Iconic and unstoppable: Larry Bird’s 60-point game in 1985.
The Boston Celtics forward Larry Bird had already made a name for himself as one of the top players in the league and an MVP and Finals MVP by the 1984–85 campaign. He solidified his legacy in the league on March 12, 1985 in New Orleans by outshining the Atlanta Hawks in scoring.
Bird dominated the Hawks, scoring a career-high 60 points in a 126-115 victory. For the majority of the game, he was unstoppable, going 22 for 36 from the field. In the second half, Bird, then 28 years old, scored 32 of his 60 points in a 14-minute stretch.
Kevin McHale, a teammate, had established the franchise record nine days prior with a 56-point performance against the Detroit Pistons. After McHale made his shot, Bird was motivated to try for 60. He is famous for remarking, “He should have stayed in there,” during the Detroit game. Had to have continued for sixty.
“The way he was shooting the ball was like living in a video game,” Hawks player Dominique Wilkins remarked following the game, which was held at Lakefront Arena on the University of New Orleans campus. It couldn’t be real. However, it was.
With averages of 28.7 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 6.6 assists towards the end of the season, Bird won his second of three consecutive NBA MVP titles.
