He is also the youngest player to reach 1,000 rebounds, and each benchmark from that point through to 9,000 rebounds. Do you have a blog? He was a raw athlete out of the Democratic Republic of Congo, having only picked up the sport at the age of 16. [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. 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. The two adopted a son and daughter, Conner and Mariah. [39] At the conclusion of the season, he earned his first All-Defensive Team selection. Your players skill breakdown should certainly focus primarily on shooting. A recent promotional poster out of New Orleans shows Davis with a 77 wingspan. Who was going to make the last shot? To round out the finishing, shooting, and playmaking categories, put some points on close shot, driving layup, driving dunk, and post hook. An option for your characters secondary skill is playmaking. [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. At the age of 19, Biyombo averaged 2.8 blocks per 36 minutes and showed some promise. 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. Thank you! This is another case of parents being relatively short to their son. Your submission has been received! Springs Valley in French Lick, Indiana, Draft: Javascript is required for the selection of a player. That's the greatest game I've ever played in or seen played." Positions: Small forward, power forwardYears Active: 19791992, Drawings include:Larry Bird standing, shooting, dribbling, NBA - National Basketball AssociationWikipedia - Basketball. Hit the button below and we'll send this post to your inbox! 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. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. Even when considering his height, the wingspan is still 12.1% larger than his body. That would have been a 17% increase on his height. They each had charisma, deft shooting touch, extraordinary passing skills, and team-oriented mindset that ignited their team and the crowd. Want updates on new Dimensions content? 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. An elite wingspan is considered as a measurement that is 6.5% greater than the players height. Following his retirement in 1992, Bird became a successful head coach and front-office executive with the Indiana Pacers. [62], Despite the intensity of their rivalry, Bird and Johnson became friends off the court. 30 on ESPN SportsCentury's Top 50 athletes of the 20th century, with only five other basketball players ranked higher. [6] He stepped down again in 2017, but stayed with the team in an advisory capacity. Everyone knows that Manute Bol was the tallest player in NBA history, but he also possessed the largest wingspan. 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" Maxiell shows how an undersized player can keep pace with taller guys when they possess elite wingspan. The 73 wing span is 11.5% greater than his height. 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. [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. [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. 9. [28] On November 14, 1979, Bird recorded his first career triple-double with 23 points, 19 rebounds and 10 assists in a 115111 win over the Detroit Pistons. 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. [69] Following Bird's departure, the Celtics promptly retired his jersey number 33. 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. When in his defensive stance, Price looks almost impossible to get around, and his long arms allow him to play off players while contesting every shot. There were also stories that he would walk up to opponents and tell them where he was going to attempt a game-winning shot. Larry Bird Net Worth His net worth has been growing significantly in 2021-2022. Kareem's father, Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor Sr., was fairly tall at 6'2". To advance the ball down the court, players must bounce the ball (dribble) or pass it to a teammate. A 6-foot-9 forward who could dribble, pass and shoot the way Bird could made him one of the greatest NBA players we've ever seen and will ever see. '"[107] When playing against Dennis Rodman, a player known for his defensive abilities, in the 1987 Eastern Conference Finals, Bird continually belittled Rodman's ability, at one point asking the opposing head coach to send in someone up to the task of guarding him. 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. When they reached the NBA Finals, the Celticshampered by devastating injurieslost to a dominant Lakers team that had won 65 games during the season. In his own right McHale was one of the leagues great. Note, this is done in an automated way, so we apologize for any errors, & please. All Rights Reserved. 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. Even though he was a superstar, he also had no problem doing the dirty work, like playing hard-nose defense and hustling for loose balls. The Hick from the French Lick has got yellow-toned tan skin. [9] He has four brothers and a sister. Larry Bird played the small forward and power forward positions at a height of 6'9" (2.06 m). As morbid as the subject is, Bird doesn't really duck away from it and what it means for him and his family. [39] In the Conference Finals, the Celtics faced the 76ers for the third consecutive year, losing in seven games. Along with Larry Bird, and Robert Parish, McHale formed the most dominant front line in NBA history. He stood 6 feet, 11.25 inches tall, with a wingspan of 7 inches, 5.25 inches, and possessed the Combine's longest hands at 10 inches. He is also the last player to win three straight MVP awards. During the early parts of his career, he even started at power forward for Boston. It seems like Leonard is only starting to scratch the surface of what he can do with such freaky physical attributes. Larry Bird- 6'9 John Stockton - 5 ft 10 Clyde Drexler- 6 ft 5 Chris Mullin- 6 ft 5 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. To help you operate in the lane, this guide discusses the most effective post moves in NBA 2K22. Standing 69, Prince has a 72 inch wingspan, which appears even greater due to his rail thin physique (some people claim his wingspan is closer to 76). Bird excelled in almost all facets of basketball. [101] In recognition of his defensive abilities, Bird was named to three All-Defensive Second Teams. [21][38], At the 1982 All-Star Game, Bird scored 19 points en route to winning the All-Star Game MVP Award. [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. 