are larry and sue bird related

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Two of the greatest stars in the history of American basketball share the same last name despite not being related.

But as far as WNBA great Sue Bird is concerned, Boston Celtics legend Larry Bird may as well be her uncle. Thats what she told everyone, anyway.

When she was a kid growing up in Syosset, New York, Bird would “get asked all the time” if the NBA sharpshooter was a member of her family. She loved getting mistaken for the Indiana natives daughter or niece, so she made a habit of stretching the truth when it came to her family tree.

“Its like a famous story in my childhood school and neighborhood that I lied and I would tell people he was my uncle like all the time,” Bird told Insider with a laugh. “I mean, I was like 6 or 7, so I feel like thats excusable.” Advertisement

Fast-forward a few decades, and Bird has become a basketball legend in her own right and has laid claim to her already-famous surname. With four WNBA titles, five Olympic gold medals, 12 WNBA All-Star selections, and more assists than anyone else to ever compete in the league, Larry Birds fake niece went on to become one of the most accomplished players in womens basketball history.

And now that womens basketball and womens sports in general are starting to receive the mainstream media attention theyve long sought, Bird has become a household name among the American public — not just in WNBA circles. You may have even spotted her in one of her many TV commercials running during this years March Madness.

In one such ad, Bird stars alongside none other than her “Uncle Larry.” And she told Insider that, while filming, she “actually got to share that story with Larry, so that was a highlight for me.”

“So I told the story and I was like, Yeah, so youve been an honorary member of my family, you just didnt know it,” Bird recalled. “And he was was like, Im honored. Thats an honor. I was like, Thanks, Larry.”

Now 41 years old, Bird is the oldest active WNBA player and announced in January that shed be returning to the league for “one more year.” The 2022 season tips off in May, and should the Seattle Storm win a fifth championship before the legendary point guard officially retires, Bird will tie Rebekkah Brunson for the WNBA record for most titles won by any player.

Is Sue Bird related to Larry Bird?

Sorry to break the news to you, but people who think Sue and Larry are related will be shocked to hear that they are not.

“Since I’ve been 5, people have asked me if we’re related,” Sue told the WNBA back in 2006. “It is usually the third question in a line of questions. What’s your name? Sue Bird. Oh, what do you do? I play basketball. Are you related to Larry Bird? That’s how it goes.”

Sue and Larry don’t have any other connection, even though they have the same last name and have both shown exceptional basketball skills. Article continues below advertisement.

In one such ad, Bird stars alongside none other than her “Uncle Larry.” And she told Insider that, while filming, she “actually got to share that story with Larry, so that was a highlight for me.”

However, legend Larry Bird of the Boston Celtics might as well be Sue Bird’s uncle in the eyes of the WNBA. Thats what she told everyone, anyway.

Additionally, Bird is now well-known in the American public, not just among WNBA fans, as women’s basketball and women’s sports in general are beginning to get the mainstream media attention they have long sought. She may even have been visible in one of her numerous March Madness TV ads this year.

After a few decades, Bird has established herself as a basketball legend and claimed the notoriety of her last name. The fictitious niece of Larry Bird went on to become one of the most accomplished players in women’s basketball history, winning four WNBA titles, five Olympic gold medals, twelve WNBA All-Star selections, and more assists than any other player to have ever played in the league.

With a laugh, Bird told Insider, “It’s like a famous story in my childhood school and neighborhood that I lied and I would tell people he was my uncle like every time.” Since I was only six or seven at the time, I think that’s acceptable. ” Advertisement.

FAQ

Who is Sue Bird related to Larry Bird?

Although they share the same last name, there is no connection of Sue Bird with Larry Bird, the former NBA star of the Boston Celtics. Sue Bird ended her career in the fall of 2022. She played her entire professional career with the Seattle Storms in the WNBA, partly in parallel with an engagement in Russia.

Who is Sue Bird’s dad?

Bird was born in Syosset, New York, on Long Island to Herschel and Nancy Bird. She has one sibling, an older sister named Jen. Her father’s ancestry is Russian-Jewish. In the 1900’s, Bird’s paternal grandparents immigrated to the United States from what is now Ukraine.

Who is Larry Bird in a relationship with?

After 13 years of their divorce, Condra’s ex-husband, Larry Bird, married Dinah Mattingly in 1989. Mattingly and Bird adopted their children, Connor and Mariah Bird.