Report: Bird Dialing Back Duties With Pacers

Larry Bird first came to the Pacers as head coach in 1997.

Larry Bird is reportedly leaving his job as president of basketball operations with the Indiana Pacers. Sources tell our partners at WTHR-TV in Indianapolis, Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations and General Manager Kevin Pritchard will step into the role. The team would not confirm initial reports from Yahoo! Sports NBA reporter Adrian Wojnarowski that Bird was stepping down.

The Pacers tell Inside INdiana Business all the organization will confirm is Bird’s end-of-season press conference scheduled for 11 a.m. Monday will be held as normal.

Wojnarowski tweeted that sources say Bird will continue serving as a consultant in the Pacers front office.

Bird, an Indiana native and college and high school basketball legend in the state, came to the Pacers as head coach in 1997. He became president of basketball operations in the 2007-2008 season. In 2012, Bird stepped away from the post citing health concerns. At the time, Pritchard also took over responsibilities concerning the team’s basketball decisions. Bird returned to overseeing basketball operations with the Pacers a year later.