Larry Bird, of the Indiana Pacers, has had a luminous career in basketball in Indianapolis and Boston, a career which is still going strong. Presently the Chief Executive Officer and president of the Indiana Pacers, out of Indianapolis, Bird was born in West Baden, Indiana. He distinguished himself at his French Lick, Indiana high school, Springs Valley, where he assumed the nickname “The Hick from French Lick.” He played college basketball at Indiana State, receiving recognition by winning the USBWA College Player of the Year, Wooden and Naismith Awards. By the time this part of his life was over, he was the fifth-highest scorer in the history of the NCAA, and earned a permanent place on the All-Century Team of the Missouri Valley Conference.
Video about Indiana Pacer CEO Larry Bird’s incredible NBA career
Larry Bird was drafted in 1978 by the NBA Boston Celtics, the highest-paid rookie in NBA’s history at that time. This was no mistake, as Bird went on to have an immediate positive impact on the team and become Rookie of the Year.
Video of Larry Bird discussing star Indiana Pacer player Jamaal Tinsley in Indianapolis, Indiana
Bird followed up with a stellar career as a Boston Celtics small forward and power forward for another twelve seasons, racking up a long list of records and generally distinguishing himself as one of the best professional basketball players of all time.
In the latter part of his career with the Celtics, he kept his footing as a leading world basketball player, though physical problems were slowly taking their toll. Even so, Bird played in the American “Dream Team” at the 1992 Olympics, alongside Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson and other NBA superstars, winning the gold in men’s basketball.
From 1992 to 1997, Bird worked for the Celtics as a “special assistant,” after which time he became the Indiana Pacers’ coach. Leading the team to a championship in the 2000 Eastern Conference, Bird was named NBA Coach of the Year in 1998.
In the year 2000, Larry Bird finally resigned his position as coach for the Pacers, but did not quite manage to hang up his shingle completely, returning in 2003 to oversee the team in the capacity of President of Basketball Operations.
Larry Bird, beloved by all the many basketball-crazy Hoosiers, especially Indianapolis kids, has had a hand in reshaping Indianapolis sports for the better. No matter where he is, or isn’t, the Pacers’ Larry Bird will remain one of the legendary basketball players and coaches in the history of the sport, and a charter member of the famous people from Indianapolis roster.
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