Every NBA team’s greatest draft pick of all time
By Dre Elder
Who else but the 6-foot-9 product of French Lick, Indiana? The Boston Celtics drafted Larry Bird sixth overall in the 1978 NBA Draft. At the time, players could be drafted without ever renouncing their collegiate eligibility. This allowed Boston to retain Bird’s draft rights for one year while he played his final season at Indiana State. If Bird had entered the 1979 draft, he was certain to be chosen by a team ahead of Boston in the draft order. Was it a conspiracy or simply luck of the Irish?
Nonetheless, Larry Bird’s arrival in Boston transformed the Celtics into perennial contenders. Bird’s elite scoring and passing abilities made him an impossible cover. During a three-year stretch from 1984-1986, the Celtics won two NBA championships. Bird was named Finals MVP for both. He was named league MVP three consecutive years during this period.
From Bird’s fabled rivalry with Magic Johnson to his uncanny trash-talking talents, the NBA’s popularity increased substantially during his career. He was a small town boy who became the best player on one of basketball’s flagship franchises. Bird’s edgy attitude and confidence endeared him to the Boston faithful and beyond. During a 2004 interview with Jim Gray, Bird revealed how he always felt disrespected when guarded by a white player.
"I just didn’t want a white guy guarding me. Because it’s disrespect to my game.”"
Bird was selected to 12 All-Star teams, 10 All-NBA teams, and three All-Defensive teams in his 13-year career. He averaged 24.3 points, 10 rebounds, and 6.3 assists per game during his playing days. Larry Bird was widely regarded as the greatest small forward in NBA history before another guy on this list came along.