Larry J. Bird

Enshrined 1998
Born: December 7, 1956
West Baden, IN

In 1979, when Larry Bird joined the Boston Celtics, he launched a new era in basketball, both in Beantown and throughout the NBA. Bird got his start in a small Indiana town, where he led Springs Valley High School to the state sectional championship. In 1979, Bird led Indiana State to the NCAA Championship Game. Turning pro at a time when the league and the Celtics needed a boost, Bird and fellow rookie sensation Magic Johnson rejuvenated the NBA world. Bird's court savvy, deft passing, and clutch shooting forever redefined the small forward position and turned the Celtics into winners. When Bird retired in 1992, he held or shared 27 Celtics' records and brought three more NBA championship banners to Boston (1981, 1984, and 1986). At the end of his legendary thirteen-year career with the Celtics, Bird's famous number 33 jersey was retired by the team.