56. A big reason for those 9 blocks can be attributed to his gargantuan wingspan. Because of this, you can just focus on what Bird was exceptionally good at. The three-time MVP helped redefine the position and his battles with Magic Johnson and the Los Angeles Lakers is the standard for NBA rivalry even today. Do you have a sports website? Take a look at the great defenders in the NBA, and the one common thread you will find in all of them is an impressive wingspan. Scaled 2Ddrawings and 3Dmodels available for download. An elite wingspan is considered as a measurement that is 6.5% greater than the players height. Charles Barkley was measured at 6 ft 4 5/8, Jordan is anywhere from 6 ft 4 to 6 ft 4 1/2. When Kawhi Leonard took home the NBA playoff MVP, he became the second youngest player to do so, as only Magic Johnson (who did it twice before the age of 23) did it younger. [49] In Game 6 of the Finals series, Bird recorded a triple-double of 29 points, 11 rebounds and 12 assists as the Celtics won the Finals series 4 games to 2 against the Rockets. 2. Nonetheless, during the final years of his career, Bird maintained his status as one of the premier players in the game. . We strive for accuracy and fairness.If you see something that doesn't look right,contact us! Even though he was a superstar, he also had no problem doing the dirty work, like playing hard-nose defense and hustling for loose balls. On August 18, 1992, Bird announced his retirement. According to our Database, He has no children. 2", "Atlanta Hawks at Boston Celtics Box Score, December 9, 1984", "Relive the Moment: Larry Bird Easily Wins Inaugural 3-Point Contest After Asking Field Who Would Finish Second", "Detroit Pistons at Boston Celtics Box Score, November 27, 1985", "Boston Celtics at Dallas Mavericks Box Score, March 10, 1986", "Larry Legend Bird wins third straight MVP", "Houston Rockets at Boston Celtics Box Score, June 8, 1986", "Converse Commercial (1986) with Larry Bird and Magic Johnson", "Bird's Garden Party: Celtics Make It a Magical Night for Larry Legend", "Against All Those Hawks, One Bird Is Enough for Celtics", "Legendary Moments in NBA History: Larry Bird and Dominique Wilkins battle in Game 7", "Bird Bids Farewell, Retires From Celtics", "Dream Team a star-studded sight to behold for gazers on, off court", "The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame - Hall of Famers", "10 reasons we still love Larry Bird on his 60th birthday", "PRO BASKETBALL; A Bashful Larry Bird Joins Hall Of Fame", "The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Hall of Famers", "1992 Dream Team Inducted into Hall of Fame", It started in Sacramento: LeBron James, back in NBA Finals, makes our all-time starting 5, "Who's The Best Small Forward Of All Time: Larry Bird Or LeBron James? [48], Before the start of the 198586 season, the Celtics made a daring trade for Bill Walton, an All-Star center with a history of injury. He has seen his points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks and field goal percentage increase in each of his first three seasons in the league. 2022 Dimensions.com |All rights reserved. (Larry Legend, The Hick from French Lick, Kodak, The Great White Hope), Position: Two-time Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame inductee: College Basketball Hall of Fame (class of 2006). THIS VIDEO GIVES A STEP BY STEP BLUEPRINT ON HOW TO CREA. [8] Bird's parents were of Irish, Scottish and some Native American descent. [39] In the Conference Finals, the Celtics faced the 76ers for the third consecutive year, losing in seven games. Takeover The game will provide you with three takeover options. Some pundits consider Bird as one of the best outlet passers in the history of the league. [21] Boston advanced through the playoffs to earn a rematch with the Lakers, this time losing in six games. . [114] Bird resigned his head coaching position shortly after the end of the 2000 season, following through on his initial promise to coach for only three years. For the defense/rebounding badges, there will only be a limited number of options. 4:15 pm ET. us, College: Larry Bird was born in West Baden, Indiana. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Only eight other NBA players have achieved the rare feat. Bird won 3 MVPs in a row, 2 rings, and 2 finals MVPs in that stretch, plus was 2nd and 3rd in MVP voting in the 2 years he didn't win MVP in that stretch. [133], Bird married Dinah Mattingly in 1989. Following an attempted reconciliation, Bird and Condra had a daughter, Corrie, in 1977. A recent promotional poster out of New Orleans shows Davis with a 77 wingspan. [120] He continued to serve as an advisor until July, 2022, when he "stepped back from maintaining an active role with the Indiana Pacers". "[70] Their rivalry began in college, when Larry Bird and Indiana State lost to Magic Johnson and Michigan State in the NCAA Championship game. That is a 12% increase in wingspan from his height. This will allow your player to move faster when there are rebound opportunities. DiamondLobby / NBA 2K22 / The Best Larry Bird Build in NBA 2K22. Elton Brand is entering his 16th year in the NBA this season with the Atlanta Hawks. [77], Bird was voted onto the NBA's 50th Anniversary All-Time Team list in 1996,[78][79] and inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1998. He considered Bird to be the greatest basketball player of all time. Name: Larry Bird Birth Year: 1956 Birth date: December 7, 1956 Birth State: Indiana Birth City: West Baden Springs Birth Country: United States Gender: Male Best Known For: Basketball icon Larry. 