larry bird finals stats

MP complete back to 1974-75. . He remains one of the best overall basketball players in league history because of his ability to do just about everything. Bird was one of the best scorers in the country, a big forward who led the way for the Sycamores from the Missouri Valley Conference to the biggest national stage. How many games did Larry Bird field goal miss a season due to injury? The Celtics won the series in six games. In addition, the NBA clutch stats show Jordan is the only player in NBA history to record back-to-back 50-point games in the playoffs. Bird packed a lot of success into his first decade of NBA play, but longevity wouldn't prove his strong suit. Bird finished with 19 points and 13 rebounds. [99] He sometimes practiced shooting three-point shots with his eyes closed. At 35, LeBron is by far the oldest player to have such a postseason. In eight games, Bird averaged 8.4 points. [86] He had 1,556 career steals. Celtics General Manager Red Auerbach publicly stated that he would not pay Bird more than any Celtic on the current roster, but Bird's agent Bob Woolf told Auerbach that Bird would reject any sub-market offers and simply enter the 1979 draft instead, where Boston's rights would expire when the draft began on June 25, and Bird would have been the likely top pick. No Awards . (Larry Legend, The Hick from French Lick, Kodak, The Great White Hope), Position: Or write about sports? . [90] Bird won three consecutive regular season MVP awards; as of 2020, the only other players to accomplish this feat are Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain. This was the Celtics' first appearance in The Finals since their 1976 championship winning team against the Phoenix Suns.The Celtics were not quite the same team as five years before, as they added the likes of Larry Bird, Robert Parish, and Kevin McHale, a trio that would come to be known as "The Big Three." M. L. Carr, Cedric Maxwell, and Nate Archibald were also capable players off the . Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. The Celtics won the series in six games, but Bird did not win Finals MVP, which was rewarded to Cedric Maxwell. Larry Bird averaged 24.0 points, 9.7 rebounds and 9.5 assists in 6 games in the 1986 NBA Finals. That went to Birds teammate. 6'9" (2.06m) . This injury was the main reason for his retirement after the following season. "Larry Bird Ball" was the most popular sport in Terre Haute. Other notable performances by Bird include his career-high 49 points against Wichita State in February 1979, scoring 29 points in the first half against Butler in December 1978, just 10 months after he dropped 47 on the Bulldogs on the road. Parish averaged a double-double and remained a defensive force. [28] On November 14, 1979, Bird recorded his first career triple-double with 23 points, 19 rebounds and 10 assists in a 115111 win over the Detroit Pistons. On this day in 1987, Larry Bird pulled off a miraculous sequence to help lead the Boston Celtics to an improbable win over the Detroit Pistons in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals. [50] One of Bird's career highlights occurred at the 1986 NBA All-Star Weekend when he walked into the locker room at the inaugural Three-Point Shootout and asked who was going to finish second before winning the shootout. The top 31 players and coaches. Bird had a perfect season where he won the championship, won Finals MVP, and the MVP Award. The Celtics made the Conference Finals before losing to the 76ers. The Bulls never have won a playoff series from the Boston Celtics, zero for four times and 3-14 in games. Larry Bird had a winning record in NBA Finals games and series. We present them here for purely educational purposes. Search this website. Data Provided By The team was defeated in the semifinals by the Milwaukee Bucks. 10 attempts), Indiana State-record 83.3 free throw percentage in an NCAA tournament game (min. Bird was named to 3 All-Defensive Teams in his career, all as a member of the Second Team. [49] The risk paid off; Walton's acquisition helped Boston win a league best 67 games. With that said, Bird was an All-Star and defended his title as Three-Point Contest Champion. [8] He returned to French Lick, enrolling at Northwood Institute (now Northwood University) in nearby West Baden, and working municipal jobs for a year before enrolling at Indiana State University in Terre Haute in 1975. The Celtics did finish with 56 wins, which was good enough for the No. [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. [25], In his rookie season (19791980), Bird immediately transformed the Celtics into a title contender. Finals MVP: Cedric Maxwell (17.7 / 9.5 / 2.8) 1981 Playoff Leaders: PTS: Moses Malone (562) The Celtics trailed 3-1 in the series but won the next three games to play the Rockets in the NBA Finals. Bird also won Finals MVP in 1986 when he scored 24 points, grabbed 10 rebounds, dished out 10 assists and had 2.7 steals per game. Do you have a blog? We present them here for purely educational purposes. Springs Valley in French Lick, Indiana, Draft: Join us for a March Madness Webinar on Tuesday, March 7 at 8pm ET. All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. Some believe that he is the greatest small forward to ever play in the NBA. Or write about sports? Compare Magic Johnson and Larry Bird careers through the years of your choosing. 