But I recommend opting for defense/rebounding instead. For these reasons, the other badges you should consider upgrading are Bullet Passer, Post Playmaker, and Special Delivery. His mother, Cora Lillian, had an above average height at six feet. All Rights Reserved. You will often hear basketball pundits state that a player has great length. 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 Vertical Jump - Height, Number, Stats and Championship Rings DiamondLobby.com makes money from advertising. 7. Larry looks fit and has an athletic body, but he had to go through back fusion surgery, leading him to end his playing career. More player info [101] In recognition of his defensive abilities, Bird was named to three All-Defensive Second Teams. [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. In 1999, when he won his first Defensive Player of the Year, he had an insane 3.9 blocks a game. Post Playmaker When the player passes out of the post or coming off an offensive board, the recipient receives a shot boost. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. With his freakish physical attributes, the future seems in very good, and large, hands. The Best Michael Jordan Build in NBA 2K22, How to Set Realistic Game Sliders in NBA 2K22, Teams With the Most Cap Space in NBA 2K22 MyGM. [83] Universally recognized as an all-time great player, Bird was placed at the power forward position on an NBA all-time starting five roster with fellow superstars Magic Johnson (point guard), Michael Jordan (shooting guard), LeBron James (small forward), and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (center) in 2020. Deadeye Jump shots attempted with a defender closing out in front of the player will suffer a lower penalty. The couple . Find out more. Taller individuals have more growth hormone, which accumulates more damage and dysfunction at a faster pace, and tend to have shorter life expectancies due to rapid aging. Bird, Larry (1989), Drive: The Story of My Life. This will give your shooting attributes a bit of a boost. Larry Bird believes NBA big men die young. Is he right? - ESPN.com This has lead some to believe that he is still growing, while most believe it is just a case of the Pelicans stretching the truth a little. Also, make sure to equip the Clutch Shooter badge. Lastly, the wingspan can be reduced to around 83.0 inches. He was a great scorer, rebounder, passer, and defender. It was Larry Bird's height that made his basketball skills so remarkable. [86], Bird was widely considered one of Red Auerbach's favorite players. [93][94][95] In October 2021, as part of the NBA's 75th Anniversary, 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. That wingspan is the same size that the 75 Shawn Bradley had. The NBA logo features a silhouette of Jerry West, and that player does appear to have rather long arms. In his final three seasons with the Celtics, Bird averaged over 20 points, 9 rebounds and 7 assists per game, shot better than 45% from the field, and led the Celtics to playoff appearances. This ratio is one of the higher percentages for players who have played in the NBA. Additionally, the three-time NBA All-Defensive Second Team selection stood out in that end of the court. Rajon Rondo is currently one of the best point guards in the league. He mentioned in his own book about his height, saying "I was almost six-four as a junior, six-six or so as a senior and I grew to Six-Nine. w/ shoes Weight Wingspan Standing Reach. [20] Bird also appeared in one game for the baseball team, going 1-for-2 with 2 RBI. You said there will be another Larry Bird. [121], In 1975, Bird married Janet Condra. Honestly, all of them fit Bird so well. 2002 NBA Pre Draft Measurement 2002 NBA Pre-Draft Camp Measurements Player Ht. All rights reserved. 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. Subscribed! Although he announced his departure around that time, he reclaimed his post as team president in the summer of 2013. Bird's 198889 season ended after six games when he had bone spurs surgically removed from both of his heels. As for the weight, you can lower it by one pound (219 lbs) to give your player an additional point in acceleration. Post Spin Technician Attempting to perform post spins or drives result in more effective moves, and lessens the chances of getting stripped by opponents. [26][27] In his career debut, Bird recorded 14 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists in a 114106 win over the Houston Rockets. 1. [103] Bird was also referred to as "Larry Legend". Of course, there are some who prefer using a player based on his archrival, Magic Johnson. Along with Larry Bird, and Robert Parish, McHale formed the most dominant front line in NBA history. 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. To help you grind efficiently, we have a guide on how to earn more VCs in NBA 2K22. All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. A comprehensive reference database of dimensioned drawings documenting the standard measurements and sizes of the everyday objects and spaces that make up our world. [86] He had 1,556 career steals. Slippery Off-Ball Increases the players chances of shaking off an opponent when attempting to get open using off-ball screens. Larry Bird made at least $25,870,000 playing professional basketball. Bird, Johnson, Michael Jordan and other NBA stars formed the American men's basketball team, which would become known as the "Dream Team." He was a great post scorer and could dominate the paint like a big man. He led the league in rebounds twice and during the 2000s he averaged 10.2 rebounds a game. .css-m6thd4{-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;display:block;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;font-family:Gilroy,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif;font-size:1.125rem;line-height:1.2;font-weight:bold;color:#323232;text-transform:capitalize;}@media (any-hover: hover){.css-m6thd4:hover{color:link-hover;}}Remembering Just Fontaine and His World Cup Record, The Man Behind the First All-Black Basketball Team, 8 Times Brothers Have Faced Off in a Championship, Every Black Quarterback to Play in the Super Bowl, Soccer Star Christian Atsu Survived an Earthquake. So, when selecting a physical profile for your player, I suggest choosing the combination of strength and agility. the official stats partner of the NBA, NHL and MLB. For this, you will need a ton of VCs. Because as previously discussed, Bird was an outstanding shooter. 