Bird’s MVP--3rd Year in a Row

BOSTON — Larry Bird, who led the Boston Celtics into their third consecutive championship series, today was named the NBA’s most valuable player for the third year in a row.

Bird received 73 of a possible 78 first-place votes, and joined centers Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain as the only players to win the award three straight seasons. Atlanta’s Dominque Wilkins, who received the other five first-place votes, was second, and the Lakers’ Magic Johnson was third.