Larry Bird is one of the greatest basketball players of all time. He had a legendary career with the Boston Celtics, winning 3 NBA championships and 3 MVP awards. Bird grew up in French Lick, Indiana and was born to Joe and Georgia Bird.
Who was Larry Bird’s father?
Larry Bird’s father was Joe Bird. Joe Bird worked various blue-collar jobs to support his family. He was a truck driver, pipe cutter, and gas station attendant. Joe Bird struggled with alcoholism for much of Larry’s childhood. This caused financial hardship and occasional neglect for the family. However, Larry remained close with his father throughout his life. When Larry made the NBA, he bought his parents a new house and made sure they were taken care of financially.
Details about Joe Bird:
- Full name: Joe Bird
- Birthdate: April 7, 1914
- Death: February 4, 1975 (age 60)
- Occupations: Truck driver, pipe cutter, gas station attendant
- Spouse: Georgia Kerns (married 1934-1975, his death)
- Children: 4 (Larry, Linda, Eddie, Mark)
Although Joe Bird struggled to provide stability for his family, he helped instill Larry’s love of basketball at a young age. They would play endlessly around the house and Joe constructed a basketball hoop for Larry to practice his shooting.
Who was Larry Bird’s mother?
Larry Bird’s mother was Georgia Kerns Bird. She worked various jobs to help support the family, including as a hotel maid and at a diner. Georgia Bird held the family together through difficult financial times. She encouraged Larry’s passion for basketball and attended all his local games while he was growing up. Larry remained very close with his mother throughout his life.
Details about Georgia Bird:
- Full name: Georgia Kerns Bird
- Birthdate: June 16, 1920
- Death: October 16, 1975 (age 55)
- Occupations: Hotel maid, diner worker
- Spouse: Joe Bird (married 1934-1975, her death)
- Children: 4 (Larry, Linda, Eddie, Mark)
Sadly, Georgia Bird passed away just a few months before Larry started his NBA career. But she helped instill his incredible work ethic and competitiveness from an early age. Larry later said his mother was his biggest supporter growing up.
Larry Bird’s childhood and upbringing
Larry Bird grew up in a poor family with his three brothers in the small town of French Lick, Indiana. Their family home did not have indoor plumbing for most of Larry’s childhood. Money was tight but his parents worked hard to provide for Larry and his siblings.
Larry became obsessed with basketball from an early age. His dad built him a basketball hoop and he would spend hours practicing his shot every day. Larry attended Springs Valley High School and led his team to the state championship game as a senior. He caught the eye of several college programs with his dominant play.
After high school, Bird briefly enrolled at Indiana University but left after just 24 days. He returned home to French Lick and took a job with the city’s parks department. In 1975, Larry enrolled at Indiana State University where he resumed his basketball career. He led Indiana State to the NCAA championship game in 1979, though they lost to Magic Johnson and Michigan State.
Despite his humble beginnings, Larry Bird achieved his dream of playing in the NBA. The Boston Celtics selected him with the 6th overall pick in the 1978 draft. Even as an NBA superstar, Larry remained very close with his French Lick roots. He was known to be extremely loyal to friends and family from his childhood.
Larry Bird’s siblings
Larry Bird had three younger brothers that he grew up with in French Lick:
- Eddie Bird – The oldest after Larry. Eddie also played basketball in high school but did not pursue it further. He continued living in French Lick.
- Mark Bird – Mark struggled with mental health issues much of his life. He died by suicide in 1993 at age 33.
- Mike Bird – The youngest brother. Mike got into some legal trouble as a youth. He still lives in the French Lick area.
Growing up, the Bird brothers were very competitive playing basketball in their driveway. This competitiveness helped turn Larry into the legendary player he became. The brothers remained close their whole lives, despite Larry’s fame and fortune in the NBA. Sadly, they experienced tragedy when middle brother Mark died by suicide at just 33 years old.
Larry Bird’s relationship and feelings about his parents
Although they struggled to make ends meet, Larry Bird maintained a close relationship with his parents throughout his life. He loved both his mother and father dearly, despite their flaws.
