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. Bird's basketball prowess earned him an athletic scholarship to Indiana University, where he was to play for legendary coach Bob Knight. Kevin McHale has gone down as one of the 50 best NBA players of all time, and is probably the best example in NBA history of how length can be used to dominate on both ends of the court. Subscribed! Weight. 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. He complemented his all-around game with accurate outside shooting and unmatched bravado. Because that was usually how the Hall of Famer took over games. KG Living Legend Don Nelson Posts: 8383 His other playmaking strengths include quick and flashy passes. 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. [115] Bird then led the Pacers to consecutive Central Division titles in 1999 and 2000 and a berth in the 2000 NBA Finals. [67] Wilkins remarked, "The basket was like a well. Bird is one of the best shooters in the history of the sport. Ganyan naman talaga, you usually take off 1 1/2 to 2 inches off their published height - and you get their real height. [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. [75] It was the first time in the United States' Olympic history that the country sent NBA players to compete. [53] On March 10, 1986, Bird scored 50 points to go along with 11 rebounds and 5 assists in a 115116 loss to the Dallas Mavericks. 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. The reason for doing so is not just due to Bird being a proficient shooter and facilitator, but also because you will find out later that increasing the height will decrease these attributes. 30 on ESPN SportsCentury's list of 50 Greatest Athletes of the 20th century. After all, Bird dished out 6.3 assists per game for his entire career. The other shooting badges you should look to upgrade are Catch & Shoot, Corner Specialist, Difficult Shots, Fade Ace, Slippery Off-Ball, and Volume Shooter. Howard is also the only player in league history to have won Defensive Player of the Year in three consecutive years. [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. To put that into perspective that is only one inch shorter than Shaq's wingspan. [21] In the Conference Finals, Boston was eliminated by the Philadelphia 76ers. [114] Bird resigned his head coaching position shortly after the end of the 2000 season, following through on his initial promise to coach for only three years. News on all your favorite celebs, reality TV, and movies. He is the only person in NBA history to be named Rookie of the Year, Most Valuable Player, Finals MVP, All-Star MVP, Coach of the Year, and Executive of the Year.[1]. 4. [120] He continued to serve as an advisor until July, 2022, when he "stepped back from maintaining an active role with the Indiana Pacers". [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. Larry Bird was 6'9" no wingspan numbers but he had average looking arms. Larry Bird. Nicknamed The Claw, Leonard possess a hand spread that measures 11.25 inches, which is bigger than Wilt, Shaq or Bill Russell. 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. With Wilt being the most dominant force of his era, it lends to the theory that his wingspan was truly elite. Dwight Howard is one of the premiere big men of the modern area, but stands at only 610. Post Spin Technician Attempting to perform post spins or drives result in more effective moves, and lessens the chances of getting stripped by opponents. Remembering Just Fontaine and His World Cup Record, Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads, Name: Larry Bird, Birth Year: 1956, Birth date: December 7, 1956, Birth State: Indiana, Birth City: West Baden Springs, Birth Country: United States. So, when selecting a physical profile for your player, I suggest choosing the combination of strength and agility. [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. Larry Bird Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft Status and more | Basketball-Reference.com Larry Bird Larry Joe Bird (Larry Legend, The Hick from French Lick, Kodak, The Great White Hope) Position: Small Forward and Power Forward Shoots: Right 6-9 , 220lb (206cm, 99kg) More bio, uniform, draft, salary info Hall of Fame 12x All Star w/out shoes Ht. That length has made him one of the best point guard defenders. He was a great post scorer and could dominate the paint like a big man. 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. [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. [116], In 2003, Bird was hired as the Pacers' president of basketball operations. [4] After retiring as a player, Bird served as head coach of the Indiana Pacers from 1997 to 2000. The legend was quite ahead of his time. When they reached the NBA Finals, the Celticshampered by devastating injurieslost to a dominant Lakers team that had won 65 games during the season. To be part of this group, a player must record at least 50% field goal percentage, 40% three-point field goal percentage, and 90% free throw percentage throughout a season. Note, this is done in an automated way, so we apologize for any errors, & please. By going for a shooting plus defense/rebounding build, you will have a two-way player at your disposal. For the defense/rebounding badges, there will only be a limited number of options. [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. 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. All Rights Reserved. Because of this, you can just focus on what Bird was exceptionally good at. Your players skill breakdown should certainly focus primarily on shooting. Shooting badges will allow you to convert more field goal attempts from anywhere outside the key. Deadeye Jump shots attempted with a defender closing out in front of the player will suffer a lower penalty. Jason Maxiell was drafted by the Detroit Pistons in the 1st round of the 2005 draft. 