[39][41], Bird was named MVP of the 198384 season with averages of 24.2 points, 10.1 rebounds, 6.6 assists, and 1.8 steals per game. Larry Joe Bird (born December 7, 1956) is an American former professional basketball player, coach, and executive in the National Basketball Association (NBA). [7], Bird was born in West Baden Springs, Indiana, to Georgia (ne Kerns) and Claude Joseph "Joe" Bird, a veteran of the Korean War. We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. Data Provided By Leonardo Da Vincis Vitruvian man depicts the ideal human as having a wingspan equal to his height, but this was based off a human that was 55. He is still young, and could be molded into something, but as it stands now, the Bismack Biyombo experiment is teetering on bust status. [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. It's a given that most players are listed 1-1.5 inches taller than they're actual heights since they're measured with shoes. His name is imprinted twice in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and besides being named Player of the Year frequently, he has received coach for the Year and Executive of the Year awards. Along with Larry Bird, and Robert Parish, McHale formed the most dominant front line in NBA history. Despite many peoples belief, Bol was not solely a freakshow, as he sustained a 10 year NBA career, playing for 4 different teams. Scaled 2Ddrawings and 3Dmodels available for download. [97] He accomplished this feat twice. [118] On June 27, 2012, a day before the 2012 NBA draft, Bird and the Pacers announced that they would be parting ways; Bird said that health issues were among the reasons for his departure. Larry Bird has dated - Janet Condra - Larry Bird was previously married to his high school sweetheart Janet Condra with whom he had a daughter named Corrie. "I tell my wife all the time, 'You don't see many 7-footers walking around at the age of 75,'" says Bird, who's 6-foot-9. DiamondLobby is owned and operated by Rank Zero LTD, Company Number 10507049, and is a registered trade mark (UK00003715943). Larry Bird - College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Pippen could pass like a point guard, rebound like a power forward, and score like a shooting guard. Sign in or Register to join the conversations! HEIGHT. Great height does not necessarily equate elite wingspan. 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. 9. He was also quite adept at looking for the open man from the post. 7. DraftExpress - Larry Bird DraftExpress Profile: Stats, Comparisons, and [86] He had 1,556 career steals. [43] Boston came back to win the game, eventually winning the series in seven. Find out for yourself how a player like him would fare against this generations crop of basketball players by developing the best Larry Bird build in NBA 2K22. [64][65][66] Bird finished with 34 points. Lastly, the wingspan can be reduced to around 83.0 inches. [83] While he was relatively slow, Bird displayed a knack for anticipating the moves of his opponent, making him a strong team defender. Fade Ace This provides a shot boost to post fadeaways. [33][34][35] Behind Bird's leadership and Boston's upgraded roster, the Celtics again advanced to the Conference Finals for a rematch with the 76ers. Javascript is required for the selection of a player. Something went wrong while submitting the form. Bird has been married to Dinah Mattingly since 1989. They each had charisma, deft shooting touch, extraordinary passing skills, and team-oriented mindset that ignited their team and the crowd. [10], Bird received a scholarship to play college basketball for the Indiana Hoosiers in 1974. Larry Bird was born in West Baden, Indiana. In the commercial, Bird is practicing alone on a rural basketball court (in reality the court was one Bird had made on the property in French Lick that he had purchased for his mother), when Johnson pulls up in a sleek limousine and challenges him to a one-on-one match. Despite not being as tall as the Lakers legend, Leonard is just as long. Larry Bird and Magic Johnson are known to be "one of the greatest rivalries in sports. Rajon Rondo only stands 61, but has a wingspan that stretches to 69. Remarkably Leonards wingspan may not be his freakiest attribute, as that would go to his hand size. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. With proper medication, exercise and diet, atrial fibrillation can be controlled, but Bird abhorred medication and was prone to skipping his pills. Their rivalry continued on in the revived CelticsLakers Rivalry in the NBA. Only eight other NBA players have achieved the rare feat. Brand thwarted the pre-draft analysis that claimed he would be too small to have a sustainable career in the NBA. [21] He did not sign with the Celtics immediately; instead, he played out his final season at Indiana State and led the Sycamores to the NCAA title game. Your submission has been received! Then you have a player like Dwyane Wade who is 65, but has a wingspan of 610. 