Statement from Larry Bird. According to a released report, I resigned from my role as President of Basketball Operations in 2017 because I was sufficiently irritated with ownership’s unwillingness to spend “big money” to go. There is nothing that is more false than this. It was time for me to move on from the Pacers, and I want everyone to know that’s why I left there.
Working with Kevin Pritchard, I believed at the time that he was prepared to assume the helm, and he has shown it. I am incredibly grateful to Pacers Sports & Entertainment, Herb Simon, and Mel Simon for giving me the chance to work as a front office assistant after initially serving as a coach.” Statement from Jackie MacMullan, senior writer for ESPN:
I made a mistake when I voiced my view about the Indiana Pacers’ business methods during a podcast discussion about three weeks ago. I implied that Larry Bird had been dissatisfied with his tenure as team president. That was a thoughtless comment that should never have been made because it was based only on my viewpoint. I apologize to Herb Simon, the owner of the team, and Larry Bird for the awful language I used. Larry Bird never shared those feelings with me.”