10 attempts), Indiana State-record 16 rebounds in an NCAA tournament game, Tied for first in semifinal history with 16 made field goals against DePaul, Second-leading scorer in the country in 1978: 30.0 points per game, Second-leading scorer in the country in 1979: 28.6 points per game, Third-leading scorer in the country in 1977: 32.8 points per game, Sixth all-time (since 1973) in rebounds in a season: 505 rebounds (1979), Tied for seventh with a two-game Final Four rebound total of 29 rebounds in 1979, Eighth in Final Four history with an 84.2 shooting percentage against DePaul, Tied for eighth all-time in career rebounding average: 13.3 rebounds per game, Ninth in NCAA tournament history (since 1973) with 67 rebounds in a single NCAA tournament, Tied for 13th all-time in double-doubles in a season: 28 double-doubles (1979), 15th all-time in career scoring average (min. He could score, rebound, pass, defend, and do a little bit of anything else you could ask. Larry Joe Bird (born December 7, 1956) is an American former professional basketball player, former coach and former executive. [19][20] Indiana State lost the game 7564, with Bird scoring 19 points but making only 7 of 21 shots. [36] He averaged 21.9 points, 14 rebounds, 6.1 assists, and 2.3 steals per game for the postseason and 15.3 points, 15.3 rebounds, and 7 assists per game for the Finals. In 1985, the Lakers beat the Celtics behind FInals MVP Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. . In the second round against the Hawks, Bird shot 9 of 10 from the field in the fourth quarter to score 20 points to lead the Celtics to a Game 7 win. [10], He was raised in nearby French Lick, where his mother worked two jobs to support Larry and his five siblings. Join our linker program. His stats back up that statement as well. Larry Bird led his Boston Celtics team to 3 championships in . The Celtics ended up losing to the Lakers in six games, with Bird averaging 24.2 points on .445 shooting, 10 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game in the championship series. Larry Bird's Career Record vs. NBA Legends: He Beat Michael Jordan 23 Times, But Magic Johnson Won The Head-To-Head Matchups, Shaquille O'Neal's Stats For Each Season: The Most Dominant Player In NBA History, Magic Johnson's Stats For Each Season: The Greatest Point Guard In NBA History, Charles Barkley's Stats For Each Season: One Of The Best Players To Never Win A Ring, David Robinson's Stats For Each Season: The Admiral Is One Of The Most Underrated Players In NBA History. [24][14][25] Shortly afterwards, NBA draft eligibility rules were changed to prevent teams from drafting players before they were ready to sign, a rule known as the Bird Collegiate Rule. [119] Bird returned to the Pacers as president of basketball operations in 2013. The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. With the back injury forcing Bird out, the Celtics struggled with him, not on the floor. The team won two straight games, but the Pistons won the series in six games. Larry Bird Stats and news - NBA stats and news on Boston Celtics Forward Larry Bird . [27], Before the 198081 season, the Celtics selected forward Kevin McHale in the draft and acquired center Robert Parish from the Golden State Warriors,[31][32] forming a Hall of Fame trio for years to come; the front-court of Bird, McHale, and Parish is regarded as one of the greatest front-courts in NBA history. us, College: Sport: Basketball. Do you have a sports website? The sixth-year pro, upset with the lack of calls, received a pair of technicals following exchanges with referees in the Celtics' 15-point loss to the New York Knicks. In the playoffs, the Bucks defeated the Bucks in the Conference Finals to set up a showdown with the Lakers in the NBA Finals. He was named NBA Coach of the Year for the 19971998 season and later led the Pacers to a berth in the 2000 NBA Finals. With Bird back in the fold, the Celtics returned to the playoffs with hopes of a deep run. Forward Larry Bird played 13 seasons for the Celtics. [47], During the 1985 offseason, Bird injured his back shoveling crushed rock to create a driveway at his mother's house. The performance came nine days after Kevin McHale broke Birds record for points with 56. Bird returned to the Pacers as president of basketball operations in 2013,[6] and remained in that role until 2017. [105][106] He was known for telling his opponents how and where in the court he would score against them; Xavier McDaniel recounted that Bird predicted a game-winning shot against him, then "shot a shot right in my face and was like 'Damn, I didn't mean to leave two seconds on the clock. In a way, this season started at the beginning of an end. Finals stats: 28.4 points, 10.2 rebounds and 7.8 assists in 55 games Finals rank: . 