Larry Bird Timeline

(1956 – Present)

Larry Bird is an American former professional basketball player, coach, and executive widely regarded as one of the greatest players in NBA history. Born in West Baden Springs, Indiana, Bird rose from humble beginnings to become the face of the Boston Celtics, winning three NBA championships and three consecutive Most Valuable Player awards. His rivalry with Magic Johnson revitalized the NBA in the 1980s, and he later earned Olympic gold as part of the 1992 'Dream Team' before being enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. More Less

Go to: Timeline | Event List | Key Facts | Directory

Early Life and College

Born in West Baden Springs, Indiana

Dec 7, 1956

Larry Joe Bird was born on December 7, 1956, in West Baden Springs, Indiana, to Georgia Marie and Claude Joseph "Joe" Bird, a veteran of World War II and the Korean War. He grew up in poverty, which he later said still motivated him.

Image source: Larry Bird

Stars for Springs Valley High School

1973 - 1974

Bird used basketball as an escape from family troubles, starring for Springs Valley High School and averaging 31 points, 21 rebounds, and 4.0 assists as a senior, becoming the school's all-time scoring leader with the Class of 1974.

Marries Janet Condra

1975

In 1975, Bird married Janet Condra. Following an attempted reconciliation, they had a daughter, Corrie, in 1977.

Enrolls at Indiana State University

1975

After briefly attending Indiana University under Bob Knight and a year working municipal jobs while enrolled at Northwood Institute, Bird returned to French Lick and enrolled at Indiana State University in Terre Haute in 1975.

Father Joe Bird dies by suicide

Feb 1975

Bird's parents Georgia and Joe divorced when Larry was in high school, and his father Joe committed suicide in February 1975, deepening the family troubles basketball helped him escape.

Leads undefeated Sycamores to NCAA championship game

Mar 26, 1979

Bird had a successful three-year career with the Sycamores, helping them reach the NCAA tournament for the first time in school history with a 33–0 record, where they played Michigan State in the 1979 championship game. He graduated that year with a Bachelor of Science degree in physical education.

Image source: 1979 NCAA Division I basketball championship game

Marries Dinah Mattingly

1989

Bird married Dinah Mattingly in 1989.

NBA Playing Career

Drafted sixth overall by Boston Celtics

Jun 9, 1978

The Boston Celtics selected Larry Bird as the sixth overall pick in the 1978 NBA draft after his second year at Indiana State, but he elected to stay in college for the 1978–79 season.

Image source: 1978 NBA draft

Signs landmark contract with Celtics

1979

Red Auerbach publicly stated he would not pay Bird more than any current Celtic, but Bird's agent Bob Woolf threatened to enter the 1979 draft instead, where Boston's rights would expire on June 25 and Bird would likely be the top pick. The dispute was resolved and Bird joined Boston.

Records first career triple-double vs Pistons

Nov 14, 1979

On November 14, 1979, Bird recorded his first career triple-double with 23 points, 19 rebounds, and 10 assists in a 115–111 victory over the Detroit Pistons during a rookie season that transformed the Celtics into title contenders, improving them by 32 wins.

Wins first NBA championship (1981)

1981

Before the 1980–81 season the Celtics added Kevin McHale via draft and Robert Parish by trade from Golden State, forming one of the greatest front-courts in NBA history. Bird won the first of three NBA championships with the Celtics in 1981.

Named All-Star Game MVP (1982)

Jan 31, 1982

At the 1982 All-Star Game, Bird scored 19 points en route to winning the All-Star Game MVP Award. He was also a regular season MVP runner-up in 1981, 1982, and 1983.

Signs seven-year, $12.6 million extension

1983

With Bird slated to become a free agent after 1983–84, the NBA implemented a hard salary cap effective 1984–85 as part of collective bargaining. Bird signed his seven-year, $12.6 million extension in 1983 before the cap took effect, leaving the Celtics over the cap when it was implemented.

Wins championship and Finals MVP (1984)

Jun 12, 1984

Bird was named MVP of the 1983–84 season with averages of 24.2 points, 10.1 rebounds, 6.6 assists, and 1.8 steals per game, then beat rival Magic Johnson's Lakers to win his second championship and first NBA Finals MVP award.

Scores career-high 60 points vs Hawks

Mar 12, 1985

On March 12, 1985, Bird scored a career-high and franchise-record 60 points against the Atlanta Hawks. That offseason, he injured his back shoveling crushed rock to create a driveway at his mother's house.

Wins inaugural Three-Point Shootout

Feb 1, 1986

One of Bird's career highlights occurred at the 1986 NBA All-Star Weekend when he walked into the locker room at the inaugural Three-Point Shootout and asked who was going to finish second—before winning the shootout.

Image source: Three-Point Contest

Scores 50 points vs Mavericks

Mar 10, 1986

On March 10, 1986, Bird scored 50 points to go along with 11 rebounds and five assists in a narrow 116–115 loss to the Dallas Mavericks.

Wins championship and Finals MVP (1986)

Jun 8, 1986

After the Celtics traded for Bill Walton before the 1985–86 season, Bird won his third MVP award consecutively (1984–1986), making him the only forward to do so, and captured his third championship and second Finals MVP. The 1985–86 Celtics are commonly ranked among the greatest teams ever.

Image source: 1986 NBA Finals

Last Finals appearance of career

1987

In 1987, the Celtics made their last Finals appearance of Bird's career, fighting through difficult series against the Milwaukee Bucks and Detroit Pistons. In the 1987 Eastern Conference finals, Bird famously belittled Dennis Rodman's defensive ability.

