Nicknamed “Legend” for good reason, his career was brilliant but brief, really lasting only 10 quality seasons due to injuries, and marked in many ways by his longtime rivalry with Magic Johnson, which ended with them teaming up to win a gold medal with the 1992 U.S. Olympic team
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- Appearance in One on One: Dr. J vs. Larry Bird
- Appearance in “The Showdown” McDonald’s commercial
- Appearance in Space Jam
- Appearance in “The Weapon Rap” Converse commercial
- As cause for NBA to implement the “Bird Rule” contract exemption
- As competitor in Three-Point Contest
- As great play maker
- Coaching the Pacers
- Co-author of the book When the Game Was Ours
- Debut NBA game
- Delaying retirement to play on 1992 U.S. Olympic team
- Feud with Julius Erving
- Fight with Julius Erving
- Final game vs. Magic Johnson
- In 1979 NCAA Tournament National Final
- Missing out on league MVP in a controversial voting (1981)
- “Now there’s a steal by Bird” (game five, 1987 Eastern Conference Finals)
- Nicknamed “Legend”
- On 1992 U.S. Olympic team
- On ’85-’86 Boston Celtics (greatest teams)
- One of the greatest players of the ’80s
- Ranking of Celtics teammates who won championships with
- Replaced by Kevin Gamble
- Rivalry with Magic Johnson
Associated topics
boston celtics
nba finals
kevin mchale
awards and honors
bird and magic
rivalries, feuds, and fights
dream team
robert parish
rookie of the year
three-point contest
FEATURED larry bird chapters
Bird is the word: Ranking the 21 players who won a championship as Larry Bird’s Celtics teammate
As part of our Totally ’80s series, we rank the 21 players who won a championship in 1981, 1984, and/or 1986 as a teammate of Larry Bird on the Celtics.
When the game was theirs: Eight crucial games that defined the Bird vs. Magic rivalry
Their rivalry is still the pinnacle of the NBA for many, and their subsequent friendship still inspires. As we approach the 30th anniversary of their final NBA match-up, we take…
Bombs away: 22 all-time greatest NBA All-Star Three-Point Contest competitors
With the NBA All-Star Weekend Three-Point Contest surprisingly happening again in 2021, we take a look back at the all-time greats in the event, ranking them based on the criteria…
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