Larry Bird

1982-1987: MVPs, Championships and The Rivalry

The additions of Bird and Johnson rejuvenated the NBA, which had suffered from low attendance and minimal television interest through much of the 1970s. Immediately upon their entry into the league, the two players became virtually annual presences in the NBA Finals; Bird's Celtics won the NBA title in 1981, while Johnson's Lakers captured the championship in 1980 and 1982. Bird and Johnson first dueled in the 1979 NCAA title game; as professional basketball players, they would face off numerous times during the 1980's, including the NBA Finals of 1984, 1985 and 1987. Lakers vs. Celtics, and specifically Bird vs. Magic, quickly became one of the greatest rivalries in the history of professional sports.

Related Topics:
NBA - 1981 - 1980 - 1982 - 1979 - NCAA - Basketball - 1984 - 1985 - 1987

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In 1984, the Celtics defeated the Lakers in a seven-game Finals, winning game seven 111-102. Bird averaged 27 points and 14 rebounds a game during the series, earning the award of Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP). Bird was also named the league regular season MVP for that year. In 1985, however, the Lakers avenged the loss, defeating the Celtics in game 6 of the Finals in Boston Garden. That year, the NBA again named Bird the league MVP.

Related Topics:
1984 - 1985 - Boston Garden - NBA

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Boston would return to the Finals in 1986, albeit not against Johnson and the Lakers, who lost in the Western Conference Finals to the Houston Rockets. The 1986 Celtic team, which finished the regular season 67-15 and defeated the Rockets in six games, is generally considered to be the best of Bird's career. Bird again was named the Finals' MVP for that year, averaging 24 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists per game for the series. He also won his third consecutive league MVP award.

Related Topics:
1986 - Houston Rockets

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In 1987, the Celtics made their last Finals appearance of Bird's career, fighting through difficult series against the Milwaukee Bucks and Detroit Pistons before losing to the Lakers in six games. Johnson's Lakers would ultimately win the Finals again in 1988. Between themselves, Bird and Johnson captured eight NBA championships during the 1980s, with Magic getting five and Bird three. During the 1980s, either Boston or Los Angeles appeared in every NBA Finals.

Related Topics:
1987 - Milwaukee Bucks - Detroit Pistons - 1988 - NBA

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Throughout the 1980s, contests between the Celtics and the Lakers--both during the regular season and in the Finals--attracted enormous television audiences. The historical rift between the teams, who faced each other several times in championship series of the 1960s, fueled fan interest in the rivalry. Not since Boston's Bill Russell squared off against the Lakers' Wilt Chamberlain had professional basketball enjoyed such a marquee matchup. The apparent contrast between the two players and their respective teams seemed scripted for television: Bird, the introverted small-town hero with the blue-collar work ethic, fit perfectly with the throwback, hard-nosed style of the Celtics, while the stylish, gregarious Johnson ran the Lakers' fast-paced "Showtime" offense amidst the bright lights and celebrities of Los Angeles. A 1984 Converse commercial for its "Weapon" line of basketball shoes (endorsed by both Bird and Johnson) reflected the perceived dichotomy between the two players. In the commercial, Bird is practicing alone on a rural basketball court when Johnson pulls up in a sleek limousine and challenges him to a one-on-one match. In fact, their playing styles were not that dissimilar; both relied on knowledge of the game more than pure athletic ability.

Related Topics:
Bill Russell - Wilt Chamberlain - Los Angeles - 1984 - Converse - Basketball

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Despite the intensity of their rivalry, Bird and Johnson became friends off the court. Somewhat ironically, their relationship blossomed when the two players worked together to film the 1984 Converse commercial, which depicted them as archenemies. Johnson appeared at Bird's retirement ceremony in 1992 and emotionally described Bird as a "friend forever."

Related Topics:
1984 - Converse - 1992

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~