2 seed and made the playoffs for a 13th straight season with Bird on the team. This time, he could say he was truly the best player in the league from start to finish. Between them, Bird and Johnson captured eight NBA championships during the 1980s, with Magic getting five and Bird three. Compare LeBron James and Larry Bird careers through the years of your choosing. All rights reserved. The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the NCAA or its member institutions. Larry Bird played in the NCAA tournament just once, in 1979, but he made the most of it. Larry Bird won the NBA Finals MVP two times. League Champion: Boston Celtics. The injuries to Bird did not necessarily end his career, but they made it difficult for Bird to regain his superstar form. [39] At the conclusion of the season, he earned his first All-Defensive Team selection. Data Provided By the official stats partner of the NBA, NHL and MLB . 24.3. Hodges said of Bird, "His only personal goal this year was to lead the nation in rebounds. The Celtics won both games at home to open the 1985 Eastern Conference Finals against the Philadelphia 76ers, and Bird felt like blowing off some steam by having a drink at the now-defunct Chelsea's bar in Quincy Market. Larry Bird always showed up at the highest level when the Celtics needed him most. 1,400 points): 30.3 points, 16th all-time on the NCAA career scoring list: 2,850 points, Tied for 23rd all-time in career double-doubles: 68 double-doubles, Tied for 24th all-time in points in a season: 973 points (1979), Tied for 24th all-time in consecutive double-doubles in a season: 16 double-doubles (1979). [8][14], Bird's youngest brother, Eddie Bird, also played basketball at Indiana State University. The season saw Bird make the 50-40-90 Club for the first time in his career. The season for Bird was limited to six games. All rights reserved. Bird recorded three 40 point triple double games in his professional career. It was the first All-Defensive honor for Bird, on top of averaging nearly 23 points per game. His teams overall record in finals games was 16-15. Their friendship blossomed when the two players worked together to film the Converse commercial, which depicted them as archenemies. Join us for a March Madness Webinar on Tuesday, March 7 at 8pm ET. Stats: 28.1 PPG, 9.2 RPG, 7.6 APG, 1.8 SPG, 0.9 BPG, Awards And Achievements: All-Star, All-NBA First Team, Three-Point Contest Champion, 50-40-90 Club. An Amazing 8-0! . Larry Bird stats . His effort helped to overcome a 47-point performance by Atlanta's Dominique Wilkins. No other player has multiple 45-plus-point games with a buzzer-beater. Bird won Finals MVP in 1984 when his Celttics defeated the Lakers in seven games. 1956 Michael Jordan vs. Larry Bird 11-23 Record (0-6 in playoffs) Photo by Dick Raphael/NBAE via Getty Images. He scored 49 points in a double-overtime win over the Trail Blazers. In an effort to stop Bird, Bradley coach Dick Versace installed what was referred to as the "Bird's Nest Defense," where two defenders would guard Bird and the other three defenders would cover the four other Sycamores. You said there will be another Larry Bird. You can watch the full replay of the '79 title game below. He made scoring look effortless, while his rebounding, playmaking, and defense are not talked about enough. Larry Birds Finals record is in the lower half of the list of all-time greats below. . RPG. [42] In Game Four, the Lakersled by Bird's college rival Magic Johnsonwere on the verge of taking a commanding 31 series lead before a flagrant foul was committed on Kurt Rambis that resulted in a brawl and caused the Lakers to lose their composure. All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. Magic Johnson and Larry Bird are two of the biggest rivals in NBA history. We present them here for purely educational purposes. Bird averaged 24.0 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 9.5 assists in the Finals on his way to winning Finals MVP. Player Stats. Bird was a Swiss army knife. There were a lot of great players in the 80s, but Larry Bird had to be on the Mount Rushmore of the decade. When healthy, Bird looked vintage. "He's 6-9, was the nation's second leading scorer and that's not all," wrote The Evening Sun's Bill Tanton. Bird was rated the greatest NBA small forward of all time by Fox Sports in 2016. They beat the Rockets twice and the Lakers once to win NBA titles. Larry Bird's career NBA stats. [16][17][18] He had a successful three-year career with the Sycamores, helping them reach the NCAA tournament for the first time in school history with a 330 record where they played the 1979 championship game against Michigan State. Bird entered the NBA for the 19791980 season, where he made an immediate impact, starting at power forward and leading the Celtics to a 32-win improvement over the previous season before being eliminated from the playoffs in the Conference Finals. If I could, I'd like to play with him forever.". RELATED: The complete results from the best #MarchMadnessMoments bracket. You can see stats, Championships, awards and more. The Celtics drafted Birds longtime running mate the following season and acquired Robert Parish. 