How Many Rings Does Larry Bird Have?

If you are an NBA fan, it is impossible not to know anything about Larry Bird. He bagged several accolades over his career, such as NBA rings. Now, how many rings does Larry Bird have?

Larry Bird claimed not only one, not two, but three NBA championship rings. He may not have the most NBA rings in history, but he is one of the best players ever. It is a symbol of his dominating power on the court.

Today, we’ll explore how Larry Bird became a basketball superstar. Get ready to have a trip down memory lane.

What is Larry Bird Best Known For?

Larry Bird was known for his overachieving personality, thus earning the monicker “a Hick from French lick.” The nickname pays tribute to his humble beginnings as an aspiring player who grew up in the countryside. It symbolizes his pure talent and hard work that led him to the highest peak of the NBA.

Larry Bird was best known for his overachieving quality, a player who goes beyond the expectation, and someone who makes everyone around him play better. His inspiring skills transformed everyone in his team from losers to winners.

Indeed, Larry Bird is a genius player with innate basketball talent. Aside from his prolific fundamental skills, from passing to shooting, he was known for his ability to read every basketball game. He could anticipate the offensive and defensive moves of the opponent with ease.

With this skill alone, he could make intelligent decisions to make a scoring advantage. In addition, he was a sharpshooter and a talented passer. He could make deadly accurate shots while being a blinding ball handler.

Most of all, Larry Bird was famous not only for his talent but also because of his character worthy of emulation. Larry Bird’s legacy includes his determination and competitive spirit. He had a passionate drive to win every game without making dirty moves. After retiring, he became someone who was not afraid to make a move.

Larry Bird’s NBA Career Highlights

Before getting into details of Larry Bird’s rings, discussing his NBA career highlight would be better to understand his success. In case you did not know, Larry Bird only played for one NBA team throughout his career.

Despite having played for one team compared to his colleagues in the NBA, he showcased the versatility that other players who played for several teams have. He did not lag behind them but surpassed them regarding skills, strategy, and mentality.

Larry Bird spent his entire basketball player stint with the Boston Celtics, where he built his name and fame. No, he did not play for the Indiana Pacers, but he coached them instead when he retired from the NBA league as a player.

The points below will tell you more about the teams he played for; check them out, and don’t miss any detail.

Boston Celtics (1979-1992)

Larry Bird made an NBA entrance in 1979. Compared to his NBA status now, he did not make a powerful statement as a rookie. Boston Celtics drafted Larry Bird as the sixth overall pick. However, he transformed into a bird that flew the Celtics to three NBA championships in 1981, 1984, and 1986. 

Larry Bird spent 13 years with the Boston Celtics, clearing 12 NBA All-Star games. Aside from that, he bagged three NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards. In addition to his season MVP, he earned two NBA Finals MVP awards and became an NBA Three-Point Shootout champion three times.

His NBA stint was not all ups, but he also experienced several downfalls. Nonetheless, he showed numerous clutch performances, which he was known for. His game-winning steal and assist in the 1987 Eastern Conference Finals Game 5 was the best of all his NBA moments.

On this day in 1987… Larry Bird’s iconic steal & assist to a cutting Dennis Johnson wins Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals for Boston! #NBA75 pic.twitter.com/GawmtszRe5

— NBA History (@NBAHistory) May 26, 2022

The highest peak of his career was definitely in the mid-1980s, especially during the 1985-1986 NBA season. This season, he earned his third consecutive NBA MVP award and left-and-right accolades.

Nonetheless, his career started seeing a downward slope in the late 1980s to early 1990s. Due to a series of injuries, he became a shadow of his past self in his last NBA season. With his injuries, he missed a lot of games.

So, when did Larry Bird retire? It was when he failed to keep up with the demands of the NBA games in 1992. Even so, Larry Bird remains one of the greatest NBA players ever.

How Many Championships Does Larry Bird Have?

Everyone keeps asking, “how many championships does Larry Bird have?” Let’s settle this since and for all. Larry Bird’s championship rang three, one in 1981, one in 1984, and another in 1986. All of these were achieved with the Boston Celtics, where he spent his entire NBA career.

1981 NBA Champions

The first time Larry Bird won an NBA ring was in 1981 when they defeated the Houston Rockets. As you can tell, his first NBA Finals championship was not the best compared to his other NBA Finals performance.

During the 1981 NBA Finals, he only averaged 15.3 points, 15.3 rebounds, and 7.0 assists per game. With these Finals stats, no wonder he was denied an NBA MVP award and even a Finals MVP award this season.

1984 NBA Champions

Larry Bird returned better and bolder in the 1984 NBA season, thus defeating their longtime rival, Boston Celtics. In the Finals, Larry Bird served as a critical player for the team and improved his Finals stats compared to his previous record in 1981.

At the time, he was the top player on his team and in the entire NBA Finals. He averaged 27.4 points, 14.0 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game in the NBA Finals. With this impressive stat, he claimed the Finals MVP for the second time; despite losing, the first time was in the 1983-1984 season.

1986 NBA Champions

Larry Bird’s third and last NBA ring was still with the Boston Celtics. They rivaled the Houston Rockets again and took home the 4-2. He was the key player on the team, pricing his legacy as an NBA star and legend.

This time, Larry Bird’s stats slightly declined, which signaled his declining NBA status. Nonetheless, he was still able to record a considerable feat. He averaged 24.0 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 9.5 assists per game.

He was the first player to have recorded two triple-doubles in the NBA Finals games. He recorded an average of 21 points, 14 rebounds, and ten assists in Game 1. Additionally, he averaged 29 points, 11 rebounds, and 12 assists in Game 6.

How Many Rings Does Larry Bird Have Against Magic Johnson?

Until today, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird’s rivalry remains a hot topic. Hence, everyone is asking: how many rings does Larry Bird have against Magic Johnson? Well, the short answer is Larry Bird lost against Magic Johnson regarding NBA rings.

As you may have read above, Larry Bird won three NBA rings. His first was in 1981, and he replicated this feat in 1984 and 1986. Meanwhile, Magic Johnson won five NBA rings in 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, and 1988.

Although one of them had more NBA rings, both are undoubtedly legendary in their ways. By looking at one angle, it is unnecessary to declare someone as the real GOAT.

Wrapping Things Up: How Many Rings Does Larry Bird Have?

Larry Bird is already a legend, even without looking at his NBA rings. While we are talking about it, how many rings does Larry Bird have? The answer is three; he won one in 1981, another in 1984, and the last in 1986.

If you are comparing NBA legends’ stats and accolades, do not just look at one angle, as it will give you a biased answer. Look at their holistic performance coupled with stats and data. In that way, you will be making a research-based answer!

If you’re interested in learning Larry Bird‘s story, check out this basketball biography book.

We hope you enjoyed this post! If you did, be sure to check out our other basketball FAQ articles here.