6. “Larry Legend” Larry Bird
Larry Bird is one of the greatest basketball players of all time by any measure that you can throw at him. In terms of his statistical output, his success with the Celtics, and simply his fame as a top star in the league, Bird is a legend of the game and of the league. Therefore, it’s not much of a reach that No. 33’s nickname would simply be “Larry Legend.”
Alternatively, Bird had another nickname that is far more comedic yet far less descriptive of Bird as a basketball player. That being said, it’d be a crime not to mention the fact that he was also known as “The Hick From French Lick” in reference to his roots growing up in the country in Indiana. That being said, “Larry Legend” is the more lasting nickname that holds more clout.
One of the best things to listen to now that Bird is retired and working with the Indiana Pacers is to have former players and coaches tell the stories regarding Bird. He wasn’t just a dominant basketball player, but the stories paint him as almost this mythical figure of supreme confidence meeting unbelievable skill. He really is the stuff of legends these days and he has the nickname to back up that case.
Next: No. 5 The Dream