The average NBA player will have a wingspan 4 inches greater than his height. During the 1980s, either Boston or Los Angeles appeared in every NBA Finals. Wilt Chamberlain is part of many extraordinary tales and finding accurate data on the legendary big man is no small feat. Bird has appeared in three movies, each time playing himself: Bird's likeness has appeared in several video games. 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". 1. Other vital statistics like weight or shoe size measurements have been sourced from newspapers, books, resumes or social media. A 6-foot 9-inch (2.06-metre) forward, he was known for his unflappable confidence and clutch shooting ability, which together created an intimidating presence on the court. When adjusting your players height, you can just copy Birds real height. This will allow your player to move faster when there are rebound opportunities. Larry Joe Bird (born December 7, 1956) is an American former professional basketball player, coach, and executive in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Larry Bird was drafted by Boston Celtics, 1st round (6th pick, 6th overall), 1978 NBA Draft. 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. [61] The historical rift between the teams, which faced each other several times in championship series of the 1960s, fueled fan interest in the rivalry. According to our Database, He has no children. He finished his career with sterling averages of 24.6 points and 10 rebounds per game. Larry Bird and Magic Johnson are known to be "one of the greatest rivalries in sports. Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Friday, March 3, 6:45PM. Bird attended Springs Valley High School in French Lick and was a key component of the school's basketball team, becoming its all-time leading scorer by the time he graduated in 1974. The following top 15 will look at the most impressive wingspans in NBA history. Same with Amare who's listed at 6'10 but measured at 6'8 1/2. [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. After retiring as a player in 1992, he was appointed as the coach for the team the Boston Celtics. He says they build their hearts up so much that when they retire, the hearts just sit there. Subscribe to Stathead Basketball: Get your first month FREEYour All-Access Ticket to the Basketball Reference Database. 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. From Jackie MacMullan of ESPN the Magazine: Bird, who has an enlarged heart, was diagnosed in 1995 with atrial fibrillation, an abnormal heartbeat resulting from electrical signals being generated chaotically throughout the heart's upper chambers. Anonymous. [133], Bird married Dinah Mattingly in 1989. He was a raw athlete out of the Democratic Republic of Congo, having only picked up the sport at the age of 16. THIS VIDEO GIVES A STEP BY STEP BLUEPRINT ON HOW TO CREA. 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. He chose to return to Indiana State for one more year and led the Sycamores to the NCAA championship game against the Michigan State Spartans, a team led by another future NBA superstar, Ervin .css-47aoac{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-thickness:0.0625rem;text-decoration-color:inherit;text-underline-offset:0.25rem;color:#A00000;-webkit-transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;}.css-47aoac:hover{color:#595959;text-decoration-color:border-link-body-hover;}"Magic" Johnson. Kareem's father, Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor Sr., was fairly tall at 6'2". NBA 2K23 Larry Bird Packs Card Challenge - vhpg.com [82] In 1999, Bird ranked No. Larry Bird Vertical Jump - Height, Number, Stats and Championship Rings Celebrity Fan Photos and Agency Pictures of stars are to their respective owners. Larry Bird starred at Indiana State University before joining the NBA's Boston Celtics in 1979. Unfortunately he's had a difficult time keeping pace with the speed of the NBA, and his limited offensive game has come to light. Larry Bird played the small forward and power forward positions at a height of 6'9" (2.06 m). All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. A 1980s Converse commercial for its "Weapon" line of basketball shoes (endorsed by both Bird and Johnson) reflected the perceived dichotomy between the two players. [102] Bird's humble roots were the source of his most frequently used moniker, "The Hick from French Lick". To put that into perspective that is only one inch shorter than Shaq's wingspan. Bullet Passer Increases the velocity of passes and speeds up how quickly the player gets the ball out of their hands. [67] Wilkins remarked, "The basket was like a well. [62], Despite the intensity of their rivalry, Bird and Johnson became friends off the court. Also, make sure to equip the Clutch Shooter badge. [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. Honestly, all of them fit Bird so well. he's at least 2 inches taller than duncan. 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. When they reached the NBA Finals, the Celticshampered by devastating injurieslost to a dominant Lakers team that had won 65 games during the season. [10], He was raised in nearby French Lick, where his mother worked two jobs to support Larry and his five siblings. Even after his retirement as a professional basketball player, Larry Birds name still comes up in the NBA because of his coaching skills and the executive role he holds in the NBA. Because of this, you can just focus on what Bird was exceptionally good at. Former NBA coach Hubie Brown had this to say about McHale: "He was totally unstoppable because of his quickness, diversification of moves and the long arms that gave him an angle to release the ball over a taller man or more explosive jumper." You will often hear basketball pundits state that a player has great length. [22] He graduated in 1979 with a Bachelor of Science degree in physical education. At the very least, he's as tall as players listed at 6'9. 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. Nicknamed The Claw, Leonard possess a hand spread that measures 11.25 inches, which is bigger than Wilt, Shaq or Bill Russell. 5. Scaled 2Ddrawings and 3Dmodels available for download. Larry Bird was such a player. The Boston Celtics won the NBA Championship thrice under his work, making Bird the NBA Most Valuable Player three times. 