Larry Bird beat iconic NBA players on his way to three NBA championships including Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Hakeem Olajuwon. The Celtics did not warm up with their sweat pants on because of extreme heat, and an oxygen tank was provided to give air to an aging Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. There are so many different titles that Bird has. Larry Bird Playoffs Game Log. Larry Bird | Net Worth, Salary, And Career Earnings The Indiana-born was the highest-paid rookie of the year, with $3.25 million an average of $650,000 a year in a 5-year contract with the Celtics.Bird had played 879 games in his career until his retirement in 1992.. Larry Bird won his first NBA Finals MVP. He finished 1986 with averages of 25-10-7. Tree had famously bit Danny Ainge in a playoff fight three seasons prior. Copyright 2023 Endgame360 Inc. All Rights Reserved. Larry Birds finals record was 3-2. The Celtics won the third and final title of the Bird era with a victory over the twin towers of the Houston Rockets. Magic beat Larry in their college showdown, but Bird made sure he got his revenge in 1984. The Lakers then inbounded the ball and Magic Johnson inexplicably dribbled the clock out during regulation time. After a tough seven game series in the conference finals against the Sixers, Boston advanced to the finals to face the Rockets. The Celtics swept the Milwaukee Bucks in the Eastern Conference Finals. Isn't 15.3 points, 15.3 rebounds and 7 assists per game one of the coolest statlines for an NBA playoff series ever?A quote from Larry Bird's book "Drive" co. Larry Bird was one of the most polished rookies to enter the league and was great for the Celtics right from game one. Larry Bird Stats and news - NBA stats and news on Boston Celtics Forward Larry Bird. The Competitive Drive Between Bird And Bird By Eric Simonon Funny story about that series, Boston was actually down 3-1 entering Game 5, and Bird ended up dropping 32, 25 and 23 points in each of those games to rally off three straight wins and advance his team to the Finals. Larry Bird averaged 24.0 points, 9.7 rebounds and 9.5 assists per game for the series. The Celtics won game 2 at home but lost two games in Philly to fall behind 3-1. At 6 feet 6 inches (1.98 metres), Erving played forward and was noted for his fast breaks, balletic leaps toward the basket . This series prompted Bird to quote, Thats God disguised as Michael Jordan. Michael averaged 43 points through the three-game series. Two years after his first finals loss to the Lakers, the re-match was on. Bird won the first Finals meeting between them in 1984 and Johnson won the two others; one in 1985, the other in 1987. Michael Cooper Backs Larry Bird and Blasts JJ Redick, Calling Him a Poor Mans Danny Ainge. Larry Bird is one of the few basketball players in history that are widely recognized even by people who dont even know the sport. Larry Bird reached 5 NBA Finals, wining 3 and losing 2, he played his entire career with the Boston Celtics. In total, Larry Bird went to five NBA finals in his career. In Birds rookie season in the league, he helped lead the Boston Celtics all the way into the Eastern Conference Finals. Have the Phoenix Suns ever won the NBA title? Birds mother, Georgia, once said that she couldnt fathom he sons NBA salary and, despite his earning power, insisted that she wasnt out buying expensive clothes. the official stats partner of the NBA, NHL and MLB. Larry Bird age, height, weight, net worth 2023, wife, kids, gay Larry Bird NBA Finals Stats | StatMuse 1984 NBA Finals - Wikipedia He banked in a shot with a minute to go to put the Cs ahead for good and they won 91-90. The Celtics stayed unbeaten all-time in home Game 7s with a clear cut 111-102 victory. The Los Angeles Lakers won both games in the regular season series: The Lakers opened the series with a 115-109 victory at Boston Garden. What Was Michael Jordans Playoff Record? Larry Bird could do it all on the basketball court. In other words, he noticed that some . The Bucks, coached by Celtics legend Don Nelson, won the Central Division title in 1984. Bernard Cardinal Law, Larry Bird and Mayor Raymond L. Flynn. With a new head coach in KC Jones and plenty of uncertainties, Carr said their motto for the season was Dont be denied. Johnson evened the series after helping the LA . The seeds of the 1984 Finals were first sown five years earlier, during the 1979 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament. He was the NBA Finals MVP in 1981, and the . Should individual honors and scoring records take precedence? The kick-off of one of the greatest rivalries of all time. [2] It was also the last time that a team with home court advantage in the NBA finals played Game 5 on its own floor until 2014. Learn more and register, 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. Peak, Bird was better imo Larry Bird of the Celtics and Magic Johnson of the Lakers, Malcolm Emmons and MPS - USA TODAY Sports. One of the most feared competitors during the 1980s was Larry Bird, who won three championships with the Celtics during the decade, destroying teams through his versatile style and killer, lights-out shooting. Data runs from 1946-47 to present unless otherwise noted. In Game 7, the heat that was an issue in Game 5 was not as bad (indoor temperatures hovered around 91F (33C) during the game, due to additional fans being brought in to try to cool the air). Jelani Scott. Marques Johnson and Sidney Moncrief led the Bucks. Head to Head: Larry Bird vs. Magic Johnson. 