Larry Bird: NBA needs more white stars

[festeringZit]

<header class="article-header">[h=1]Larry Bird stepping down as president of Pacers[/h]</header><figure data-video="native,640,360,19265186,whitelist-AU|TC|BB|VC|BS|MH|HT|TT|PW|AW|MS|FM|BM|BZ|NZ|BR|GD|BQ|KN|GY|SR|AG|AM|MQ|MX|SX|CL|GP|LC|AI|US|FJ|GF|JM|KY|" class="iframe-video article-figure video active" data-source="espn"><source media="(min-width: 376px)"><source media="(max-width: 375px)"><img class="null imageLoaded lazyloaded" data-image-container=".article-figure">play
</figure><figure data-video="native,640,360,19265186,whitelist-AU|TC|BB|VC|BS|MH|HT|TT|PW|AW|MS|FM|BM|BZ|NZ|BR|GD|BQ|KN|GY|SR|AG|AM|MQ|MX|SX|CL|GP|LC|AI|US|FJ|GF|JM|KY|" class="iframe-video article-figure video active" data-source="espn"></figure>1:26 PM CT

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Larry Bird is stepping down as president of the Indiana Pacers, The Undefeated's Marc J. Spears has confirmed. General manager Kevin Pritchard will take over the team.
The news was first reported by The Vertical.
<aside class="inline editorial float-r" data-behavior="article_related">[h=1]Editor's Picks[/h]

• [h=2]Will Paul George end up in Indiana, L.A. or elsewhere?[/h]With Larry Bird stepping down, will Paul George be traded to a contender, leave for another team like the Lakers or end up staying with the Pacers? Kevin Pelton projects five possible scenarios.

</aside>Among Bird's biggest accomplishments with the team was drafting Danny Granger in 2005 and Paul George in 2010. The team also selected Kawhi Leonard in 2011 but traded his draft rights to the Spurs for George Hill.
Bird leaves the Pacers ahead of a pivotal summer in which the franchise will have to decide what to do with 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 persuade him to stay long term or trade him.
<aside class="inline inline-with-table"><header class="inline-header">[h=1]Pacers Since Larry Bird's Return in 2013[/h]

The Pacers finished first in the East the year Larry Bird rejoined the team (2013-14 season), losing in six games to the Heat in the conference finals. Since then, the Pacers haven't won a playoff series, and only three players remain (Lavoy Allen, Paul George and Lance Stephenson).
</header>

	1st season	Last 3 seasons
Win pct.	.683	.508
Playoff series W-L	2-1	0-2
-- ESPN Stats & Information

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</thead><tbody>
</tbody><tfoot>
</tfoot>

</aside>George has not hesitated to make his displeasure with the direction of the franchise known, setting up for what is sure to be a tense summer of talks and decisions that need to be made.
A reason for Bird's departure has not been confirmed, but sources told ESPN's Mike Wells that the plan had always been for Bird to strongly suggest to owner Herb Simon that Pritchard take over as president when Bird eventually stepped down. Bird's preference over the years has been to have year-to-year contracts.
Bird, 60, became head coach of the Pacers in 1997, winning Coach of the Year his first season. He resigned as head coach in 2000, but rejoined the team in 2003 as president of basketball operations. He won NBA Executive of the Year after the 2011-12 season, after the Pacers advanced to the Eastern Conference semifinals, losing to the Miami Heat in six games. He retired in 2012 but took only a year off. He came back to the team as president of basketball operations.
<aside class="inline inline-photo full"><figure><source data-srcset="http://a1.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=%2Fphoto%2F2017%2F0428%2Fr204955_2_1296x729_16%2D9.jpg&w=570, http://a1.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/photo/2017/0428/r204955_2_1296x729_16-9.jpg&w=1140&cquality=40 2x" media="(min-width: 376px)"><source data-srcset="http://a1.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=%2Fphoto%2F2017%2F0428%2Fr204955_2_1296x729_16%2D9.jpg&w=375, http://a1.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/photo/2017/0428/r204955_2_1296x729_16-9.jpg&w=750&cquality=40 2x" media="(max-width: 375px)"><img class=" lazyloaded imageLoaded " data-image-container=".inline-photo"><figcaption class="photoCaption">Larry Bird is stepping down as the Pacers' president, a source confirms to ESPN. <cite>AP Photo/Michael Conroy</cite></figcaption></figure></aside>The Pacers have announced that Bird is scheduled to have an end-of-season news conference on Monday.
He is the only person in NBA history to be named MVP, Coach of the Year and Executive of the Year.

 

[PatsFan1283]

There's too many white guys in the NBA given their skill set right now. Lot of these guys will be less valuable in 5 years since all the athletes are shooting 3s at a younger age now.

A lot of the really good shooters just get played off the court in tr playoffs because they can't guard anybody and teams are smarter than ever at attacking defensive liabilities.

There is a clear pathway for a white superstar though. Curry provided the blueprint. Now all you gotta do is practice shooting and ball handling 13 hours a day.

Basically be a bigger, more athletic but not elite athlete and better Mark Price.

 

[michael777]

Bird IMO was the most under rated white basketball player ever.......the guy could shoot the ball.