Bird recognized that his father’s alcoholism created instability in the home. However, he never resented Joe Bird for it. Larry knew his father worked hard to provide for the family when he could. Their shared love of basketball bonded them tightly.
Larry had an incredibly close bond with his mother Georgia. She nurtured his passion for basketball from a young age. Even when the family struggled financially, she found ways to make sure young Larry had a basketball and shoes to play in. Georgia encouraged him to work hard and chase his dream of playing professionally.
When Larry reached the NBA and received his first big contract, he made sure to pay back his parents for their love and support. He bought them a new home in French Lick so they could live comfortably. The house allowed his mother to finally have a kitchen and indoor plumbing – amenities she did without for so many years raising Larry and his brothers.
Sadly, both of Bird’s parents passed away in the mid-1970s, just as his basketball career was taking off. But Larry honored their memory and remained loyal to his French Lick roots the rest of his life. He embodied the strong work ethic and determination his parents instilled in him.
How did Larry Bird change after his parents passed away?
Larry Bird experienced the tragic loss of both his parents in a short span in 1975-76. First, his father Joe Bird passed away in February 1975. Just over a year later in October 1975, his mother Georgia Bird died unexpectedly. It was a difficult time for Bird, who was just starting his senior year at Indiana State.
Observers noted that Bird became even more driven and intense after his parents’ death. Basketball was always his passion, but now it was his refuge from grief. The game that connected him to his father took on new meaning.
Bird poured his heart and soul into his senior season at Indiana State. He led the Sycamores to an undefeated regular season and a march to the NCAA championship game. Though they lost in the finals, Bird’s incredible play propelled him to national stardom and cemented his place as the country’s best college player.
When Bird began his NBA career with the Boston Celtics, his determination was greater than ever. Teammates noted his incredible work ethic and unrelenting competitiveness in practices and games. Bird was driven to succeed in honor of his parents’ memory.
This intensity translated into three straight NBA MVP awards and championships in 1981, 1984 and 1986. Bird played through immense pain and injury at times during his career. Despite a fragile back, he persevered in pursuit of excellence and trophies.
Bird’s close friend and rival Magic Johnson observed about his mindset: “Ever since his father died, there’s a different intensity to him. He’s just suburb, as good as he’s ever been.” The tragedy of losing his parents so young helped transform Bird into one of basketball’s all-time great winners.
Larry Bird’s lasting legacy from his upbringing
Larry Bird came from very humble beginnings in French Lick, Indiana. He grew up poor but was surrounded by loving family including his parents and three brothers. This close-knit upbringing helped shape Bird into the man and basketball player he became.
From his father, Bird learned a tireless work ethic and fierce determination. Joe Bird held various working class jobs that required grit and perseverance. He passed these traits on to Larry.
From his mother, Bird gained confidence and compassion. Georgia Bird offered unwavering support and encouragement, even when the family struggled financially. She instilled self-belief in Larry’s abilities.
The values of hard work, humility, loyalty and family shaped Bird his entire career. Even as his fame and fortune grew, he remained dedicated to his hometown roots. Bird was known to be generous and decent with fans and media, even in the intense spotlight of the NBA.
After his parents passed away, Bird cherished their memory by redoubling his work ethic and drive for excellence. He played with a fearless passion that translated into three championships and three MVPs with the Boston Celtics.
Today, Larry Bird remains one of basketball’s most beloved and respected legends. The “Hick from French Lick” is known for his small-town charm and brilliance on the court. Bird’s legacy is deeply rooted in the loving upbringing his parents provided. His parents gave him the tools to become a champion.
Conclusion
Larry Bird came from humble beginnings and was raised by hardworking parents in Joe and Georgia Bird. Though they struggled financially, the Birds instilled strong values and a tireless work ethic in Larry from a young age. Basketball connected and bonded the family, especially Larry and his father Joe. After both parents passed away unexpectedly in the mid-1970s, Larry only became more focused and driven to succeed. He carried his parents’ memory and lessons with him throughout his legendary career with the Boston Celtics, helping transform him into one of the greatest players in basketball history. The poor, close-knit family Larry grew up with shaped him into the man the world would come to know as Larry Legend.