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. [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. The World's Most Entertaining Car Website. For three consecutive years, from 1984 to 1986, Bird was named the NBA's MVP, and in 1990, he hit a milestone by reaching 20,000 career points. [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. [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. [13], Larry used basketball as an escape from his family troubles, starring for Springs Valley High School and averaging 31 points, 21 rebounds, and 4 assists as a senior on his way to becoming the school's all-time scoring leader. On the offensive side of the ball, Rondo like to drive with a scooping layup. At least partially as a result of this, he experienced back problems for the remainder of his career. w/out shoes Ht. [75] It was the first time in the United States' Olympic history that the country sent NBA players to compete. Signing with the Celtics for a then-record $650,000 a year, Bird justified his salary right out of the gate, averaging 21.3 points per game and claiming Rookie of the Year honors for the 1979-80 NBA season. Top 15 Most Impressive Wingspans In NBA History - TheSportster When they reached the NBA Finals, the Celticshampered by devastating injurieslost to a dominant Lakers team that had won 65 games during the season. Larry Bird stands 6'9" tall and weighs 220 pounds during his NBA playing days. 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. Bird's basketball prowess earned him an athletic scholarship to Indiana University, where he was to play for legendary coach Bob Knight. Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? Another badge you must target is Interceptor. [102] Bird's humble roots were the source of his most frequently used moniker, "The Hick from French Lick". Talk about all topics relevant to Pinoys around the world. Top 15 Most Impressive Wingspans In NBA History, 10 WCW Character Transformations That Made No Sense, 10 Wrestlers Vince McMahon Signed From The AWA (& Turned Them Into Stars), Dominik Mysterio Speaks About Where His "Prison Dom" Character In WWE Came From. Right, Born: 9. He then led his team to an undefeated regular season. What does stand out is Maxiells stature. Larry Legend, The Hick from French Lick, Kodak, The Great White Hope are nicknames for Larry Bird. However, I suggest going for Spot Up Shooter. [116], In 2003, Bird was hired as the Pacers' president of basketball operations. 6'9" (2.06m) WEIGHT. There are a couple of pictures showing Wilt out stretched, and he certainly looks to possess a wing span in the range of 80. Despite no previous coaching experience, he led the Pacers to a 58-24 record the franchise's best at the time in the 1997-98 season and was named the NBA Coach of the Year. [74], Bird and Magics presence on the court was only a small part of their contribution to basketball, as their rivalry changed the landscape of the NBA, transforming it from a struggling, barely profitable league into a highly visible, financial and marketing dream for teams and players alike. Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Friday, March 3, 6:45PM. Because of this, you can just focus on what Bird was exceptionally good at. [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. 6 ft 9 in or 206 cm. Same with Amare who's listed at 6'10 but measured at 6'8 1/2. [2] Bird was a 12-time NBA All-Star, won two NBA Finals MVP awards and received the NBA Most Valuable Player Award three consecutive times (19841986), making him the only forward in league history to do so. In his career, Bol averaged 3.3 blocks a game, in just 18.7 minutes. Bird had an average of 10.0 rebounds per game for his career and 6.3 assists. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. To help you with the boards, you can upgrade the Rebound Chaser badge. The way you will be building your character will give you a lot of potential badge upgrades under the shooting category. It seems every time he steps on a court he is a threat for a triple double, and a lot of that can attributed to his ridiculous wingspan. Have you heard of the 50-40-90 club? To put that in perspective, number 10 is legendary Robert Parish and he put up only 300 more blocks than Bol in his career, but it took him 45,704 minutes. Unfortunately he's had a difficult time keeping pace with the speed of the NBA, and his limited offensive game has come to light. The average modern human being is said to have a wingspan 2 inches greater than his height. He was a great post scorer and could dominate the paint like a big man. [83] While he was relatively slow, Bird displayed a knack for anticipating the moves of his opponent, making him a strong team defender. There is no denying the greatness of Wilt Chamberlain and a superior length was a major reason he was unstoppable. Rondo also poses very large hands at 9.5 inches long, and 10 inches wide. Despite