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. His extra length allows him to keep the ball away from incoming defenders, making for some spectacular finishes. [25], In his rookie season (19791980), Bird immediately transformed the Celtics into a title contender. [3], A versatile player at both forward positions, he could play both inside and outside, being one of the first players in the league to take advantage of the newly adopted three-point line. Scaled 2Ddrawings and 3Dmodels available for download. The smallest report records it at 78, while the largest account has it at 84 inches. Larry Bird weighed 220 lbs (99 kg) when playing. According to our Database, He has no children. [19][20] Indiana State lost the game 7564, with Bird scoring 19 points but making only 7 of 21 shots. 1. 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). 1 Answer. Redick is 6'4 tall and has a wingspan of 6'3. Player stats broken down into various categories; i.e. 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. Lastly, the wingspan can be reduced to around 83.0 inches. [86][87][88] He was selected to 12 NBA All-Star teams. 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. In eight games, Bird averaged 8.4 points. On August 18, 1992, Bird announced his retirement. 7. Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? Another badge you must target is Interceptor. Larry Bird was drafted by Boston Celtics, 1st round (6th pick, 6th overall), 1978 NBA Draft. What you want to prioritize are those that will help you make shots even if defenders are right by you. Kahit sa imports coming into the PBA, after the official measurement, they are suddenly 2 inches shorter, heee. [67] Wilkins remarked, "The basket was like a well. 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. w/ shoes Weight Wingspan Standing Reach. Chew on these numbers for a moment. I've got a theory that if you give 100 percent all of the time, somehow things will work out in the end. Bird's 198889 season ended after six games when he had bone spurs surgically removed from both of his heels. 3. On the offensive side of the ball, Rondo like to drive with a scooping layup. Here's what the science reveals. [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. Biyombo stands 68, but has a wingspan that stretches out to 76. 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. 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 legend was quite ahead of his time. 7mo ago. 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. 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. [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. 6 ft 9 in or 206 cm. Menu. Conversely, the height change will cause a negative impact on perimeter defense, lateral quickness, and steal. Larry Bird's wife, Dinah Mattingly, is his high school sweetheart who got engaged and married the former NBA legend in 1989. Bismack Biyombo was selected 7th overall in the 2011 NBA draft by the Charlotte Bobcats at the tender age of 18. home/away, monthly, etc More Larry Bird Basketball Reference pages. 5. Maxiell shows how an undersized player can keep pace with taller guys when they possess elite wingspan. The four-time NBA scoring champ is a player who uses his impressive wingspan to gain an advantage on the offensive side of the court. Prior to Bird's second year, the Celtics acquired center Robert Parrish from the Golden State Warriors and drafted Kevin McHale. What that actual measurement was, we may never know. Same with Amare who's listed at 6'10 but measured at 6'8 1/2. [96], Bird is also remembered as an excellent passer[100] and defender. Howard has used that wingspan to become an elite rebounder and shot blocker. 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. When he was on fire from the three-point line or mid-range, no one can stop him. Durant is what is referred to as a hop shooter, something rare for a player of his height. Many NBA bigs, including Larry Bird and Bill Walton, believe there's a negative relationship between height and longevity. But dont let Birds efficient scoring distract you from the fact that he was proficient in the other aspects of his game. [47], During the 1985 offseason, Bird injured his back shoveling crushed rock to create a driveway at his mother's house. [89] Bird won three NBA championships (in 1981, 1984, and 1986) with the Celtics[83] and won two NBA Finals MVP Awards. Honestly, all of them fit Bird so well. For the defense/rebounding badges, there will only be a limited number of options. Many people following the NBA would love to see Bird play in todays era of basketball. 1. [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. That season, the Celtics posted a 61-21 record and defeated the Houston Rockets to take the first NBA championship of Bird's career. Catch & Shoot The badge increases the shooting percentage of a player attempting a three-pointer immediately after receiving a pass. His most famous steal was in Game 5 of the 1987 Eastern Conference Finals. [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. Two-time Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame inductee: College Basketball Hall of Fame (class of 2006). Durant is a prime example that elite length, when combined with elite skills, make a truly special player. [45] The performance came just nine days after Kevin McHale set the previous Celtics record for points in a game with 56. As for the defense/rebounding class, set the interior defense, offensive rebound, and defensive rebound to around 10 points below the upper limit. [96] Bird was the first player in NBA history to shoot 50% or better on field goals, 40% on three-pointers, and 90% on free-throws in a single NBA season while achieving the league minimum for makes in each category. 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. 1956 Honestly, all of them fit Bird so well. Or write about sports? 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 will give your shooting attributes a bit of a boost. One report claims McHale could tie his shoes without having to bend over.