That is 8.5% greater than his height. [73] This style of play was starting to influence a new hoard of fans as they would sit and marvel at what they [Bird and Magic] can do while giving younger kids a different perspective of the game. The average modern human being is said to have a wingspan 2 inches greater than his height. [9] He has four brothers and a sister. [69] Following Bird's departure, the Celtics promptly retired his jersey number 33. The Celtics failed to reach the NBA Finals for the first time in five years, losing to the Pistons in six games during the Eastern Conference Finals. However, by then his formerly relentless attack on the court had been slowed by a bad back. With at least 10 potential upgrade points, you will have several options for playmaking badges. And TMac is easily 6'8 or 6'9. Dwight Howard is one of the premiere big men of the modern area, but stands at only 610. After all, Bird dished out 6.3 assists per game for his entire career. Lastly, the wingspan can be reduced to around 83.0 inches. [57], The '86 Celtics are commonly ranked as one of the greatest basketball teams of all time, with the Boston Globe's Peter May and Grantland's Bill Simmons listing them at number one. [29] On November 23, Bird recorded his first 30-point scoring game (along with 11 rebounds and 3 assists) in a 118103 win over the Indiana Pacers. 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. DiamondLobby.com makes money from advertising. 1. International Stats at Basketball-Reference.com, College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com, 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. He was named NBA Coach of the Year for the 19971998 season and later led the Pacers to a berth in the 2000 NBA Finals. For these reasons, the other badges you should consider upgrading are Bullet Passer, Post Playmaker, and Special Delivery. [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. The Best Michael Jordan Build in NBA 2K22, How to Set Realistic Game Sliders in NBA 2K22, Teams With the Most Cap Space in NBA 2K22 MyGM. This will give your shooting attributes a bit of a boost. But dont let Birds efficient scoring distract you from the fact that he was proficient in the other aspects of his game. Unique lists featuring pop culture, entertainment and crazy facts. The other shooting badges you should look to upgrade are Catch & Shoot, Corner Specialist, Difficult Shots, Fade Ace, Slippery Off-Ball, and Volume Shooter. 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. Hit the button below and we'll send this post to your inbox! [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. Another badge you must target is Interceptor. 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. inWest Baden,Indiana Height: 6'9" (206 cm) Weight: 220 lbs (100 kg) Position: F High School: . 7mo ago. [20] Bird also appeared in one game for the baseball team, going 1-for-2 with 2 RBI. Both Dinah and Larry studied at Indiana State University. [84], "Larry, you only told me one lie. Something went wrong while submitting the form. According to our Database, He has no children. Prior to Bird's second year, the Celtics acquired center Robert Parrish from the Golden State Warriors and drafted Kevin McHale. A 1980s Converse commercial for its "Weapon" line of basketball shoes (endorsed by both Bird and Johnson) reflected the perceived dichotomy between the two players. The smallest report records it at 78, while the largest account has it at 84 inches. As for the weight, you can lower it by one pound (219 lbs) to give your player an additional point in acceleration. Maxiell shows how an undersized player can keep pace with taller guys when they possess elite wingspan. [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. What we do know is Chamberlain stood about 71, while his wingspan is up for debate. [96], Bird is also remembered as an excellent passer[100] and defender. [5] He was named NBA Executive of the Year for the 2012 season. Falling out of bounds, Bird turned and passed the ball to teammate Dennis Johnson, who converted a game-winning 2-point layup with less than a second left. Bird got his 3rd 2nd team all defense in 84, it's not like he was slouch on that end, even if Lebron was the better defender. Data Provided By Bird had an average of 10.0 rebounds per game for his career and 6.3 assists. Per 48 minutes that number would be 8.6 blocks a game and the next closest to him is Mark Eaton at only 5.3. During the 1992 Eastern Conference semi-finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Bird missed four of the seven games due to recurring back problems. Or write about sports? To round out the finishing, shooting, and playmaking categories, put some points on close shot, driving layup, driving dunk, and post hook. HEIGHT. Answer (1 of 14): Jordan supposedly being shorter than his listed 6'6 NBA height is not unfounded, as he was listed at 6'4 for the 1992 Olympics. 