Larry Bird is considered to be one of the greatest basketball players of all time. He is particularly well-known for his legendary rivalry with Magic Johnson which helped oversee the NBA's revival in the '80s. In this piece, we're going to be taking a look at Larry Bird's net worth in 2022.
Larry Bird's Net Worth in 2022 (Estimate): $75 million
Larry Bird's net worth in 2022 is $75 million. This is according to numerous reputable sources, including Celebrity Net Worth.
Larry Joe Bird was born in West Baden Springs, Indiana, and grew up in French Lick in a family of 7. Unfortunately, his parents would get divorced when he was in high school, with his father committed suicide soon thereafter. Bird cited basketball as his means to cope.
He starred in his local high school basketball team, averaging 31 points and 21 rebounds on his way to becoming the school's all-time leading scorer. Bird of course got the attention of the biggest basketball program in the area, the Indiana Hoosiers. However, he'd drop out after less than a month.
Bird would eventually enroll at Indiana State, wherein he would become a college basketball legend after three years with the Sycamores. He helped them reach the NCAA tournament for the first time in history, wherein they faced a Michigan State led by a certain Earvin “Magic” Johnson. They would go on to produce the highest-rated televised college basketball game in history. Bird and the Sycamores lost that game, but it would only be the start of their storied rivalry.
Bird averaged 30.3 points, 13.3 rebounds, and 4.6 assists in college.
Bird was selected 6th overall by the Boston Celtics in the 1978 draft, despite an incredible collegiate career. His impact was certainly felt as the Celtics won 32 more games than last year to clinch the 1-seed. He was also selected as an All-Star and was voted Rookie of the Year. It wouldn't be long before he'd win his first ring, as the Celtics won the 1981 Championship. It was also this season that Boston formed the Big 3 of Bird, Kevin McHale, and Robert Parish.
It was not until 1984 that the Celtics got back to the Finals. This time, a newly-crowned MVP Larry Bird was facing off against rival Magic Johnson and the Los Angeles Lakers. Despite the Celtics going down 1-2, they managed to rally and win the series in 7 games. Bird also won his first Finals MVP that year as well.
1984-85 was another sensational season for Larry Legend, as he won his second consecutive MVP. On the back of Bird's two-way excellence, the Celtics reached the NBA Finals once again in a rematch against the Lakers. This time, Magic and the Lakers would defeat Bird's Celtics in 6 games. Bird would also injure his back in the 1985 offseason, leading to more complications down the line.
Nevertheless, Bird still went on to win his third consecutive MVP in the 1985-86 season, being only the third player to achieve such a feat. Bird and his all-time great Celtics team would only lose 3 games en route to winning the Championship once again. Obviously, this would all go on to help to add to Larry Bird's net worth in 2022.
However, that Championship proved to be the last of Bird's career, as well as the Bird-McHale-Parish trio. They once again reached the NBA Finals in 1987 in grueling fashion, but would once again get felled by the Lakers.
Next season would bring about Bird's best scoring season with 29.9 a game. However, he would miss out on the MVP to one Michael Jordan. He and the Celtics would lose to the “Bad Boy” Detroit Pistons, marking the end of Boston's 5-year Finals streak.
Another streak that would be broken would be Bird's All-Star selection streak, as he failed to make the 1989 team due to injuries related to his back.
Despite this, Bird would go on to have as much three more All-Star appearances from 1990 to 1992. He was still as much a deadeye shooter until his retirement following the 1991-92 season, after which the Celtics retired his number 33 jersey.
Bird averaged 24.3 points, 10 rebounds, and 6.3 assists for his career. He ultimately retired with 3 NBA Championships, 3 regular season MVPs, 2 Finals MVPs, 3 Defensive Player of the Year awards, 12 All-Star selections, and 10 All-NBA selections. He is arguably right up there with Bill Russel himself as the greatest ever Boston Celtic.
It is very evident from the Finals matchups mentioned that the Lakers' and Celtics' rivalry, as well as Bird's and Johnsons', was the stuff of legend. The rivalry was compared to that of Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell in the '60s, and had drawn tremendous amounts of viewers to the league.
After retirement, Bird went into working in the Celtics' front office, before coaching the Indiana Pacers. He would actually win Coach of the Year after leading the Pacers to a then-franchise-best 58-24 record. However, he stepped away after 3 years of coaching, as he had previously promised. Bird then went on to be the Pacers' president of basketball operations. Ever the achiever, Bird was awarded the Executive of the Year award in 2012; this made him the only person in NBA history to win MVP, Coach of the Year, and Executive of the Year. He has stepped down from the position but currently works as an advisor for the team in some capacity.
Larry Bird has had an absolutely glittering career, from his playing days to his off-court efforts. He will no doubt be remembered as one of the best to ever do it. In 13 seasons with the Celtics, he earned roughly $24 million. His endorsements include Footlocker, Converse, and Heinz. Through the years, he has also maintained some sort of position with the Indiana Pacers. As such, he has worked his way to be worth up to $75 million in 2022.
Were you stunned at all at Larry Bird's net worth in 2022?
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