Larry Bledsoe, the schools basketball coach, remarked how he was extremely pleased to get a player of Birds caliber, according to the Mitchell Tribune. He's an impressive figure with incredible rivalries, but there are still tons of things that younger NBA fans should know about Larry Legend. He just hammered him for being lackadaisical off of the screen and made him leave the open gym session. 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) . Bird once again led the team in points (21.2 ppg), rebounds (10.9 rpg), steals (161), and minutes (3,239). We present them here for purely educational purposes. 13, but spent most of the season outside of the AP poll. Nicknamed "The Hick from French Lick" and "Larry Legend", Bird is widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all time.He was inducted in the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1998.. Birth Country: United States. Under the leadership of Hodges, Bird and Co. went undefeated during the 1978-79 season and advanced to face Magic and his Spartans. He was a 12-time All-Star, a two-time NBA Finals MVP and a nine-time member of the All-NBA First Team. Larry Bird Stats and news - NBA stats and news on Boston Celtics Forward Larry Bird. Nearly 30 years ago, then-college basketball star Jamal Mashburn saw Larry Bird in a hotel prior to a week of scrimmages between The Dream Team and some of the country's top college players. Larry Bird was such a player. Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. He was out to embarrass him from the beginning buzzer to the end buzzer of every meeting. Larry Bird was born on 7 December 1956, making him 64 years old as of today, 2 August 2021. Along with Magic, Bird was revitalizing the NBA, helping the league live up to its new slogan, NBA Action: Its FAN-tastic. After only two seasons, fans, coaches and players knew exactly what Bird was all about: big numbers and clutch performances. The Whole Bird thing reminds me of that old country song"I overlooked and orchid while searching for a rose"! "He's 6-9, was the nation's second leading scorer and that's not all," wrote The Evening Sun's Bill Tanton. In 1987-88, Bird was the first Celtic ever to record a 40-20 game, with a 42-point, 20-rebound effort against Indiana. Navigation Toggle NBA. Andy Wittry has written for Stadium, SI.com, Sporting News, the Indianapolis Star, Louisville Courier-Journal and Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. Join us for a March Madness Webinar on Tuesday, March 7 at 8pm ET. ---------------------------------------------------- Martin Fennelly Former Sports columnist. If Larry Bird hasnt transferred from IU because of whatever propelled him from Bloomington the school being too big, homesickness, his courseload, Jim Wismans wardrobe, whatever he potentially provides IU an insurance policy to Mays crippling arm injury in 1975, leading to another Final Four berth if not another title; another headliner to IUs best team ever in 1976; enough singular talent to avoid a post-championship drop-off and Bob Knights worst season at IU in 1977; and, likely, turns IU into another national title favorite in 1978. It began as gentle ribbing, poking fun at Birds propensity to spend a majority of his free time getting ice and massages in the ISU training room. Thanks Lincoln- nice post and pretty much confirms what my book about Knight, and how he thought Benson could "do no wrong" while at Indiana. He was unflappable and virtually unstoppable. 1 in the country, and they are one win from the title. He won the Rookie of the Year award, 3 MVP awards, 2 Finals MVP awards and 3 NBA championships. That came in spite of Bird playing with a fracture in his left thumb in the Final Four after getting hurt against Arkansas. By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. 18 Alabama and No. He initially enrolled at Indiana University in 1974 but dropped out before the season began. His last-second heroics, ranging from seemingly impossible reverse layups to miraculous 35-foot bombs over multiple defenders, never ceased to amaze those who followed his career. Once every generation or so, a player comes along who can truly be called a superstar. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. On May 12, 1997, Bird was named head coach of the Indiana Pacers. We talked Hoosiers with our buddy at Hoopla. Year Event GP MIN PTS FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3PT% FTM FTA FT% TRB AST STL BLK TOV PF Place; 1992: Olympic Games . Larry Bird's accomplishments and stats make him one of the greatest pure shooters of all time. Bird nearly doubled the Sycamores' win total year-over-year from 13 to 25 after sitting out just one year in 1975-76, rather than two, after IU signed papers for Bird's release. