News

Larry Bird resigning as president of the Pacers

Indiana Pacers president Larry Bird listens to a question during a news conference Monday, June 2, 2014, in Indianapolis. The Pacers lost to the Miami Heat in the conference finals. Photo: Associated Press/AP Photo/Darron Cummings


A person with knowledge of the situation tells The Associated Press that Larry Bird is stepping down as president of the Indiana Pacers.

Kevin Pritchard is being elevated from general manager to the team’s new president of basketball operations, the person told The AP. He spoke on condition of anonymity because the team has not announced the move.

Bird leaves the Pacers ahead of a pivotal summer in which the franchise will have to decide what to do with star forward Paul George. He can become a free agent after next season and there is wide speculation that he would prefer to play for the Los Angeles Lakers. The Pacers will have to decide whether to try to convince him to stay long term or trade him.

Yahoo! Sports first reported Bird’s decision.

___

More AP NBA: apnews.com/tag/NBAbasketball

 

Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Recent Headlines

3 hours ago in Sports, Trending

March Madness tournaments will expand to 76 teams each starting next season

The NCAA announced Thursday that it will expand its two March Madness tournaments by eight teams each next season, a long-expected move that will drop more games into the first week of the highly popular and lucrative showcase without substantially changing its overall form.

10 hours ago in Sports

Joel Embiid misses Game 2 and the 76ers miss their big man in the 4th quarter of their loss

The Philadelphia 76ers put up a good fight without Joel Embiid, though could have used their man in the middle when they struggled to score in the final minutes of Game 2 on Wednesday night.

10 hours ago in Sports

Wembanyama and Spurs rebound to hand Timberwolves largest postseason defeat, 133-95, to even series

Victor Wembanyama had 19 points and 15 rebounds, and the San Antonio Spurs handed Minnesota its worst postseason loss in franchise history, beating the Timberwolves 133-95 on Wednesday night to even their Western Conference semifinal series at one game apiece.

2 days ago in Sports

Knicks crush the 76ers 137-98 to start the second round and keep up a historic postseason roll

Jalen Brunson scored 27 of his 35 points in the first half and the New York Knicks emphatically added to a historic postseason roll by overwhelming the Philadelphia 76ers 137-98 on Monday night in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.

2 days ago in Sports

Lakers’ Doncic, Thunder’s Williams ruled out for Game 1 of West semifinals with hamstring injuries

Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic and Oklahoma City Thunder guard/forward Jalen Williams have been ruled out of Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals on Tuesday night with left hamstring injuries.