During the early parts of his career, he even started at power forward for Boston. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Unfortunately he's had a difficult time keeping pace with the speed of the NBA, and his limited offensive game has come to light. CelebHeights.com Rob Paul 2004-2023. When he was on fire from the three-point line or mid-range, no one can stop him. Many people following the NBA would love to see Bird play in todays era of basketball. [12] Georgia and Joe divorced when Larry was in high school, and Joe died by suicide about a year later. Positions: Small forward, power forwardYears Active: 19791992, Drawings include:Larry Bird standing, shooting, dribbling, NBA - National Basketball AssociationWikipedia - Basketball. Height. Wade is measure at 6 ft 3 3/4 Barefeet and he is also the same height as Kobe Bryant. Unless you allot more points to finishing attributes, you will only have one potential upgrade for finishing badges. This will give your shooting attributes a bit of a boost. While standing 77, Bols wingspan was an unheard of 86. 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've got a theory that if you give 100 percent all of the time, somehow things will work out in the end. Fade Ace This provides a shot boost to post fadeaways. LeBron was definitely a better player. Bird has appeared in three movies, each time playing himself: Bird's likeness has appeared in several video games. Even when considering his height, the wingspan is still 12.1% larger than his body. Data Provided By One report claims McHale could tie his shoes without having to bend over. USA. Height: 6'9" (206 cm) Weight: 220 lbs (100 kg) Position: F High School: . Please check the opt-in box to acknowledge that you would like to subscribe. To help you grind efficiently, we have a guide on how to earn more VCs in NBA 2K22. Larry Bird's wingspan is 86.9 inches. For the defense/rebounding badges, there will only be a limited number of options. Biyombo stands 68, but has a wingspan that stretches out to 76. [86] He had 1,556 career steals. Scaled 2Ddrawings and 3Dmodels available for download. Your submission has been received! 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. . West was known for his extremely quick jump shot, and when coupled with his length, it formed one of the deadliest jump shots in NBA history. He played both the small forward and power forward positions. [56] Bird averaged 24 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 9.5 assists per game for the championship round. [49] The risk paid off; Walton's acquisition helped Boston win a league best 67 games. Increasing the height will give these attributes a huge boost anyway. 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. Bird is one of the best shooters in the history of the sport. [26][27] In his career debut, Bird recorded 14 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists in a 114106 win over the Houston Rockets. [116], In 2003, Bird was hired as the Pacers' president of basketball operations. Then you have a player like Dwyane Wade who is 65, but has a wingspan of 610. Over the course of his 13-year Hall of Fame career, the sharpshooting forward led the Celtics to three NBA titles and claimed three MVP awards. [83] While he was relatively slow, Bird displayed a knack for anticipating the moves of his opponent, making him a strong team defender. [68] He returned to the Celtics in 1989, but debilitating back problems and an aging Celtic roster prevented him from regaining his mid-1980s form. Same with Amare who's listed at 6'10 but measured at 6'8 1/2. 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. [19][20] Indiana State lost the game 7564, with Bird scoring 19 points but making only 7 of 21 shots. [39] In the Conference Finals, the Celtics faced the 76ers for the third consecutive year, losing in seven games. For that, we have developed the best Magic Johnson build in NBA 2K22. [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. Honestly, all of them fit Bird so well. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. Maxiell shows how an undersized player can keep pace with taller guys when they possess elite wingspan. Astrological Sign: Sagittarius, Article Title: Larry Bird Biography, Author: Biography.com Editors, Website Name: The Biography.com website, Url: https://www.biography.com/athletes/larry-bird, Publisher: A&E; Television Networks, Last Updated: April 20, 2021, Original Published Date: April 2, 2014. One of those things was being a relentless defender. KG Living Legend Don Nelson Posts: 8383 Brand thwarted the pre-draft analysis that claimed he would be too small to have a sustainable career in the NBA. And it went down to the last shot of the game. Larry Joe Bird (born December 7, 1956) is an American former professional basketball player, coach, and executive in the National Basketball Association (NBA). An option for your characters secondary skill is playmaking. The strain that goes on the heart of someone that tall is tough, and despite being rewarded financially for their skills and size, having that life cut short because of that same size is their reality. Following an attempted reconciliation, Bird and Condra had a daughter, Corrie, in 1977. The Hick from French Lick was the first ever to join the club. [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. Great wingspan measurements comes from players of all heights. But dont let Birds efficient scoring distract you from the fact that he was proficient in the other aspects of his game. 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. Part of the reason, he admits, was his own fatalistic view of what the future would bring. 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. Brand was a great post defender and shot blocker, as he averaged 2 blocks a game from 2001-2008. On the offensive side of the ball, Rondo like to drive with a scooping layup. He was a great post scorer and could dominate the paint like a big man. [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. http://www.nbadraft.net/2002predraftmeasurements.htm, http://www.insidehoops.com/chicago-camp-measurements.shtml, http://www.insidehoops.com/draft-prospect-measurements.shtml, http://www.friendster.com/user.php?uid=27447626, http://canadahoops.blogspot.com/2007/05/nba-predraft-camp-measurements-2002.html, http://blog.oregonlive.com/behindblazersbeat/Orlando%202007-Complete%20%20Results.xls. 