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. Takeover The game will provide you with three takeover options. Heights are barefeet estimates, derived from quotations, official websites, agency resumes, in person encounters with actors at conventions and pictures/films. Here's what the science reveals. [21] Boston advanced through the playoffs to earn a rematch with the Lakers, this time losing in six games. Two-time Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame inductee: College Basketball Hall of Fame (class of 2006). After protracted negotiations, Bird inked a five-year, $3.25 million contract with the team on June 8, making him the highest-paid rookie in sports history. In 1999, he was listed at No. 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. 2022 Dimensions.com |All rights reserved. 4:15 pm ET. The smallest report records it at 78, while the largest account has it at 84 inches. That would have been a 17% increase on his height. Mourning was blessed with God given length, but it was his heart and passion for the game that ultimately made him one of the best that ever stepped on an NBA court. All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. 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. Nonetheless, during the final years of his career, Bird maintained his status as one of the premier players in the game. (Larry Legend, The Hick from French Lick, Kodak, The Great White Hope), Position: Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed on this website are those of the authors and do not state or reflect the views of PEx Online Community Corp. i remember when duncan and kg had an altercation, tim was looking up at KG. Unique lists featuring pop culture, entertainment and crazy facts. Those three players would form a legendary frontline, perhaps the greatest in NBA history. Post Playmaker When the player passes out of the post or coming off an offensive board, the recipient receives a shot boost. Larry Bird is a charming man with brown eyes and dark brown hair. Larry Bird was such a player. Player stats broken down into various categories; i.e. [69] Following Bird's departure, the Celtics promptly retired his jersey number 33. With his freakish physical attributes, the future seems in very good, and large, hands. [22] He graduated in 1979 with a Bachelor of Science degree in physical education. 1956 [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. With at least 10 potential upgrade points, you will have several options for playmaking badges. D raft E xpress. Do you have a sports website? When Durant drives the lane, his length allows him to finish with greater success, and have less shots contested. What we do know is Chamberlain stood about 71, while his wingspan is up for debate. Taller individuals have more growth hormone, which accumulates more damage and dysfunction at a faster pace, and tend to have shorter life expectancies due to rapid aging. Their rivalry continued on in the revived CelticsLakers Rivalry in the NBA. And TMac is easily 6'8 or 6'9. 2004-2023 CBS Interactive. Additionally, the three-time NBA All-Defensive Second Team selection stood out in that end of the court. [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. The two adopted a son and daughter, Conner and Mariah. . Bismack Biyombo was selected 7th overall in the 2011 NBA draft by the Charlotte Bobcats at the tender age of 18. College basketball games are played with two 20 minute periods, while professional NBA basketball games consist of four quarters of 12 minutes each. 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. When they mention length, they are not talking about a players height, but more so his wingspan. [43] Boston came back to win the game, eventually winning the series in seven. [93][94][95] In October 2021, as part of the NBA's 75th Anniversary, Bird was honored as one of the 75 greatest players of all time, by being named to the NBA's 75th Anniversary All-Time Team. He also had a career high of 60 points against the Atlanta Hawks on March 12, 1985. For that, we have developed the best Magic Johnson build in NBA 2K22. 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 next year he attended the smaller Indiana State University, ultimately playing three years for the Sycamores. For these reasons, the other badges you should consider upgrading are Bullet Passer, Post Playmaker, and Special Delivery. [80][81] He was inducted into the Hall of Fame again in 2010, as a member of the "Dream Team". Because Bird was wily in creating space for himself off the dribble, the Shot Creator takeover also sounds like a good option. As for the defense/rebounding class, set the interior defense, offensive rebound, and defensive rebound to around 10 points below the upper limit. [36] Boston fell behind 31 to start the series but won the next three games to advance to the Finals against the Houston Rockets,[37] winning in six games and earning Bird his first championship. Blinders Jump shots attempted with an opponent closing out in the players peripheral vision will not be penalized that much. [7], Bird was born in West Baden Springs, Indiana, to Georgia (ne Kerns) and Claude Joseph "Joe" Bird, a veteran of the Korean War. Johnson appeared at Bird's retirement ceremony on February 4, 1993, and emotionally described Bird as a "friend forever".[63]. Along with Larry Bird, and Robert Parish, McHale formed the most dominant front line in NBA history. A confirmation email has been sent. Your submission has been received! LAST ATTENDED. Rebound Chaser Raises the players ability to track down rebounds from farther distances than normal. 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. Or write about sports? Bird was also a member of the gold medal-winning 1992 United States men's Olympic basketball team known as the "Dream Team". Larry Joe Bird (born December 7, 1956) is an American former professional basketball player, coach, and executive in the National Basketball Association (NBA). His time leading the Boston Celtics was one of the most spectacular stretches of basketball you could imagine. 