Dinah Mattingly is the wife of an American former professional basketball player, coach, and executive in the NBA, Larry Bird. He is considered one of the greatest basketball players of all time.
Larry nicknamed the Hick from French Lick and Larry legend, is the only person in NBA history to have been named Rookie of the Year, Most Valuable Player, Finals MVP, All-Star MVP, Coach of the Year, and Executive of the Year.
Larry’s personal life is generally not in the limelight. For example, his wife and kids are not seen frequently in the media.
As of 2023, the NBA legend is married to Dinah Mattingly. However, he has been married once before as well, his first marriage lasted for a short time.
Let’s learn about this greatest former player’s wife’s life in detail in this article. Before we go on with all the details, let’s check out interesting quick facts about Dinah:
Quick Facts
Full Name | Dinah Mattingly |
Common Name | Dinah Mattingly |
Nick Name | Not Available |
Birthdate | November 16, 1954 |
Age | 68 Years Old |
Zodiac Sign | Scorpio |
Mother’s Name | Not Available |
Father’s Name | Not Available |
Siblings | Not Available |
Birthplace | Vigo County, Indiana |
Home Town | Vigo County, Indiana |
Citizenship | American |
Residence | West Baden Springs, Indiana |
College | Indiana State University |
Education | Marketing Major |
Height | 5 ft 5 in / 167 cm / 1.67 m |
Weight | 56 kg / 123 lb |
Eye Color | Hazel |
Hair Color | Golden |
Shoe Size | Not Available |
Martial Status | Married |
Husband | Larry Bird |
Children | Conner Bird, Mariah Bird |
Profession | Not Available |
Famous For | Larry Bird’s Wife |
Hobbies | Travel, Reading |
Net Worth | $1 Million |
Affiliated Brands | Not Available |
Social Media | Not Available |
Website | Not Available |
Last-Update | March 2023 |
Early Life & Family
Dinah was born on November 16, 1954, in Vigo County, Indiana, to her parents, whose information is missing at the moment.
There is no information about her personal life before she got famous.
However, she grew up in a lovely and supportive family. Her high school information is also unknown to us.
It is said that Dinah was a sports enthusiast during her college days.
Even though she was also involved in sports, she has not shared which sport it was and what kind of success she had.
Like Larry, she also attended Indiana State University. But they did not date each other at that time.
It is assumed that Larry and Dinah must have gotten closer to each other after Larry’s failed relationship with Janet.
Dinah is two years older than Larry, so it might also be another reason they did not hit it off immediately.
Wedding
Larry and Dinah’s wedding took place in 1989, it was his second marriage.
There is very little information about Dinah on the internet as she likes to keep it private. She came into the limelight after getting hitched to the NBA legend.
The wedding occurred in a friend’s home in Terre Haute, Indiana. Besides the bride and groom, just five of the closest friends and family witnessed the marriage.
It is also said that the couple wore stonewashed jeans to the ceremony.
Media Focused On Their Age Difference
The media focused on their two-year age difference during their wedding, but the couple seemed unbothered by it.
Dinah is a beautiful woman with golden locks that she likes to style in a bob cut.
In comparison to Larry, she might seem like a short woman, but her height is average, around 1.67 meters.
Dinah and Larry have been married for almost four decades. Primarily, she has supported him abundantly during his transition from NBA to coaching.
While most players find it hard to transition from playing to coaching, Larry pulled it through very exquisitely.
But, of course, most of it happened because of undying support from Dinah.
Even though they don’t show off their love and support, their bond is strong. Their married life has stood the test of time.
Larry has meddled in many controversies over the years. Many media outlets have accused him of cheating on his wife. But Dinah has stuck with him throughout the difficult times.
Around 2014, the media started rumors about Larry cheating on her with a young woman.
The news portals were full of a mystery woman putting her hand on Larry’s leg, whom everyone believed to be his mistress.
However, he revealed that the mystery woman was his daughter, and the infidelity rumors were untrue.
Children
Larry and Dinah do not have any biological children. However, they have adopted two kids, Conner and Mariah.
They adopted Mariah in 1991 and Conner in 1992. The exact reason why they went for adoption is not known.
