Larry Joe Bird, one of the greatest basketball players of all time, grew up in the small town of French Lick, Indiana. Often referred to as “Larry Legend” and “The Hick from French Lick,” Bird overcame humble beginnings to become a superstar in the NBA.
Early Life in French Lick
Larry Bird was born on December 7, 1956 in West Baden Springs, Indiana. When he was still an infant, his parents Joe and Georgia Bird divorced. His father, a construction worker, committed suicide in 1975. Larry was raised by his mother along with his five siblings in nearby French Lick.
French Lick was a small town with a population of around 2,000 in the 1950s and 60s. Located in southern Indiana, the town’s main industry was tourism centered around two historic resort spas that contained natural mineral springs. Bird grew up in a working class family and described French Lick as “a great place to grow up as a kid.”
As a child, Bird was intrigued by the rich history of basketball in his hometown. In the 1920s and 30s, French Lick hosted teams training at the resorts before the National High School Basketball Tournament. The town also produced NBA player Carl Braun. The historic Hoosier gymnasium where Braun played as a teenager influenced Bird’s interest in the sport from an early age.
High School Basketball Career
Bird attended Springs Valley High School in French Lick. He was a standout on the basketball team, leading the school to a 33-1 record in his senior season and a runner-up finish in the 1974 Indiana state high school basketball tournament. In his high school career, Bird averaged 31 points, 21 rebounds and 4 assists per game while shooting over 70% from the floor.
Despite his stellar high school stats, Bird’s prospects for college basketball and the NBA were limited. He had very little scholarship interest due to questions about his size, athleticism and “countrified” roots from small town Indiana. Bird did not receive a single athletic scholarship offer coming out of high school.
Bird started his college career at Indiana University in 1974 but dropped out after just 24 days. He struggled being far away from home and was overwhelmed by the large campus after coming from a small high school. In 1975, Bird enrolled at Indiana State University which was closer to French Lick. He would go on to have a legendary career with the Sycamores.
Influence of French Lick
Despite moving away, French Lick remained an integral part of Bird’s identity and shaped him as a player. Growing up in the basketball hotbed of Indiana ingrained the sport into Bird’s character. The grittiness and work ethic of his small town roots would come to define Bird’s competitive mentality in the NBA.
Bird credited shooting hoops on the basketball hoop his grandfather nailed above the garage as vital to developing his shooting touch at a young age. The dusty courts around town where he practiced for hours gave Bird his legendary hand-eye coordination and court vision. “The basketball courts in French Lick is where I learned the game,” Bird later said. “It’s where I developed my love of basketball.”
Beyond his skills, Bird also developed an understated swagger playing ball around town as a kid. Despite growing up poor, he maintained an air of confidence and determination on the court. This mental toughness paired with his skills made Bird a force to be reckoned with from small town Indiana to the NBA.
Later Accomplishments
Larry Bird went on to have a storied college career at Indiana State, leading the Sycamores to the 1979 NCAA championship game. He was drafted by the Boston Celtics in 1978 and became one of the greatest NBA players of all time.
In 13 seasons with the Celtics, Bird won 3 NBA championships and 3 Most Valuable Player awards. He was a 12-time All-Star, led the league in free throw percentage 4 times, and was named to the All-NBA First Team 9 times. His rivalry and duels with Magic Johnson captivated the sports world throughout the 1980s.
Among Bird’s long list of accolades include:
- 3 NBA titles (1981, 1984, 1986)
- 3 NBA MVP awards (1984-1986)
- 12 x NBA All-Star (1980-1988, 1990-1992)
- All-NBA First Team (1980-1988)
- 3 x All-Defensive Second Team (1982-1984)
- NBA Rookie of the Year (1980)
- 3 x NBA 3-point Shootout champion (1986–1988)
- 2 x NBA Finals MVP (1984, 1986)
- NBA All-Rookie First Team (1980)
- NBA’s 50th Anniversary All-Time Team
- 1992 Olympic gold medal as member of USA “Dream Team”
- Enshrined in Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1998
After retiring as a player in 1992, Bird went on to have a successful coaching and executive career. He coached the Indiana Pacers from 1997 to 2000, leading them to their first NBA Finals appearance in 2000. He then served as President of Basketball Operations for the Pacers and rebuilt the franchise, earning NBA Executive of the Year in 2012.
In 2021, Larry Bird’s hometown of French Lick unveiled an 8-foot bronze statue in his honor. Located outside of the French Lick West Baden Museum, the statue commemorates Bird’s accomplishments and connection to the small Indiana town where his basketball journey began.
Conclusion
Larry Bird’s unlikely rise from the small town of French Lick, Indiana to become an NBA legend is an inspiration. The skills, confidence and work ethic he developed playing basketball in the dusty lots around town paved the way for his success. Bird never forgot his small town roots, remaining loyal to French Lick and crediting it for molding him into a Hall of Fame player. After growing up with humble beginnings, Bird soared to the greatest heights of basketball and remains one of the greatest players the game has ever seen.
