Aaron's Sports History Highlights
Larry Bird was born in 1956 in French Lick, Indiana. A star on his high school basketball team, he attended Indiana State University and was named collegiate player of the year in his last season (1979). He then joined the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He led the Celtics to a first-place finish in their division and was named rookie of the year in 1980.
The 6-ft 9-in (2.1-m) Bird led the Celtics to NBA championships in 1981, 1984, and 1986. He was a frequent starter in the NBA All-Star Game, and he excelled as a shooter, rebounder, and passer. He was named the NBA's most valuable player (MVP) in 1984, 1985, and 1986.
Throughout the 1980s Bird shared the spotlight as best player in the NBA with Magic Johnson of the Los Angeles Lakers. Both players led their teams to multiple championships, and they are widely recognized as the two dominant players of the decade. With their well-publicized rivalry, Bird and Johnson are credited with helping revitalize interest in the NBA.
