2. Bird has appeared in three movies, each time playing himself: Bird's likeness has appeared in several video games. Anonymous. 2002 NBA Pre Draft Measurement 2002 NBA Pre-Draft Camp Measurements Player Ht. From Jackie MacMullan of ESPN the Magazine: Bird, who has an enlarged heart, was diagnosed in 1995 with atrial fibrillation, an abnormal heartbeat resulting from electrical signals being generated chaotically throughout the heart's upper chambers. He is a four-time All-Defensive team member, and he led the league in steals in 2009-10. Charles Barkley has been quoted saying McHale was the best player he ever played against. The strain that goes on the heart of someone that tall is tough, and despite being rewarded financially for their skills and size, having that life cut short because of that same size is their reality. The couple . Mock Archives 2017 Mock Draft 2016 Mock Draft . LeBron was definitely a better player. Unfortunately he's had a difficult time keeping pace with the speed of the NBA, and his limited offensive game has come to light. Player stats broken down into various categories; i.e. Celtics booed off floor after blowing 28-point lead, Randle's game-winner runs Knicks' win streak to eight, Durant passes Robertson for 13th on NBA scoring list, Grizzlies' Brooks: 'I don't like Draymond at all', Magic's Isaac undergoes season-ending surgery, Suns vs. Bulls odds, picks, predictions, bets. Deadeye Jump shots attempted with a defender closing out in front of the player will suffer a lower penalty. [48], Before the start of the 198586 season, the Celtics made a daring trade for Bill Walton, an All-Star center with a history of injury. Catch & Shoot The badge increases the shooting percentage of a player attempting a three-pointer immediately after receiving a pass. This is a player who has shot 50% from the field, 40% from 3 point land, and 90% from the line. The Boston Celtics won the NBA Championship thrice under his work, making Bird the NBA Most Valuable Player three times. All rights reserved. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. With his added length, Durant is able to get the ball in a position that is very hard to defend. However, the sharpshooting forward felt some trepidation about the size of the Hoosier campus and withdrew from school, enrolling at Indiana State the next year. The average NBA player will have a wingspan 4 inches greater than his height. He played for the Celtics during his entire professional career (13 seasons), leading them to five NBA finals appearances and three NBA championships. Bird began the next chapter of his life as a front-office special assistant for the Celtics, a post he held for five years. He was a raw athlete out of the Democratic Republic of Congo, having only picked up the sport at the age of 16. .css-m6thd4{-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;display:block;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;font-family:Gilroy,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif;font-size:1.125rem;line-height:1.2;font-weight:bold;color:#323232;text-transform:capitalize;}@media (any-hover: hover){.css-m6thd4:hover{color:link-hover;}}Remembering Just Fontaine and His World Cup Record, The Man Behind the First All-Black Basketball Team, 8 Times Brothers Have Faced Off in a Championship, Every Black Quarterback to Play in the Super Bowl, Soccer Star Christian Atsu Survived an Earthquake. Thats both confident and cold-blooded. The Best Michael Jordan Build in NBA 2K22, How to Set Realistic Game Sliders in NBA 2K22, Teams With the Most Cap Space in NBA 2K22 MyGM. He was a great post scorer and could dominate the paint like a big man. Coming into the league, many pundits wondered if Mourning could be a starting center at only 69. . w/out shoes Ht. A 1980s Converse commercial for its "Weapon" line of basketball shoes (endorsed by both Bird and Johnson) reflected the perceived dichotomy between the two players. Mourning has the most blocks in NBA history for a player under 70 feet tall with 2,356 (11th on the all-time list). He has seen his points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks and field goal percentage increase in each of his first three seasons in the league. [53] On March 10, 1986, Bird scored 50 points to go along with 11 rebounds and 5 assists in a 115116 loss to the Dallas Mavericks. [102] Bird's humble roots were the source of his most frequently used moniker, "The Hick from French Lick". He was also quite adept at looking for the open man from the post. The losses of Moses Malone (60 years old), Darryl Dawkins (58), Anthony Mason (48), Christian Welp (51) and Jack Haley (51) all in the last year are a reminder of Bird's and others' contemporaries and peers during their playing days passing away far too young. Increasing the height will give these attributes a huge boost anyway. Larry Bird played the small forward and power forward positions at a height of 6'9" (2. . [82] In 1999, Bird ranked No. In his final three seasons with the Celtics, Bird averaged over 20 points, 9 rebounds and 7 assists per game, shot better than 45% from the field, and led the Celtics to playoff appearances. Indiana State University, High School: In Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Pistons, with