Origins & Early Life

Larry Joe Bird (born December 7, 1956) is an American former professional basketball player, coach, and executive in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Nicknamed "the Hick from French Lick" and "Larry Legend", Bird is widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all time. He is the only person in NBA history to be named Rookie of the Year, Most Valuable Player, Finals MVP, All-Star MVP, Coach of the Year, and Executive of the Year. Growing up in French Lick, Indiana, Bird was a local basketball star.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Highly recruited, he initially signed to play college basketball for Indiana University Bloomington. However, he dropped out after one month and returned to French Lick to attend a local college. The next year, he attended Indiana State University, ultimately playing three years for the Sycamores. Bird was selected by the Boston Celtics as the sixth overall pick in the 1978 NBA draft after his second year at Indiana State, but he elected to stay in college for the 1978–79 season. He led Indiana State to an undefeated regular season and a berth in the national championship, where they faced Michigan State and Magic Johnson, a match-up which launched a career-long...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• A. A. Milne — Contemporary (Died in 1956) (1956): Celebrated English author, famed for Winnie-the-Pooh and children's literature.
• Alan Davis — Contemporary (Born in 1956) (1956): English comic book writer and artist known for Captain Britain and X-Men work.
• Alan Eustace — Contemporary (Born in 1956) (1956): Pioneering computer scientist known for his work at Google and record-breaking space dive.
• Aaron Carter — Shared historical date (12-07 · Born) (1987): American singer and rapper known for teen pop stardom and enduring musical career.
• Algernon Sidney — Shared historical date (12-07 · Died) (1683): English republican theorist and politician whose works shaped Western thought.
• Alfred Kinsey — Historical peer (Died in 1956) (1956): Pioneering sexologist whose research fundamentally shaped modern understanding of human sexuality.
• B. R. Ambedkar — Historical peer (Died in 1956) (1956): Pioneering jurist, economist, and social reformer who shaped modern India.
• Ayumi Hamasaki — Historical peer (Born in 1978) (1978): Japanese Pop Icon, 'Empress of Pop,' best-selling solo artist in Japan.
• Balabhaskar — Historical peer (Born in 1978) (1978): Pioneering Indian violinist and composer known for promoting fusion music.
• Armando Manzanero — Shared historical date (12-07 · Born) (1935): Mexican composer and singer, celebrated for defining the romantic sound of postwar Latin America.
• 1956 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1956
• December 7 (12-07) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on December 7