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. That athleticism when combined with his physical attributes is going to reign terror over this league for many years, and it is going to be an utter joy to watch. Here's what the science reveals. At 68, Brand is undersized as an NBA power forward, but has made up for it with a giant wingspan that measures 75. Unique lists featuring pop culture, entertainment and crazy facts. He's closer to 7'1 I think. On August 18, 1992, Bird announced his retirement. 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. Nicknamed "the Hick from French Lick" and "Larry Legend", Bird is widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all time. You said there will be another Larry Bird. [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. [96], Bird is also remembered as an excellent passer[100] and defender. He is also the youngest player to reach 1,000 rebounds, and each benchmark from that point through to 9,000 rebounds. His shotblocking prowess is also noted as he has led the league twice in this category, and has a career average of 2.2 blocks. This is a player who has shot 50% from the field, 40% from 3 point land, and 90% from the line. When they mention length, they are not talking about a players height, but more so his wingspan. Johnson appeared at Bird's retirement ceremony on February 4, 1993, and emotionally described Bird as a "friend forever".[63]. To help you with the boards, you can upgrade the Rebound Chaser badge. Blinders Jump shots attempted with an opponent closing out in the players peripheral vision will not be penalized that much. 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. Two-time Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame inductee: College Basketball Hall of Fame (class of 2006). 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. 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. Wade is measure at 6 ft 3 3/4 Barefeet and he is also the same height as Kobe Bryant. 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. The hop shooting style allows him to get his shot off very quickly, and what makes Durant special is his point of release. The Celtics and Lakers dominated, with one team or the other, or both, appearing in every NBA championship throughout the decade. 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. There were also stories that he would walk up to opponents and tell them where he was going to attempt a game-winning shot. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. Highly recruited, he initially signed to play college basketball for coach Bob Knight of the Indiana Hoosiers, but Bird dropped out after one month and returned to French Lick to attend a local community college. [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. But, as one journalist would say, They looked different, perhaps, but take a chainsaw to their souls and they were fraternal, if not identical, friends.[72] Watching Bird play was like watching Magic play, as they both shared this talent that the league had never seen before. [8], The game achieved the highest-ever television rating for a college basketball game, in large part because of the matchup between Bird and Spartans' point guard Earvin "Magic" Johnson,[11] a rivalry that lasted throughout their professional careers. [11] Bird has said that being poor as a child still motivates him "to this day". 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. [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. 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. [83] While he was relatively slow, Bird displayed a knack for anticipating the moves of his opponent, making him a strong team defender. 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. home/away, monthly, etc More Larry Bird Basketball Reference pages. Bird also led the Celtics in rebounding, with an average of 10.4 per game, as well as in steals and minutes played. That is 8.5% greater than his height. Because Bird was wily in creating space for himself off the dribble, the Shot Creator takeover also sounds like a good option. There is no denying the greatness of Wilt Chamberlain and a superior length was a major reason he was unstoppable. Of course, there are some who prefer using a player based on his archrival, Magic Johnson. Post Playmaker When the player passes out of the post or coming off an offensive board, the recipient receives a shot boost. To advance the ball down the court, players must bounce the ball (dribble) or pass it to a teammate. Additionally, the three-time NBA All-Defensive Second Team selection stood out in that end of the court. Thats both confident and cold-blooded. [101] In recognition of his defensive abilities, Bird was named to three All-Defensive Second Teams. Another badge you must target is Interceptor. 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. [12] Georgia and Joe divorced when Larry was in high school, and Joe died by suicide about a year later. I couldn't miss. [80][81] He was inducted into the Hall of Fame again in 2010, as a member of the "Dream Team". With at least 10 potential upgrade points, you will have several options for playmaking badges. Dinah Mattingly (1989-Present) - Larry Bird married his second wife Dinah Mattingly in 1989. I know there are a few of us who live a long time, but most of us big guys don't seem to last too long. [76] The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame called the team "the greatest collection of basketball talent on the planet". News on all your favorite celebs, reality TV, and movies. Bird has been married to Dinah Mattingly since 1989. Sign in or Register to join the conversations! Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. Interceptor This significantly increases the frequency of successfully tipped or stolen passes. [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. What he showed us is that truly elite stats can be produced by some with almost no talent, but insanely freaky physical attributes. By visiting Celeb Heights you agree to its. In Game 7 of the 1988 Eastern Conference semifinals against the Atlanta Hawks, Bird shot 9 of 10 from the floor in the fourth quarter, scoring 20 points in that quarter and lifting the Celtics to a series-clinching victory over Atlanta. [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. 