“It was never a recreation for me. It was something I fell in love with” ,
Larry played in the NBA for a long time and continued to coach after his retirement.
Larry Bird is certainly one of the best players in NBA history, but his career was cut short due to a chronic back injury. Despite his struggles, Bird still had a legendary career, winning three championships, two Finals MVP awards, and three regular-season MVP awards.
The legendary Celtic could’ve done more in his playing career, and he still had the itch to compete in the league after he retired as a player. He transitioned to coaching the Indiana Pacers and excelled, guiding them to the 2000 NBA Finals. Larry then moved into the front office, where he also found success, earning the Executive of the Year award.
“You’ve got to understand. My whole life’s been basketball. It was never a recreation for me. It was something I fell in love with,” Bird said to Sports Illustrated in 1988.
Bird is always in tune with the basketball world
The Great White Hope was a star during his NBA career with Boston and his college years at Indiana State. Fans loved watching him play because he was a unique athlete, known for his focus on jump shots and his ability to impact the game as a scorer, playmaker, and trash-talker.
His basketball IQ was also off the charts, which benefited him when coaching the game. Bird’s tactical mind helped the Pacers make it to the Finals, where they would unfortunately lose to the dominant Los Angeles Lakers led by Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant.
The Pacers’ rosters in the early 2010s were also superb, and since he was the president of basketball operations, he earned a well-deserved Executive of the Year award for the 2011/12 season. That retooling started in 2006 when he wanted to shed the unfortunate reputation the Indy built in the early 2000s.
With Paul George, Roy Hibbert, and David West, he built a title contender. That was not enough to win a championship again, but it proved that Bird could compete in almost any role he played.
Bird is still effective as a consultant
While Larry does not have the job of president of basketball operations, he is still involved in the Pacers’ dealings. He is a prominent advisor for a team that just made it to the Eastern Conference Finals. The future is bright for this Indiana team, with Tyrese Haliburton leading the team alongside Pascal Siakam and a strong supporting cast.
Even 30+ years after retiring from active play, Bird remains influential in basketball, demonstrating his enduring love for the game and his commitment to staying competitive throughout his career.