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. The 19871988 season was the highest-scoring season of Bird's career. Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. 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. Bird returned to the Pacers as president of basketball operations in 2013,[6] and remained in that role until 2017. LIVE. 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. The way you will be building your character will give you a lot of potential badge upgrades under the shooting category. Heights are barefeet estimates, derived from quotations, official websites, agency resumes, in person encounters with actors at conventions and pictures/films. When they mention length, they are not talking about a player's height, but more so his wingspan. Many NBA bigs, including Larry Bird and Bill Walton, believe there's a negative relationship between height and longevity. They each had charisma, deft shooting touch, extraordinary passing skills, and team-oriented mindset that ignited their team and the crowd. [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. [69] Following Bird's departure, the Celtics promptly retired his jersey number 33. 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. Another badge you must target is Interceptor. Chew on these numbers for a moment. He is not dating anyone. Growing up in French Lick, Indiana, he was a local basketball star. All Rights Reserved. [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. For these reasons, the other badges you should consider upgrading are Bullet Passer, Post Playmaker, and Special Delivery. 5. 100 kg or 220.5 lbs. McHale stood 610 and was reported to have a colossal wingspan that stretched to 80. at [98] Bird won NBA three-point-shooting contests in three consecutive years. 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. 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. DiamondLobby / NBA 2K22 / The Best Larry Bird Build in NBA 2K22. Clutch Shooter Shot attempts made during the final moments of the fourth quarter or overtime receive a large boost. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Available in DWG (CAD, Imperial &Metric), SVG, JPG formats, For 3D Downloads of this element, upgrade to a Dimensions Pro Membership. Howard has used that wingspan to become an elite rebounder and shot blocker. A triple-double in basketball is a term used to describe the impactful performance of a player that achieved a double-digit number in three of the five statistical basketball categories of points, assists, rebounds, steals, and blocked shots. At the very least, he's as tall as players listed at 6'9. Or write about sports? [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. Rebound Chaser Raises the players ability to track down rebounds from farther distances than normal. News on all your favorite celebs, reality TV, and movies. [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. His effort helped to overcome a 47-point performance by Atlanta's Dominique Wilkins. Unfortunately, thats not possible and some sacrifices will have to be made. The two adopted a son and daughter, Conner and Mariah. His extra length allows him to keep the ball away from incoming defenders, making for some spectacular finishes. [4] After retiring as a player, Bird served as head coach of the Indiana Pacers from 1997 to 2000. Drafted by the Boston Celtics with the sixth overall pick in the 1978 NBA draft after his second year at Indiana State, Bird elected to stay in college and returned for the 19781979 season. Only eight other NBA players have achieved the rare feat. He led the league in rebounds twice and during the 2000s he averaged 10.2 rebounds a game. That season, the Celtics posted a 61-21 record and defeated the Houston Rockets to take the first NBA championship of Bird's career. [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. 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. Here's what the science reveals. Because of this, you can just focus on what Bird was exceptionally good at. But, his biggest skill was his defense. Falling out of bounds, Bird turned and passed the ball to teammate Dennis Johnson, who converted a game-winning 2-point layup with less than a second left. 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. Small Forward and Power Forward The Celtics reached the playoffs in every one of Bird's 13 seasons, although he missed most of the 1988-89 season due to injury, and added titles in 1984 and 1986. Nicknamed The Claw, Leonard possess a hand spread that measures 11.25 inches, which is bigger than Wilt, Shaq or Bill Russell. [9] He has four brothers and a sister. Not since Bill Russell squared off against Wilt Chamberlain had professional basketball enjoyed such a marquee matchup. 2. I couldn't miss. 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 one of the greatest players ever in crunch time, making four buzzer-beaters throughout his career. [55] In the playoffs, the Celtics lost only one game through the first three rounds en route to a match-up against the Rockets in the Finals. Although there are only 48 total minutes of time on the clock in an NBA game, the regulation time is stopped often for fouls, timeouts, and when the ball is out of bounds. Two-time Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame inductee: College Basketball Hall of Fame (class of 2006). A recent promotional poster out of New Orleans shows Davis with a 77 wingspan. [96], Bird is also remembered as an excellent passer[100] and defender. Bol is 15th all time in blocked shots with 2,086, but he did that in only 11,698 minutes. With Wilt being the most dominant force of his era, it lends to the theory that his wingspan was truly elite. Larry Bird cemented his