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. us, College: [117] After the 20112012 NBA season, Bird was named NBA Executive of the Year, becoming the only man in NBA history to win the NBA MVP, Coach of the Year and Executive of the Year. What is so impressive is that he has maintained those percentages despite the heavy volume of shots he takes. His effort helped to overcome a 47-point performance by Atlanta's Dominique Wilkins. [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. He was also quite adept at looking for the open man from the post. 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. Even when considering his height, the wingspan is still 12.1% larger than his body. [8][14], Bird's youngest brother, Eddie Bird, also played basketball at Indiana State University. [9] He has four brothers and a sister. I'm not lying awake at night thinking about it. 4. 3940. I've not seen that much of Chrichton reallycompared to seeing Bird, who can look taller than his listing at times. 7. [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. Scottie Pippen stood 68 inches, but had a wingspan of 73, which is modest in comparison to some of the other players on this list, but Pippen used that length to its full extent. [64][65][66] Bird finished with 34 points. 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. Because that was usually how the Hall of Famer took over games. 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. Nicknamed " the Hick from French Lick " and " Larry Legend ", Bird is widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all time. .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. These heights are still well below the NBA average and well below Kareem's height of 7'2". The reality is that Pippen did a lot of things that made Jordan a better player. He was a great scorer, rebounder, passer, and defender. You can use it on Post Spin Technician to allow your player to be more effective inside the paint. [39] At the conclusion of the season, he earned his first All-Defensive Team selection. He mentioned in his own book about his height, saying, Photo ImageCollect.com / Mike Springer-PHOTOlink.net. The 19871988 season was the highest-scoring season of Bird's career. Bird was rated the greatest NBA small forward of all time by Fox Sports in 2016. 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. The dramatic play saved the series for the Celtics. Brand was the #1 overall pick in 1999 out of Duke. [6] He stepped down again in 2017, but stayed with the team in an advisory capacity. [21] In the Conference Finals, Boston was eliminated by the Philadelphia 76ers. Bird is universally regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all time. There are a couple of pictures showing Wilt out stretched, and he certainly looks to possess a wing span in the range of 80. [110], The Celtics employed Bird as a special assistant in the team's front office from 1992 until 1997. Nonetheless, during the final years of his career, Bird maintained his status as one of the premier players in the game. In 1997 Bird accepted the head coach position with the Indiana Pacers, a move that returned him to his home state. 100 kg or 220.5 lbs. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. Everything About Larry Bird's Wife, Dinah Mattingly! - Players Bio [70], In the summer of 1992, Bird joined Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, and other NBA stars to play for the United States men's national basketball team in that year's Olympics in Barcelona, Spain. [5] He was named NBA Executive of the Year for the 2012 season. NBA 2K users have loved playing as Larry Legend not just because of his ability to score from anywhere on the court, but also because of his versatile game. [21][38], At the 1982 All-Star Game, Bird scored 19 points en route to winning the All-Star Game MVP Award. Last edited on 28 February 2023, at 21:21, retired by Springs Valley High Blackhawks, 1992 United States men's Olympic basketball team, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, United States men's national basketball team, List of career achievements by Larry Bird, List of National Basketball Association career assists leaders, List of National Basketball Association career playoff assists leaders, List of National Basketball Association career playoff free throw scoring leaders, List of National Basketball Association career playoff rebounding leaders, List of National Basketball Association career playoff scoring leaders, List of National Basketball Association career playoff steals leaders, List of National Basketball Association career playoff turnovers leaders, List of National Basketball Association career scoring leaders, List of National Basketball Association career steals leaders, List of National Basketball Association career turnovers leaders, List of National Basketball Association players with most points in a game, List of National Basketball Association players with most steals in a game, List of National Basketball Association annual minutes leaders, List of NBA players who have spent their entire career with one franchise, List of NCAA Division I men's basketball career scoring leaders, List of NCAA Division I men's basketball players with 2000 points and 1000 rebounds, "Big Threes Beyond the Boston Celtics & Miami Heat: 50 Best Trios in NBA History", Fox Sports: Top 10 small forwards in NBA history, "Larry Bird resigns as Indiana Pacers president for second time", Larry Bird: Hall of Fame Basketball Superstar, "EDDIE BIRD HAS A TOUGH ACT TO FOLLOW AT INDIANA STATE", "Boston's Larry Bird, in what may be his finest season, gets Red Auerbach's voteover Bill Russellas the best ever", "Throwback Thursday: Celtics Draft Larry Bird Sixth Overall", "The story of how rookie phenom Larry Bird led the NBA's greatest turnaround season", "Larry Bird's baseball career: A lofty .500 batting average", "Houston Rockets at Boston Celtics Box Score, October 12, 1979", "Detroit Pistons at Boston Celtics Box Score, November 14, 1979", "Indiana Pacers at Boston Celtics Box Score, November 23, 1979", "5 best players in Boston Celtics history", "NBA expert panel: Warriors not the greatest of all time, or even No.
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