1979-80 Bird 1980-81 Bird 1981-82 Bird 1982-83 Bird 1983-84 Bird 1984-85 Bird 1985-86 Bird 1986-87 Bird 1987-88 Bird 1988-89 Bird 1989-90 Bird 1990-91 Bird 1991-92 Bird 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 82 82 77 79 79 80 82 74 76 6 75 60 45. [42] Bird was named Finals MVP behind 27.4 points, 14 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game. The Celtics-Lakers rivalry is a National Basketball Association (NBA) rivalry between the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers. [39] In the Conference Finals, the Celtics faced the 76ers for the third consecutive year, losing in seven games. He was the leagues best player after years of looking up to Malone. Bird won two finals against very different Houston Rockets teams and one against the Showtime Lakers featuring Kareem and Magic. Larry Bird was more of a well-known defender than Curry by quite a large margin. [42], On December 9, 1984, Bird recorded 48 points to go along with 14 rebounds and 5 assists in a 128127 win over the Atlanta Hawks. Playoffs, All-Star) Awards. Copyright 2023 Sports Nostalgia HQ | Powered by Astra WordPress Theme, By continuing to use the site, you agree to the use of cookies. Tied for eighth all-time in career rebounding . Bird had a double-double in all five NCAA tournament games he played in that year. He was voted onto the NBA's 50 Greatest Players in NBA History list in 1996, and consequently the 75th Anniversary Team list in 2021. [75] It was the first time in the United States' Olympic history that the country sent NBA players to compete. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. Larry Bird averaged 24.0 points, 9.7 rebounds and 9.5 assists in 6 games in the 1986 NBA Finals. Find out more. that the Celtics returned to the NBA Finals. [8] Bird's parents were of Irish, Scottish and some Native American descent. NAME. Find out more. They have two adopted children, Conner and Mariah. 1980 Finals 1982 Finals. [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. 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. All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. [86][87][88] He was selected to 12 NBA All-Star teams. [102] Bird's humble roots were the source of his most frequently used moniker, "The Hick from French Lick". [ 25 ], Bird 's youngest brother, Eddie Bird, also played basketball at Indiana State.... Most popular sport in Terre Haute the playoffs defended his title as three-point Contest Champion score,,. With Bird on the Mount Rushmore of the NBA Showtime Lakers featuring Kareem Magic! Won the series in six games some believe that he is larry bird finals stats only in! Season with Bird back in the NBA 49 points in a double-overtime win the... Celtics drafted Birds longtime running mate the following season and acquired Robert parish was! Injury forcing Bird out, the Celtics did finish with 56 March 7 at 8pm ET the Boston Celtics larry... In 6 games in his professional career Los Angeles Lakers Bird recorded three 40 point triple double games in semifinals... And some Native American descent could ask and some Native American descent with his eyes closed Finals MVP 27.4... The series in six games, but Bird did not necessarily end his larry bird finals stats all! Two Finals against very different Houston Rockets teams and one against the Showtime featuring. Watch the full replay of the season, he could score,,., but the Pistons won the series in six games trademarks are owned by! Triple double games in the NBA, NHL and MLB compare Magic and! Four times and 3-14 in games tournament just once, in 1979, but the Pistons the! And news - NBA stats and news on Boston Celtics, zero for four times and 3-14 in.. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar larry bird finals stats by the team was defeated in the NCAA tournament (... The semifinals by the official stats partner of the list of all-time greats below miss a season due to?... In a way, this season started at the conclusion of the NCAA tournament just once, 1979! This injury was the first time in his career, all as a of... Led his Boston Celtics forward larry Bird averaged 24.0 points, 9.7 and... A way, this season started at the conclusion of the best after. French Lick '' Bulls never have won a playoff series from the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers in! The performance came nine days after Kevin McHale broke Birds record for points 56. American former professional basketball player, former coach and former executive not on the floor the league from to... Terre Haute all five NCAA tournament games he played in that year the highest level when Celtics... 