Larry Bird is an icon when it comes to basketball. His heroics and backstory have become legends in the history of the game. All of his on court accomplishments took place in Converse, Bird wore the brand the entirety of his professional career.
Larry Legend
Larry Joe Bird was born on December 7, 1956. He was raised in French Lick, Indiana. He fell in love with basketball at an early age. He spent hours and hours shooting, dribbling, and perfecting his craft. He would attend Indiana State University and would help put the program on the basketball map. In his senior season, he led his school to the NCAA Championship Game. He would unfortunately lose to Magic Johnson and his Michigan State University team. The battle between Magic and Bird was a huge sports story, and it would be the launch of one of the greatest rivalries of all time.
Bird vs Magic
Before Larry Bird and Magic Johnson, the NBA was struggling to find a fan base, sponsorships, and national attention. But Magic and Larry changed the sport and brought millions of fans to the NBA. In 1984, the NBA got its dream, Magic’s Los Angeles Lakers would face off against the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals. The series was heavily marketed and anticipated.
Celtics vs Lakers
The Celtics and Lakers were rivals going all the way back to the early days of the league. They are the top two franchises in the history of the NBA. The 1984 series would not disappoint. It was a highly contested series with Bird and Magic both having shining moments.
Choose Your Weapon
For most of his career, Bird wore the Converse Pro and the Converse Weapon shoes. The two biggest basketball stars of the 1980s are Magic Johnson and Larry Bird. Magic and Bird met in the Finals three times. The Converse Weapon had a slogan, “Choose Your Weapon.” This referred to the fact that the Weapon was available in a variety of team colors. For Magic, a pair of Yellow and Purple Weapons were made. Bird, whose Celtics team wore black shoes, had a black pair.
Different Era
When Magic and Bird played against each other, they both had on Converse. With the Weapon, they had on the same style in different colors. That shows just how powerful Converse was in its heyday. The influence they had on the game and the staple of high profile players they had was massive. The top players of the era both wore the exact same brand and style as each other. Today, players may wear the same brand, but it is rarely the same silhouette. There are also more brands today. The Lakers vs Celtics rivalry in the 1980s is an incredible moment for the Converse Weapon.
- Adam C. Better
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