Larry Bird, Whose Father Was an Alcoholic, Dropped Out of School and Worked as a Garbage Man Before Turning into an NBA Legend

The Boston Celtics had the pleasure of picking one of the greatest players of all time in 1979. Larry Bird was selected as the sixth overall pick.

Larry Legend is an absolute legend in the game. Winning three NBA Championships and three MVPs en route to becoming a Hall of Famer.

One of the reasons for his success comes down to his childhood. Growing up as the Hick from French Lick wasn’t easy. The town was the poorest in Indiana, and at one point, Bird had to drop out of college and become a garbage man to support his family.

Also Read: “Larry Bird Was Just Slicin and Dicin Him!”: Magic Johnson Describes Watching The Celtics Legend Play For the First Time

Larry Bird dropped out of college and became a garbage man before finding NBA success

There can be no denying that Larry Bird is an NBA great. But, before he achieved greatness with the Boston Celtics, Bird was a young man growing up in French Lick, Indiana.

Larry had a tough upbringing, his father, an alcoholic committed suicide when he was 18. Basketball became a young Bird’s only escape. He received many offers and chose to join Indiana State. However, he dropped out just 24 days later. Why? Because he had just broken up with his girlfriend and needed to find a way to support himself and his daughter.

So, Larry Legend decided to become a garbage man. A job he thoroughly enjoyed.

“I loved that job. It was outdoors, you were around your friends. Picking up brush, cleaning it up. I felt like I was really accomplishing something. How many times are you riding around your town and you say to yourself, Why don’t they fix that? Why don’t they clean the streets up? And here I had the chance to do that. I had the chance to make my community look better.”

It certainly is a heck of a story. Fortunately, the universe had other plans for Bird and basketball became his only focus shortly thereafter.

Larry Legend was a dominant force in the 1980s who everyone feared

Larry Bird made the 1980s one of the greatest eras in basketball history. The man scared every one of his opponents, including his greater rival Magic Johnson. With averages of 24 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists a game, alongside the accolades he has, who wouldn’t fear him?

Safe to say it was a magical time in basketball. One that paved the way for many of the league’s future greats. The world is lucky that Larry decided to drop the garbage bags and pick up a basketball.

Also Read: “It Was Impossible Beat Larry Bird & the Celtics in TD Garden”: Joe Dumars Calls Boston Legend a ‘Savant’ Who Wouldn’t Allow One Mistake