Report: Larry Bird Wont Return To Pacers Next Season

Indiana Pacers president and NBA legend Larry Bird will retire after this season, regardless of how the team finishes, according to the New York Post.

The club is currently 27-18, and sit fifth in the Eastern Conference standings.

Bird, an Indiana native, has been the President of Basketball Operations for the Pacers since 2003. While he is not the acting general manager of the club, he oversees team personnel, coaching moves, draft selections, and has the final say on basketball matters.

Under Bird’s first year as president the team set a franchise record in wins after going 61-21 in the 2003-04 season, ultimately losing in the Eastern Conference Championship to the Detroit Pistons. The team had declined steadily since that point however, as they tallied win totals in the 40’s the following two seasons, and in the 30’s in the four most recent years. Last season marked the first they’ve reached the playoffs in the past five years.