1 Answer. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. [89] Bird won three NBA championships (in 1981, 1984, and 1986) with the Celtics[83] and won two NBA Finals MVP Awards. Chew on these numbers for a moment. section: | slug: nba-legend-larry-bird-says-he-doesnt-think-hell-make-it-to-the-age-of-75 | sport: basketball | route: article_single.us | Because of this, you can just focus on what Bird was exceptionally good at. Redick is 6'4 tall and has a wingspan of 6'3. The most accurate reports found that West had an 81 inch wingspan, which would translate to 69. He came out of nowhere to intercept an inbound pass by All-Star Isiah Thomas then immediately dished the ball to teammate Dennis Johnson who made the buzzer-beating layup to give the Celtics the win. On the offensive side of the ball, Rondo like to drive with a scooping layup. [21] In the Conference Finals, Boston was eliminated by the Philadelphia 76ers. He played most of his career with forward Kevin McHale and center Robert Parish, considered by some to be the greatest front court in NBA history. Howard makes up for his height with an elite wingspan that measures 75. Reggie Miller 6'7" 6'11" wingspan What players could were elite shooters with a wingspan ratio better than 10% of height Yenohb Robert Williams Posts: 345 Tommy Points: 73 Brandon Ingram would definitely be an exception. Bird was also a member of the gold medal-winning 1992 United States men's Olympic basketball team known as the "Dream Team". That would have been a 17% increase on his height. A persons wingspan is the measurement from the tips of one finger to the other. Additionally, the three-time NBA All-Defensive Second Team selection stood out in that end of the court. Larry Bird Insane Peak From 1980-1988 (Consistent Top MVP - reddit All rights reserved. But dont let Birds efficient scoring distract you from the fact that he was proficient in the other aspects of his game. He had off-season surgery to remove a disc from his back, but his back problems continued and he missed 37 games during the 199192 season. This year marks his 10th year in the league, and by all accounts, he's had a relative unspectacular career. Wilt Chamberlain is part of many extraordinary tales and finding accurate data on the legendary big man is no small feat. Following his retirement in 1992, Bird became a successful head coach and front-office executive with the Indiana Pacers. 2022 Dimensions.com |All rights reserved. 3. [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. Not since Bill Russell squared off against Wilt Chamberlain had professional basketball enjoyed such a marquee matchup. On August 18, 1992, Bird announced his retirement. 2. LAST ATTENDED. His concentration and composure were unrivaled as well, and he established himself as one of the most unshakable and driven players in the NBA. LeBron was definitely a better player. Larry, there will never, ever be another Larry Bird. inWest Baden,Indiana For 13 seasons with the Boston Celtics, from 1979-80 through 1991-92, Bird personified hustle, consistency and excellence in all areas of play as a scorer, a. . Other vital statistics like weight or shoe size measurements have been sourced from newspapers, books, resumes or social media. Springs Valley in French Lick, Indiana, Draft: [104], Bird was known for his trash-talking on the court and is remembered as one of the most notable trash-talkers of his era. Bird returned to the Pacers as president of basketball operations in 2013,[6] and remained in that role until 2017. In setting your players potential, be sure to maximize shooting and playmaking attributes, particularly the mid-range shot, three-point shot, free throw, pass accuracy, and ball handle. Jason Maxiell was drafted by the Detroit Pistons in the 1st round of the 2005 draft. 30 on ESPN SportsCentury's list of 50 Greatest Athletes of the 20th century. By going for a shooting plus defense/rebounding build, you will have a two-way player at your disposal. However, by then his formerly relentless attack on the court had been slowed by a bad back. DiamondLobby.com makes money from advertising. The losses of Moses Malone (60 years old), Darryl Dawkins (58), Anthony Mason (48), Christian Welp (51) and Jack Haley (51) all in the last year are a reminder of Bird's and others' contemporaries and peers during their playing days passing away far too young. We present them here for purely educational purposes. AboutPressCopyrightContact. Blinders Jump shots attempted with an opponent closing out in the players peripheral vision will not be penalized that much. [71], Journalists speculated that Bird and Magic represented different contrasts, such as clashes between Celtics and Lakers, between East and West, and between Blacks and Whites. [5] He was named NBA