Like Isiah said,if Larry was black,he would have just been another player

 

[festeringZit]

Like Isiah said,if Larry was black,he would have just been another player

June 4, 1987



Bird and his teammates are looking to be more competitive Thursday night in Game 2 of the National Basketball Association championship series. The Los Angeles Lakers trounced them 126-113 in the opener Tuesday night.
Thomas also conducted a press conference Wednesday at the Pontiac, Mich., Silverdome to give his version of the incident.
``We have the tape of that interview on radio and hopefully we`ll have TV replays,`` Thomas said. ``Dennis Rodman (Piston forward) was asked who he thought was the greatest player in the game and he said it was Bill Russell. That`s what I was agreeing with.``
Rodman went on to denigrate Bird, claiming that he gets recognition only because he is white. When asked about that, Thomas replied: ``Larry Bird is a very, very good player, an exceptional talent. But if he were black, he`d be just another good guy.``
Thomas said the last statement was uttered in sarcasm.
``C`mon, give me a break,`` Thomas said. ``I was laughing. We have it on tape. You can hear the sarcasm in my voice. The media misunderstood me.
``I`m shocked and I`m really hurt that people would believe this. I have a great relationship with Larry. Hell, no, I don`t agree with Dennis. Without a doubt, whether he`s black or white, Larry deserves all the recognition he gets. To win the MVP award three times, you`ve got to be great.``
``I was satisfied,`` said Bird about Thomas` explanation. ``I could tell he was being sincere and was talking from the heart. I`ve always respected him, and I respect him much more after the phone call.
``I think Rodman is the one that someone should talk to before he destroys that whole team.``
Bird was asked if he wanted to be the one to talk with Rodman.
``Nah,`` Bird said, ``I`d probably bust him upside the head.``
Thomas went on to talk about some of the stereotypes confronting black professional athletes.
``The stereotypes for black pro sports athletes that existed 20-30 years ago still exist today,`` Thomas said. ``People still believe that blacks play the game on instinct as opposed to intelligence and hard work.
``During the course of a game, I don`t think of it. But I watch game films. I study the game of basketball. I know the comments made during the course of a game. I`m very observant.``
Thomas said the stereotypes are perpetuated in a subliminal manner, manifested in the society`s subconscious.
``You`ve heard the stuff, about blacks being able to run faster and jump higher,`` Thomas said. ``How many little kids go around talking about white man`s disease? I work at basketball camps and hear the kids say, `Oh, he can do that because he was born with an extra tendon.`

 

[CarolinaKid]

the 1 and done kids out of college has really hurt the nba

 

[neverbend]

June 4, 1987



Bird and his teammates are looking to be more competitive Thursday night in Game 2 of the National Basketball Association championship series. The Los Angeles Lakers trounced them 126-113 in the opener Tuesday night.
Thomas also conducted a press conference Wednesday at the Pontiac, Mich., Silverdome to give his version of the incident.
``We have the tape of that interview on radio and hopefully we`ll have TV replays,`` Thomas said. ``Dennis Rodman (Piston forward) was asked who he thought was the greatest player in the game and he said it was Bill Russell. That`s what I was agreeing with.``
Rodman went on to denigrate Bird, claiming that he gets recognition only because he is white. When asked about that, Thomas replied: ``Larry Bird is a very, very good player, an exceptional talent. But if he were black, he`d be just another good guy.``
Thomas said the last statement was uttered in sarcasm.
``C`mon, give me a break,`` Thomas said. ``I was laughing. We have it on tape. You can hear the sarcasm in my voice. The media misunderstood me.
``I`m shocked and I`m really hurt that people would believe this. I have a great relationship with Larry. Hell, no, I don`t agree with Dennis. Without a doubt, whether he`s black or white, Larry deserves all the recognition he gets. To win the MVP award three times, you`ve got to be great.``
``I was satisfied,`` said Bird about Thomas` explanation. ``I could tell he was being sincere and was talking from the heart. I`ve always respected him, and I respect him much more after the phone call.
``I think Rodman is the one that someone should talk to before he destroys that whole team.``
Bird was asked if he wanted to be the one to talk with Rodman.
``Nah,`` Bird said, ``I`d probably bust him upside the head.``
Thomas went on to talk about some of the stereotypes confronting black professional athletes.
``The stereotypes for black pro sports athletes that existed 20-30 years ago still exist today,`` Thomas said. ``People still believe that blacks play the game on instinct as opposed to intelligence and hard work.
``During the course of a game, I don`t think of it. But I watch game films. I study the game of basketball. I know the comments made during the course of a game. I`m very observant.``
Thomas said the stereotypes are perpetuated in a subliminal manner, manifested in the society`s subconscious.
``You`ve heard the stuff, about blacks being able to run faster and jump higher,`` Thomas said. ``How many little kids go around talking about white man`s disease? I work at basketball camps and hear the kids say, `Oh, he can do that because he was born with an extra tendon.`

If a chamionship team of this era would put guys like Bird, McHale & Ainge on the floor I'd start watching BB again.

 

[CarolinaKid]

most of the kids dont even know the game today with the 1 and done crap, it all about street ball in the nba

 

[CarolinaKid]

it should be a rule if they go to college they have to stay at least 2 yrs

 

[bigwang]

it should be a rule if they go to college they have to stay at least 2 yrs

That's stupid. Do coaches have to stick around for 2 years? No. Do trustees have to stick around for 2 years? No. Then why should the kids have to?

 

[CarolinaKid]

if a kid is good enough to go to the nba, go out of high school and stop rapeing the colleges

 

[bigwang]

if a kid is good enough to go to the nba, go out of high school and stop rapeing the colleges

The NBA won't allow it. The colleges make more off of the 1 and done kids than they spend on tuition, room/board and misc expenses for them. If anyone is getting raped, it is the kids.