2 NBA Finals MVP (1984, 1986) 3 NBA Most Valuable Player (1984-1986) . He stayed loyal to the Celtics throughout his entire career and they were the team that reaped the benefits of his five NBA Finals appearances and three NBAchampionships. The Rockets swept the Sacramento Kings in round 1, then took six games to get by a fun Denver Nuggets team starring Alex English and Fat Lever. Stephen Curry is now a career 21-4 (.840) in playoff series - Reddit Unlike some of the other players that have gone down in NBA History, Larry didnt leave his team whatsoever. Larry Mangurian announced that he was selling the team because of difficulties with the owners of the Boston Garden. In the 198384 season, the Celtics won 62 games to lead the league. He averaged 15.3 points, 15.3 rebounds and 7.0 assists for the series. Fast forward a couple of seasons and Bird marched his team back into the 1984 postseason. He was still one to wear what he wanted, enjoy the simple pleasures of life, and, in this case, refuse to hype up his own accomplishments. The series was not a close one: the Cs took a 3-0 lead before Milwaukee won their second home game to stay alive. That NCAA tournament final is one of the most iconic games in college basketball history. And they werent. Birds Celtics also defeated a very different Rockets team in 1981. They did make the playoffs the year after and many thought that they would easily repeat at first. Magic vs. Bird: Reliving rivalry 40 Years after first NBA matchup His performances helped to take the Celtics to 62 wins in the regular season, topping the NBA. The games were not much closer than the series itself. The cookie settings on this website are set to "allow cookies" to give you the best browsing experience possible. The Celtics snuck past the Philadelphia 76ers in 7 games after the Sixers had taken a 3-1 lead to open the series. L.A. went on to blow out the Celtics in Game 3 but the resilient Celtics responded with a 129-125 OT win in Game 4 which was sealed by Carrs steal at the buzzer. Bird also won Finals MVP in 1986 when he scored 24 points, grabbed 10 rebounds, dished out 10 assists and had 2.7 steals per game. talent just don't get it. Larry Bird averaged 24.0 points, 9.7 rebounds and 9.5 assists per game for the series. Bird retired from the NBA in 1992 and immediately took up an advisory role with the Boston Celtics. If you click and purchase, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. December 7, NBA Finals: Ranking the top Finals performers in NBA history - HoopsHype Larry Bird Boston Celtics Autographed Wilson Replica - Walmart The first two meetings of the season between Cleveland and Boston took OT, but the Celtics were able to sneak a 117-113 win at home. The Bucks were led in the series, as they had been in the regular season, by wing Marques Johnson and Hall of Fame guard Sidney Moncrief. Bostons setbacks didnt end on the basketball court. He shone as a head coach and executive for the Indiana Pacers; in fact, hes the only man in history to win Rookie of the Year, MVP, Finals MVP, All-Star MVP, Coach of the Year, and Executive of the Year. Big Names Off the Bench: Kevin McHale, Danny Ainge, Quinn Buckner, Scott Wedman. Noise Group Limited is a UK registered company. Larry Bird stats . Bird won Finals MVP in 1984 when his Celttics defeated the Lakers in seven games. Some notable games between the two of them: At least when it comes to how they fared in theirhead-to-head matchups. How to say Basketball in different languages? * 1981: Boston Celtics def. This was brought on after Ralph had an altercation with a Boston player in game five. But it was in 1986 when the Celtics faced the Houston Rockets for the championship when Bird . Data Provided By He averaged a career-high 29.9 points that year, falling just five points . How Many Championships did Larry Bird win? It was yet again against the Lakers and they split the first two games 1-1. Throughout the season, he showed that he was the reigning MVP and had an excellent statistical season. The Lakers fell in the Western Conference finals to a new team that sprung up seemingly out of nowhere. During the playoffs, the Lakers defeated the Kansas City Kings in three, the Dallas Mavericks in five, and the Phoenix Suns in six. Larry Bird was born on as Larry Joe Bird to parents: Georgia and Claude Joseph "Joe" Bird, a veteran of the Korean War.He attended Springs Valley High School. Seriously, check out his Basketball Reference page. Carr stole James Worthy's inbounds pass followed by a dunk to seal the win. Chicago Bulls 4-1, 1981 Eastern Conference Final: Celtics