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Dinah Mattingly is known to most people as the spouse of National Basketball Association (NBA) legend Larry Bird. The three-time NBA champion needs no reintroduction, but who is the wife of the former power forward?
Larry Bird is widely regarded as one of the finest basketball players of his generation and then some. The revered former NBA star claimed multiple successes in the Finals in the 1980s, becoming champion in 1981, 1984 and 1986.
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Who is Dinah Mattingly?
Dinah Mattingly is the wife of basketball icon Larry Bird. Despite her keenness to remain out of the public eye, she was always present at her husband’s games before his retirement.
She is American and was born in Vigo County, Indiana. Dinah studied physical education at Indiana State University, graduating from college and becoming a physical education teacher at North Side High School in French Lick, Indiana.
She reportedly met Larry in college, but the pair did not become an item until 1986, after completing her undergraduate degree.
Dinah and Larry got married in 1989 and have stayed together since. They reside in West Baden Springs, Indiana, USA.
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Dinah Mattingly’s age, height and weight
Dinah Mattingly was born on November 16, 1954. She is currently 69 but turns 70 by her next birthday. The Indiana native is 5’ 5”. In centimetres, this is 165cm. Her Hall of Fame husband, Larry Bird, towers well above her at 6' 9", which is 206 in centimetres. According to reports, Dinah Mattingly’s weight in pounds is 137. In kilograms, this is 62kg.
Is Dinah Mattingly related to Don Mattingly?
Despite sharing the same surname, Dinah Mattingly and Don Mattingly are not blood relations. Those assumptions are an upshot of both not only having the same last name but also being born in Indiana. Don Mattingly is a former baseball player.
Dinah Mattingly and Larry Bird
Even though Dinah Mattingly is two years older than Larry Bird (born December 7, 1956), they have been married since 1989, spanning over three decades. It is not Larry’s first marriage.
The former NBA star tied the knot with Janet Condra in 1975, but the matrimony lasted less than a year. An attempt at reconciling also failed, and the pair went their separate ways. However, they had a daughter — Corrie — born in 1977 after the separation.
Dinah and Larry got engaged sometime in the 1980s and married in 1989. According to ESPN, the wedding happened in a friend's house in Terre Haute, Indiana, with seven people in attendance. That number includes the couple, who reportedly wore stonewashed jeans at the event.
They have been married for 34 years and have stayed together despite intermittent cheating accusations and reports of an illegitimate child.
While they tied the knot in the final years of Larry’s NBA career, Dinah supported her husband, who took on several front-office positions after retiring.
Larry Bird’s career
When he played, Larry Bird was one of the finest players of his generation. He was the sixth overall pick in the first round of the 1978 NBA draft, selected by the Boston Celtics, for whom he ultimately became venerated.
As stated on the NBA website: “Bird personified hustle, consistency and excellence in all areas of play — as a scorer, a passer, a rebounder, a defender, a team player, and, perhaps above all, as a clutch performer.
“Bird was so self-confident that he was known to waltz up to the opponents’ bench before tipoff and predict a 40-point performance for himself.”
The embodiment of Celtics Pride was at the basketball team for 13 seasons (1979-80 through 1991-92) until his retirement.
Appearances in the final years were few and far between due to injuries, but Bird was a fine player in his pomp. He had three NBA titles to show for his outstanding ability, was twice named the NBA Finals MVP and won the regular-season MVP award for three years running.
He retired on August 18, 1992, as the 1992-93 season approached, but not until after securing Olympic Gold in Barcelona with the United States.
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According to statistics obtained from the NBA, Larry Bird made 897 appearances as a pro, with 21,791 points (24.3 ppg), 8,974 rebounds (10.0 rpg) and 5,695 assists (6.3 apg). He also retired as the fifth all-time free-throw shooter behind Mark Price, Rick Barry, Calvin Murphy and Scott Skiles.
Post-retirement, Bird has been employed in several administrative positions, notably helping the Indiana Pacers end a four-year playoff drought in the 2010-11 season.
This saw him win the NBA Executive of the Year award in 2012 to become the only person in NBA history to win Most Valuable Player, Coach of the Year and Executive of the Year.
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Do Dinah Mattingly and Larry Bird have children together?
While Dinah Mattingly and Larry Bird have no biological offspring, the couple have adopted two children during their marriage — Mariah and Conner Bird — and Dinah is the stepmother to Larry’s daughter from his first marriage — Corrie Bird.
Little is known about Corrie, but reports claim the former NBA star was influential in softening relations between her and Dinah, with their previously strained relationship supposedly an upshot of miscommunication and minimal emotional support.
The reports further claim that Dinah helped resolve the strife between Larry and his daughter Corrie after she was excluded from his retirement ceremony.
As for Mariah Bird, she was adopted two years into Dinah and Larry’s union and has since become a notable administrative professional, leading the events management division of the Indiana Pacers basketball team.
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Conner — adopted into the family a year after Mariah (1992) — has not been quite fortunate due to several run-ins with law enforcement.
The high-profile incident happened on February 13, 2013, when he was arrested at Indiana University for attempted assault and intent to cause bodily harm.
Accused of intending to run over his ex-girlfriend with his car and facing initial charges of criminal mischief, weapon intimidation, and marijuana possession, Conner’s case gained attention in the media.
The adopted son of Dinah and Larry reached a plea deal, ultimately getting off with a slap on the wrist.
His current occupation is unknown.
Dinah Mattingly's Instagram
Dinah Mattingly’s preference to be out of the public eye means she has no known Instagram account. Larry Bird's NBA history means keeping a low profile may be impossible, but he has undoubtedly stayed away from social media as well.
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Dinah Mattingly’s net worth
While sources differ on Dinah Mattingly’s net worth, it is reported to be around $75 million, with Larry Bird's net worth also accounted for.
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