Celtics legend nicknamed "The Hick from French Lick"

Editorially verified for the Oct 12, 2026

49 Across

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Larry Bird in his Boston Celtics uniform during his playing career.

Clue explainedFact checked

Larry Bird is the Celtics legend known as “The Hick from French Lick,” a nickname that nods to his small Indiana hometown. A forward with remarkable shooting and passing skills, he led Boston to three NBA championships in the 1980s. His rivalry with Magic Johnson—who played for the Los Angeles Lakers—helped make that decade’s NBA especially compelling, while Bird’s quiet, fiercely competitive style made him a fan favorite in Boston.

Clue type:
Nickname or title

NYT Crossword

This clue's Monday, October 12, 2026 appearance

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Or reveal one clue at a time with the Hint and Answer buttons below.

Across

  1. 1"Let's not forget ..."
  2. 5Singer/actress Bareilles
  3. 9First part of a musical
  4. 13Close by
  5. 14Post-bath wrap
  6. 15Vegetable on a cob
  7. 16Electric vehicle from Japan
  8. 18God with a bow and arrow
  9. 19Brief
  10. 20Investment option for old age, in brief
  11. 22Mail carrier's assignment: Abbr.
  12. 23Signaling, as a performer
  13. 24Total mess
  14. 27Contents of a sleeve
  15. 28Birthstones for some Libras
  16. 30Quick kiss
  17. 31Movie princess with "space buns"
  18. 33Rapper ___ Kim
  19. 34Mercury, Venus or Mars
  20. 35Unpredictable emotional shift
  21. 38Striped kitty
  22. 40Main element in pewter
  23. 41"No ___, no foul"
  24. 45Olympic sword with a guarded tip
  25. 46Thick heads of hair
  26. 48Furious
  27. 49Celtics legend nicknamed "The Hick from French Lick"
  28. 51Kicks off, as a concert
  29. 53Singer Grande, informally
  30. 54Part of the Holy Trinity
  31. 55Tony winner Menzel
  32. 56___-Cola
  33. 58Positioned precariously ... or where the ends of 16-, 24-, 35- and 49-Across can all be found
  34. 62Those, in Spanish
  35. 63Lollipop holder
  36. 64Great Plains tribe
  37. 65"Late Night" host Meyers
  38. 66___ off (miffed)
  39. 67Little kid

Down

  1. 1"Tom Lake" novelist Patchett
  2. 2It isn't working
  3. 3Raw fish dish at a Japanese restaurant
  4. 4"Citizen Kane" director Welles
  5. 5Sun, in Spanish
  6. 6Astounded state
  7. 7Shows again, as a broadcast
  8. 8"Clemency" actress Woodard
  9. 9Card that may be hidden "up one's sleeve"
  10. 10"You're right!"
  11. 11Russian revolutionary Leon
  12. 12City map next to a state map, e.g.
  13. 14Explosive block in Minecraft
  14. 17Mythical Greek ship
  15. 21Tree with "quaking" leaves
  16. 23Baseball great Ripken
  17. 24___ Marian, Robin Hood's beloved
  18. 25Outstanding athlete
  19. 26Sound from the horse's mouth
  20. 29Cunning tactic
  21. 32"Jurassic Park" insect casing
  22. 34Eat by candlelight, say
  23. 36Follows an order
  24. 37Sailboat propeller
  25. 38Hybrid flower named after a drink
  26. 39Kind of jam in a Sacher torte
  27. 42In-room safe or a chocolate on the pillow, say
  28. 43Went hog wild
  29. 44Some E.R. workers
  30. 46Time piece?
  31. 47Sweet, fizzy drink
  32. 49Roller skate strings
  33. 50Give a leg up
  34. 52Amelia Earhart, for one
  35. 55Squid's defensive output
  36. 57Residue on a grill
  37. 59Reason for overtime
  38. 60Anxious condition, in brief
  39. 61Hive occupant

The answer to “Celtics legend nicknamed "The Hick from French Lick"” in the New York Times crossword is LARRYBIRD — a 9-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times crossword on October 12, 2026, a Monday puzzle, at 49-Across. Below you'll find why that fill fits, every other answer we've recorded for this clue, and links into the puzzle it came from.

“Celtics legend nicknamed "The Hick from French Lick"” answer

LARRYBIRD (9 letters)

Reveal the solution one letter at a time with the tiles above if you'd rather nudge yourself toward it than see the whole word at once. Just want it outright? The answer is LARRYBIRD.

When else has “Celtics legend nicknamed "The Hick from French Lick"” appeared?

New York Times reuses clues across dates, sometimes with a different answer depending on the grid. Here's where this exact clue has shown up, and what the answer was each time — handy when you're checking whether today's fill is the only one.

October 12, 2026 (most recent) → LARRYBIRD. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Celtics legend nicknamed "The Hick from French Lick"”?

The answer is LARRYBIRD, a 9-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times crossword on October 12, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to “Celtics legend nicknamed "The Hick from French Lick"”?

9 letters: LARRYBIRD.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the New York Times crossword on October 12, 2026 (a Monday puzzle), at 49-Across.

Can “Celtics legend nicknamed "The Hick from French Lick"” have a different answer?

Yes — New York Times sometimes reuses a clue with a different solution to fit the grid. The answers we've recorded for each date it appeared are listed above when available.

Where can I find the rest of this day's NYT Crossword answers?

The full grid for October 12, 2026 is on the NYT Crossword answers page, with every clue and answer from that puzzle.

New York Times Crossword is published by The New York Times; WordHint is an independent site and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the publisher.

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