def. Click the links to read up on the Finals records of the best players in league history. The following season, the Celtics did end up losing to the Philadelphia 76ers after winning their first-round series against the Washington Bullets (what a team name!). NBA Awards - Finals MVP - National Basketball Association - ESPN Of the subsequent finals, Basketbawful writes, "the Lakers played great and the Boston bench sucked. When discussing his legacy with Brian Mahoney of the Associated Press (h/t the Daily Hampshire Gazette), Bird didnt take much time to sing his own praises. He held this role for five seasons before being offered the Indiana Pacers head coach role. Hall of Fame. After the game a Laker fan threw a beer at Celtics guard M.L. According to Basketball Reference, Johnson and Bird played against each other 18 times in the regular season throughout their careers. Bird and the Celtics lined up against the Los Angeles Lakers who took them to seven games. Magic Johnson had an 11-8 record in the NBA Finals versus Larry Bird in his career. Do you have a blog? So lets look at the 1984 NBA season. I have been a Boston sports fan for more than forty years. Cedric 'Cornbread' Maxwell speaks out on GOAT, today's NBA, Larry Bird Which player is ultimately better all-time is a different conversationbecause that includes a lot more than their individual matchups. Despite playing for another five seasons after his last title, Bird would retire with three NBA championships. This series was an eye-opener into how good the Celtics were this season. Larry Bird Reacts to Eastern Conference Finals MVP Trophy Named After Him. Sample Searches for learning more about the power and flexibility of Stathead. Bird averaged 28.3 points, 8.0 rebounds and 8.0 assists for the Cs. Larry led the way and averaged 27-14-4 to lead the team to the championship, along with his first Finals MVP. Bill suffered through injuries for much of his career but appeared in 80 games for the Celtics. In Game 3, the Lakers raced to an easy 137-104 victory as Magic Johnson dished out 21 assists, an NBA Finals record. During that year Lesley Visser, Stockton's wife, became the first woman to cover the NBA Finals for CBS. Shoots: Larry averaged 27-10-7 and led the Celtics with 36 points in a game-five win that saw the Celtics beat the Hawks by 33 points. The Lakers took an early lead in overtime, but a controversial foul call foul on Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, with 16 seconds remaining in regulation, had been his 6th foul, and he was out of the game. He and Chauncey Billups are the only two retired players to win Finals MVP but not to make the Hall of Fame. home/away, monthly, etc More Larry Bird Basketball Reference pages, Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Saturday, March 4, 6:46PM. Bird averaged 27.2 points, 9.6 boards and 7.0 assists for the series. Everything you wanted to know about Indiana legend Larry Bird Bird averaged 22.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 7.8 assists per game for the series. * Larry Bird was injured and missed the playoffs in 1989. Despite getting swept in the 1983 NBA Finals by the Philadelphia 76ers, the Lakers entered the season among the favorites to win the title. The Bullets were the 8th seed in the East winning only 35 regular season games and finishing last in the Atlantic division. Both times it was to his rival dating back to college: Magic Johnson and the Los Angeles Lakers. The Sixers took an 89-82 lead with five+ minutes to go. On May 16, 1985 the off-day between Games 2 and 3 of . Bird became only the third player in NBA history to win three titles in a row. 1st seed in the West, 2nd best league record. Bird poured in 39 in game 7 to lead the Cs to 30.4 points, 10.6 rebounds and 7.1 assists for the series. He averaged 27.4 points, 14.0 boards and 3.6 assists per game for the series. The Eastern Conference Finals were much more difficult. Thanks for signing up. Bird averaged 24.2 points,10.1 rebounds and 6.6 assists per game in the 1983-84 season. The Celtics were led by Cedric Maxwell who had 24 points, eight rebounds and eight assists as they came away with a 111-102 victory. Im not a guy that talks about my past because I always look to the future, but you really sit down and look at it, Ive been involved in a lot, its pretty nice, the forward simply explained. The Cs won games five and six by two points each to reach game 7. Bird scored 53 points against the Indiana Pacers, which broke Sam Jones' record set in 1965. Larry Bird Championships: He Defeated the Best! As for their averages, Johnson posted 20.7 points, 13.5 assists and 7.5 rebounds per game in their head-to-head matchups in the Finals compared to Bird's 25.3 points, 11.1 rebounds and 4.6 assists. The 1984 championship series scored high TV ratings. Cedric Maxwell averaged 17.7 points, 9.5 rebounds and 2.3 assists to win Finals MVP. Join us for a March Madness Webinar on Tuesday, March 7 at 8pm ET. Johnson had the winning record in the regular season and playoffs, and he took down Bird twice in their