6-keys: media/spln/nba/reg/free/stories, By pressing sign up, I confirm that I have read and agree to the. Larry Bird was inducted to the Hall of Fame as a Player in 1998 (Full List) 30 on ESPN SportsCentury's Top 50 athletes of the 20th century, with only five other basketball players ranked higher. [21] Boston advanced through the playoffs to earn a rematch with the Lakers, this time losing in six games. Larry Bird is 6 foot 9 inches (2.06 m) tall. These include Blinders and Deadeye. Bird returned to the Pacers as president of basketball operations in 2013,[6] and remained in that role until 2017. us, College: Celtics booed off floor after blowing 28-point lead, Randle's game-winner runs Knicks' win streak to eight, Durant passes Robertson for 13th on NBA scoring list, Grizzlies' Brooks: 'I don't like Draymond at all', Magic's Isaac undergoes season-ending surgery, Suns vs. Bulls odds, picks, predictions, bets. But I recommend opting for defense/rebounding instead. Post Playmaker When the player passes out of the post or coming off an offensive board, the recipient receives a shot boost. [30], With averages of 21.3 points, 10.4 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 1.7 steals per game for the season, he was selected to the All-Star Team and named Rookie of the Year. Want updates on new Dimensions content? The problem for Bol was his offensive game was non-existent. [3], Bird scored 24.3 points per game in his career on a .496 field goal percentage, an .886 free throw percentage, and a .376 percentage on three-point shots. This ratio is one of the higher percentages for players who have played in the NBA. [12] Georgia and Joe divorced when Larry was in high school, and Joe died by suicide about a year later. Small Forward and Power Forward 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. Larry Joe Bird (born December 7, 1956) is an American former professional basketball player, coach, and executive in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Larry Bird averaged 24.3 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 6.3 assists per game. [43] Boston came back to win the game, eventually winning the series in seven. They each had charisma, deft shooting touch, extraordinary passing skills, and team-oriented mindset that ignited their team and the crowd. 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. Their friendship blossomed when the two players worked together to film the Converse commercial, which depicted them as archenemies. 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. [4] After retiring as a player, Bird served as head coach of the Indiana Pacers from 1997 to 2000. It's an entirely different game when you're Six-Nine." Honestly, all of them fit Bird so well. Charles Barkley has been quoted saying McHale was the best player he ever played against. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame twice as a playerfirst in 1998 as an individual, and again in 2010 as a member of the "Dream Team". Corner Specialist Three-point shots taken near the baseline off the dribble or a pass are given a percentage boost. Join our linker program. Height. To help you with the boards, you can upgrade the Rebound Chaser badge. Doubleday, pp. The team improved its win total by 32 games from the year before he was drafted and finished first in the Eastern Conference. Biography and associated logos are trademarks of A+E Networksprotected in the US and other countries around the globe. We don't have much information about He's past relationship and any previous engaged. Kareem's father, Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor Sr., was fairly tall at 6'2". Nicknamed "Larry Legend" or "The Hick from French Lick," Bird played the small forward and power forward positions. Larry Legend, The Hick from French Lick, Kodak, The Great White Hope are nicknames for Larry Bird. [23], Bird was selected by the Boston Celtics with the sixth overall pick in the 1978 NBA draft. With proper medication, exercise and diet, atrial fibrillation can be controlled, but Bird abhorred medication and was prone to skipping his pills. Wingspan is a key measurement because it allows a player of a lesser stature to compete with players who may be physically taller than them. For the defense/rebounding badges, there will only be a limited number of options. Post Spin Technician Attempting to perform post spins or drives result in more effective moves, and lessens the chances of getting stripped by opponents. [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. [21] In the Conference Finals, Boston was eliminated by the Philadelphia 76ers. Anthony Davis is one of the leagues biggest stars. Difficult Shots High-difficulty jumpers attempted from the mid-range get an increased shot percentage. Thank you! When they mention length, they are not talking about a players height, but more so his wingspan. Charles Barkley was measured at 6 ft 4 5/8, Jordan is anywhere from 6 ft 4 to 6 ft 4 1/2. Springs Valley in French Lick, Indiana, Draft: Shooting badges will allow you to convert more field goal attempts from anywhere outside the key. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. There is no denying the greatness of Wilt Chamberlain and a superior length was a major reason he was unstoppable. Ganyan naman talaga, you usually take off 1 1/2 to 2 inches off their published height - and you get their real height. Ideally, you should be able to select a player archetype that excels in finishing, shooting, playmaking, and defense/rebounding to make the best Larry Bird build in NBA 2K22. I'm not lying awake at night thinking about it. Nicknamed " the Hick from French Lick " and " Larry Legend ", Bird is widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all time. 