On this day in Boston Celtics history, iconic Boston small forward Larry Joe Bird was born in West Baden Springs, Indiana in 1956. Widely considered to be among the greatest to ever play the game, Bird would briefly attend Indiana University under iconic coach Bob Knight before eventually landing at Indiana State University in 1975.
That unusual quirk of a path would later make it possible for Boston Celtics managerial legend Red Auerbach to draft the Indiana native while he was still in college due to a technicality. He would play his full three seasons of eligibility with the Sycamores first, famously carrying them to the NCAA title game against lifelong rival and friend Magic Johnson’s Michigan State squad, who eventually won the game.
After being drafted by Boston with the sixth overall pick of the draft, Bird managed to extract a record five-year, $3.25 million contract for his services.
On this day of Larry Bird’s birth, I give you his first game: #Celtics
— Honest☘️Larry (@HonestLarry1) December 7, 2020