five seconds remaining in the fourth quarter and Boston trailing the Pistons 107106, Bird stole an inbound pass. All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. Takeover The game will provide you with three takeover options. Positions: Small forward, power forwardYears Active: 19791992, Drawings include:Larry Bird standing, shooting, dribbling, NBA - National Basketball AssociationWikipedia - Basketball. When they mention length, they are not talking about a player's height, but more so his wingspan. Larry Bird was such a player. Durant is one of the 6 members of the 50-40-90 club. [50] 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. While standing 77, Bols wingspan was an unheard of 86. To put that in perspective, his hands are larger than that of LeBron James. Two-time Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame inductee: College Basketball Hall of Fame (class of 2006). Someone like Boozer who's measured as 6'7 3/4 isn't any shorter than other players listed at 6'9 too. Lastly, the wingspan can be reduced to around 83.0 inches. Their rivalry continued on in the revived CelticsLakers Rivalry in the NBA. Both Dinah and Larry studied at Indiana State University. The reality is that Pippen did a lot of things that made Jordan a better player. [86], Bird was widely considered one of Red Auerbach's favorite players. What he showed us is that truly elite stats can be produced by some with almost no talent, but insanely freaky physical attributes. [29] On November 23, Bird recorded his first 30-point scoring game (along with 11 rebounds and 3 assists) in a 118103 win over the Indiana Pacers. [104], Bird was known for his trash-talking on the court and is remembered as one of the most notable trash-talkers of his era. [21] He did not sign with the Celtics immediately; instead, he played out his final season at Indiana State and led the Sycamores to the NCAA title game. The two adopted a son and daughter, Conner and Mariah. Everyone knows that Manute Bol was the tallest player in NBA history, but he also possessed the largest wingspan. With at least 10 potential upgrade points, you will have several options for playmaking badges. Data Provided By Prince will not go down in any record books, but ask some of the games best who the toughest defender they faced is, and Tayshaun Princes name will be be right up there. He complemented his all-around game with accurate outside shooting and unmatched bravado. Note, this is done in an automated way, so we apologize for any errors, & please. He was voted onto the NBA's 50 Greatest Players in NBA History list in 1996, and consequently the 75th Anniversary Team list in 2021. Even though he was a superstar, he also had no problem doing the dirty work, like playing hard-nose defense and hustling for loose balls. 9. But if youre a fan of Birds game, then there are ways to customize your character to dominate on the court like the former Celtics superstar. The way you will be building your character will give you a lot of potential badge upgrades under the shooting category. Springs Valley in French Lick, Indiana, Draft: Over the course of his 13-year Hall of Fame career, the sharpshooting forward led the Celtics to three NBA titles and claimed three MVP awards. http://www.nbadraft.net/2002predraftmeasurements.htm, http://www.insidehoops.com/chicago-camp-measurements.shtml, http://www.insidehoops.com/draft-prospect-measurements.shtml, http://www.friendster.com/user.php?uid=27447626, http://canadahoops.blogspot.com/2007/05/nba-predraft-camp-measurements-2002.html, http://blog.oregonlive.com/behindblazersbeat/Orlando%202007-Complete%20%20Results.xls. Your submission has been received! Post Spin Technician Attempting to perform post spins or drives result in more effective moves, and lessens the chances of getting stripped by opponents. That wingspan is the same size that the 75 Shawn Bradley had. Bird was born on December 7, 1956, in West Baden Springs, Indiana, and raised in the nearby town of French Lick, where he excelled at basketball at an early age. Special Delivery Improves the chances of connecting with an alley-oop pass and increases the shot percentage of teammates who receive a flashy pass from the player. Chew on these numbers for a moment. The World's Most Entertaining Car Website. The NBA logo features a silhouette of Jerry West, and that player does appear to have rather long arms. [49] In Game 6 of the Finals series, Bird recorded a triple-double of 29 points, 11 rebounds and 12 assists as the Celtics won the Finals series 4 games to 2 against the Rockets. It's an entirely different game when you're Six-Nine." That would have been a 17% increase on his height. Have you heard of the 50-40-90 club? . Larry looks fit and has an athletic body, but he had to go through back fusion surgery, leading him to end his playing career. Indiana State. Larry Bird was 6'9" no wingspan numbers but he had average looking arms. Drafted by the Boston Celtics with the sixth overall pick in the 1978 NBA draft after his second year at Indiana State, Bird elected to stay in college and returned for the 19781979 season. But, his biggest skill was his defense. Unfortunately, a trade-off with this player archetype is that there will be fewer points available