A new age in basketball began when Larry Bird signed with the Boston Celtics in the fall of 1979, ushering in a new era in Beantown and the NBA. Bird’s career began in a small Indiana town, when he won the state sectional championship with Springs Valley High School. After that, Bird guided Indiana State to the 1979 NCAA national championship game, which marked a turning point in the history of basketball. “The Hick from French Lick” has the skills and determination of an all-around coach, making him a master of theA rookie sensation, Bird revitalized the NBA and took basketball to new heights with fellow rookie wonder Magic Johnson. Bird turned pro at a time when the league and the Celtics needed a lift. Bird’s clutch shooting and all-around skill changed the role of small forward and helped the Celtics win again. Bird held or shared 27 Celtics records until he retired in 1992. He also delivered three more championship banners to Boston (1981, 1984, 1986). Bird’s iconic number 33 was raised to the Boston Garden rafters as his illustrious career with the Celtics came to an end.
