How Larry Bird Quietly Became One of the Greatest Players in History

Larry Bird was selected 6th overall by the Boston Celtics in the 1978 NBA Draft, even though he still had one more year of college eligibility left. The Celtics took a gamble, knowing they’d have to wait—but it paid off. Rather than rush into the league, Bird stayed at Indiana State to finish what he started.

Boston held firm, confident he was worth the wait. That decision—unusual at the time—set the stage for one of the most remarkable careers in NBA history. The Celtics’ patience turned into a goldmine, and Bird would soon become the savior of their storied franchise.