Hoops Habit
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Best Basketball Hall of Fame Inductee from each NBA franchise

By Daniel Lubofsky

INGLEWOOD, CA- JUNE 7: Magic Johnson #32 of the Los Angeles Lakers dribbles against Michael Jordan #23 of the Chicago Bulls during Game Three of the 1991 NBA Finals on June 7, 1991 at the Great Western Forum in Inglewood, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1991 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
INGLEWOOD, CA- JUNE 7: Magic Johnson #32 of the Los Angeles Lakers dribbles against Michael Jordan #23 of the Chicago Bulls during Game Three of the 1991 NBA Finals on June 7, 1991 at the Great Western Forum in Inglewood, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1991 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Larry Bird, Boston Celtics
Larry Bird, Boston Celtics (Photo by Michael Kovac/Getty Images for Turner Sports) /

Best Boston Celtics Basketball Hall of Fame Inductee: Larry Bird

Looks can be deceiving, a fact that certainly was the case for a physically limited 6’9” forward out of French Lick, Indiana named Larry Bird. What he lacked in external intimidation he made up for in overall skill.

Bird’s presence was immediately felt on a Boston Celtics team coming off back-to-back playoff-less seasons. Not only did he get Boston back into the postseason picture, but by year two the organization found itself champions of the basketball world once again, kicking off one of their most prosperous eras ever.

Few have ever matched the all-around talent that helped Bird produce career averages of 24.3 points, 10.0 rebounds and 6.3 assists per game. There’s an even smaller number of talents who could do so on a career shooting line of .496/.376/.886 including two individual campaigns crossing the 50-40-90 threshold for efficiency.

Defenses could try to overwhelm the star forward with athleticism and physicality, but Bird’s all-around shot-making abilities made him too tough to cover with just a single player no matter their greatness at that end. Come closing time, everyone knew who the ball was going to, but that didn’t make it any easier to stop Larry Legend from draining game-winning shots whenever the opportunity presented itself.

He was the league’s MVP from 1984-86 where he found himself leading the Cs to four consecutive Finals appearances. Bird would take home another two championships, winning Finals MVP both times as well.

Along with plenty of other accomplishments — and combining with Magic Johnson to save the league from extinction — he cemented a pretty compelling argument for a spot on the NBA’s Mount Rushmore of greatness.