6 ft 9 in or 206 cm. home/away, monthly, etc More Larry Bird Basketball Reference pages. His elite wingspan has allowed him to dominant the game over the last 10 years, and he has carved himself out a Hall of Fame worthy career. At the age of 19, Biyombo averaged 2.8 blocks per 36 minutes and showed some promise. [26][27] In his career debut, Bird recorded 14 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists in a 114106 win over the Houston Rockets. Charles Barkley has been quoted saying McHale was the best player he ever played against. That wingspan is the same size that the 75 Shawn Bradley had. Being that tall will give you an advantage in-game. Larry Bird's wingspan is 86.9 inches. [29] On November 23, Bird recorded his first 30-point scoring game (along with 11 rebounds and 3 assists) in a 118103 win over the Indiana Pacers. The Celtics, led by Bird, and the Lakers, led by Magic, were present in every NBA Finals series in the 80s, with Bird and Magic meeting three times. They each had charisma, deft shooting touch, extraordinary passing skills, and team-oriented mindset that ignited their team and the crowd. Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Friday, March 3, 6:45PM. McHale is known as one of the best post players in NBA history due to his great footwork and arsenal of moves. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame twice as a playerfirst in 1998 as an individual, and again in 2010 as a member of the "Dream Team". [102] Bird's humble roots were the source of his most frequently used moniker, "The Hick from French Lick". The average NBA basketball game lasts between two and two and a half hours. [15] After less than a month on the Indiana University campus he dropped out of school, finding the adjustment between his small hometown and the large student population of Bloomington to be overwhelming. Larry Bird Vertical Jump - Height, Number, Stats and Championship Rings Durant is one of the 6 members of the 50-40-90 club. Maxiell shows how an undersized player can keep pace with taller guys when they possess elite wingspan. Larry Bird NBA 2K23 Rating (All-Time Boston Celtics) - 2KRatings.com Johnson appeared at Bird's retirement ceremony on February 4, 1993, and emotionally described Bird as a "friend forever".[63]. Heights are barefeet estimates, derived from quotations, official websites, agency resumes, in person encounters with actors at conventions and pictures/films. [10], Bird received a scholarship to play college basketball for the Indiana Hoosiers in 1974. Larry Bird Insane Peak From 1980-1988 (Consistent Top MVP - reddit He's closer to 7'1 I think. This is a player who has shot 50% from the field, 40% from 3 point land, and 90% from the line. [84], "Larry, you only told me one lie. It was Larry Bird's height that made his basketball skills so remarkable. Height: 6'9" (206 cm) Weight: 220 lbs (100 kg) Position: F High School: . He made the All-Star team 12 times and was named the All-Star Game Most Valuable Player in 1982. Larry Bird made at least $25,870,000 playing professional basketball. [20] Bird also appeared in one game for the baseball team, going 1-for-2 with 2 RBI. The way you will be building your character will give you a lot of potential badge upgrades under the shooting category. Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. Nicknamed The Claw, Leonard possess a hand spread that measures 11.25 inches, which is bigger than Wilt, Shaq or Bill Russell. Difficult Shots High-difficulty jumpers attempted from the mid-range get an increased shot percentage. 1. One such case is the legendary Jerry West. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. With at least 10 potential upgrade points, you will have several options for playmaking badges. He led the league in rebounds twice and during the 2000s he averaged 10.2 rebounds a game. Following his junior year, Bird was selected with the sixth overall pick in the NBA draft by the Boston Celtics. At the end of the 2011-12 season, he was named NBA Executive of the Year, making him the only person to be named the NBA's MVP, Coach of the Year and Executive of the Year. Howard is also the only player in league history to have won Defensive Player of the Year in three consecutive years. He is the only person in NBA history to be named Rookie of the Year, Most Valuable Player, Finals MVP, All-Star MVP, Coach of the Year, and Executive of the Year.[1]. There are a couple of pictures showing Wilt out stretched, and he certainly looks to possess a wing span in the range of 80. 6. Updated daily. Because Bird was wily in creating space for himself off the dribble, the Shot Creator takeover also sounds like a good option. During the 2000s, Brand was one of the better rebounders and defenders. Their friendship blossomed when the two players worked together to film the Converse commercial, which depicted them as archenemies. Please check the opt-in box to acknowledge that you would like to subscribe. Real Height of NBA PLayers ( No Shoes) PinoyExchange Or write about sports? Wingspan data is something that has only been recorded precisely over the last couple of decades. Larry Bird DraftExpress Profile: scouting reports, videos, stats and logs. This entry could be part of Ripleys Believe it or Not. [22] He graduated in 1979 with a Bachelor of Science degree in physical education. Bird, Larry (1989), Drive: The Story of My Life. Remarkably Leonards wingspan may not be his freakiest attribute, as that would go to his hand size. The Hick from the French Lick has got yellow-toned tan skin. [43] Boston came back to win the game, eventually winning the series in seven.