How many rings does Larry Bird have?

An all-time great, Larry Bird has been one of the best forwards of his generation. Having played the entirety of his NBA career for the Boston Celtics, Larry Legend won it all for his team. So exactly how many championship rings has Larry Bird won during his time with the Boston Celtics? 

Drafted in 1978 by the Celtics, Larry started his NBA career the following season. It didn’t take him long to earn his place in the heart of the Celtics faithful, winning game after game for a somewhat struggling team.

Bird was named Rookie of the Year in 1980 for his dazzling performances on the courts. The very next season Larry lifted his first Championship with the Celtics and didn’t look back. So exactly how many NBA rings has Larry Bird won in his NBA career?

How many rings does Larry Bird have?

Larry Bird has won three NBA Championship rings during his time with the Boston Celtics. He won his first Championship by beating the Houston Rockets and his second against Magic Johnson‘s Los Angeles Lakers. Bird won his final Championship ring in 1986, again beating the Houston Rockets in the NBA Finals.

Out of the three Championship rings, Larry Bird won two of those as Finals MVP and could arguably have won all three. That is, the legendary forward played an instrumental part in the Celtics’ journey to their title glories.

What years did Larry Bird win his rings?

Larry Bird won his rings in 1981, 1984 and 1986. He beat his arch-rival Magic Johnson in the 1984 NBA finals to lift the title.

On the other two occasions, Bird’s Celtics won against the Houston Rockets in six-game series each in 1981 and 1986. He played a total of five NBA Finals series in his career and won three.

1981: First Championship Title

Larry Bird won his first Championship title in 1981 when they faced Houston Rockets in the six-game series. It was Bird’s second season in the league and by then he had established himself as one of the Celtics’ most important players.

The Celtics beat the Houston Rockets 4-2 in six games to lift the title. Larry Bird averaged 15.3 points, 15.3 rebounds and 7.0 assists in the Finals. He dropped one of the most sensational displays on the court which would go on to be the foundation of his future successes.

1984: Championship against Magic Johnson 

In the 1984 Finals, Larry Bird faced his long-time rival Magic Johnson. In a tight Finals series, the Boston Celtics beat the Los Angeles Lakers 4-3 in seven games. Averaging 27.4 points, 14.0 rebounds and 3.6 assists in the Finals, Bird won his first-ever Finals MVP.

It was also the first time Bird was named regular season MVP, which he would go on to win for three consecutive seasons in the NBA. Despite facing tough opponents like Washington, New York, Milwaukee, and Los Angeles, Bird led his team to victory in seven games, making it one of the toughest routes to a championship ever.

1986: Third Championship Ring 

The Boston Celtics made it back to the NBA Finals in 1986. This time they sealed their spots next to the Houston Rockets for a go at the title. It was also the season where Larry Legend was named Regular season MVP for the third consecutive time.

This time as well, the Celtics beat the Rockets 2-4 in six games and won the Championship. Bird was named the Finals MVP averaging 24.0 points, 9.7 rebounds and 9.5 assists in six games.

The Game 6 marked only the third instance in NBA Finals history where a player achieved a triple-double in a series-clinching victory, following Magic Johnson’s performances in 1982 and 1985.

Who has more rings, Larry Bird or Magic Johnson?

Magic Johnson has won two more rings than Larry Bird, as the Lakers legend won five Championships during his time in the NBA. Long-time rivals, Johnson and Bird faced each other thrice in the NBA Finals between 1984 to 1987.

Magic Johnson won the duel with the Los Angeles Lakers on his side, having beaten Bird’s Celtics in the 1985 and 1987 Finals. Bird, meanwhile, won his second NBA ring beating Johnson’s showtime era Lakers.

FAQs

The Boston Celtics drafted Larry Bird in the 1978 NBA Draft.

Larry Bird won 3 NBA Championships with the Boston Celtics in his career.

Larry Bird played 5 NBA Finals series in his career.

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