October 12 is a special day in Boston Celtics history, because it was on that day in 1979 that Larry Bird made his NBA debut.

Bird, drafted No. 6 overall out of Indiana State, became one of the best players in NBA history from that day forward. And his rivalry with Magic Johnson of the Los Angeles Lakers helped spur a new generation of NBA fans.

Bird started the first game of his rookie season, which came against the Houston Rockets. He played 28 minutes, going 6-of-12 from the floor and scoring 14 points. Ironically Bird, who was a great 3-point shooter, only attempted one in this game, missing it. 

He also pulled down 10 rebounds and dished out five assists. 

Bird scored in double-figures in each of the first 20 games of his NBA career.

A 13-year veteran of the Celtics, he was a 12-time All-Star, a 10-time All-NBA selection, a 3-time MVP, a 3-time NBA Champion, a 3-time All-Defensive Team selection and the Rookie of the Year in 1979-80. He was twice named the MVP of the NBA Finals. He averaged 24.3 ppg for his career to go along with 10.0 rebounds. He shot 37.6 percent from 3-point range for his career and he won the NBA's 3-point contest three times. He won it in each of the first three years of the contest's existence (1986-1988).

Bird also helped the famous 1992 "Dream Team" win the Olympic gold medal in Barcelona, Spain.

After his playing days were over, he went into coaching, running the Indiana Pacers for three seasons (1997-00). He went 147-67 in that team and he led the Pacers to the NBA Finals in 2000.

He's also been an executive for Indiana.

The New England Patriots defeated the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday afternoon to move to 3-2 on the season. Before the game, Raiders star Maxx Crosby walked into Gillette Stadium in a Bird jersey, paying homage to the legend.

The Celtics are 2-0 in the preseason and they'll play the penultimate game of their preseason schedule on Wednesday at home against the Charlotte Hornets. Then, it's one more game with the Philadelphia 76ers before the season opens up for real on Oct. 20 against the Detroit Pistons.

Boston went 56-26 a season ago to earn the No. 2 seed.