how did boston draft larry bird

Red Auerbach took a big chance when he drafted Larry Bird No. 6 overall in 1978, not because there was any question about Birds talent, but because he made a promise to his mother to play his senior season at Indiana State University. The negotiations to bring Bird to Boston went on for months before Bird signed a record contract for a rookie in any sport just a couple of weeks before the 1979 NBA Draft, when the Celtics would have lost the rights to him. Said Bird at the press conference, somewhat tongue-in-cheek: I should have told Mr. Auerbach I would have played for nothing.

Draft edit Mychal Thompson was selected 1st overall by the Portland Trail Blazers. Larry Bird was selected 6th overall by the Boston Celtics.

Despite not being chosen in the 1978 draft, these players participated in at least one NBA game.

Key edit

Pos.	G	F	C
Position	Guard	Forward	Center

Draft selections and draftee career notes edit

Larry Bird had just completed his junior year at Indiana State prior to the draft. He could have been drafted, though, without having to file for “hardship,” as his Indiana University class had already graduated. [10][15] In 1974, he enrolled at Indiana University but left before the season started. After sitting out a year, he enrolled at Indiana State. [16] He declared that he would return to college for his senior season even though he was eligible for the draft. The Indiana Pacers, his hometown team, had the first overall pick at first. But after they were unable to convince him to graduate from college early, they traded the first pick to the Blazers, who were also unable to get him to sign. [17][18] Up until the Celtics used the sixth pick to draft him, five teamsincluding the Pacers, who had the third pickpassed on Bird. They drafted him even though they were aware that if he didn’t sign before the next draft, they might lose the exclusive rights to him. In negotiations with Red Auerbach Birds agent Bob Woolf, the team made it clear that Bird would enter the 1979 Draft regretlessly if Boston didn’t change its plans. Woolf told Bird that he would not offer him a contract that paid him more than the $400,000 annual salary of the team’s highest-paid player at the time, Dave Cowens. Bird could also reenter the draft in 1979 and sign with the other team that drafted him. Nevertheless, in April 1979, he signed a five-year, US$3. He signed a $25 million contract with the Celtics, making him the highest-paid rookie in team sports history at the time. [19].

FAQ

How did Larry Bird get drafted by Boston?

Red Auerbach took a big chance when he drafted Larry Bird No. 6 overall in 1978, not because there was any question about Bird’s talent, but because he made a promise to his mother to play his senior season at Indiana State University.

How did Larry Bird get to the Celtics?

Auerbach did, however, select Bird with the sixth overall pick in the 1978 draft. Bird played out the 1979 NCAA season instead of signing with the Celtics, but Boston managed to ink Bird to a five-year, $3.25 million deal just before its draft rights expired.

Why didn t Larry Bird get drafted?

He had played four years of college, which made him eligible for the draft as a junior, but he wanted to play his final season at Indiana State. The struggling Pacers needed a player quickly and the team couldn’t wait around to see if it would have enough money to get Bird under contract a year later.

How did the Lakers get the number 1 pick in 1979?

The Lakers had acquired a first-round pick in the 1979 NBA draft from New Orleans when the Jazz signed Gail Goodrich as a free agent before the 1976-77 season. That pick turned out to be the No. 1 overall selection when the Jazz finished with the league’s worst record in 1978-79.