for the others. The Celtics, led by Bird, and the Lakers, led by Magic, were present in every NBA Finals series in the 80s, with Bird and Magic meeting three times. For that, we have developed the best Magic Johnson build in NBA 2K22. Rajon Rondo is currently one of the best point guards in the league. Bird averaged 10.0 rebounds per game in his career. To be part of this group, a player must record at least 50% field goal percentage, 40% three-point field goal percentage, and 90% free throw percentage throughout a season. That's the greatest game I've ever played in or seen played." Bird returned to the Pacers as president of basketball operations in 2013,[6] and remained in that role until 2017. The most accurate reports found that West had an 81 inch wingspan, which would translate to 69. I know there are a few of us who live a long time, but most of us big guys don't seem to last too long. (Larry Legend, The Hick from French Lick, Kodak, The Great White Hope), Position: Considering the troubling back issues Bird has had, which started during his playing days, exercise becomes a much tougher thing to do when you get older. Larry Bird is a charming man with brown eyes and dark brown hair. To put that into perspective that is only one inch shorter than Shaq's wingspan. Bird and his teammates easily won the Olympic gold medal for the United States, and just a few weeks later, Bird announced his retirement as a player. Difficult Shots High-difficulty jumpers attempted from the mid-range get an increased shot percentage. College basketball games are played with two 20 minute periods, while professional NBA basketball games consist of four quarters of 12 minutes each. His mother, Cora Lillian, had an above average height at six feet. 3940. He is not dating anyone. However, I suggest going for Spot Up Shooter. DiamondLobby is owned and operated by Rank Zero LTD, Company Number 10507049, and is a registered trade mark (UK00003715943). His length gives nightmares to the NBAs best on a nightly basis as he would be frustrating the likes of Kobe, Melo, and LeBron. Heights are barefeet estimates, derived from quotations, official websites, agency resumes, in person encounters with actors at conventions and pictures/films. Bird is universally regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all time. And to show you how skill beats jumping ability and athleticism, during his 13-year NBA career from 1979 to 1992, he won 3 championship rings with the Celtics. The four-time NBA scoring champ is a player who uses his impressive wingspan to gain an advantage on the offensive side of the court. [84], "Larry, you only told me one lie. Biyombo has been playing center for Charlotte over the course of the past 3 years, and at 69, is one of the smaller centers in the league, but the wingspan more than makes up for the height deficiency. Bird was one of the greatest players ever in crunch time, making four buzzer-beaters throughout his career. [75] It was the first time in the United States' Olympic history that the country sent NBA players to compete. Join our newsletter! [16][17][18] He had a successful three-year career with the Sycamores, helping them reach the NCAA tournament for the first time in school history with a 330 record where they played the 1979 championship game against Michigan State. He couldn't miss. When he was on fire from the three-point line or mid-range, no one can stop him. He is a 66 player, and he's held his own thanks to a 260 pound base and a 73 wingspan. Not since Bill Russell squared off against Wilt Chamberlain had professional basketball enjoyed such a marquee matchup. [21] In the playoffs, the Celtics avenged their loss from the year before to the Bucks, winning in five games in the Conference Finals to advance to the Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers. Leonardo Da Vincis Vitruvian man depicts the ideal human as having a wingspan equal to his height, but this was based off a human that was 55. In the commercial, Bird is practicing alone on a rural basketball court (in reality the court was one Bird had made on the property in French Lick that he had purchased for his mother), when Johnson pulls up in a sleek limousine and challenges him to a one-on-one match. It was Larry Bird's height that made his basketball skills so remarkable. However, by then his formerly relentless attack on the court had been slowed by a bad back. The hop shooting style allows him to get his shot off very quickly, and what makes Durant special is his point of release. Fade Ace This provides a shot boost to post fadeaways. Interceptor This significantly increases the frequency of successfully tipped or stolen passes. By visiting Celeb Heights you agree to its. home/away, monthly, etc More Larry Bird Basketball Reference pages. At the very least, he's as tall as players listed at 6'9. In his own right McHale was one of the leagues great. [47], During the 1985 offseason, Bird injured his back shoveling crushed rock to create a driveway at his mother's house. At 68, Brand is undersized as an NBA power forward, but has made up for it with a giant wingspan that measures 75. Want updates on new Dimensions content? After retiring as a player in 1992, he was appointed as the coach for the team the Boston Celtics. He led the league in rebounds twice and during the 2000s he averaged 10.2 rebounds a game. I agree to receive the "CBS Sports HQ Newsletter" and marketing communications, updates, special offers (including partner offers), and other information from CBS Sports and the Paramount family of companies. Bird had an average of 10.0 rebounds per game for his career and 6.3 assists. That is 6.5% greater than his height. Any data prior to that is not a guarantee, and much of it is urban legend that grew a life of its own. Johnson appeared at Bird's retirement ceremony on February 4, 1993, and emotionally described Bird as a "friend forever".