Also, the age of the children is unknown, but both are in their 20s. They are independent and pursue their interests.
Their daughter Mariah Bird graduated from Indiana University, where she studied Tourism, Hospitality, and Event Management.
After graduation, she interned with PS&E. Later on, she officially joined their team as an event coordinator.
Besides being an excellent event manager, Mariah has also obtained a real estate license. Therefore, we can say that she is very hardworking and talented.
Nonetheless, their son Conner has made headlines for primarily negative reasons. As a child, fans used to spot him with his parents at Larry’s games.
It was reason enough to believe he might follow in his father’s footsteps to be an athlete.
Unfortunately, in 2011 he was arrested for underage drinking and misconduct and was arrested and imprisoned in 2013 after being charged with attempted murder and possession of marijuana.
The charges stemmed from some altercations with his ex-girlfriend. Reportedly, Conner was 22 when he drove his car at her.
He pleaded guilty to some charges, which shortened his sentence, while some charges were dropped.
Larry and Dinah have refused to make any comments on the matter.
Net Worth
Dinah has collected a net worth of around $1 million as of 2023, from her different ventures.
However, her collective net worth with her husband is higher than that.
As of 2023, Larry Bird has a net worth of $75 million.
This wealth makes him one of the wealthiest people in the NBA. The couple owns multiple houses and lives a luxurious life of their own.
Larry Bird’s First Wife, Janet Condra
In 1975, Larry married Janet Condra, the lucky lady who was his high school sweetheart.
The couple first met at Spring Valley Highschool, where they shared classes. The classmates quickly became friends, and it eventually blossomed into romance.
But the romance did not last long following the marriage, and they divorced after a year.
Though the exact reason for this marriage failure is unknown, we can guess that the differences were raised from Bird moving to Indiana.
Whatever the differences were, they were significant because the couple did not stay on good terms afterward.
The divorce was finalized on October 31, 1976. Surprisingly, they reconciled and lived together.
Biological Daughter, Corrie
The new union resulted in a child, a daughter named Corrie, born on August 4, 1977.
But this reunion also did not last long; consequently, the couple ended their relationship.
Initially, Larry denied that Corrie was his kid and rejected Janet’s request for child support.
The paternity test confirmed that he was the father. After that, he sent monthly checks for child support.
He set up an account from which Corrie could draw monthly support checks until she turned 18.
Janet later mentioned that she single-handedly raised Corrie because Larry was never interested in meeting his daughter.
His newfound success with the Celtics made him a busy person. Corrie, his biological daughter, asked for him, but he never had time to be with her.
Larry, As A Father
The mother-daughter duo tried their best to stay in touch with their father. Corrie used to write him letters, and Janet included school pictures and her report cards.
They tried to send the letters via certified mail to ensure that Larry received them, but to no avail. They still did not hear back from him.
Janet appeared on the Oprah Winfrey show in 1998, where she revealed more about the father-daughter relationship.
She shared with Oprah that she was always excused from Corrie for not having her father around.
Similarly, Janet also acknowledged how hurt Corrie felt by his actions. “I couldn’t protect her from the hurt caused by her dad.”
“I could protect her from everything else, but not that,” she expressed.
Janet continued to be an exceptional mother to her child and raised her in the best way possible.
Corrie met Larry later when her step-mom (Dinah) invited her to a pacers game.
Oprah Winfrey Show
In the same show with Oprah, Corrie also appeared alongside her mother. Oprah asked her why she couldn’t move on from her father even after 20 years.
Corrie replied that she had moved on in some ways. She said, “But I still have hope that he can be a part of my life.”
She got some athletic skills from her father and played basketball during high school. Then, she went to Indiana University and continued playing basketball there too.
Corrie was terrific at it. However, she did not continue it professionally. Corrie married in May 2008 and is raising her own family and also working as a manager in a clinic.
About Larry Bird
Larry Bird is a former NBA player who was born in West Baden, Indiana, on December 7, 1956, to Georgia (nee Kerns) and Claude Joseph “Joe Birds.”
His father was a veteran of the Korean war. His parents were of Irish, Scottish, and some Native American descent.