legacy in the sport by leading the Boston Celtics to three championships in the 1980s. In 1999, when he won his first Defensive Player of the Year, he had an insane 3.9 blocks a game. Biyombo has been playing center for Charlotte over the course of the past 3 years, and at 69, is one of the smaller centers in the league, but the wingspan more than makes up for the height deficiency. Prior to Bird's second year, the Celtics acquired center Robert Parrish from the Golden State Warriors and drafted Kevin McHale. College basketball games are played with two 20 minute periods, while professional NBA basketball games consist of four quarters of 12 minutes each. [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. He is a 66 player, and he's held his own thanks to a 260 pound base and a 73 wingspan. So, you will have to allocate some of the points to these attributes. [30], With averages of 21.3 points, 10.4 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 1.7 steals per game for the season, he was selected to the All-Star Team and named Rookie of the Year. 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? Subscribe to Stathead Basketball: Get your first month FREEYour All-Access Ticket to the Basketball Reference Database. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. [120] He continued to serve as an advisor until July, 2022, when he "stepped back from maintaining an active role with the Indiana Pacers". Corner Specialist Three-point shots taken near the baseline off the dribble or a pass are given a percentage boost. It is that length that has sustained Brands career. [85], Bird has been described as one of the greatest basketball players and greatest shooters of all time. [11] Bird has said that being poor as a child still motivates him "to this day". Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. Site contains certain content that is owned A&E Television Networks, LLC. It was Larry Bird's height that made his basketball skills so remarkable. 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. Other vital statistics like weight or shoe size measurements have been sourced from newspapers, books, resumes or social media. 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. He made the All-Star team 12 times and was named the All-Star Game Most Valuable Player in 1982. 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. [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. If it goes, it goes.". Larry Bird was inducted to the Hall of Fame as a Player in 1998 (Full List) Although he announced his departure around that time, he reclaimed his post as team president in the summer of 2013. Bismack Biyombo was selected 7th overall in the 2011 NBA draft by the Charlotte Bobcats at the tender age of 18. This entry could be part of Ripleys Believe it or Not. Durant is one of the 6 members of the 50-40-90 club. Thus, you have to upgrade the Break Starter badge. West only stood 62 which would make his wingspan 9.5% greater than his height. Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? Davis stands 610, and, at the 2012 pre-draft combine, was measured to have a 75 wing span. These include Blinders and Deadeye. AboutPressCopyrightContact. 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. [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. Below is a guide to help you create the best Larry Bird build in NBA 2K22. Larry Bird weighed 220 lbs (99 kg) when playing. The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. Do you have a sports website? Maxiell shows how an undersized player can keep pace with taller guys when they possess elite wingspan. Bird was also a member of the gold medal-winning 1992 United States men's Olympic basketball team known as the "Dream Team". Larry Bird was such a player. [111] In 1997, Bird accepted the position of coach of the Indiana Pacers[112] and said he would be on the job for no more than three years. His Competitiveness Has Taken Its Toll. 2. [89] Bird won three NBA championships (in 1981, 1984, and 1986) with the Celtics[83] and won two NBA Finals MVP Awards. Along with Johnson, who also entered the NBA in 1979 with the Los Angeles Lakers, Bird was a key figure in revitalizing the league in the 1980s. [108], At the 2019 NBA Awards, Bird received the NBA Lifetime Achievement Award (shared with Magic Johnson). Doubleday, pp. Want updates on new Dimensions content? CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. Commissioner.com is a registered trademark of CBS Interactive Inc. site: media | arena: nba | pageType: stories | Charles Barkley has been quoted saying McHale was the best player he ever played against. Additionally, the three-time NBA All-Defensive Second Team selection stood out in that end of the court. Dwight Howard is one of the premiere big men of the modern area, but stands at only 610. 6 ft 9 in or 206 cm. 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. Those three players would form a legendary frontline, perhaps the greatest in NBA history. But there are other players that are taller that their listed height like Garnett, McGrady (who Toronto played at PF in his early years and once averaged nearly 2 blocks a game) and probably Dirk (as Cuban once claimed). 3. And TMac is easily 6'8 or 6'9. Larry Bird played the small forward and power forward positions at a height of 6'9" (2. . What that actual measurement was, we may never know. . Shooting badges will allow you to convert more field goal attempts from anywhere outside the key. 1. [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. If Bol had any type of offensive game to merit him more minutes, he would have set the blocks record so high that it would have never been touched. The season finished with a national championship game match-up of Indiana State against Michigan State and featured a highly anticipated match-up of Bird against Michigan State great Magic Johnson, thus beginning a career-long rivalry that the two shared for over a decade. 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. What Mourning lacked in height, he made up for with a massive 76 wingspan.