INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana Pacers president Larry Bird sounds like he wants to run the team for a few more years. He's just waiting to work something out with team owner Herb Simon.
Amid several earlier reports that Bird would yield control of the Pacers' day-to-day operations when this season ended, all of which Bird denied, he told reporters Wednesday that he loves his job, likes his team and would prefer coming back if Simon wants him.
Bird took over as team president when Donnie Walsh left for the New York Knicks in 2008. He is widely credited for turning a struggling franchise into a playoff team. Bird was named this year's NBA Executive of the Year.