Indiana Pacers: Defining moments from the last 10 years

Larry Bird steps down as Pacers President

Larry Bird, who holds the Pacers record for best winning percentage as head coach, would join the team as president of basketball operations in 2003.

Though his tenure as the head executive of the team included a four-year gap in making the playoffs, he was a strong leading voice for the franchise and made good moves as president, including drafting Paul George in 2010.

In 2013, despite having just won Executive of the Year, Bird stepped down from his post, citing health reasons, but would return a year later. Bird would again resign in 2017 after leading the team to plenty of success in his time as executive, just as the PG13 era was coming to an end.

Kevin Pritchard, who had previously served as director of player personnel and general manager, would step up to the president of basketball operations role and remains there to this day.

Bird’s exit was certainly cause for concern for some fans. He was an extremely familiar face with the franchise for many years whether as a coach or executive, and entering a new era without him came with questions and uncertainty.

Pritchard thus far has done a good job constructing the team and maintaining its core principles.