Larry Joe Bird, the Indiana Pacers consultant, has adopted two children with his wife, Dinah Mattingly. He has a daughter, Corrie, from his first wife, Janet Condra.
As of 2025, he isn’t in the front-facing role and has been noted as disappearing from the sports.
Highlights
- Larry Joe Bird married Dinah Mattingly on October 31, 1989, and adopted two kids, Mariah and Connor.
- Mariah serves as the lead events management division for the Indiana Pacers.
- Larry has a biological daughter, Corrie, from his first wife, Janet Condra.
Larry was the all-time scoring leader at Springs Valley High School and received a scholarship to play college basketball for the Indiana Hoosiers in 1974.
However, he dropped out of Indiana and enrolled at Indiana State University in 1975, graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in physical education.
The Boston Celtics selected him with the sixth overall pick in the 1978 NBA draft and signed a five-year, $3.25 million contract, making him the highest-paid rookie in sports history.
He won his first NBA championship in 1981, second in 1984, and third in 1986.
His rivalry with Magic Johnson began in college and continued in the NBA. However, they became friends off the court, and their friendship blossomed while working together to film the Converse commercial.
Larry announced his retirement from the NBA on August 18, 1992, and the Celtics retired his jersey number 33.
He served as a special assistant in the Celtics’ front office before accepting the coaching position at the Indiana Pacers in 1997. Later, he became the Pacers’ president of basketball operations in 2003.
He is the only person in NBA history to have won the NBA MVP, Coach of the Year, and Executive of the Year awards.
Larry Joe Bird And Dinah Mattingly Built A Legacy Of Love
Larry Joe Bird and Dinah Mattingly have built a life grounded in love, humility, and generosity. Dinah’s role as a devoted wife, mother, and educator has been vital in their family’s success.
She has been a steadfast presence in his life, offering support, love, and stability away from the spotlight.
Dinah grew up with a deep appreciation for sports and fitness in Vigo County, Indiana, and attended Indiana State University. She met Larry at Indiana, and their relationship blossomed.
After graduating, she became a physical education teacher at North Side High School in French Lick, Indiana, the same town where Larry grew up.
On October 31, 1989, they married in an intimate ceremony wearing jeans at a friend’s house in Terre Haute, Indiana. Only five other people attended their wedding.
They adopted two children, Mariah Bird in 1991 and Connor Bird in 1992.
Mariah built a successful career in sports management and led the events management division for the Indiana Pacers.
Furthermore, Dinah often preferred a low-profile life, supporting Larry’s career while maintaining her own identity.
They reside in a luxurious home in Naples, Florida, where they enjoy a peaceful environment away from the hustle and bustle of professional sports.
The married couple has made significant charitable contributions over the years, supporting causes related to education, healthcare, and youth sports in Indiana.
All of my donations are sort of made under the table. I don’t need the publicity. I’m not doing it for the publicity. But I do care. And that’s what matters most.
Larry Joe Bird
Larry Joe Bird Has A Biological Daughter From Janet
Larry Joe Bird had a brief marriage to his high school sweetheart, Janet Condra.
Their relationship played a significant role in his early life and left a lasting impact through their daughter, Corrie Bird.
Larry Bird with his first wife Janet Condra. pic.twitter.com/dUziqpgC6Q
— MAVERICK X (@MAVERIC68078049) January 20, 2024
Janet was born in the mid-1960s in Indiana and attended Springs Valley High School in French Lick, the same school as Larry Bird.
The two met as teenagers and became sweethearts, maintaining their relationship even after graduation. In 1975, while Larry was a freshman at Indiana State University, he married Janet.
However, their union was short-lived. The pressures of his budding basketball career, combined with the challenges of young adulthood, led to their separation less than a year later.
Getting married was the worst mistake I ever made. Everything that ever happened to me I’ve learned from it, but I’m still scarred by that. That scarred me for life.
Larry Joe Bird
Despite their split, Larry and Janet attempted to reconcile in 1976.
Though their efforts failed, their brief reunion resulted in the birth of their daughter, Corrie Bird, in 1977. The couple officially divorced in October 1976, ending their relationship for good.
After the divorce, Janet raised Corrie as a single mother, working two jobs to support her family. Meanwhile, Larry’s basketball career skyrocketed, leading him to NBA stardom with the Boston Celtics.
He remained largely absent from their lives, even though he provided financial support through monthly child support payments until Corrie turned 18.
When I was younger, I would send him letters, and my mom would send him my school pictures and report cards. We would send them certified mail to make sure he received them, but he just didn’t respond.
Corrie Bird
Despite the emotional distance, Corrie has built her own life.
In May 2008, she married Trent Barson, and the couple has since focused on raising their family away from the spotlight.
Additional Information
- Larry Joe Bird, the son of Georgia Marie and Claude Joseph “Joe” Bird, was born on December 7, 1956, in West Baden Springs, Indiana.
- He grew up alongside his four siblings in a poor household where his mother worked two jobs to support the family. His father was a veteran of World War II and the Korean War.
- He has portrayed himself in three movies: Blue Chips (1994), Space Jam (1996), and Celtic Pride (1996).
- His net worth is estimated at $75 million.