Executive of the Year for the 2012 season. There are a couple of pictures showing Wilt out stretched, and he certainly looks to possess a wing span in the range of 80. During the MyCareer mode, you can be tasked to play some minutes at power forward depending on the rotation. Biography and associated logos are trademarks of A+E Networksprotected in the US and other countries around the globe. The next year he attended the smaller Indiana State University, ultimately playing three years for the Sycamores. It was Larry Bird's height that made his basketball skills so remarkable. Bird was born on December 7, 1956, in West Baden Springs, Indiana, and raised in the nearby town of French Lick, where he excelled at basketball at an early age. The following top 15 will look at the most impressive wingspans in NBA history. [39] At the conclusion of the season, he earned his first All-Defensive Team selection. Larry Bird cemented his legacy in the sport by leading the Boston Celtics to three championships in the 1980s. A confirmation email has been sent. Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. Great wingspan measurements comes from players of all heights. 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. 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. [98] Bird won NBA three-point-shooting contests in three consecutive years. In Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Pistons, with five seconds remaining in the fourth quarter and Boston trailing the Pistons 107106, Bird stole an inbound pass. [75] It was the first time in the United States' Olympic history that the country sent NBA players to compete. If it goes, it goes.". While standing 77, Bols wingspan was an unheard of 86. Nicknamed "Larry Legend" or "The Hick from French Lick," Bird played the small forward and power forward positions. All Rights Reserved. What he used was his strength and court sense to outmaneuver and outrebound opponents. Another badge you must target is Interceptor. 5. at 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. I'm not lying awake at night thinking about it. Mourning was blessed with God given length, but it was his heart and passion for the game that ultimately made him one of the best that ever stepped on an NBA court. Positions: Small forward, power forwardYears Active: 19791992, Drawings include:Larry Bird standing, shooting, dribbling, NBA - National Basketball AssociationWikipedia - Basketball. [47], During the 1985 offseason, Bird injured his back shoveling crushed rock to create a driveway at his mother's house. Nicknamed Larry Legend or The Hick from French Lick, Bird played the small forward and power forward positions for the Boston Celtics in his entire career. What he showed us is that truly elite stats can be produced by some with almost no talent, but insanely freaky physical attributes. Because that was usually how the Hall of Famer took over games. Who was going to make the last shot? Doubleday, pp. 1956 [109] Since 2022, the NBA will award the MVPs for the Conference Finals; the Eastern Conference Finals MVP trophy is named in Bird's honor, while the Western Conference trophy is named after Johnson. Bird knows all about the problems with 7-footers and their health, and despite his wife's aversion to wanting to hear about it, reaching 75 years old isn't something Bird, 59 and now president of the Pacers, necessarily expects to accomplish. Join us for a March Madness Webinar on Tuesday, March 7 at 8pm ET. [54], With averages of 25.8 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 6.8 assists, and 2 steals per game, Bird became just the third player in NBA history to win three consecutive MVP Awards. Standing 69, Prince has a 72 inch wingspan, which appears even greater due to his rail thin physique (some people claim his wingspan is closer to 76). Larry Bird played the small forward and power forward positions at a height of 6'9" (2. . [49] The risk paid off; Walton's acquisition helped Boston win a league best 67 games. Weight. There is no denying the greatness of Wilt Chamberlain and a superior length was a major reason he was unstoppable. The Hick from the French Lick has got yellow-toned tan skin. Updated daily. Shooting badges will allow you to convert more field goal attempts from anywhere outside the key. The average modern human being is said to have a wingspan 2 inches greater than his height. As for the weight, you can lower it by one pound (219 lbs) to give your player an additional point in acceleration. Prince will not go down in any record books, but ask some of the games best who the toughest defender they faced is, and Tayshaun Princes name will be be right up there. One of those things was being a relentless defender. [59] The Celtics fell short in 1988 losing to the Detroit Pistons in 6 games in the Eastern Conference Finals as the Pistons made up from the heartbreak the previous season.