For Larry Bird basketball was the way out of a life of poverty. Growing up in rural Indiana, there was no early indication that the Larry Bird Hall of Fame would be a reality. In fact, even tough he was drafted by well-known Indiana University out of high school, it was too much for Larry-he dropped out and spent the next year working for the French Lick road and trash services.

The biography of Larry Bird and basketball begins when he enrolled in Indiana State the following year and joined their basketball team. In a foreshadowing of his later career, “Larry Legend” took a nowhere team to the NCAA Finals three years later. Larry Bird basketball was such a sensation, students would line up for hours to get their tickets. In the 1979 season their record was 33-0 and they landed in the National Championship to face Michigan State University. Here he met another piece of what would become his legendary career: his nemesis Earvin “Magic” Johnson. Johnson’s Michigan team defeated Bird’s team in what would soon become a decade-long battle in the NBA. Bird graduated college, leaving as the fifth highest scorer in NCAA history.

The Larry Bird career began the next season in the NBA, where he was drafted sixth by the Boston Celtics. Magic was drafted number one by the Los Angeles Lakers. As a Celtic, Bird had an immediate impact. He was known as a shooter, his main weapon during his career, but lit a fire in the league by posting incredible per game averages for a rookie: 21 points per game, 10 rebounds per game and almost 5 assists as a small forward. He also took the Rookie of the Year honors from Magic and boosted the Celtics from the cellar to the best record in the league with 61 wins. Now, the Larry Bird Hall of Fame seemed a greater reality.

The next draft, the Celts brought in center Robert Parish and power forward Kevin McHale and that season the Celtics made it to the finals, where they defeated the Philadelphia 76ers. Any biography of Larry Bird would note here that this trio of players is seen as one of the best front courts ever. They would win two more NBA Finals amd Bird would be named the NBA Most Valuable Player three times. as the Larry Bird career brought him to legendary status.

Before the “Hick from French Lick” retired in 1991 from a chronic sore back that troubled him the previous few years, he solidified his credentials by posting career averages of: 24 points per game, 6 assists and 10 rebounds. Over his 13 years in the league, he shot an incredible 49.6% from the floor and over 88% from the free throw line. The Larry Bird Hall of Fame dream became reality 6 years later in 1998, when he was inducted by his friend and competitor, Magic Johnson. The Larry Bird biography still includes basketball both as a coach and executive primarily for the Indiana Pacers. Though he guided them to the Finals in 1999, they lost to, who else, the Los Angeles Lakers.

Working at a company that produces electronic basketball scoreboards, Electro-Mech understands the importance of paying homage to the latest and greatest, as with the case of Mr. Larry Bird. We also make sure follow all the latest (and hottest) basketball news, trends, scandals and, of course, the games. It is our passion and pleasure to share our knowledge and expertise with you on our favorite sports.