Larry Bird Turned The Celtics Franchise Around In The Style Of LeBron, Wemby
Few phenomena in NBA history rival the sight of a young star grabbing a struggling franchise by the horns and almost single-handedly turning things around. It’s a relevant narrative these days as Victor Wembanyama has the Spurs buzzing with a franchise-record 5-0 start to 2025-26 after jumping from 22 wins in his debut to 34 last season. Fans of the 2000s era of the NBA will remember how LeBron James lifted the Cavaliers out of NBA-bottom purgatory. But don’t forget about Larry Bird. He did it with the Boston Celtics faster than both Wemby and Bron.
When Bird arrived in Boston for the 1979-80 season straight from Indiana State, the Celtics were a laughingstock. They’d limped to a 29-53 record the prior year, dead last in the Atlantic Division amid a post-Russell malaise. Kevin McHale, Robert Parish, and Danny Ainge hadn’t yet arrived.
Rookie Bird exploded onto the scene with 21.3 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game, earning unanimous Rookie of the Year honors while catapulting Boston to 61 wins, the Atlantic’s top spot, and an Eastern Conference Finals berth. As one observer put it, Bird almost single-handedly turned contenders out of mediocrity, dominating on both ends. He finished fourth in MVP voting that year.
Boston’s 32-win leap stands as one of the largest single-season jumps ever, a testament to Bird’s otherworldly feel for the game. Rookies or sophomores rarely flip entire franchises—most need time, reinforcements, or luck. LeBron boosted Cleveland from 17 wins to 35 in his first year, reaching 50 victories by year four and the Finals by year five, but championships eluded his Cavs until later.
Wembanyama’s alien skills have San Antonio climbing steadily—22 wins as a rookie, 34 in year two, now unbeaten early in year three—yet it took multiple seasons to gain traction.
Bird wasted zero time. His second season brought the new pieces, and Boston claimed the 1981 title. As new stars rise in the modern NBA, don’t forget about Bird.