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. Loved to watch him play. I ran across this short narrative while reading Bobby Knight's book- "Knight-My Story", and thought it might be interesting to share to the board. He was brilliant against the Razorbacks with a a 31-point, 10-rebound game in the regional finals. OT: Larry Bird College Statistics. Cathie. He averaged 24.3 points, 10.0 rebounds and 6.3 assists in 897 regular-season games. It is amazing how extreme insecurity can drive a person. Larry Bird stats. Stephen Curry has racked up 29,674 minutes and has played in 864 . Larry Bird was a standout in Boston and one of the NBAs most iconic players ever. "He's a great passer and an excellent rebounder. Bird did a fine job in his three seasons on the bench. the official stats partner of the NBA, NHL and MLB. Larry Bird ranks as one of the all-time top players of the NBA. So it is a moot point. May 12, 1997: Hired as Head Coach by the Indiana Pacers. And then there is a lesser known Bird, the college baseball . Odds & lines subject to change. IU went 21-8 that season, finishing second in the Big Ten. For reference, the 2019 national championship game drew a 22 percent share. By that time Birds scoring average had reached the mid-20s, and he was averaging upwards of seven assists. Bird had a double-double in all five NCAA tournament games he played in that year. Larry used BB to escape from his family problems! Bird found the transition to college life difficult. He was named NBA Head Coach of the Year in 1998. The Celtics beat the Houston Rockets in '81 with Maxwell and Larry Bird leading the way and defeated the Los Angeles Lakers in 1984 when Maxwell confidently told his teammates "to get on my back, boys" in the decisive . In one of the only noteworthy gaffes of his career, Bird missed a routine layup in overtime that would have tied Game 4 of a playoff series with Cleveland that spring. College Basketball Scores. Finally, Bird enrolled at Indiana State, which had posted 12-14 records in each of the two previous years and where the pressure was not quite the same as at Indiana a perennial Big Ten power and national title contender. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. He was seemingly able to get almost any shot he wanted whether it was 30 seconds after the tip or with as much time left on the clock . Bird averaged 21.3 points, 10.4 assists, and 4.5 steals in 82 games during his rookie season in 1979-80. Even though he had never coached a game in his life, the Pacers had no qualms about turning over the reins to Bird. The story behind the 1978 NBA draft, often known as the Larry Bird draft, is one of the most important in league history. Editors note: This is part of a series of stories revisiting the biggest what-ifs in IU history. Having collected 7,217 defensive boards and 1,757 on the offensive end of the court, Bird has accounted for 8,974 total boards in his career. The Hick from French Lick. Years later Bird admitted.."if i had it to do all over again, I'd have gone back to Bloomington, after he had gone home". College at Indiana State. Larry used BB to escape from his family problems! In 1977-78 the Celtics had compiled a 32-50 record, their worst since 1949-50. AZ, CO, CT, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, (select parishes), MD, MI, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OR, PA, TN, VA, WV, WY, CA-ONT only.Eligibility restrictions apply. "'You appear to be enjoying this,' one reporter commented. Then he left the local junior college, Northwood Institute. Extremely high basketball IQ, pure heart and hustle. This blog is forever grateful for the meme template that sweet, sweet banner gave us. The Hoosiers were still very good, winning national titles in 1976 and 1981, and maybe Bird gives the Hoosiers another in 1975 or 1978, making that three chips in a six- or seven-year span. Bird was so self-confident that he was known to waltz up to the opponents bench before tipoff and predict a 40-point performance for himself. Bird's Pacers fell in the East finals in '98 and '99, then came up short in the NBA Finals in 2000 against the Los Angeles Lakers. There is no question about his eligibility.. Following a sophomore season that was shortened by a broken ankle, Bird emerged as a star during his junior year. Carr was his best teammate. I think they may even have been on the floor together. Knight said(to the effect).."I didn't handle that well, I just let him goI had a lot of good players(at the time) who were happy to be where they wereto me, we had a great team shaping up and I didn; envision Bird playing much for us until he was a junior, anyway. Larry Bird and Cedric Maxwell teamed up to oust the Rockets in Game 6 of The Finals in 1981. Like many great national championship teams, IU faced a rebuild or a reload or whatever you want to call it the next year. In 1975, he enrolled at Indiana State. He averaged better than 30 points and 10 rebounds for the Sycamores during his first campaign. Here are some of the awards