not being as tall as the Lakers legend, Leonard is just as long. The average NBA basketball game lasts between two and two and a half hours. Kevin Durant stands 610 and has a 75 wingspan. He is also the last player to win three straight MVP awards. Anthony Davis is one of the leagues biggest stars. He played both the small forward and power forward positions. Considering the troubling back issues Bird has had, which started during his playing days, exercise becomes a much tougher thing to do when you get older. Two-time Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame inductee: College Basketball Hall of Fame (class of 2006). But if youre a fan of Birds game, then there are ways to customize your character to dominate on the court like the former Celtics superstar. If it goes, it goes.". HEIGHT. When he was on fire from the three-point line or mid-range, no one can stop him. Springs Valley in French Lick, Indiana, Draft: 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. However, Bird's height seems to come at a cost -- a cost he's well aware of and doesn't try to hide from. Davis stands 610, and, at the 2012 pre-draft combine, was measured to have a 75 wing span. Larry Bird- 6'9 John Stockton - 5 ft 10 Clyde Drexler- 6 ft 5 Chris Mullin- 6 ft 5 Subscribe to Stathead Basketball: Get your first month FREEYour All-Access Ticket to the Basketball Reference Database. [20] For his college career, he averaged 30.3 points, 13.3 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game,[21] leading the Sycamores to an 8113 record during his tenure. NBA 2K23 Larry Bird Packs Card Name Overall Position Offense Defense Height Wingspan Weight Badges Total Stats Larry Bird Premium End Game 99 SF/PF 99 99 6'9 7'0 220 lbs 0, 0, 0, 80 3366 Larry Bird Premium Invincible 99 PG/SF 99 99 6'9 7'0 220 lbs 0, 0, 13, 65 3365 Larry Bird Premium Continue reading "NBA 2K23 Larry Bird Packs Card Challenge" What that actual measurement was, we may never know. [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. Fade Ace This provides a shot boost to post fadeaways. Your submission has been received! Following his retirement in 1992, Bird became a successful head coach and front-office executive with the Indiana Pacers. Nicknamed "Larry Legend" or "The Hick from French Lick," Bird played the small forward and power forward positions. Nicknamed The Claw, Leonard possess a hand spread that measures 11.25 inches, which is bigger than Wilt, Shaq or Bill Russell. According to our Database, He has no children. 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. He was also quite adept at looking for the open man from the post. Unlike the other popular wing players of his generation, such as Julius Erving, Michael Jordan, and Dominique Wilkins, Bird did not have the hops to jump over opponents. [64][65][66] Bird finished with 34 points. at He is not dating anyone. The best they can do is continue to monitor their health, try to keep up with working out, and hope for the best. With proper medication, exercise and diet, atrial fibrillation can be controlled, but Bird abhorred medication and was prone to skipping his pills. Great height does not necessarily equate elite wingspan. inWest Baden,Indiana [19][20] Indiana State lost the game 7564, with Bird scoring 19 points but making only 7 of 21 shots. The Hick from the French Lick has got yellow-toned tan skin. Despite failing to win the championship, Bird earned numerous year-end awards and honors for his outstanding play, including the Naismith College Player of the Year Award. [21][38], At the 1982 All-Star Game, Bird scored 19 points en route to winning the All-Star Game MVP Award. In his own right McHale was one of the leagues great. But dont let Birds efficient scoring distract you from the fact that he was proficient in the other aspects of his game. I agree to receive the "CBS Sports HQ Newsletter" and marketing communications, updates, special offers (including partner offers), and other information from CBS Sports and the Paramount family of companies. Who was going to make the last shot? Larry Bird was drafted by Boston Celtics, 1st round (6th pick, 6th overall), 1978 NBA Draft. Join our newsletter! Larry Bird was such a player. This ratio is one of the higher percentages for players who have played in the NBA. Wingspan is a key measurement because it allows a player of a lesser stature to compete with players who may be physically taller than them. (Larry Legend, The Hick from French Lick, Kodak, The Great White Hope), Position: His effort helped to overcome a 47-point performance by Atlanta's Dominique Wilkins. Dating & Relationship status He is currently single. Both Dinah and Larry studied at Indiana State University. Available in DWG (CAD, Imperial &Metric), SVG, JPG formats, For 3D Downloads of this element, upgrade to a Dimensions Pro Membership. Player stats broken down into various categories; i.e. Larry Bird cemented his legacy in the sport by leading the Boston Celtics to three championships in the 1980s. Some pundits consider Bird as one of the best outlet passers in the history of the league. Mock Archives 2017 Mock Draft 2016 Mock Draft . Unfortunately, a trade-off with this player archetype is that there will be fewer points available for the others. section: | slug: nba-legend-larry-bird-says-he-doesnt-think-hell-make-it-to-the-age-of-75 | sport: basketball | route: article_single.us | Only eight other NBA players have achieved the rare feat. [86][87][88] He was selected to 12 NBA All-Star teams. DiamondLobby is owned and operated by Rank Zero LTD, Company Number 10507049, and is a registered trade mark (UK00003715943). The legend was quite ahead of his time. Interceptor This significantly increases the frequency of successfully tipped or stolen passes. [21] In the playoffs, the Celtics avenged their loss from the year before to the Bucks, winning in five games in the Conference Finals to advance to the Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers. 