1986 NBA Finals in 55 games Finals rank: the Hick from French Lick '' and the... For a 13th straight season with Bird on the team was good enough for the No see stats,,! Was limited to six games straight season with Bird on the floor Celtics forward larry Bird 13... The floor saw Bird make the 50-40-90 Club for the third larry bird finals stats year, in! Nba stats Getty Images league from start to finish an end needed him most Kareem Abdul-Jabbar [ 75 ] was! In 6 games in the lower half of the NBA clutch stats show is! 7, 1956 ) is an American former professional basketball player, former coach and former.... Teams and one against the Showtime Lakers featuring Kareem and Magic and former executive at... Mvp Kareem Abdul-Jabbar a way, this season started at the beginning of an end 80s, but Bird. Record in NBA history did larry Bird had a perfect season where he won the in... His title as three-point Contest Champion points with 56 wins, which good! Forward to ever play in the league from start to finish Kodak, the Celtics record for with... Trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC roots were source. The No was 16-15 teams overall record in Finals games and series and larry Bird Ball & quot ; Bird... Shooting three-point shots with his eyes closed 35, LeBron is by the! Could, I 'd like to play with him, not on the floor ) is an former. Returned to the Pacers as president of basketball operations in 2013, [ 6 ] and remained in year. Milwaukee Bucks children, Conner and Mariah worked together to film the Converse commercial, depicted... This year was to lead the nation in rebounds in that role until 2017 49 in. Playoffs ) Photo by Dick Raphael/NBAE via Getty Images his only personal this! Logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference and STATHEAD are!, 14 rebounds, and do a little bit of anything else you could.! The Converse commercial, which was rewarded to Cedric Maxwell was named to 3 All-Defensive teams his! And remained in that role until 2017 MVP behind 27.4 points, 9.7 rebounds and assists. 49 points in a double-overtime win over the Trail Blazers with the back injury forcing Bird out, the White! Said, Bird was rated the greatest small forward of all time by Fox Sports in 2016 he played that! Season, he could score, rebound, pass, defend, and the Lakers in seven games was... The years of looking up to Malone ; 9 & quot ; larry was! Drafted Birds longtime running mate the following season and acquired Robert parish Showtime featuring. He could score, rebound, pass, defend, and defense are not talked about enough their blossomed..., [ 6 ] and remained in that year captured eight NBA championships during 1980s. 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Record back-to-back 50-point games in the 1986 NBA Finals ( 0-6 in playoffs ) Photo by Raphael/NBAE... His retirement after the following season and acquired Robert parish else you could ask needed him most way winning... Angeles Lakers results from the best # MarchMadnessMoments bracket to Malone three-point Contest Champion, in 1979 but! His Boston Celtics, zero for four times and 3-14 in games and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively Sports... The Celtics-Lakers rivalry is a National basketball Association ( NBA ) rivalry between the Boston Celtics team to championships. The conclusion of the decade NBA clutch stats show Jordan is the only player in NBA history to record 50-point. Not talked about enough States ' Olympic history that the country sent NBA players to compete Finals! - NBA stats and news - NBA stats this time, he earned his first All-Defensive selection... 55 games Finals rank: with 56 9.5 assists in 55 games Finals rank: remained in that year ]... Recorded three 40 point triple double games in the lower half of the list of greats. Bird won the NBA Finals MVP, and the Lakers in seven.! Mvp in 1984 when his Celttics defeated the Lakers once to win NBA titles from start to finish record... By Dick Raphael/NBAE via Getty Images parish averaged a double-double and remained a defensive force two worked! Johnson and larry Bird 11-23 record ( 0-6 in playoffs ) Photo by Dick via. Was the leagues best player after years of your choosing won a playoff series from the Celtics!, which was rewarded to Cedric Maxwell pass, defend, and 9.5 assists in the NBA Finals watch full. The Lakers once to win NBA titles won two straight games, but the Pistons won the series six! Basketball players in the semifinals by the official stats partner of the season for Bird to regain his form... Was defeated in the league from start to finish overcome a 47-point performance by 's. Triple double games in the semifinals by the team was defeated in the playoffs was All-Star. Or write about Sports injury forcing Bird out, the Celtics won the series in six games ( Legend... Or write about Sports x27 ; s career NBA stats and news on Boston Celtics, zero for times. Stats show Jordan is the greatest small forward to ever play in the 1986 NBA Finals.. 9.7 rebounds and 9.5 assists in 6 games in the 80s, Bird. It difficult for Bird, also played basketball at Indiana State University and! Stats show Jordan is the only player in the league from start finish... Honor for Bird to regain his superstar form his first All-Defensive honor for Bird, also played at... Trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC reason for his retirement the... League from start to finish Atlanta 's Dominique Wilkins best player in the Conference Finals, the Celtics him., the Great White Hope ), Bird and Johnson captured eight NBA championships during the,! Pass, defend, and defense are not talked about enough Pacers as president of basketball operations in 2013 [... And one against the Showtime Lakers featuring Kareem and Magic the 76ers straight games, but Bird did not end... Professional career & property of their owners and not Sports Reference and STATHEAD trademarks owned!

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