It is not very often that a rookie player makes the NBA All-Star game. In fact, it has only happened 45 times in the history of the game, and not since Blake Griffin made the All-Star team in 2011. But then, not very many rookies enter the league as dangerous of a player as Boston Celtics legendary small forward Larry Bird did in 1979.
Bird would have an outstanding rookie season. He made both the 1980 All-Rookie Team and Rookie of the Year that same season, earning an All-Star big in the midst of a debut season that saw the Hick From French Lick (as Bird was sometimes called) average 21.3 points, 10.4 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 1.7 steals per game.
And while he may have only logged 7 points and as many assists in the annual midseason exhibition game, he would have 11 more All-Star nods in his career to improve upon his debut performance in basketball’s most important friendly.
Watch the clip embedded above to see his highlights from that historic moment in NBA history, courtesy of CLNS Media.
If you enjoy this pod, check out the “How Bout Them Celtics,” “First to the Floor,” “Celtics Lab,” and the many other New England sports podcasts available on the CLNS Media network.
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