If you are a fan of basketball, you might have heard of two players who share the same last name and have achieved great success in their respective leagues. Sue Bird and Larry Bird are both basketball icons who have made their mark on the sport. They have inspired generations of fans and players with their skills, achievements, and personalities. But are they related to each other? Is there a family connection between the WNBA star and the NBA legend? Here is the truth behind the basketball legends.
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Sue Bird: A WNBA icon and an Olympic champion
Sue Bird is one of the most decorated and influential players in WNBA history. She has played for the Seattle Storm since 2002, when she was drafted as the first overall pick. She has won four WNBA championships, two WNBA Finals MVP awards, 13 WNBA All-Star selections, five All-WNBA First Team honors, and three WNBA assists titles. She is the WNBA’s all-time leader in assists and career starts, and ranks third in points and steals.
Sue Bird is also a five-time Olympic gold medalist, having represented the United States in 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016, and 2020. She is the only basketball player, male or female, to win five Olympic gold medals. She has also won four FIBA World Cup gold medals and two FIBA Americas Championship gold medals. She is widely regarded as one of the greatest point guards of all time.
Sue Bird announced her retirement at the end of the 2022 season, after playing for 21 years in the WNBA. She is engaged to Megan Rapinoe, a professional soccer player and activist who plays for the U.S. women’s national team and OL Reign. The couple met at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro and got engaged in October 2020.
Larry Bird: A NBA legend and a Hall of Famer
Larry Bird is an American former professional basketball player, coach, and executive who played for the Boston Celtics from 1979 to 1992. He is considered one of the greatest players of all time, and one of the best shooters and clutch performers ever. He led the Celtics to three NBA championships, in 1981, 1984, and 1986. He was named the NBA Finals MVP twice, in 1984 and 1986. He also won three consecutive NBA Most Valuable Player awards, from 1984 to 1986. He was selected to 12 NBA All-Star teams, nine All-NBA First Teams, three NBA All-Defensive Second Teams, and was the NBA Rookie of the Year in 1980. He is the only person in NBA history to be named Rookie of the Year, Most Valuable Player, Finals MVP, All-Star MVP, Coach of the Year, and Executive of the Year.
Larry Bird also represented the United States in international competitions. He was part of the “Dream Team” that won the gold medal at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona. He also won a gold medal at the 1977 World University Games and a silver medal at the 1992 FIBA Americas Championship.
Larry Bird retired from playing in 1992 due to chronic back problems. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1998. He later became a coach for the Indiana Pacers from 1997 to 2000, leading them to three consecutive Eastern Conference Finals appearances and one NBA Finals appearance in 2000. He was named the NBA Coach of the Year in 1998. He also served as an executive for the Pacers from 2003 to 2017, winning the NBA Executive of the Year award in 2012.
The answer: No relation
Despite their shared last name and their profession as basketball players, Sue Bird and Larry Bird are not related to each other. They have no family ties or blood connection whatsoever. They both happen to have a common surname that is derived from an occupational name for someone who worked as a bird catcher or a nickname for someone who resembled a bird.
Sue Bird has revealed that she used to lie about being Larry Bird’s niece when she was younger, as a joke or to impress people. She told Insider that she would say things like “Yeah, he’s my uncle” or “He’s my dad’s brother” when people asked her if they were related. She said that she stopped doing that when she realized that it was disrespectful to Larry Bird and his actual family.
Sue Bird also said that she has met Larry Bird a few times over the years, but they are not close or in regular contact. She said that he was always nice and supportive of her career. She said that she respects him as a player and a person, but they are not family.
Sue Bird and Larry Bird are both basketball legends who have made their own names in the sport. They have nothing in common except their last name and their love for the game. They are not related, but they are both admired and respected by fans and peers alike.
