Larry Joe Bird is a former American NBA basketball player and coach Drafted into the NBA sixth overall by the Boston Celtics in 1978 Bird started at small forward and power forward for thirteen seasons spearheading one of the NBAs most formidable frontcourts that included center Robert Parish and forward Kevin McHale Due to chronic back problems he retired as a player in 1992 Bird was voted to the NBAs 50th Anniversary AllTime Team in 1996 and inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1998 He served as head coach of the Indiana Pacers from 1997 to 2000 In 2003 he assumed the role of president of basketball operations for the Pacers which he currently holds