Larry Bird is a name that resonates with basketball fans all over the world. Known for his incredible skills on the court and his legendary career in the NBA, Larry Bird has left an indelible mark on the sport. However, there is another Bird that many may not be aware of – Eddie Bird, Larry’s lesser-known brother.
While Larry soared to great heights in the basketball world, Eddie’s journey took a different path. Born 10 years apart, the Bird brothers grew up in the small town of French Lick, Indiana.
From an early age, it was evident that both had a passion for the game of basketball. However, while Larry’s talent and dedication propelled him to stardom, Eddie faced his fair share of challenges.
Eddie’s basketball career was riddled with the pressure of living up to his brother’s name. This became hard for Eddie, as his skill and work ethic didn’t quite match his brother’s.
Larry even spoke about this in an interview, believing his brother would be in for a rude awakening if he reached the NBA.
“High school ball is like the lowest grade,” Larry said. “If you was a good player then, in high school, it don’t necessarily mean you’d be a great player in college. I think with his work ethic, he’s got a lot to learn, and he’s going to find out the hard way.”
Eddie’s work ethic was his biggest downfall. This was especially true when you compare this to his brother, as Larry is famously known to have one of the best work ethics we’ve ever seen.
Still, Eddie had real talent; he was no scrub. Eddie attended Springs Valley High School, the same as brother Larry. It was at Springs Valley High School where Eddie broke brother Larry’s all-time scoring record.
Larry scored 1,125 points, while Eddie scored 1,172 points. It should be noted that Larry didn’t play in his sophomore year, but it’s still an impressive feat by Eddie.
Eddie Bird’s Professional Career
Eddie Bird went on to play college basketball at the same university as Larry, Indiana State. He’d go on to have a successful collegiate career, averaging 14.0 points and 3.7 rebounds per game.
Eddie played four years at Indiana State, and afterward, he attempted to make the NBA. The Sacramento Kings gave Eddie a tryout at their free agent camp in 1991, but he was ultimately not signed by the team.
Eddie was then drafted by the Suncoast Sunblasters, a basketball team in the United States Basketball League (USBL). Unfortunately for Eddie, his professional career would last just eight games, where he averaged 6.6 points per game.
Larry Bird may have gone down as one of the greatest NBA players of all time, while brother Eddie Bird faded from the spotlight. Still, Eddie doesn’t seem to want the spotlight on him, similar to Larry, so he’s likely living a good life, and that’s all anyone can ask for.
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