The Legend of Larry Bird

Overrated: That’s how the skeptics feel about Larry Bird’s game. They find it hard to believe that a gawky white guy from Indiana could run the league in the 80s. By Bird’s own admission he wasn’t a high-flyer or the quickest on the court. His legacy has to be overhyped nostalgia, right? The tales of his heroics are practically mythical—fantastic yarns spun by old heads to glorify a bygone era. But what if these legendary moments were actually true? Here's your chance to dive into the lore of Bird’s career. We've detailed some of his most iconic moments. You get to decide if they're true or just tall tales. At the end of the story be sure to check the Truthiness Key to the right (available on desktop) to see how you did. It’s time to separate the myth from The Legend and relive the thrilling saga about one of basketball's greats!

THE HICK FROM FRENCH LICK (1)
Can you imagine if Larry Bird had traded basketball for a career in waste management? In 1974, the future NBA superstar was offered a scholarship to join Bobby Knight and the Indiana Hoosiers. This was a golden opportunity for a young hoop fiend. But just a few weeks into college, Bird made a stunning exit. The legend goes that the transition from his small-town of French Lick to the city of Bloomington was too much for him. Bird moved back home and picked up a job hauling trash.

IT'S GOTTA BE THE JEANS (2)
In 1975, Indiana Sycamores assistant coach Bill Hodges made a daring trip to French Lick, determined to recruit a raw but promising talent in Larry Bird. Convinced he had found something special, Hodges managed to persuade Bird to join a scrimmage at Indiana State. Showing up in jeans and declaring he “plays better in denim,” Bird made a statement by dropping a cool 40 points in the game. Bird joined the Sycamores and transformed the team into a powerhouse, leading them to an astonishing 81-13 record over four-years. By 1979, Bird’s squad boasted a perfect 33–0 record while challenging Magic Johnson as the marquee player in the NCAA. Despite his proclivity for denims Bird didn’t rock jeans during his college games. He opted instead for the team issued blue-and-white nut huggers, which was the style at the time.

SAVIOR OF THE LEAGUE (3)
The NBA fell on hard times during the 1970s. Drug use was rampant throughout the league and games were on tape delay. The 1978–79 season saw the storied Boston Celtics falter with just 29 wins, and the NBA teetered on the brink of bankruptcy. The arrival of Larry Bird and Magic Johnson was nothing short of a godsend. Their fierce college rivalry ignited a spark in the pro ranks, drawing fans back to arenas. The buzz around Bird and Magic revitalized the association, turning it from a league on life support into a national sensation. Attendance soared, fans tuned in at home, and the NBA was forever transformed by the epic clash of these two icons.

“If I needed a shot to save the game, I’d pick Michael Jordan. If I needed a shot to save my life, I’d take Larry Bird.”

EPIC RECOVERY (4)
In his electrifying rookie season, Larry Bird catapulted the Celtics to a thrilling 4­–0 start. The team finished the season with a league best 61 wins. This made for what was then the best single-season turnaround in league history. As the youngest player on the roster, Bird played all 82 games, leading the Celtics with an impressive 1,745 points. Veteran Cedric Maxwell, who appeared in 80 games, notched 1,350 points. Bird also topped the squad in rebounds with 10 per game and ranked second in assists with 4 per game. His phenomenal performance didn’t go unnoticed; Bird earned Rookie of the Year, signaling the dawn of a new era of basketball greatness.

NO THANK YOU, FRIEND (5)
Did you catch the legendary game in 1985 when Larry Bird was tearing up the Jazz? By the third quarter, he was one steal away from a quadruple-double. Celtics coach K.C. Jones offered Bird a chance to re-enter the game. Bird casually shrugged, saying, “I’ve done enough damage”. If he had snagged that final steal, Bird would have become the second player in NBA history to notch a quadruple-double. Instead, he finished the night with a masterful 30 points, 12 rebounds, 10 assists, and 9 steals. All while shooting a smooth 59% from the field and 50% from deep!

SIGN O’ THE TIMES (6)
In 1985, Time Magazine published a feature on two iconic sports figures: Larry Bird and Wayne Gretzky. When Bird was asked to pose for the cover, he flatly refused, citing it would interfere with practice. Not the game. Practice. This was a testament to Bird’s relentless drive and dedication to his craft, proving that nothing—not even a high-profile magazine shoot—came between him and the pursuit of greatness. Time Magazine was forced to go with an illustrated cover instead.