The former basketball player divorced mom single-handedly raised Larry, his three brothers, and a sister. Soon after the divorce, his dad committed suicide.
Larry played basketball to escape his family troubles and soon got good at it.
He had an outstanding collegiate career and was a strong prospect for the NBA draft.
Boston Celtics drafted him in 1978 as a sixth overall pick in round 1. During that time, he was the highest-paid rookie in sports history.
Larry had an extraordinary career overall, with three NBA titles and 3 NBA MVPs.
Larry said, “The corner shot and the one out the top…that really at the top of the key, they’re the shots I like to take.” In an interview which was taken in 2020 by Boston Celtics legend Kevin McHale.
Lary didn’t even practice three-point shooting, but the irony is he is one of the greatest three-point shooters of all time.
He retired in 1992; however, the Celtics kept him as a special assistant in the front office till 1997. Larry then moved to Indiana pacers as a coach.
Despite no prior coaching experience, he gave the best results and received the award for the NBA Coach of the Year. However, he gave up coaching in 2000.
Recent Venture
Magic Johnson and Larry Bird hated each other before shooting an advertisement, according to a report on March 2, 2023.
They became a good friend in a 1987 commercial shoot for Converse in French Lick, Indiana.
According to Basketball Network, on March 11, 2023, Bird was the Celtics icon who knew he wasn’t the most athletic player. It did not prevent him from finding a way to dominate the game.
On March 22, Jayson Tatum made the same record as Larry in scoring, which was set 35 years ago. Bird’s franchise record was 39 for most 30-point games in a single season.
Popularity Graph
Dinah Mattingly is the famous wife of Larry Bird, a former professional basketball player, coach, president, and advisor in the NBA.
The above graph demonstrates that she has not fallen out of the trend. It is evident that many fans and followers are also interested in knowing about Bird’s wife.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS)
The legendary NBA player has three children, Corrie, Connor, and Mariah. While Corrie is his biological child, Connor and Mariah are adopted. It is said that Larry Bird's wife, Dinah Mattingly, used to play sports in college, but it is unknown if it was basketball. Larry Bird stepped down from the Pacers' advisory in 2017 due to health complications, but he joined the position and continued to serve until July 2022. Does Larry Bird have children?
Did Larry Bird's wife play basketball?
What was Larry Bird doing in 2022?
FAQs
Who is Larry Bird's current partner? ›
Is Larry Bird related to Don Mattingly? ›Made major league debut on 8 September 1982. Is not related to Larry Bird. The rumor that Larry Bird is his brother-in-law likely arose from the fact that both athletes are from Indiana and Bird's wife's maiden name is Mattingly. Mattingly does not have a sister.
How many biological children does Larry Bird have? ›Larry Bird is a father of 3 children. He had his daughter, Corrie Bird from his marriage to Janet Condra. He then adopted a son Connor Bird and a daughter Mariah Bird, with his wife Dinah Mattingly.
Does Larry Bird have children? › What is Larry Bird salary? ›Larry Bird's Salary
He was also the first player to earn 5 million dollars. Besides that, all through his Basketball career his earnings in the NBA was $24,070,000. During the 1991-92 season, he earned the highest salary, $7,070,000 and after that he announced his retirement because of his back injury.
Bird returned to the Pacers as president of basketball operations in 2013. He stepped down again in 2017, but stayed with the team in an advisory capacity. He continued to serve as an advisor until July, 2022, when he "stepped back from maintaining an active role with the Indiana Pacers".
What does Don Mattingly do now? ›Donald Arthur Mattingly (born April 20, 1961) is an American professional baseball coach, and former first baseman and manager in Major League Baseball (MLB). He is the bench coach for the Toronto Blue Jays of MLB.
Does Don Mattingly belong in the Hall of Fame? ›The Hall of Fame case for Don Mattingly is all about peak performance. His career counting stats (222 HR, 1,099 RBI, 2,153 hits) do not measure up, especially for a first baseman. He debuted on the 2002 BBWAA ballot with 28% of the vote, not a great total but not a pittance either.
Does Larry Bird have a twin brother? › Who is Larry Bird's first wife? ›Larry Bird's ex-wife Janet Condra was married to the NBA legend just for a year. Look at the former pair's love-life and the number of children they had.