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. 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 Kawhi Leonard took home the NBA playoff MVP, he became the second youngest player to do so, as only Magic Johnson (who did it twice before the age of 23) did it younger. [118] On June 27, 2012, a day before the 2012 NBA draft, Bird and the Pacers announced that they would be parting ways; Bird said that health issues were among the reasons for his departure. 3940. Volume Shooter Gives an additional boost to shot attributes to every subsequent shot attempted after the player has already taken a handful of shots. His most famous steal was in Game 5 of the 1987 Eastern Conference Finals. That is an 11% increase on his height. Between them, Bird and Johnson captured eight NBA championships during the 1980s, with Magic getting five and Bird three. Someone like Boozer who's measured as 6'7 3/4 isn't any shorter than other players listed at 6'9 too. 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. [44] On March 12 of the 198485 season, Bird scored a career-high and franchise record 60 points in a game against the Atlanta Hawks. [19][20] Indiana State lost the game 7564, with Bird scoring 19 points but making only 7 of 21 shots. Nicknamed "Larry Legend" or "The Hick from French Lick," Bird played the small forward and power forward positions. Rondo also poses very large hands at 9.5 inches long, and 10 inches wide. [108], At the 2019 NBA Awards, Bird received the NBA Lifetime Achievement Award (shared with Magic Johnson). [113] Despite having no previous coaching experience, Bird led the Pacers to a 5824 recordthe franchise's best as an NBA team at the timein the 199798 season,[114] and pushed the Chicago Bulls to seven games in the Eastern Conference Finals. Something went wrong while submitting the form. Below is a guide to help you create the best Larry Bird build in NBA 2K22. Signing with the Celtics for a then-record $650,000 a year, Bird justified his salary right out of the gate, averaging 21.3 points per game and claiming Rookie of the Year honors for the 1979-80 NBA season. 2. LIVE. Johnson and the Spartans triumphed, but Larry Bird left Indiana State that year with the USBWA College Player of the Year Award, the Naismith Award and the Wooden Award. ", -Magic Johnson, as quoted at Bird's retirement party. Scottie Pippen is one of the most versatile players in NBA history. [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. The team improved its win total by 32 games from the year before he was drafted and finished first in the Eastern Conference. [86], Bird was widely considered one of Red Auerbach's favorite players. [23], Bird was selected by the Boston Celtics with the sixth overall pick in the 1978 NBA draft. You will often hear basketball pundits state that a player has great length. At 68, Brand is undersized as an NBA power forward, but has made up for it with a giant wingspan that measures 75. [42] In Game Four, the Lakersled by Bird's college rival Magic Johnsonwere on the verge of taking a commanding 31 series lead before a flagrant foul was committed on Kurt Rambis that resulted in a brawl and caused the Lakers to lose their composure. Larry Bird cemented his legacy in the sport by leading the Boston Celtics to three championships in the 1980s. [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. On the offensive side of the ball, Rondo like to drive with a scooping layup. He led the league in rebounds twice and during the 2000s he averaged 10.2 rebounds a game. Dirk can't be 6'10. Fade Ace This provides a shot boost to post fadeaways. [101] In recognition of his defensive abilities, Bird was named to three All-Defensive Second Teams. So much so, that Charles Barkley even admitted that he wasn't 6'6, but . There is no denying the greatness of Wilt Chamberlain and a superior length was a major reason he was unstoppable. I've got a theory that if you give 100 percent all of the time, somehow things will work out in the end. After leading the Pacers to the NBA Finals in 2000, he stepped down as head coach. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. One such case is the legendary Jerry West. This entry could be part of Ripleys Believe it or Not. What is not a stretch is that Davis is a premiere athlete, with an incredible wingspan. Both Dinah and Larry studied at Indiana State University. w/ shoes Weight Wingspan Standing Reach. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. 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). [25], In his rookie season (19791980), Bird immediately transformed the Celtics into a title contender. Clutch Shooter Shot attempts made during the final moments of the fourth quarter or overtime receive a large boost. Growing up in French Lick, Indiana, he was a local basketball star. 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. In his own right McHale was one of the leagues great. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Take for instance Yao Ming, who stood an impressive 76, but his wingspan was actually smaller than his height at 75 inches. When you factor in the rest of his all around game, it is no surprise he is one of the NBAs 50 greatest players. [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. Data Provided By When Jordan played it was an open secret that players lied about their heights. During the 1980s, either Boston or Los Angeles appeared in every NBA Finals. Conversely, the height change will cause a negative impact on perimeter defense, lateral quickness, and steal. Bol is 15th all time in blocked shots with 2,086, but he did that in only 11,698 minutes. [119] Bird returned to the Pacers as president of basketball operations in 2013. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. Site contains certain content that is owned A&E Television Networks, LLC.