Larry Bird steps down as president of the Indiana Pacers

Three time former NBA MVP and Hall-of-Famer Larry Bird has is expected to step down as president of the Indiana Pacers as of Tuesday. The announcement came as a surprise to the media as well as the basketball organization considering how Bird had told the Associated Press just last month that he would remain as the Pacers team president for at least a few more years.
After serving as the Pacers head coach from 1997-2000, Bird returned to the front office as president of basketball operations in 2008 and this year was awarded as the season’s NBA Executive of the Year, after his success in building a young, talented roster that gave the eventual champions, the Miami Heat, a run for their money in the playoffs.
The New York Daily Times has reported that Donnie Walsh, former General Manager and CEO of the Pacers, will reunite with the Pacers and take charge of the team’s efforts to sign new free agents. From 2008 to 2011, Walsh had been positioned as New York’s president and general manager.
Details regarding the reasons for Bird’s resignation as the Pacer’s president are still unknown, especially considering the relatively successful season that Bird and the Pacers had. It is implicit; however, that team owner Herb Simon had something to do with the decision.