Larry Bird is considered one of the greatest basketball players of all time. After his illustrious 13-year playing career with the Boston Celtics, during which he won 3 NBA championships and 3 MVP awards, Bird went on to have a successful coaching career as well. He coached the Indiana Pacers from 1997 to 2000.
Bird’s Playing Career
Bird was drafted by the Boston Celtics with the 6th overall pick in the 1978 NBA draft. He immediately made an impact, winning the Rookie of the Year award in his first season. Bird helped lead the Celtics to 3 NBA championships in the 1980s (1981, 1984, 1986). He was named league MVP 3 times (1984, 1985, 1986) and was a 12-time All-Star. Bird retired from playing in 1992 at age 35. He finished his career with averages of 24.3 points, 10 rebounds, and 6.3 assists per game. Bird is considered one of the greatest shooters and all-around players in NBA history. His rivalry and competition with Magic Johnson during the 1980s vastly increased the NBA’s popularity and exposure.
Transition to Coaching
After retiring as a player, Larry Bird served as a special assistant in the Boston Celtics front office for 5 years. In 1997, he became the head coach of the Indiana Pacers.
Head Coach of the Pacers
Larry Bird was the head coach of the Indiana Pacers for 3 seasons, from 1997-1998 through 1999-2000. His regular season coaching record was 147-67, for a winning percentage of .687. This included two seasons of 58 wins and one of 56 wins.
In Bird’s first season (1997-98), he led the Pacers to the Eastern Conference Finals where they lost to the Chicago Bulls in 7 games. The next year (1998-99), the Pacers made it to the NBA Finals but lost to the San Antonio Spurs in 5 games. In Bird’s final season (1999-2000), the Pacers lost in the first round of the playoffs to the Milwaukee Bucks.
1997-1998 Season
In Bird’s first season as head coach, the Pacers went 58-24 in the regular season. This was the 2nd best record in the Eastern Conference. The Pacers defeated the Cavaliers 3-1 in the first round, then beat the Knicks 4-1 in the Conference Semifinals. In the Conference Finals, they pushed the Bulls to 7 games before losing 4-3. Reggie Miller averaged 19.5 points per game for the Pacers that season.
1998-1999 Season
In Bird’s second season, the Pacers had their best regular season under him, going 58-24. This tied for the second best record in the league. In the playoffs, the Pacers swept the Bucks 3-0, beat the 76ers 4-2, then beat the Knicks 4-2 in the Conference Finals to reach the NBA Finals. There they lost 4-1 to the Spurs, who were led by NBA Finals MVP Tim Duncan. For the season, Reggie Miller led the Pacers with 18.4 points per game.
1999-2000 Season
Bird’s final season as head coach saw the Pacers go 56-26 to finish with the 4th best record in the NBA. However, they were upset in the first round of the playoffs by the Bucks 3-2. It was an disappointing end to Bird’s coaching stint in Indiana. Jalen Rose led the Pacers in scoring that season with an 18.2 point average.
Bird’s Resignation as Coach
Following the 1999-2000 season, Larry Bird resigned as head coach of the Indiana Pacers. He cited health reasons, as he suffered from chronic back pain that made coaching difficult. Bird also cited the desire to spend more time with his family as a reason for stepping down. Pacers President Donnie Walsh said it was Bird’s decision to resign and that he left on amicable terms with the organization.
Bird’s 3 year coaching record with the team was 147-67 in the regular season and 20-18 in the playoffs. He led the Pacers to the NBA Finals in 2000 and helped establish them as one of the better teams in the Eastern Conference. Though his tenure was short, Bird had proven to be a very successful NBA head coach.
Conclusion
In summary, Larry Bird served as head coach of the Indiana Pacers for 3 seasons, from 1997-1998 through 1999-2000. His regular season record was 147-67. He led the Pacers to the Eastern Conference Finals once and the NBA Finals once. Chronic back problems and a desire to spend more time with family led Bird to resign after his 3rd season as coach. His stint established Bird’s coaching abilities and added to his already incredible basketball legacy.
Season | Team | Record | Postseason Result |
---|---|---|---|
1997-1998 | Indiana Pacers | 58-24 | Lost in Eastern Conference Finals |
1998-1999 | Indiana Pacers | 58-24 | Lost in NBA Finals |
1999-2000 | Indiana Pacers | 56-26 | Lost in First Round |
Here is a summary of Larry Bird’s 3 seasons as head coach of the Indiana Pacers:
Season | Record | Win % | Postseason |
---|---|---|---|
1997-1998 | 58-24 | .707 | Eastern Conference Finals |
1998-1999 | 58-24 | .707 | NBA Finals Loss |
1999-2000 | 56-26 | .683 | First Round Loss |
Total | 147-67 | .687 |
In 3 seasons coaching the Indiana Pacers, Larry Bird had a regular season record of 147-67, for a .687 winning percentage. His teams made deep playoff runs in 2 of those 3 seasons, including an NBA Finals appearance. However, back issues and a desire to spend more time with family led Bird to resign as coach after just those 3 seasons. He proved to be a highly successful coach even though his stint was shortened. Larry Bird cemented his status as alegendary player and coach.