Larry Joe Bird (b.1956) is an American retired professional basketball player who played for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association. Since retiring as a player, he has been a mainstay in the Indiana Pacers organization, currently serving as team president. Drafted into the NBA sixth overall by the Boston Celtics in 1978, Bird started at small forward and power forward for thirteen seasons, spearheading one of the NBA’s most formidable frontcourts that included center Robert Parish and forward Kevin McHale. Bird was a 12-time NBA All-Star and was named the league’s Most Valuable Player three consecutive times. He played his entire professional career for Boston, winning three NBA championships and two NBA Finals MVP awards.
Source: Wikipedia (via CC-BY-SA license) • READ: Works by Larry Bird
Leadership is getting players to believe in you. If you tell a teammate you’re ready to play as tough as you’re able to, you’d better go out there and do it. Players will see right through a phony. And they can tell when you’re not giving it all you’ve got. Leadership is diving for a loose ball, getting the crowd involved, getting other players involved. It’s being able to take it as well as dish it out. That’s the only way you’re going to get respect from the players.
—Larry Bird
Topics: Leadership, Leaders
When I was young, I never wanted to leave the court until I got things exactly correct. My dream was to become a pro.
—Larry Bird
I really don’t like talking about money. All I can say is that the Good Lord must have wanted me to have it.
—Larry Bird
Topics: Money
I always know what’s happening on the court. I see a situation occur, and I respond.
—Larry Bird
A winner is someone who recognizes his God-given talents, works his tail off to develop them into skills, and uses these skills to accomplish his goals.
—Larry Bird
Topics: Talent, God, Win, Winning, Winners, Goals
I’ve got a theory that if you give 100 percent all of the time, somehow things will work out in the end.
—Larry Bird
Topics: Effort
I don’t know if I practiced more than anybody, but I sure practiced enough. I still wonder if somebody—somewhere—was practicing more than me.
—Larry Bird
Push yourself again and again. Don’t give an inch until the final buzzer sounds.
—Larry Bird
Topics: Effort
You never make any of the shots you never take. 87% of the ones you do take, you’ll miss too. I make 110% of my shots.
—Larry Bird
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