Bird, Larry

Bird, Larry (Joe)

(born Dec. 7, 1956, West Baden, Ind., U.S.) U.S. basketball player. Bird spent most of his collegiate career at Indiana State University, before being drafted by the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Playing forward and standing 6 ft 9 in. (2.06 m) tall, he was a great shooter and ball handler and one of the most formidable playmakers in the game. He helped lead Boston to NBA championships in 1981, 1984, and 1986 and was named the NBA's most valuable player for three consecutive years (1984–86). He retired in 1992 and was head coach of the Indiana Pacers for the 1997–98 season.

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Bird, Larry (Joe) (1956–  ) basketball player; born in French Lick, Ind. A college player of the year at Indiana State University (1979), he joined the Boston Celtics in 1979 and was a perennial All-NBA (National Basketball Association) first team selection at forward. He led the Celtics to three NBA championships (1981, 1984, 1986), and three times was named the league Most Valuable Player (1984–86). After playing on the 1992 Olympics "dream team," he retired from professional basketball due to recurrent back problems.