As a fierce competitor, Larry Bird never let an opportunity pass to prove that he was the best player on the field. Even when it came to his teammates. On March 3, 1985, he saw Kevin McHale break the points record for Celtics with 56 units, and he had even helped him, multiplying the passes for his faithful interior.
“There aren't many opportunities to score that many in a game. Kevin will probably never score that many again. He was incredible, he deserves it and he should have scored 60.”
The former Rockets coach should have actually taken his chance, because nine days later, the proud and proud “Larry Legend” will steal his record.
The Hawks bench fined for… enjoying the show!
The ambitious Dominique Wilkins and Doc Rivers will be perfect victims and it is in New Orleans that the meeting takes place. That year, Atlanta played twelve games in the small UNO Lakefront Arena. The objective being to allow residents to see the NBA again, six years after the departure of the Jazz to Utah.
Facing the Hawks, tough opponents, the All-Star winger scored 23 points in the first half, 19 in the third quarter and 18 in the fourth, with a magnificent 22/36 shooting but only 1/4 to 3- points (admire the variety of moves…) and an almost perfect 15/16 on free throws. As the reigning MVP never does things by halves, he added 7 rebounds and 3 assists, in front of 10,079 spectators in New Orleans won over by the demonstration of one of the best players of all time.
Even the Atlanta bench goes crazy and starts… applauding him! A reaction that will not be to the taste of the managers, who will impose fines on their own players! A huge performance, but Larry Bird maintains a sense of collectiveness. “60 points is terribly difficult to achieve and you can't do it without the help of your teammates. »
Two franchise records in one night
Especially from Kevin McHale, who gave him the necessary motivation to make his name even more in the great Celtic history, since this record of 60 points still stands today. It holds, except that Larry Bird must now share it with a certain Jayson Tatum, author of 60 points (after overtime) against the Spurs in 2021. On the other hand, his 37 points in one half remain unmatched.
In the end, the only points record that eludes him Boston is the one in one quarter, belonging to Isaiah Thomas with 29 units.
| Larry Bird | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 1979-80 | BOS | 82 | 36 | 47.4 | 40.6 | 83.6 | 2.6 | 7.8 | 10.4 | 4.5 | 3.4 | 1.7 | 3.2 | 0.7 | 21.3 |
| 1980-81 | BOS | 82 | 40 | 47.8 | 27.0 | 86.3 | 2.3 | 8.6 | 10.9 | 5.5 | 2.9 | 2.0 | 3.5 | 0.8 | 21.2 |
| 1981-82 | BOS | 77 | 38 | 50.3 | 21.2 | 86.3 | 2.6 | 8.3 | 10.9 | 5.8 | 3.2 | 1.9 | 3.3 | 0.9 | 22.9 |
| 1982-83 | BOS | 79 | 38 | 50.4 | 28.6 | 84.0 | 2.4 | 8.6 | 11.0 | 5.8 | 2.5 | 1.9 | 3.0 | 0.9 | 23.6 |
| 1983-84 ★ | BOS | 79 | 38 | 49.2 | 24.7 | 88.8 | 2.3 | 7.8 | 10.1 | 6.6 | 2.5 | 1.8 | 3.0 | 0.9 | 24.2 |
| 1984-85 ★ | BOS | 80 | 40 | 52.2 | 42.7 | 88.2 | 2.1 | 8.5 | 10.5 | 6.6 | 2.6 | 1.6 | 3.1 | 1.2 | 28.7 |
| 1985-86 ★ | BOS | 82 | 38 | 49.6 | 42.3 | 89.6 | 2.3 | 7.5 | 9.8 | 6.8 | 2.2 | 2.0 | 3.2 | 0.6 | 25.8 |
| 1986-87 | BOS | 74 | 41 | 52.5 | 40.0 | 91.0 | 1.7 | 7.5 | 9.2 | 7.7 | 2.5 | 1.8 | 3.2 | 1.0 | 28.1 |
| 1987-88 | BOS | 76 | 39 | 52.7 | 41.4 | 91.6 | 1.4 | 7.8 | 9.3 | 6.1 | 2.1 | 1.6 | 2.8 | 0.8 | 29.9 |
| 1988-89 | BOS | 6 | 32 | 47.1 | 0.0 | 94.7 | 0.2 | 6.0 | 6.2 | 4.8 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 1.8 | 0.8 | 19.3 |
| 1989-90 | BOS | 75 | 39 | 47.3 | 33.3 | 93.0 | 1.2 | 8.3 | 9.5 | 7.5 | 2.3 | 1.4 | 3.2 | 0.8 | 24.3 |
| 1990-91 | BOS | 60 | 38 | 45.4 | 38.9 | 89.1 | 0.9 | 7.6 | 8.5 | 7.2 | 2.0 | 1.8 | 3.1 | 1.0 | 19.4 |
| 1991-92 | BOS | 45 | 37 | 46.6 | 40.6 | 92.6 | 1.0 | 8.6 | 9.6 | 6.8 | 1.8 | 0.9 | 2.8 | 0.7 | 20.2 |
| Total | 897 | 38 | 49.6 | 37.6 | 88.6 | 2.0 | 8.1 | 10.0 | 6.4 | 2.5 | 1.7 | 3.1 | 0.8 | 24.3 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