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. Bird entered the NBA for the 19791980 season, where he made an immediate impact, starting at power forward and leading the Celtics to a 32-win improvement over the previous season before being eliminated from the playoffs in the Conference Finals. Larry Bird played the small forward and power forward positions at a height of 6'9" (2. . Not since Bill Russell squared off against Wilt Chamberlain had professional basketball enjoyed such a marquee matchup. He is a four-time All-Defensive team member, and he led the league in steals in 2009-10. Although there are only 48 total minutes of time on the clock in an NBA game, the regulation time is stopped often for fouls, timeouts, and when the ball is out of bounds. [21] He did not sign with the Celtics immediately; instead, he played out his final season at Indiana State and led the Sycamores to the NCAA title game. The following top 15 will look at the most impressive wingspans in NBA history. [citation needed] The apparent contrast between the two players and their respective teams seemed scripted for television: Bird, the introverted small-town hero with the blue-collar work ethic, fit perfectly with the throwback, hard-nosed style of the Celtics, while the stylish, gregarious Johnson ran the Lakers' fast-paced Showtime offense amidst the bright lights and celebrities of Los Angeles. Updated daily. An elite wingspan is considered as a measurement that is 6.5% greater than the players height. [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. Part of the reason, he admits, was his own fatalistic view of what the future would bring. 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. Magic got the upper hand against Bird, beating him in 1985 and 1987, while Bird beat Magic in 1984. [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. McHale is known as one of the best post players in NBA history due to his great footwork and arsenal of moves. That length helped him become one of the most prolific shot blocker in league history. [39] In the Conference Finals, the Celtics faced the 76ers for the third consecutive year, losing in seven games. Bird stands 6-foot-9, and his listed weight during his playing days was 220 lbs. He was a raw athlete out of the Democratic Republic of Congo, having only picked up the sport at the age of 16. Bird's basketball prowess earned him an athletic scholarship to Indiana University, where he was to play for legendary coach Bob Knight. 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" Many NBA bigs, including Larry Bird and Bill Walton, believe there's a negative relationship between height and longevity. The losses of Moses Malone (60 years old), Darryl Dawkins (58), Anthony Mason (48), Christian Welp (51) and Jack Haley (51) all in the last year are a reminder of Bird's and others' contemporaries and peers during their playing days passing away far too young. In the commercial, Bird is practicing alone on a rural basketball court (in reality the court was one Bird had made on the property in French Lick that he had purchased for his mother), when Johnson pulls up in a sleek limousine and challenges him to a one-on-one match. He is also the youngest player to reach 1,000 rebounds, and each benchmark from that point through to 9,000 rebounds. [120] He continued to serve as an advisor until July, 2022, when he "stepped back from maintaining an active role with the Indiana Pacers". He then led his team to an undefeated regular season. at For three consecutive years, from 1984 to 1986, Bird was named the NBA's MVP, and in 1990, he hit a milestone by reaching 20,000 career points. He's closer to 7'1 I think. Larry Bird weighed 220 lbs (99 kg) when playing. 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. Break Starter Deep outlet passes attempted immediately after grabbing a defensive rebound are more likely to connect. This is another case of parents being relatively short to their son. The "Dream Team" won the men's basketball gold medal. Nonetheless, during the final years of his career, Bird maintained his status as one of the premier players in the game. One report claims McHale could tie his shoes without having to bend over. [115] Bird then led the Pacers to consecutive Central Division titles in 1999 and 2000 and a berth in the 2000 NBA Finals. Because of this, you can just focus on what Bird was exceptionally good at. He came out of nowhere to intercept an inbound pass by All-Star Isiah Thomas then immediately dished the ball to teammate Dennis Johnson who made the buzzer-beating layup to give the Celtics the win. [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. What is not a stretch is that Davis is a premiere athlete, with an incredible wingspan. [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. Rajon Rondo's length at the point guard position makes him a one of a kind player. [56] Bird averaged 24 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 9.5 assists per game for the championship round. LAST ATTENDED. Some pundits consider Bird as one of the best outlet passers in the history of the league. Bird was rated the greatest NBA small forward of all time by Fox Sports in 2016. His other playmaking strengths include quick and flashy passes. McHale stood 610 and was reported to have a colossal wingspan that stretched to 80. He played both the small forward and power forward positions. 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. In, Career statistics and player information from, This page was last edited on 28 February 2023, at 21:21. His extra length allows him to keep the ball away from incoming defenders, making for some spectacular finishes. Larry Bird was born in West Baden, Indiana. More player info Bird and his teammates easily won the Olympic gold medal for the United States, and just a few weeks later, Bird announced his retirement as a player. The Hick from the French Lick has got yellow-toned tan skin. Right, Born: [45] The performance came just nine days after Kevin McHale set the previous Celtics record for points in a game with 56. 4. To put that into perspective that is only one inch shorter than Shaq's wingspan. 2002 NBA Pre Draft Measurement 2002 NBA Pre-Draft Camp Measurements Player Ht. 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.