Larry Bird

Drafted by the Boston Celtics as the sixth overall pick in the 1978 NBA Draft, Bird chose to complete his senior year before signing a landmark five-year, $3.25 million contract in 1979, making him the highest-paid rookie in sports history at the time. In his rookie NBA season (1979–80), he profoundly impacted the Celtics, improving their win total by 32 games, leading them to the Eastern Conference Finals, and earning the NBA Rookie of the Year Award and an All-Star Team selection. Bird’s stellar playing career with the Celtics spanned 13 seasons, during which he led the team to three NBA Championships (1981, 1984, 1986). In the 1980–81 season, he averaged 21.9 points, 14 rebounds, 6.1 assists, and 2.3 steals per game during the postseason, securing his first title.

He was also inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a member of the ‘Dream Team’ in 2010. Bird continues to be recognized for his enduring legacy, receiving the NBA Lifetime Achievement Award in 2019. In 2022, the Eastern Conference Finals MVP trophy was officially named in his honor. Further cementing his place in basketball history, the Larry Bird Museum opened in Terre Haute, Indiana, in 2024.

Looking ahead, he is slated to continue his contributions to the sport as a consultant for the Indiana Pacers in 2025.