| In a storybook career that began in the small Indiana town of West Baden, where he led Springs Valley High School to the state sectional championship, and concluded with his number 33 jersey being retired by the Boston Celtics, Larry Bird enjoyed a legendary 13-year professional career with the Celtics. In 1979, when Bird joined the Celtics, he launched an era both in Boston and throughout the NBA that may never again be duplicated. At a time when the league and the Celtics needed a boost, Bird and fellow rookie sensation Earvin "Magic" Johnson provided the spark. By the time Bird retired in 1992, he held or shared 27 Celtics' records and had brought three more NBA championship banners to Boston in 1981, 1984 and 1986. On two other occasions (1985 and 1987), the Celtics reached the NBA Finals.
A 12-time NBA All-Star and MVP of the 1982 All-Star Game, Bird was selected as the sixth overall pick in the 1978 draft. Following the draft, Bird returned to the college ranks for his senior season and completed a memorable career at Indiana State. Bird, who won the Sporting News, Naismith and Wooden awards as national college Player of the Year in 1979, led ISU to an 81-13 three-year record, including a 33-1 mark in 1979, the year Bird's Indiana State team lost to Johnson's Michigan State squad in the national championship game. Bird holds 30 ISU records, including most points (2,850), steals (240) and rebounds (1,247). He scored in double figures in 93 of 94 games, tallied 40 or more points 15 times and recorded six triple doubles.
Prior to Bird's arrival in Boston in 1979, the Celtics had failed to make the playoffs for two straight seasons. His first season, Bird was named NBA Rookie of the Year and the Celtics advanced to the conference finals, the start of 13 straight postseason appearances. In Bird's 13 seasons, Boston won 10 Atlantic Division titles, had six 60-plus-win seasons and toppled the 50-win mark 12 times. |
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