Larry Bird won in college: However, Bird was all business in spite of the awards he won and the fanfare he received. Few played tougher than Bird, who would leap into crowds and over press tables for loose balls. He has compiled 1,556 steals, in addition to 755 blocks and 5,695 assists. Larry Joe Bird (Larry Legend, The Hick from French Lick) Bats Left, Throws Left; Height 6' 9", Weight 220 lb. Their top eight scorers eventually played in the NBA and they were a 31-1 juggernaut that ran through the Big Ten gauntlet unscathed and suffered their only loss of the season against Kentucky, 92-90, in the regional final. Birds 19 points in the 1982 NBA All-Star Game, including 12 of the Easts last 15, earned him the games MVP trophy. Celtics Jamal Mashburn recalled how Larry Bird responded to trash-talk at a 'Dream Team' practice in 1992 "Hey Larry, you ain't hit a jumper since '84." It may have also hurt him in his transition to a big state school, where he lasted a matter of weeks after the start of the school year. Larry Bird was a co-star of one of the greatest college basketball national championship games ever Bird vs. Magic, when the undefeated Indiana State Sycamores took on the co-Big Ten champion Michigan State Spartans in the 1979 championship. But even those legendary players didnt fill Boston Garden, wowing fans and dominating games as Bird did. Carreira Basquete universitrio. Larry Bird Ball was the most popular sport in Terre Haute. Larry Bird Rookie Year Stats. > Archive 75: Larry Bird| 75 Stories: Larry Bird. Check out the top highlights and plays from Larry Bird's storied NBA career. Imagine what he wouldve done with a Hall-of-Fame head coach and future NBA players as teammates! Bird received a scholarship to play for the Indiana Hoosiers in 1974, but he dropped out after only one month at Indiana . Hodges said of Bird, "His only personal goal this year was to lead the nation in rebounds. In a nationally televised game against Portland in March, Bird pulled off one final miracle performance he scored 16 points in the fourth quarter, including the Celtics last nine points and a game-tying 3-pointer with two seconds left. Lets pick a winner in every mens college basketball conference tournament. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. Sucker punch in OVC tournament leads to 3 ejections. When talking about per game stats, Bird sports an average of 6.8 assists as well as 9.6 boards. What if Knute Rockne came to Bloomington in 1914 and changed the trajectory of IU football? (Larry Legend, The Hick from French Lick, Kodak, The Great White Hope), Born: December 7, 1956 in West Baden, Indiana, High School: Three Things: Indiana womens basketball defeats Michigan State 94-85. 0:49. He was particularly hard on freshmen players, such as a young Larry Bird. The Sycamores went 81-13 during Birds three-year career. Larry Bird, AKA "Larry Legend," was selected by the Boston Celtics with the sixth overall pick in the 1978 NBA Draft. We had guys last year who didn't care about passing. In regard to per game stats, Bird averages 6.8 assists and 9.6 rebounds. Regarding per game stats, Bird is averaging 6.8 dimes and 9.6 rebounds. According to The New York Times, Hodges once said his primary contribution during Indiana States national runner-up season was not messing up Larry Bird.. Note: at Spring Valley HS in his senior year., Bird averaged 31 ppg, 21rebounds per game and 4 assists). His coaching career was shot out of a Larry Bird-sized cannon with the Sycamores going 33-1 and posting a .971 winning percentage in his rookie campaign. Larry Bird. Career information head-to-head including championships won, season and playoff stats, honors and awards and more. * 21+ (19+ CA-ONT) (18+ NH/WY). When Walsh moved on to a similar role with the Knicks before the 2008-09 season, Bird gained complete control of the teams basketball operations and helped the Pacers end a four-year playoff drought in 2010-11. Dinah likes to keep a low profile, making rare public appearances with her husband at basketball games. Career NBA statistics; Points: Rebounds: Assists: Stats at Basketball-Reference.com: . A crafty defensive player, Birds most famous steal came in Game 5 of the 1987 Eastern Conference Finals against Detroit. Larry Bird was drafted as the 6th overall pick by the Boston Celtics in 1978 before he went back to college for a final year. January 19, 2023 3:00 am ET. Become an Annual VIP member today and get access to VIP content, ad-free forums & more. On Aug. 18, 1992 he announced his retirement as a player. Although Johnson also turned in an impressive first season for the NBA-champion Los Angeles Lakers, Bird was named Rookie of the Year and made the first of his 12 trips to the All-Star Game. The Cavaliers won in seven games; Boston lost three of the four games couldnt play because of his back. Benson, of course, was a God in Indiana. Learn more and register, Scores from any date in BAA/NBA or ABA history, Frequently Asked Questions about the NBA, WNBA and Basketball, Basketball-Reference.com Blog and Articles, Subscribe to Stathead Basketball: Get your first month FREE. Larry Bird was a co-star of one of the greatest college basketball national championship games ever - Bird vs. Magic, when the undefeated Indiana State Sycamores took on the co-Big Ten champion . An undefeated IU team with a healthy Scott May or Larry Bird, let alone both, wouldve made for a compelling matchup with Woodens final UCLA team. Thanks Jimmie. Published Jan. 28 . Join our linker program. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. Larry Bird, in full Larry Joe Bird, (born December 7, 1956, West Baden, Indiana, U.S.), American basketball player who led the Boston Celtics to three National Basketball Association (NBA) championships (1981, 1984, and 1986) and is considered one of the greatest pure shooters of all time. Known as 'Chief', Parish played 21 seasons in the NBA and was one of the mainstays in Boston during the '80s, leading the Celtics to three titles. Wore the number 33 on his basketball jersey in high school, college and with the Boston Celtics. He was selected to play in 12 All-Star games. Play Index. Would an 18-year-old Bird have been ready to take a complementary, if not starring, role as a freshman in the second or third weekend of the NCAA tournament? Bird signed autographs for fans in attendance and Kentucky Wesleyan players before walking off the field that day. Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. It's because of Bird. As of 2023, Larry Bird's net worth is around $80 million; he has different income sources . Tiago Splitter solid in NBA playoff debut Beginning with favorable, Pagns TIME is normally 2 . Larry Bird, playing for Indiana State, and Magic Johnson, playing for Michigan State, were two of the best basketball players during this time and were about to go head-to-head in a competition that sparked a rivalry between them that lasted throughout the 1980s. He even plays defense, although that's not what's causing the NBA Boston Celtics to salivate over him.". As the 1992-93 NBA season approached, Bird decided he could not continue. "At 9 o'clock yesterday [Bill] Hodges went to wake up Bird for a brunch at which he was to receive the Player of the Year Award. Coming out of Springs Valley, Bird chose IU over Indiana State and Purdue after being pursued by more than 50 schools, according to The Herald (Jasper, Ind.). The next season, 1974-75, is where two of the greatest What ifs in IU basketball collide: What if Bird had stayed and what if Scott May, the teams second-leading scorer and second-leading rebounder, hadnt broken his arm against Purdue in late February? Larry Bird and Dominique Wilkins battled each other during a classic Game 7 in 1988. You can watch the full replay of the '79 title game below. Larry Bird's book is incredible. The couple has two adopted children named Conner Mariah.. Family. With five seconds remaining and the Celtics trailing 107-106, Bird stole an Isiah Thomas inbounds pass and fed Dennis Johnson, whose layup gave Boston the win. Larry Bird was 1 of the NBA's most clutch players ever, amassing 3 MVPs while leading the Celtics to 5 Finals and 3 titles in the 1980s. 2 Notre Dame, No. But Los Angeles won the series in six games. Mike Hayes, a Kentucky Wesleyan player, recounted the game, vividly remembering Birds bizarre, ungainly swing. Fans were filling not only Boston Garden, which sold out the final 541 games of Birds career, but arenas all over the country to witness Birds exploits. Bird always held a chip on his shoulder over that, even decades later. Bobby would have won another NC with Bird. Not just some guy. Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP. Larry Bird played 13 seasons for the Celtics. He started his college career in the fall of 1979. There is the Larry Bird people know, the Boston Celtics legend, the hick from French Lick, the Indiana State University basketball king. How does Larry Bird compare with other great NBA players? Hall of Fame Boston Celtics forward Larry Joe Bird is considered one of the greatest to play the game (never mind for the Celtics) because of how clutch a player he was. I could do that. Despite losing leading scorer Steve Green and John Laskowski after the 75 season, IU got the band back together in 1976 and finished what the Hoosiers came three wins away from achieving the previous year: an undefeated, national championship season as they became the NCAAs #1 All-Time March Madness team. It would have been easy for the story to end here, with a healthy round of shit-talking and little else. If the answer was yes, then theres a chance there would be national championship banners from 1975 and 1976 hanging inside Assembly Hall right now. Larry Bird left IU in mid-September of his