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Larry Bird
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==Early life== Bird was born December 7, 1956, in [[West Baden Springs, Indiana]], to Georgia Marie (née Kerns; 1930–1996)<ref>{{cite web |title=Georgia Bird, 66, mother of Larry Bird |url=https://latimes.newspapers.com/article/the-indianapolis-news-georgia-kerns-obit/136330868/ |website=latimes.newspapers.com |access-date=May 28, 2024 |language=en}}</ref> and Claude Joseph "Joe" Bird (1926–1975), a veteran of [[World War II]] and the [[Korean War]].<ref name=Schwartz1>{{cite web |last = Schwartz |first = Larry |title = Plain and simple, Bird one of the best |url = https://www.espn.com/sportscentury/features/00014096.html |work = ESPN |access-date = July 29, 2013 |archive-date = January 26, 2009 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090126195257/http://espn.go.com/sportscentury/features/00014096.html |url-status = live }}</ref> His parents were of [[Irish people|Irish]], [[Scottish people|Scottish]] and [[Indigenous peoples of the Americas|Native American]] descent.<ref>{{Cite book |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=zp1mDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA13 |title = Larry Bird: Hall of Fame Basketball Superstar |first = Jack |last = Kavanagh |date = July 1, 2013 |publisher = Enslow Publishing, LLC |isbn = 9781622851492 |via = Google Books |access-date = June 29, 2020 |archive-date = March 7, 2023 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230307083317/https://books.google.com/books?id=zp1mDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA13 |url-status = live }}</ref> Bird has four brothers and a sister.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web |url = https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1987-12-17-8704030797-story.html |title = EDDIE BIRD HAS A TOUGH ACT TO FOLLOW AT INDIANA STATE |website = Chicago Tribune |date = December 17, 1987 |access-date = February 24, 2020 |archive-date = February 24, 2020 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200224220846/https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1987-12-17-8704030797-story.html |url-status = live }}</ref> Bird was raised in nearby [[French Lick, Indiana|French Lick]], where his mother worked two jobs to support Larry and his five siblings.<ref name=Schwartz2>{{cite web |last = Schwartz |first = Larry |title = Eye for victory |url = https://www.espn.com/sportscentury/features/00014103.html |work = ESPN |access-date = July 29, 2013 |archive-date = November 27, 2011 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111127175835/http://espn.go.com/sportscentury/features/00014103.html |url-status = live }}</ref> Bird has said that being poor as a child still motivates him "to this day."<ref name=1988flash>{{cite magazine |url = http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/nba/1998/bird/flashbacks/1988flash.html |title = Boston's Larry Bird, in what may be his finest season, gets Red Auerbach's vote—over Bill Russell—as the best ever |magazine = [[Sports Illustrated]] |last = Deford |first = Frank |date = March 21, 1988 |access-date = May 24, 2011 |url-status = bot: unknown |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130930041901/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/nba/1998/bird/flashbacks/1988flash.html |archive-date = September 30, 2013 }}</ref> Georgia and Joe divorced when Larry was in high school, and Joe committed [[suicide]] in February 1975.<ref>{{cite magazine |last = Papanek |first = John |title = Gifts That God Didn't Give |url = http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1124961/4/index.htm |magazine = Sports Illustrated |access-date = July 29, 2013 |date = November 9, 1981 |url-status = bot: unknown |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131109025611/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1124961/4/index.htm |archive-date = November 9, 2013 }}</ref> Bird used basketball as an escape from his family troubles, starring for [[Springs Valley High School]] (Class of 1974)<ref>{{cite web |title=Larry Bird |url=https://hoopshall.com/inductees/larry-bird/ |website=Hoopshall |access-date=May 28, 2024 |language=en}}</ref> and averaging 31 points, 21 rebounds, and 4.0 assists as a senior on his way to becoming the school's all-time scoring leader.<ref name=Schwartz1 /><ref name="Larry Bird: Biography">{{cite web |url = http://www.larrybird.com/Biography.aspx/ |title = Larry Bird: Biography |access-date = June 28, 2013 |archive-date = May 1, 2013 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130501094419/http://www.larrybird.com/Biography.aspx/ |url-status = live }}</ref> Bird wore the jersey number 33 in high school because his brother Mark had previously had it; he kept that number through his college and professional career.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tribune-Star |first=Mark Bennett |date=2025-03-06 |title=Mark Bennett: Before he was 'Larry Legend,' Bird shaped by boyhood, book explains |url=https://www.tribstar.com/news/local_news/mark-bennett-before-he-was-larry-legend-bird-shaped-by-boyhood-book-explains/article_55e184f6-faa7-11ef-a259-1fb5303ea62b.html |access-date=2025-05-26 |website=Terre Haute Tribune-Star |language=en}}</ref> According to Bird, he grew up as a huge fan of the [[Indiana Pacers]] in the [[American Basketball Association]] (ABA) and the 6'9 center [[Mel Daniels]], who represented his first exposure to professional basketball.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Mel Daniels|url=https://www.hoophall.com/hall-of-famers/mel-daniels/|date=September 7, 2012|access-date=October 30, 2023|archive-date=October 30, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231030232645/https://www.hoophall.com/hall-of-famers/mel-daniels/|url-status=live}}</ref> Bird's youngest brother, [[Eddie Bird|Eddie]], also played basketball at Indiana State University, where Daniels would coincidentally become an assistant coach to the young Larry once he played there.<ref name="auto" />
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