What does Larry Bird's daughter do? ›
Who is Larry Bird's illegitimate daughter? ›Mariah Bird graduated from Boston University in Boston, Massachusetts. Her age and date of birth have not been made public but she is believed to have been born in the 1990s. Mariah Bird also has a stepbrother named Conor Bird, who is also Larry's adopted son.
Who is the oldest WNBA player right now? ›Legendary Seattle Storm point guard Sue Bird is currently the oldest active player in the WNBA.
Why did Larry Bird retire? ›Bird announced his retirement from the NBA on August 18, 1992 due to a back injury. He played 13 seasons with the Celtics. “Sometimes it's been a long thirteen years. Sometimes it's been a very slow thirteen years.
Who is the richest basketball player? ›1. Michael Jordan Net Worth - $2.2 Billion. Viewed by many as the greatest player in NBA history, Jordan has turned his basketball acumen into a multi-billion dollar enterprise. The six-time NBA Champion made over $90 million as a player and makes $130 million a year from Nike, as part of his iconic "Air Jordan" brand.
Who has the highest salary in NBA history? ›...
Characteristic | Earnings in million U.S. dollars |
---|---|
LeBron James | 431.86 |
Chris Paul | 359.11 |
Kevin Durant | 349.14 |
Russell Westbrook | 336.43 |
Stephen Curry is currently the highest-paid NBA player.
Are Larry Bird and Magic Johnson friends? ›Larry Bird, Magic Johnson became friends in 1987 during a commercial.
Does Larry have a wife? › Who is Michael Jordan married to now? ›What happened to Connor Bird? ›
Bird was later arrested by the Indiana University Police on charges of battery with injury, criminal mischief, intimidation with a deadly weapon and possession of marijuana. He is now free on bail. No trial date has been set. A lawyer for Bird tells PEOPLE: “What has happened is a very private matter.
Who made more money Larry Bird or Magic Johnson? ›Jordan made $93 million, and at the time, he was typically one of the NBA's highest-paid players. Magic Johnson made more than Bird, but less than Jordan. With NBA career earnings of $39 million, Johnson also found himself as one of the league's highest-paid players during his time.
Do Larry Bird and Michael Jordan get along? ›Off the court, Jordan and Bird had a close friendship and often spent time together away from the game. In fact, Bird has said that Jordan was one of his closest friends in the league.
Do Magic and Larry like each other? ›Magic Johnson and Larry Bird saved the NBA in the 1980s by having one of the greatest rivalries in all of sport. Johnson and Bird were great friends, but hated each other early in their careers playing for the LA Lakers and Boston Celtics, respectively.
Who is Larry's black girlfriend? ›Loretta Black (born 1964 July 31 Indiana United States) she is a working-class woman and single mother of two from New Orleans who relocates to Los Angeles to live with Larry David and Cheryl David after Hurricane Edna.
Why did Cheryl and Larry get divorced? ›The real-life divorce was filed by Laurie David, citing “irreconcilable differences.” Their spokesman has called the split “very amicable.” On “Curb,” the breakup was set off when Cheryl called hysterically from a potentially crashing airplane.
How did Larry get rich? ›The bulk of David's fortune comes from Seinfeld reruns, syndication and streaming rights. In 1998, the show's syndication rights sold for a then-unheard of $1.7 billion, with David getting a massive $250 million payday.
How rich is Jordan's wife? ›Net Worth: | $210 Million |
---|---|
Name: | Juanita Jordan |
Salary: | $16 Million + |
Monthly Income: | $2 Million + |
Date of Birth: | June 13, 1959 |
How old is Michael Jordan's wife, Yvette Prieto? Prieto is 42 years old. She was born March 26, 1979. There is a 15-year age difference between the couple.
What nationality is Michael Jordan's new wife? ›Michael Jordan is married to Cuban-American model Yvette Prieto, who he met a year after divorcing from his ex-wife Juanita. In 2013, Yvette and Michael married each other in Florida, with a ceremony rumored to have cost over £8 million and the guest list included celebrities like Tiger Woods, Usher, and Robin Thicke.