Image source: 1987 NBA Finals

Fourth-quarter heroics in Game 7 vs Hawks

May 22, 1988

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 to lift the Celtics to a series-clinching victory. The 1987–88 season was the highest-scoring of his career, and he was an MVP runner-up that year.

Heel surgery ends 1988–89 season early

Nov 1988

Bird's 1988–89 season ended after just six games when he had bone spurs surgically removed from both of his heels. He returned in 1989, but back problems and an aging roster prevented him from regaining prime form.

Back injuries mount; misses 37 games

1990 - 1992

After leading the Celtics to a 29–5 start to the 1990–91 season, Bird missed 22 games due to a compressed nerve root in his back. Surgery followed, but he missed 37 games in 1991–92 and four of seven games in the Eastern Conference Semifinals against Cleveland.

Wins gold with Dream Team at Barcelona Olympics

Jul 25, 1992 - Aug 8, 1992

During the summer of 1992, Bird joined Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, and other NBA stars on the U.S. men's Olympic team in Barcelona. Bird and Magic Johnson served as co-captains, winning the gold medal.

Announces retirement from the NBA

Aug 18, 1992

On August 18, 1992, Bird announced his retirement from the NBA after 13 seasons. His career included 12 All-Star selections, three championships (1981, 1984, 1986), two Finals MVP awards, and three consecutive MVP awards.

Legacy and Honors

McDonald's Super Bowl commercial with Jordan

1991

In a McDonald's commercial from 1991 first aired during the Super Bowl, Bird and Michael Jordan have a trick shot contest in which the winner got Jordan's lunch and the loser had to watch the winner eat.

Appears in Blue Chips, Space Jam, and Celtic Pride

1994 - 1996

Bird appeared in three movies playing himself: Blue Chips with Nick Nolte (1994), Space Jam with Michael Jordan and Bill Murray (1996), and Celtic Pride with Dan Aykroyd, Daniel Stern, and Damon Wayans (1996).

Named to NBA 50 Greatest Players list

1996

In 1996, Bird was voted onto the NBA's 50 Greatest Players in NBA History list as part of the league's 50th Anniversary celebration. That year ESPN and Associated Press rankings also honored him among the century's greatest athletes.

Image source: NBA 75th Anniversary Team

Inducted into Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame

Sep 11, 1998

Bird was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1998 as an individual player—the first of his two inductions. He would be inducted again in 2010 as a member of the "Dream Team."

Image source: Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame

Receives NBA Lifetime Achievement Award

Jun 24, 2019

At the 2019 NBA Awards, Bird received the NBA Lifetime Achievement Award, shared with Magic Johnson. He had earlier been named to the NBA's 75th Anniversary Team in October 2021, placed on an all-time starting five in 2020, and rated the greatest small forward of all time by Fox Sports in 2016.

Image source: NBA Lifetime Achievement Award

Eastern Conference Finals MVP trophy named after Bird

2022

Beginning in 2022, the NBA awarded MVPs for the conference finals; the Eastern Conference Finals MVP trophy is named in Bird's honor, while the Western Conference trophy is named after Magic Johnson.

Larry Bird Museum opens in Terre Haute

May 2024

In May 2024, the Larry Bird Museum opened in Terre Haute, Indiana, celebrating the career of the Indiana State legend and NBA great.

Coaching and Executive Career

Becomes head coach of Indiana Pacers

1997 - 2000

Despite no prior coaching experience, Bird led the Pacers to a franchise-best 58–24 record in 1997–98 and pushed the eventual champion Bulls to seven games in the Eastern Conference Finals, earning NBA Coach of the Year honors. He then led the Pacers to Central Division titles in 1999 and 2000 and a berth in the 2000 NBA Finals, where they lost to the Lakers in six games. He resigned after the season, honoring his promise to coach only three years.

Hired as Pacers president of basketball operations

2003 - 2012

In 2003, Bird was named president of basketball operations for the Pacers. From 2006 onwards, he overhauled the roster by trading veterans and making savvy draft picks suited to a small-market team. After the 2011–12 season, when the Pacers secured the No. 3 seed in the East, he was named NBA Executive of the Year, then parted ways with the team citing health issues.

Returns to Pacers front office

2013 - 2017

Bird returned to the Pacers as president of basketball operations in 2013 and remained until stepping down again in 2017, staying on in an advisory capacity. That year, Indiana State University unveiled a bronze statue of Bird in front of the Hulman Center.

Steps back from active Pacers role

Jul 2022

Bird continued serving as an advisor to the Pacers until July 2022, when he stepped back from maintaining an active role with the organization.

Pacers re-hire Bird as consultant

Jun 2023

Nearly a year after stepping away, it was announced in June 2023 that the Pacers re-hired Bird to serve as a consultant, and as of 2025 he still holds that position.

Key Facts

Larry Bird was born on December 7, 1956, in West Baden Springs, Indiana.
He won three consecutive NBA Most Valuable Player awards (1984, 1985, 1986) while playing for the Boston Celtics.
Bird led the Celtics to three NBA championships (1981, 1984, 1986) and was named Finals MVP twice (1984, 1986).
His rivalry with Magic Johnson, which began in the 1979 NCAA championship game between Indiana State and Michigan State, helped transform the NBA into a global phenomenon.
Bird won an Olympic gold medal with the 1992 U.S. 'Dream Team' and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1998.

Source

This Larry Bird timeline was generated with the help of AI, using information found on the internet.

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