In a storybook career that began in the small Indiana town of West Baden, where he led Springs Valley High School to the state sectional championship, and concluded with his number 33 jersey being retired by the Boston Celtics, Larry Bird enjoyed a legendary 13-year professional career with the Celtics. In 1979, when Bird joined the Celtics, he launched an era both in Boston and throughout the NBA that may never again be duplicated. At a time when the league and the Celtics needed a boost, Bird and fellow rookie sensation Earvin "Magic" Johnson provided the spark. By the time Bird retired in 1992, he held or shared 27 Celtics' records and had brought three more NBA championship banners to Boston in 1981, 1984 and 1986. On two other occasions (1985 and 1987), the Celtics reached the NBA Finals.

A 12-time NBA All-Star and MVP of the 1982 All-Star Game, Bird was selected as the sixth overall pick in the 1978 draft. Following the draft, Bird returned to the college ranks for his senior season and completed a memorable career at Indiana State. Bird, who won the Sporting News, Naismith and Wooden awards as national college Player of the Year in 1979, led ISU to an 81-13 three-year record, including a 33-1 mark in 1979, the year Bird's Indiana State team lost to Johnson's Michigan State squad in the national championship game. Bird holds 30 ISU records, including most points (2,850), steals (240) and rebounds (1,247). He scored in double figures in 93 of 94 games, tallied 40 or more points 15 times and recorded six triple doubles.

Prior to Bird's arrival in Boston in 1979, the Celtics had failed to make the playoffs for two straight seasons. His first season, Bird was named NBA Rookie of the Year and the Celtics advanced to the conference finals, the start of 13 straight postseason appearances. In Bird's 13 seasons, Boston won 10 Atlantic Division titles, had six 60-plus-win seasons and toppled the 50-win mark 12 times.

 

Why did you post this?  Go get Magic's and you will see that all of his accompishements far exceed Bird's.  Don't get me wrong Bird was a great player, but not like Magic.

By the way the second greatest player is Wilt and then Russell. Let me give you the list:

1. Magic
2. Wilt
3. Jordan
4. Russell
5. Bird
6. Oscar Robertson
7. Kareem
8. West

Andy. Bill rusell owed  Wilt Bii had 13 rings what did the Wilt have? You need to do your homework. Sounds like your a fraud when you make list like that

I hate lap tops.

We don't like you much, either.

Signed,
The Laptops

We don't like you either Jon.

Signed, REALITY

You forget that Russell only has 11 rings Mr. Homework.  Also Remember that Wilt was the main man with the Lakers and the Celtics were a well rounded with 7 quality players.  They just had a complete team.  That is why they won.  Also don't forget Russell was a defensive player.  Wilt did everything.

Be thankful he made the list.

"Mr. Homework"? LOL   Andy lobs mortar round.

The crowd waits for Jon's choice of weapon...I mean rebuttal...

Can't we just agree that basketball was more fun to watch when it was actually a team sport?
The Cetics (who was the team I always watched) seemed more like a team that played as a team in the 70's. Jerry West was a great example of that. It is now a spotlight game, where the spotlight is on the guy with possession and he is expected to act like it.

Unfortunate, it is. Sad, it makes me.

You betcha we can agree on that Tom. No truer words spoken. It is now nothing more than PunkBall.

Well Professor basketball, based on your logic that Wilt had a bunch of stiffs around him, shouldn't Magic have a lower ranking?

 

Tom, good point, basketball is going down the scale. It's boring, bring back the team ball.

By the way, Red Sox talk, let's get it going.

Jon,
That's why I like women's college basketball. Well, that and the fact that UConn always fields a good team.

Tom

[QUOTE]Jon wrote

Well Professor basketball, based on your logic that Wilt had a bunch of stiffs around him, shouldn't Magic have a lower ranking?

 

Tom, good point, basketball is going down the scale. It's boring, bring back the team ball.

By the way, Red Sox talk, let's get it going.

[/QUOTE]

Is that all you got.  First you were wrong and then you blame Magic for your problems.  I take nothing away from Russell.  He was a great player.  The best defensive player ever.  Epecially for his size.  But at only 15 PPG I have to give the he can't beat out Wilt or even Shaz for that matter.  When Shaq finishes his career, he will probably pass Russell as well.

One name: Spud Webb !

Just a few weeks to go. I like what I see.

Translation: Sox Suck Again...hahaha

Dave are you a Yanks fan? Dont tell me your a Devils Ray fan.

Andy how about those Sun's ?  Your 7.5 back buddy.

A fan of none. Baseball is for sheep.

Yea the Suns are and excellent team.  Lakers are no match for them this season.  The Lakers have a real solid foundation and with the addition of another  solid player, we could make a run.  That should be a couple years though.  We had our run so now it is time to rebuild a little.

Lakers are still a fun team to watch.