freshman year, citing too heavy of a course load and his desire to be closer to home. 10 attempts), Indiana State-record 16 rebounds in an NCAA tournament game, Tied for first in semifinal history with 16 made field goals against DePaul, Second-leading scorer in the country in 1978: 30.0 points per game, Second-leading scorer in the country in 1979: 28.6 points per game, Third-leading scorer in the country in 1977: 32.8 points per game, Sixth all-time (since 1973) in rebounds in a season: 505 rebounds (1979), Tied for seventh with a two-game Final Four rebound total of 29 rebounds in 1979, Eighth in Final Four history with an 84.2 shooting percentage against DePaul, Tied for eighth all-time in career rebounding average: 13.3 rebounds per game, Ninth in NCAA tournament history (since 1973) with 67 rebounds in a single NCAA tournament, Tied for 13th all-time in double-doubles in a season: 28 double-doubles (1979), 15th all-time in career scoring average (min. And in the 2000 NBA Finals, the Pacers succumbed in a six-game series to the Lakers, led by Shaquille ONeal and Kobe Bryant, for the Lakers first of three consecutive titles. His focus was on the court. He was a superstar in college basketball, in essence. ), We did a great deal of checking before he made his decision and the college allowed him to enroll, Northwoods academic dean Jim McElhiney told The Indianapolis News in September 1974. Knight said.." I first saw him play for Spring Valley HS, about 60 miles south of Bloomington physically he wasn't the Larry Bird everybody remembers..as a HS senior he was about 6-'6" and around 180lbs. The small forward had just led Indiana State to a 33-1 season, with the team's sole loss coming to Magic Johnson . Their coach, Bill Hodges, is in his first year, the first rookie ever to take an undefeated team to the tournament final. Indiana vs. Michigan State: Womens basketball game notes, how to watch, more, Everything you need to know about the Champs Big Ten tournament quarterfinal matchup, Three Things: Indiana mens basketball loses to Iowa 90-68, Indiana mens basketball collapses against Iowa 90-68, Indiana womens basketball: Big Ten awards announced. The following year was Birds last. Join our linker program. Springs Valley went 19-2 and young Larry became a local celebrity. Let me be clear, college basketball would look and feel the same if Bird never transferred from IU to ISU, but the 1979 national championship game Bird vs. Magic is still the highest-rated college basketball game of all-time, with a 24.1 rating for a game in which 38 percent of all TVs in the country that were turned on at the time were tuned into Indiana State vs. Michigan State on NBC. Find out more. Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. 0:05. Bird won 3 MVP Awards, was selected to play in 12 All-Star Games, and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1998. Layed him out cold. Neither Birds hometown of French Lick nor West Baden had a daily newspaper at the time, nor was either home to a radio or TV station. When the Celtics named Rick Pitino as the franchises new president and coach, Bird knew any role for him in Boston would be a limited one. games played = 41.4 ppg This is going off of their college career . Born in 1956, in the state of Indiana, this player is known as the biggest reason behind why the Boston Celtics were led to the NBA championship in 1981, 1984, and 1986. 1,400 points): 30.3 points, 16th all-time on the NCAA career scoring list: 2,850 points, Tied for 23rd all-time in career double-doubles: 68 double-doubles, Tied for 24th all-time in points in a season: 973 points (1979), Tied for 24th all-time in consecutive double-doubles in a season: 16 double-doubles (1979). Or write about sports? Bird would typically start offensive possessions on the right block, where he would utilize the right corner of the floor, the fre-throw line extended and the opposite wing. Birds legend was born in the tiny town of French Lick, snuggled in Indianas corn country, where his family led a spartan life. No shit! Join our linker program. Everyone remembers Michael Jordans decision to leave the Bulls and pursue a career in baseball, but it was Larry Bird who tried his hand at the game on April 28, 1979, and became a one-day legend in the process. Here are some of Larry Bird's notable career achievements and statistics: Three-time NBA champion (1981, 1984, 1986) Two-time NBA Finals MVP (1984, 1986) . Larry Bird is recognized as one of the greatest NBA players of all time. Bird nasceu em West Baden Springs e cresceu em French Lick, em Indiana, e iniciou a sua carreira no basquete ao fazer parte de seu time no colegial, sendo posteriormente selecionado pela Indiana University e por seu legendrio tcnico, o explosivo Bob Knight.Contudo, com um time repleto de estrelas e uma atmosfera no muito compatvel com seu estilo de . forty-five, the most effective larry