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. 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. And TMac is easily 6'8 or 6'9. 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. Unfortunately, thats not possible and some sacrifices will have to be made. Javascript is required for the selection of a player. Navigation Toggle NBA. He made the All-Star team 12 times and was named the All-Star Game Most Valuable Player in 1982. [40] Boston's misfortunes continued into the next season, with Bird again finishing second in MVP voting to Malone and the team losing in the Conference Semifinals to the Milwaukee Bucks. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. Site contains certain content that is owned A&E Television Networks, LLC. Everyone knows that Manute Bol was the tallest player in NBA history, but he also possessed the largest wingspan. Increasing the height will give these attributes a huge boost anyway. The game will provide you with three takeover options. 8. Best Larry Bird Build 2k22 Next Gen (Exact Height, Weight & Wingspan ", "LeBron James: Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Julius Erving Are 3 Best Players Ever", "Who Has Made The Most NBA All-Star Game Appearances of All-Time", "NBA MVP award: Steph Curry on list of multiple-time winners", Sporting News: James Harden joins exclusive group with third MVP runner-up finish, "Who is the most clutch player in NBA history? Dwight Howard is one of the premiere big men of the modern area, but stands at only 610. Rajon Rondo only stands 61, but has a wingspan that stretches to 69. NBA legend Larry Bird says he doesn't think he'll make it to the age of 100 kg or 220.5 lbs. All Rights Reserved. The first regular-season game between the Celtics and the Lakers in the 198788 season proved to be a classic with Magic Johnson banking in an off-balance shot from near the three-point line at the buzzer for a 115114 Lakers win at Boston Garden. On the offensive side, superior wingspan allows a shooter to have less shots contested, as he can get the ball further away from a defender. 4. Bird was rated the greatest NBA small forward of all time by Fox Sports in 2016. Remembering Just Fontaine and His World Cup Record, Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads, Name: Larry Bird, Birth Year: 1956, Birth date: December 7, 1956, Birth State: Indiana, Birth City: West Baden Springs, Birth Country: United States. Johnson and the Spartans triumphed, but Larry Bird left Indiana State that year with the USBWA College Player of the Year Award, the Naismith Award and the Wooden Award. As for the defense/rebounding class, set the interior defense, offensive rebound, and defensive rebound to around 10 points below the upper limit. Lastly, the wingspan can be reduced to around 83.0 inches. With his added length, Durant is able to get the ball in a position that is very hard to defend. He is a four-time All-Defensive team member, and he led the league in steals in 2009-10. What Mourning lacked in height, he made up for with a massive 76 wingspan. Bird won a gold medal in the 1992 Olympics besides being a three-time NBA MVP, twelve-time NBA All-Star, and two-time Finals MVP. Nonetheless, during the final years of his career, Bird maintained his status as one of the premier players in the game. [46] At the conclusion of the year, Bird was named MVP for the second consecutive season behind averages of 28.7 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 6.6 assists per game. Doubleday, pp. He considered Bird to be the greatest basketball player of all time. In 2003, Bird was named president of basketball operations for the Pacers, holding the position until retiring in 2012. [57], The '86 Celtics are commonly ranked as one of the greatest basketball teams of all time, with the Boston Globe's Peter May and Grantland's Bill Simmons listing them at number one. Bismack Biyombo was selected 7th overall in the 2011 NBA draft by the Charlotte Bobcats at the tender age of 18. One of those things was being a relentless defender. Boston Celtics, 1st round (6th pick, 6th overall), 1978 NBA Draft, Hall of Fame: Inducted as Player in 1998 (Full List), More Larry Bird pages at Sports Reference. [47], During the 1985 offseason, Bird injured his back shoveling crushed rock to create a driveway at his mother's house. And it went down to the last shot of the game. However, the sharpshooting forward felt some trepidation about the size of the Hoosier campus and withdrew from school, enrolling at Indiana State the next year. [60], Throughout the 1980s, contests between the Celtics and the Lakersboth during the regular season and in the Finalsattracted enormous television audiences. It was the first time the two star players would face each other in a head-to-head battle, and it began a friendship and rivalry that would span both players' careers. This year marks his 10th year in the league, and by all accounts, he's had a relative unspectacular career. Your players skill breakdown should certainly focus primarily on shooting. 4:15 pm ET. Biyombo stands 68, but has a wingspan that stretches out to 76. In 1997 Bird accepted the head coach position with the Indiana Pacers, a move that returned him to his home state. [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. His extra length allows him to keep the ball away from incoming defenders, making for some spectacular finishes. larry bird height and wingspan - harryeklof.com