[63]. So much so, that Charles Barkley even admitted that he wasn't 6'6, but . Prior to Bird's second year, the Celtics acquired center Robert Parrish from the Golden State Warriors and drafted Kevin McHale. [21] In the Conference Finals, Boston was eliminated by the Philadelphia 76ers. [71], Journalists speculated that Bird and Magic represented different contrasts, such as clashes between Celtics and Lakers, between East and West, and between Blacks and Whites. Davis stands 610, and, at the 2012 pre-draft combine, was measured to have a 75 wing span. Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? This will give your shooting attributes a bit of a boost. What is not a stretch is that Davis is a premiere athlete, with an incredible wingspan. The three-time MVP helped redefine the position and his battles with Magic Johnson and the Los Angeles Lakers is the standard for NBA rivalry even today. Even when considering his height, the wingspan is still 12.1% larger than his body. [121], In 1975, Bird married Janet Condra. It is that length that has sustained Brands career. So, when selecting a physical profile for your player, I suggest choosing the combination of strength and agility. He says they build their hearts up so much that when they retire, the hearts just sit there. Honestly, all of them fit Bird so well. Scottie Pippen is one of the most versatile players in NBA history. [92] Bird is also remembered as one of the foremost clutch performers in the history of the NBA; he was known for his excellent play in high-stakes, high-pressure situations. Blinders Jump shots attempted with an opponent closing out in the players peripheral vision will not be penalized that much. When Durant drives the lane, his length allows him to finish with greater success, and have less shots contested. After leading the Pacers to the NBA Finals in 2000, he stepped down as head coach. Bird won 3 MVPs in a row, 2 rings, and 2 finals MVPs in that stretch, plus was 2nd and 3rd in MVP voting in the 2 years he didn't win MVP in that stretch. Only eight other NBA players have achieved the rare feat. Oops! [101] In recognition of his defensive abilities, Bird was named to three All-Defensive Second Teams. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. Following his junior year, Bird was selected with the sixth overall pick in the NBA draft by the Boston Celtics. 3. He's closer to 7'1 I think. The "Dream Team" won the men's basketball gold medal. That is a 12% increase in wingspan from his height. Durant is what is referred to as a hop shooter, something rare for a player of his height. He chose to return to Indiana State for one more year and led the Sycamores to the NCAA championship game against the Michigan State Spartans, a team led by another future NBA superstar, Ervin .css-47aoac{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-thickness:0.0625rem;text-decoration-color:inherit;text-underline-offset:0.25rem;color:#A00000;-webkit-transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;}.css-47aoac:hover{color:#595959;text-decoration-color:border-link-body-hover;}"Magic" Johnson. [91] Bird was also a four-time regular season MVP runner-up in 1981, 1982, 1983, and 1988. Bird got his 3rd 2nd team all defense in 84, it's not like he was slouch on that end, even if Lebron was the better defender. Bird was also a member of the gold medal-winning 1992 United States men's Olympic basketball team known as the "Dream Team". Or write about sports? Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. [20] For his college career, he averaged 30.3 points, 13.3 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game,[21] leading the Sycamores to an 8113 record during his tenure. In 1999, when he won his first Defensive Player of the Year, he had an insane 3.9 blocks a game. [19][20] Indiana State lost the game 7564, with Bird scoring 19 points but making only 7 of 21 shots. When Kawhi Leonard took home the NBA playoff MVP, he became the second youngest player to do so, as only Magic Johnson (who did it twice before the age of 23) did it younger. West was known for his extremely quick jump shot, and when coupled with his length, it formed one of the deadliest jump shots in NBA history. He mentioned in his own book about his height, saying "I was almost six-four as a junior, six-six or so as a senior and I grew to Six-Nine. "I tell my wife all the time, 'You don't see many 7-footers walking around at the age of 75,'" says Bird, who's 6-foot-9. 6 ft 9 in or 206 cm. If it goes, it goes.". Magic got the upper hand against Bird, beating him in 1985 and 1987, while Bird beat Magic in 1984.