Larry Bird announced last week that he is stepping away from his role as Pacers President. Out goes Bird, and in comes former Pacers General Manger Donnie Walsh, who will replace Bird as President, and Kevin Pritchard is promoted to GM.
Bird ran the draft last Thursday, selecting Miles Plumlee (No. 26) and making a trade for Orlando Johnson (No. 36). After the summer league is over in mid-July, Bird will officially be done.
A few days after his decision last week to leave his position as team president, he opened up with ESPN’s Jackie MacMullan. A transcript of their conversation is below.
On his decision to leave the Pacers:
“I’ve been working for nine years and now it’s time to take some time off, rest up, get in shape, get my shoulder worked on and see what happens.”
On being busy at the office:
“It was tough. When I did have time, I worked out but I didn’t take it real serious. It’s time to get back into that.”
On whether he will return:
“Well, you never know. It’s got to be the right job, the right people. What their commitment really is. I got some interest in some jobs out there but whether I do it again, who knows…It seemed like for the last 30-some years, every day I go out or I get up, somebody is wanting something and you just get tired, you know. It wears you down. I just want to lay low. This year I have been in the news more for things than I have in a long time.”
On LeBron James:
“He actually carried them, all the way through the playoffs. If you go back to the beginning of the playoffs, has anyone ever had a better run? It’d seem like you’d have a bad game once in awhile. He never did have a bad game. He was so focused, and just seeing his confidence build and build and build. He should go down in history as one of the top, top players and maybe he can get close to Michael (Jordan).”
On superstars joining forces:
“I always say you got to play by the rules, and if that’s the rules, that’s the rules. But to have the best player (LeBron James) and probably the fifth- or sixth-best player (Dwyane Wade), and a top-20 player (Chris Bosh), that’s tough to compete against.”
On players taking pay cuts to chase a ring:
“The one thing that bothers me the most is guys taking big pay cuts for a year to go down there and try to win a championship. There’s a lot of guys who like to ride the coattails of the best and they’ll take a pay cut just to have an opportunity to win that ring.”
I wish you nothing but the best Larry Bird. You made me love basketball even more as I grew older. I was as happy as I could be when I heard you were going to Indiana to be the coach. Then you moved up in the office and I was just as happy then. I hate to see you go but I also understand that the daily pressure of the job can really do a number on you. Have a great retirement if that is what this is. If not, I will be a fan of yours no matter what you do. Thank you Larry Legend for the wonderful memories.
Thanks Rick
You are so very welcome sir.
You will always be the best as all around player. and for what you did for the Celtics.