Larry Bird Debuted for Celtics in Historic 1979 NBA Game

Boston Celtics legend Larry Bird began his NBA career against the Houston Rockets on October 12, 1979, launching a 13-season run that established him as one of basketball's most accomplished players. Drafted sixth overall from Indiana State, Bird recorded 14 points, 10 rebounds and five assists in 28 minutes during his first professional game, according to Sports Yahoo and Celtics Wire.

Bird made six of 12 field-goal attempts and missed his only three-point attempt in the debut. He also scored in double figures in each of his first 20 NBA games, according to Sports Yahoo's retrospective published October 12, 2026.

The opening night carried additional significance for the league because Celtics guard Chris Ford made what Celtics Wire identified as the first recorded three-point field goal in NBA history during the same game. Bird's arrival followed his selection with the sixth pick of the 1978 NBA Draft, after he transferred from Indiana University to Indiana State and continued playing college basketball.

Bird spent his entire 13-season NBA playing career with Boston, averaging 24.3 points, 10.0 rebounds and 6.3 assists per game. Sports Yahoo reported that he earned 12 All-Star selections, 10 All-NBA selections, three NBA championships and three consecutive regular-season Most Valuable Player awards from 1984 through 1986.

He also won two NBA Finals MVP awards and three All-Defensive Team selections. Bird finished his career shooting 37.6% from three-point range and won the NBA's three-point contest in each of its first three years, from 1986 through 1988. He also helped the United States win Olympic gold as part of the 1992 Dream Team in Barcelona, Spain.

After retiring in 1992, Bird moved into coaching and took charge of the Indiana Pacers in 1997. He guided the team to a 58-win season in his first year and received NBA Coach of the Year honors, according to Sports Yahoo's October 10, 2026, retrospective. Across three seasons, from 1997 to 2000, he compiled a 147-67 regular-season record and led Indiana to the NBA Finals in 2000.

During Bird's three-year coaching tenure, Indiana went 10-1 against Boston, according to the October 10 report. His return to face his former team carried personal significance, as he reflected on the experience during a conversation with former Pacers teammate Reggie Miller on the Dan Patrick Show in 2016.

Recalling Indiana's first victory in Boston during his coaching career, Bird said the result ranked among his most memorable experiences.

"The first time we won in Boston was one of the greatest experiences I ever felt," Bird said. "It was like winning a championship."

Bird also addressed his transition from celebrated player to coach in his book, 'Bird Watching: On Playing and Coaching The Game I Love.' He explained that he wanted to establish his coaching reputation rather than rely indefinitely on his playing achievements.

"I've got too many other things happening to live in the past. I know the only way people are going to forget Larry Bird the player is if Larry Bird the coach can win a championship," Bird wrote. "I'm betting my guys are going to get me there."

Indiana reached the 2000 NBA Finals under Bird but lost to the Los Angeles Lakers, led by Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant. Bird stepped away from coaching after that series, ending a three-season tenure that brought him close to another championship without securing a title as a coach.

Boston retired Bird's No. 33 jersey following his playing career, and the number remains associated with his legacy at the franchise's home arena. His career also helped define the Celtics' rivalry with the Los Angeles Lakers, particularly through his competition with Magic Johnson.

The Celtics entered the 2026-27 preseason with a 2-0 record, according to Sports Yahoo's October 12 report. Boston was scheduled to host the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday before facing the Philadelphia 76ers in its final preseason game ahead of the regular-season opener against the Detroit Pistons on October 20.