how tall was larry bird at 13

National team career edit

-Magic Johnson, as quoted at Birds retirement party.[91]

One of the all-time great basketball players and shooters, Bird has received accolades. [92][93][94] He was selected to 12 NBA All-Star teams. [95] With the Celtics, Bird won three NBA titles (1981, 1984, and 1986) and two NBA Finals MVP Awards. [96] Bird was the only player to win three straight regular season MVP awards as of 2020; Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain are the other two. [97] Bird also finished second in the regular season MVP competition four times (1981, 1982, 1983, and 1988). [98] Bird is regarded as one of the best clutch players in NBA history and was well-known for his performance in high-pressure, high-stakes scenarios. [99][100][101] In October 2021, Bird was recognized as one of the 75 greatest players of all time by being added to the NBA’s 75th Anniversary All-Time Team in celebration of the league’s 75th anniversary. [3] The Athletic listed the top 75 players of all time to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the NBA, and Bird was ranked as the seventh-greatest player in NBA history. [102].

Bird scored 24. 3 points per game in his career on a . 496 field goal percentage, an . 886 free throw percentage, and a . 376 percentage on three-point shots. Bird had an average of 10. 0 rebounds per game for his career and 6. 3 assists. [103] Bird became the first player in NBA history to shoot 50% or better on field goals, 90% on free throws in a single season, and 20% on three-pointers while accomplishing the league minimum for makes in each category. [104] He accomplished this feat twice. [105] Bird won NBA three-point-shooting contests in three consecutive years. [106] He occasionally closed his eyes to practice making three-pointers. [103].

Bird is also remembered as an excellent passer[107] and defender. [89] Despite his slow speed, Bird was a skilled opponent predictor, which made him a valuable member of the team defense. [92] He had 1,556 career steals. [108] Bird was selected to three All-Defensive Second Teams in honor of his defensive prowess. [92].

Bird was widely considered one of Red Auerbachs favorite players. He regarded Bird as the all-time great basketball player. [109] Bird’s most popular nickname, “The Hick from French Lick,” originated from his lowly beginnings. [110] Bird was also referred to as “Larry Legend”. [111].

As one of the most prominent trash-talkers of his time, Bird was well-known for his antics on the court. [112][113] Bird had a reputation for forecasting his opponents’ next moves and points on the floor. Xavier McDaniel recalled that Bird once “shot a shot right in my face and was like Damn, I didnt mean to leave two seconds on the clock,” after predicting a game-winning basket against him. “[114] Bird continuously downplayed Dennis Rodman’s defensive prowess during their 1987 Eastern Conference finals matchup, even going so far as to ask Detroit’s head coach Chuck Daly to assign someone to cover Rodman.” [115].

Because he’s so tall, Larry Bird is very aware of his own mortality. By

Larry Bird’s height contributed to his exceptional basketball abilities. He was a 6-foot-9 forward who was among the best NBA players we have ever seen and will ever see because he could dribble, pass, and shoot like Bird. During his tenure as the Boston Celtics’ leader, he achieved some of the most amazing basketball runs ever. Even today, NBA rivalries still follow the model set by the three-time MVP, whose struggles against Magic Johnson and the Los Angeles Lakers helped redefine the position.

But Bird appears to pay a price for his height, one that he acknowledges and doesn’t attempt to conceal. Taller people tend to age more quickly and have higher levels of growth hormone, which causes damage and dysfunction to accumulate more quickly. Bird, who is currently the president of the Pacers at the age of 59, is aware of the health issues that 7-footers face, and although his wife doesn’t want to hear about it, he doesn’t necessarily expect to live to be 75 years old. From Jackie MacMullan of ESPN the Magazine:

For many NBA players, past and present, this is an extremely unsettling idea. The emotional toll that being that tall takes is immense, and even though their abilities and stature bring them financial rewards, the fact that their life will be cut short due to their size is their reality. Even though the topic is depressing, Bird doesn’t really run from it or ignore what it means for him and his family. The best they can do is keep an eye on their health, make an effort to continue working out, and wish for the best.

In the essay, Bird hypothesizes that big men who ran the most and played the hardest are most likely to die young. He claims that after they retire, their hearts just sit there because they have invested so much in them. Given Bird’s concerning back problems, which began during his playing career, exercising gets increasingly more difficult as one ages.

The deaths of Christian Welp (51), Jack Haley (51), Anthony Mason (48), Moses Malone (60), Darryl Dawkins (58), and Anthony Mason (48) in the past year serve as a reminder that Birds and other players’ peers and contemporaries died far too young.

Regular season edit

FAQ

How tall was Michael Jordan at 14?

Was Larry Bird 6 9 or 6 10?

How tall was NBA players at 12?

How tall was Russell Westbrook at 15?