The Indiana Pacers have not reached the NBA Finals since the year 2000, and they made their most recent lackluster departure from the Playoffs on Sunday, when they were swept out of the first round by the Cleveland Cavaliers. With Paul George an impending free agent in 2018, it was clear that some changes were likely on the horizon.
Those changes may have already begun, starting from the top down. Larry Bird, who has been team president since 2003, has apparently tendered his resignation, or will do so shortly.
On Friday, Adrian Wojnarowski reported that Bird will no longer be serving as Pacers president, and that general manager Kevin Pritchard will be taking over.
Larry Bird is stepping down as Pacers president, league sources tell @TheVertical. Kevin Pritchard will take over basketball operations.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) April 28, 2017
This news comes in the same week that Bird drove an Indycar through the streets of the city to deliver an All-Star bid.
Bird, one of the most famous sons of Indiana, served as Pacers coach from 1997 to 2000, so he has spent the better part of the past 20 years in the organization. Meanwhile, longtime rival Magic Johnson is firmly in place in the Lakers organization, and any hope of another potential showdown between Larry Legend and Magic isn’t going to happen any time soon. Unless, of course, Bird pops back up elsewhere.