GOING LEFTY (7)
Did you see the mind-blowing performance where Bird dropped 47 points, 14 rebounds, and 11 assists against the Trail Blazers? He made 27 of those points with his non-dominant hand! In 1986 the Celtics finished with the best record in the league at 67–15. This includes a 40–1 record at home. Bird, always on the lookout for a little extra challenge, would find innovative ways to troll his teammates and his opponents. Just like going southpaw for part of a game and still shooting 21 of 34 (61%).

WHO’S PLAYING FOR SECOND? (8)
It’s the 1986 All-Star game. Larry Legend is shooting in the three-point contest. He humbly walks into the locker room, surveys the competition and asks, “who’s playing for second?” When collecting his $10k reward Bird coolly remarks, “That check has had my name on it for weeks.” Legend also won the contest in ’87 and ’88. In ’88 he didn’t even take off his warmup jacket. When Bird put up the last ball in the contest he walked away with all of the swagger in the world before the shot even dropped. Did he drain that last three-ball? Of course he did.

THE PUREST SHOT (9)
It’s no secret that Lakers coach Pat Riley isn’t a fan of the Celtics. They have been a rival in every era of his NBA career. Riley had this to say about one of the greatest Celtics ever, “if I needed a shot to save the game, I’d pick Michael Jordan. If I needed a shot to save my life, I’d take Larry Bird.”

DROPPIN’ 60, HOLMES (10)
On March 12, 1985, Bird nearly sat out against the Hawks with tight hamstrings, but instead unleashed a jaw-dropping 60 points on 61% shooting. His performance was so phenomenal that the Hawks bench was fined for literally falling out of their seats in hysterics. Bird’s motivation? Kevin McHale had just set a new Celtics franchise record with 56 points against the Pistons. Bird told McHale he should have gone for 60 because the record wouldn’t last long. It didn’t. Nine days later Bird made good on his word.

LEGENDARY TRASH-TALK (11)
Larry Legend was an absolute assassin, a psychological killer who thrived on mind games. He’d casually call out plays to opponents—“I’m going to fake you left and shoot a right hand hook over you, and win the game”—then execute them flawlessly. This was a hallmark of his career. Elite defenders were dumbfounded, unable to stop him despite knowing his game plan. Magic Johnson once admitted, “when I played, Larry Bird was the only one I feared. Larry Bird is so good, it's frightening.” Celtics Coach K.C. Jones compared Bird’s mental game to Muhammad Ali’s, noting how Bird could psych you out with just a look or a few words, then back it up every time. 

HIGH PRAISE (12)
Michael Jordan—widely considered the greatest hooper of all time—said this of Bird’s game: “He was really that good. You see players like Luka and Dirk, they are great, but they’re not Larry Bird. You have to have a great appreciation to play against a guy who athletically, every single night was at a disadvantage. But mentally, and the way his work ethic was—he was way above the game, he was way above everybody else.” Is this just a hot take, or is it game recognizing game?

LETS SEE HOW YOU DID
The legend of Larry Bird is full of lore that sound like total exaggeration, right? Now you can use the Truthiness Key in the right column (viewable on desktop) to see how you did. How many of these stories were tall tales? Total fabrications? The absolute truth?

LEGENDS NEVER DIE
Now that we know the truth about Bird’s greatness we can bail on the notion that he is a slouch who lucked into a good team. That take is total BS. You don’t make 3 all-defensive teams without grit and effort. What does it do to your team when your star player—an MVP and face of the league—is diving for loose balls with wild abandon? It changes the very fabric of your organization.

Larry Bird led by example with a basketball IQ that was off the charts. He’d pass out of shots, drives, and post-ups with surgical precision. His constant movement and exceptional court sense made him feel like a basketball oracle. His outlet passing and vision draws comparisons to Magic and LeBron. Bird had an electrifying presence on the court, reacting to plays with uncanny instinct, like a man on edge. Sure, he couldn’t jump high or run very fast, but his relentless motor was unmatched. The man declared he’d score 60 points while playing with two top 50 all-time players. He delivered on that promise nine days later. How can anyone call Bird overrated? That take is not just outdated; it’s blasphemous.

Bird embodies the hero’s journey, turning down the call to adventure only to face his trials, overcome them, and bestow boons upon his fellow hoopers. Bird is like the league’s patron saint of craftsmen. His tireless dedication to his game is legendary. Bird is also the only person in NBA history to be named MVP, Coach of the Year, and Executive of the Year. Born from a working-class background, Bird's grit and resilience were the bedrock of his storied career. Need more proof of his excellence? Bird is one of only three players in NBA history to win three MVPs in a row. His peers recognize his greatness. Now we can too. Larry is Legend. Never forget it.