bird [] Though Larry Bird never won a scoring or rebounding title, he produced stats comparable to those of the NBA's best and brightest through his well-rounded play, dizzying . They thought scoring was more important, but passing is important.". Larry Bird's career NBA stats. In his other eight seasons as a DI head coach, he won just 96 games and compiled a .384 winning percentage. Home-game attendance hovered around 3,100 when Bird arrived at Indiana State, but as he had done in Springs Valley, Bird single-handedly packed the house and elevated his team to respectability and more. In 2003, he joined the Pacers front office as the teams president of basketball operations and worked side-by-side with Walsh to rebuild Indiana into a contender. Imagine Thomas, Bird and Magic on the same team. AZ, CO, CT, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, (select parishes), MD, MI, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OR, PA, TN, VA, WV, WY, CA-ONT only.Eligibility restrictions apply. ", The New York Times' Dave Anderson: "[Bill] Hodges likes to say that his primary contribution to the Sycamores this season has been 'not messing up Larry Bird. He was the heart and soul of the 1980s Celtics, leading them to three NBA championships while earning a reputation as one of the greatest players in league history. Not at the same time. All rights reserved. Im new at this (coaching) game but I feel I can get the job done, he said. Larry Joe Bird, "Larry legend", fdd 7 december 1956 i West Baden Springs i Indiana, r en amerikansk fre detta basketspelare och fre detta baskettrnare.. Draftad av Boston Celtics r 1978, spelade small forward och power forward i tretton ssonger. Surgery to remove bone spurs from both heels limited Bird to only six games in 1988-89. 2023 NCAA | Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Larry Bird goes to the basket against DePaul in the 1979 Final Four. His back was also hurting, but Bird came back in the third period to help lift the Celtics to an emotional 124-121 victory. Larry Bird redshirted (sat out) his freshman year, and therefore, like Maravich, Robertson, and Hayes, his totals were also achieved in only three . It was his first season ever as a college head coach. At Springs Valley High, Bird scored 1,125 career points, averaged 30.6 points and 20.5 rebounds," Dana Hunsinger Benbow recounted in the Indianapolis Star. Russell Westbrook is being left wide open on offense, and hes still hurting the Clippers. But Bird finally came to Boston for the 1979-80 campaign and sparked one of the greatest single-season turnarounds in NBA history. 31.8 - HOF Larry Bird - Indiana State - 30.3 . The Orlando forward played only 11 games this season after missing two years with a torn ACL. In Game 7 of the 1988 Eastern Conference semifinals against Atlanta, Bird engaged in a memorable fourth-quarter shootout with the Hawks Dominique Wilkins. Two months later, he signed his NBA contract with the Boston Celtics. Terms at draftkings.com/sportsbook. I could play baseball, Bird responded, taking the coach by surprise. Indiana womens basketball Q&A: HooplaWyatt on the Big Ten Tournament. Do you have a sports website? My goal is to . Larry Bird - Stats, Game Logs, Splits, and much more . '", Indiana State coach Bill Hodges on the notion that man-to-man defenses might slow Bird down: "If we go against a UCLA or a Notre Dame later on and they play man-to-man, that's when you'll see how tough Larry really is. Finally, with the Celtics in a decline that hit bottom in 1996-97, Bird decided to take the plunge. Add the best version of Larry Bird in college, one capable of averaging roughly 30 and 15 at Indiana State, and the Hoosiers might have had another title contender in 1978 if the Hick from French Lick was still in Bloomington. The highlight of Bird's three-year collegiate career came in 1979, when he led the Sycamores to a 33-0 record and their first NCAA Tournament berth in the program's history. Enter your information to receive emails about offers, promotions from NCAA.com and our partners. Bird played with a total of eight Hall of Fame players, though a couple played only a few games alongside him. ", Indiana State teammate Carl Nicks: "It's a tremendous feeling to play with him he brings out the best in everybody. Durant, a four-time scoring champion, now sets his sights on Hakeem Olajuwon in 12th place. Call 1-800-GAMBLER. Birth City: West Baden Springs. He was such a deadly shooter that he sometimes practiced 3-pointers with his eyes closed. The hours he had spent working on his shot as a youngster paid big dividends in the NBA. The first inkling to Bobby Knight that things had changed wiht Larry Bird was from a former player who called Knight, and said" he had just seen Bird playing in an outdoor tournment in Lebanon, and he was a "beast" at 6'-9' and around 225#and by that time Bird was al set at Indiana State.