three Finals showdowns although Johnson having the better team had something to do with that. Dennis Johnson responded by sinking two free throws to seal the victory. In terms of individual honors, he won the 1979-80 Rookie of the Year title, claimed three MVP crowns, and earned two NBA Finals MVP nods. Small Forward and Power Forward Celtics-Lakers Rivalry | Basketball Wiki | Fandom He has been an NBA champion in 1981, 1984 and 1986 out of which he was the NBA Finals MVP in 1984 and 1986. The Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers have met a record 12 times in the NBA Finals, starting with their first . In Game 2, the Lakers led 113-111 with 18 seconds left when Gerald Henderson stole a James Worthy pass to score a game tying layup. Bird was named Finals MVP after averaging 27.4 points, 14.6 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game in the series. . He made the Finals five times in his thirteen-year career, winning the championship in 1981, 1984, and 1986. J Erving, The Sixers swept a weak Indiana Pacers team in round 1 (2-0) then went seven games to defeat a tough Milwaukee Bucks team starring Bob Lanier, Marques Johnson and. Check out stats on every National Basketball Association Finals MVP winner on ESPN.com. Larry Bird: Career retrospective | Yardbarker In his second season with the Celtics, Boston finished first in the East as they had done the previous year. . If you are interested in Larry Bird Championships, you might be interested in checking out some of these posts I have written about Larry Legend. Despite this, Bird did not win any championships during his college career. larry bird finals record - josieya When asked about what he remembers most about beating the Lakers in the 1984 NBA Finals, Carrs reply was: The final seconds of Game 7. Or write about sports? It seemed like it should be an easy series for the Celtics, with game one and two victories by double digits, but the Knicks home crowd helped their team to win all their series home games. M.L. Carr on Lakers vs. Celtics 1984 Finals being epic - Basketball Birds Celtics beat three pretty different teams in their Finals victories despite two of them being the Houston Rockets. While he didnt change who he was if anything, the Hick from French Lick was remarkably consistent he had an incredibly low-key take when it came to his own legacy. inWest Baden,Indiana They were the thoroughbreds, we were the Clydesdales., It was a very physical series, and thats exactly what we wanted because we knew thats the only way we could beat those guys. Julius Erving | Biography, Stats, & Facts | Britannica Aside from the two stars, the teams were among the most stacked in history. But what is Larry Birds record in the NBA Finals? He averaged 30.3 points, 13.3 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game across his three seasons, winning Naismith College Player of the Year in 1979. His accolades are countless, with the former Indiana State man being an NBA legend. Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. Larry Bird went 3-2 in his five NBA Finals appearances. He was a monster, averaging 22-16 in this Finals series. You have to really understand the circumstances in each Finals run and see how he ended up with the record that he has right now. Safe to say he absolutely dominated in every facet of the game for that second ring. However, this changed in the 1979 season when Birds Indiana State qualified for the NCAA tournament for the first time in school history. It brought Bird his third and final NBA Championship. How Does Larry Birds Finals Record Compare to Other Great NBA Players? It went back and forth but the Celtics were able to walk away with a massive victory to seal the series. JJ Redick Tried to Clarify His Stance on Larry Bird and '80s Basketball In the Finals, Bird dropped a triple-double on the Rockets in a series-clinching Game 6, giving the Celtics another ring. The Celtics won the first three games by an average of 6 points before the Hawks got their only win at home. They lost twice to the same team: the Los Angeles Lakers. One of the ongoing debates within the world of sports centers around how you define greatness. All-NBA First-Teamers NOT in the Hall of Fame, Basketball Positions 101: Understanding the Different Roles on the Court, The Best NBA Players to NOT Make the Hall of Fame, The Best All-Defensive Team in NBA History, The All-Time Worst NBA Finals Performances by a Superstar by Position. Your default site has been set for 7 days, Scoring the rivalry: How Magic Johnson and Larry Bird played in their legendary head-to-head matchups. James Posey shared the culture that made the 2008 Boston Celtics experience so unique. The league had changed the Finals homecourt schedule to the 2-3-2 format that year, allowing the team with the lesser record (LA) to host the middle three games. Larry Bird's NBA Finals record is 3-2. Regular season: PTS, FG, FT, 3P complete all-time. This was the last of Larrys three straight MVP seasons. At the macro level, the famous won three titles with the Boston Celtics.