Larry Bird retired from the NBA in 1998, but he didn’t retire from basketball. He became a coach and led the Indiana Pacers to their first championship in 2000.
Larry Bird retired from basketball in 1992. He had won three NBA championships, three NCAA championships, and two Olympic gold medals by then. Read more in detail here: how many rings does larry bird have.
It won’t take long for Larry Bird to be mentioned among the best NBA players of all time. Modern fans are still in awe of the Boston Celtics Hall of Famer, who had 13 consecutive excellent seasons throughout his storied career. So, when did Bird retire, why did he do it, and how do his stats compare to those of other NBA players?
The Boston Celtics’ amazing 1991-1992 season was interrupted by Larry Bird’s injury.
Larry Bird (R) of the Boston Celtics with head coach Chris Ford in 1992 | Pat Greenhouse/Getty Images
Bird planned to retire in 1988, when his increasing ankle problems made every minute on the court excruciating. However, the unexpected death of Len Bias, a potential first-round selection, kept him in Boston for four more seasons. Bird was in excruciating agony by the time his last season came around.
He was 100 percent the guy who got the moniker “Larry Legend” when he could command his body to move anyhow. Early in the season, the 1991 Boston Celtics were in a tight race with the New York Knicks for the division title. According to the New York Times, Bird put on one of his career highlights, a 49-point, double-overtime primetime classic versus the Portland Trailblazers.
Bird, on the other hand, reached his physical limitations, and his body forced him to miss 37 games. Without their great captain on the court, the Celtics slumped, ultimately slipping behind the Chicago Bulls in total wins and losses.
Bird’s late-season comeback helped the club win the division, sweep the Indiana Pacers in the first round of the playoffs, and force a seven-game series with the Cleveland Cavaliers before being eliminated.
When did Larry Bird call it a day?
Saying the words “finally retire” in reference to Bird, of all people, may sound a little excessive. The Celtics’ hero lasted 13 seasons, which is a respectable amount of time. However, because to his serious and terrible injuries, his last playing years were spent in excruciating suffering.
Only a possibly career-ending Achilles surgery might provide him with relief due to the placement and severity of the bone spurs in his ankle. He made the decision to play it for as long as he could.
Aside from the games he missed, his suffering didn’t show up in his last season’s stats. He averaged 20.2, 9.6 rebounds, and 6.9 assists per game, according to Basketball-Reference. He could have played for at least a few more seasons if the operations to fix his back and ankle hadn’t been so significant at the time.
In 2021, how well will Bird’s amazing records stand up?
Larry is a legend. He was the ROY in 1979-80. ’81-’82: 12x All-Star MVP of the All-Star Game All-NBA 10 times a three-time NBA champion MVP of the Finals twice MVP three times HOF
On NBA TV at 10:30 a.m. ET, see Larry Bird’s 50 Greatest Moments! pic.twitter.com/ul2yqDenvw
December 7, 2020 — NBA TV (@NBATV)
Despite his short career, Bird’s playing days are remembered as some of the greatest in NBA history. He was the first player to win three straight league MVP honors, a record only Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain had achieved. Since then, no one has been able to duplicate it.
According to Fox Sports, he was the first NBA player to achieve a 50-40-90 season, which means he shot 50% from the field, 40% from three, and 90% from the free-throw line. Only seven other players have ever done so. Oh, and he did that for the last two years. In five different seasons, Bird averaged more than 20 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists per game. This record hasn’t been broken yet.
Sure, today’s sharpshooters have exceeded some of his earlier pinnacle accomplishments, such as total accuracy. Steph Curry’s ‘Supernova’ season was a clear indication that the game had evolved; the old rules would no longer apply. Despite this, Bird still has some amazing statistics that definitely put him among the all-time greats.
Larry Bird once revealed the only player “who can really shut me down.”
Larry Bird, who is a retired basketball player, was born on April 29th, 1956. He played his last game on May 14th, 1997 and retired on September 27th the same year. Reference: how old was larry bird when he retired.
Frequently Asked Questions
What age did Larry Bird retire?
Larry Bird retired at the age of 42.
Why did Larry Bird retired so early?
Larry Bird retired from the NBA in 1992 at age 38.
What ended Larry Birds career?
Larry Birds NBA career ended when he retired in 1992.
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