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Bird named president of basketball operations
Associated Press
INDIANAPOLIS -- Larry Bird returned to the NBA and the Indiana Pacers on Friday, taking a front-office job with the team he coached to the league finals three years ago.
The Hall of Famer will be president of basketball operations, taking over day-to-day decision-making from Donnie Walsh, who led the franchise since 1986 and will stay on as its chief executive.
As a player, Bird won three NBA titles in the 1980s with the Boston Celtics.
He's been out of basketball since 2000, when he walked away from the Pacers at the end of a three-year coaching contract. His final Indiana team lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in that season's NBA Finals.
Back then, the Pacers offered to give Bird a top front-office job, with the option of becoming team president after Walsh retired, but he decided to take a break.
"I was sort of worn down and didn't want a part of it, but I feel rejuvenated and ready to get to work,'' Bird said Friday.
Walsh now will oversee the Pacers' business operations and players' contracts, while Bird will be responsible for picking players and coaches and for scouting.
"I'm really happy to have him back where he belongs, here in Indiana,'' Walsh said.
Bird went 147-67 in the regular season with the Pacers, the best three-year record in team history. The Pacers also won two Central Division championships, one Eastern Conference title and their first trip to the NBA Finals.
He returns to a team that bears little resemblance to the veteran-laden roster that reached the 2000 championship series.
Bird's successor as coach, Isiah Thomas, hasn't had as much success, with three straight first-round exits from the playoffs.
Bird said he was looking forward to working with Thomas and helping the Pacers re-sign free agents Reggie Miller and Brad Miller. The team is close to an agreement with its other top free agent, Jermaine O'Neal.
"My job and Donnie's job right now is to get Isiah the best players,'' Bird said.
Bird, a three-time MVP with the Celtics, is one of the biggest names in Indiana basketball history. He was a high school star in his hometown of French Lick and then led Indiana State to the 1979 NCAA title game.
Walsh has had broad authority from Pacers owners Herb and Mel Simon to manage the team, which he first joined as an assistant coach in 1984.
The Pacers of 1982-86 never won more than 26 games in a season, but under Walsh they made the playoffs 13 of the past 14 seasons.
Bird named president of basketball operations
Associated Press
INDIANAPOLIS -- Larry Bird returned to the NBA and the Indiana Pacers on Friday, taking a front-office job with the team he coached to the league finals three years ago.
The Hall of Famer will be president of basketball operations, taking over day-to-day decision-making from Donnie Walsh, who led the franchise since 1986 and will stay on as its chief executive.
As a player, Bird won three NBA titles in the 1980s with the Boston Celtics.
He's been out of basketball since 2000, when he walked away from the Pacers at the end of a three-year coaching contract. His final Indiana team lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in that season's NBA Finals.
Back then, the Pacers offered to give Bird a top front-office job, with the option of becoming team president after Walsh retired, but he decided to take a break.
"I was sort of worn down and didn't want a part of it, but I feel rejuvenated and ready to get to work,'' Bird said Friday.
Walsh now will oversee the Pacers' business operations and players' contracts, while Bird will be responsible for picking players and coaches and for scouting.
"I'm really happy to have him back where he belongs, here in Indiana,'' Walsh said.
Bird went 147-67 in the regular season with the Pacers, the best three-year record in team history. The Pacers also won two Central Division championships, one Eastern Conference title and their first trip to the NBA Finals.
He returns to a team that bears little resemblance to the veteran-laden roster that reached the 2000 championship series.
Bird's successor as coach, Isiah Thomas, hasn't had as much success, with three straight first-round exits from the playoffs.
Bird said he was looking forward to working with Thomas and helping the Pacers re-sign free agents Reggie Miller and Brad Miller. The team is close to an agreement with its other top free agent, Jermaine O'Neal.
"My job and Donnie's job right now is to get Isiah the best players,'' Bird said.
Bird, a three-time MVP with the Celtics, is one of the biggest names in Indiana basketball history. He was a high school star in his hometown of French Lick and then led Indiana State to the 1979 NCAA title game.
Walsh has had broad authority from Pacers owners Herb and Mel Simon to manage the team, which he first joined as an assistant coach in 1984.
The Pacers of 1982-86 never won more than 26 games in a season, but under Walsh they made the playoffs 13 of the past 14 seasons.
