HoopsHype.com Rumors

For all his brillance, three adjectives have muddied Rondo's image: stonefaced, stubborn, moody. "Like Bird, right?" Rondo offered. "Danny [Ainge] told me Larry was the same way.'' ESPN.com

Boston Celtics, Rajon Rondo, Larry Bird 

Walsh returned for his second stint with the organization, replacing Bird as president, in June. Bird is taking at least the next year off. The 71-year-old Walsh hasn't put a timetable on how long he will remain in his current capacity. "I'm always interested," Simon said. "Reggie would be a wonderful person to have in this franchise." Indianapolis Star

Indiana Pacers, Donnie Walsh, Larry Bird 

Indiana State is moving ahead with plans for a 15-foot bronze statue honoring Larry Bird for his playing days with the Sycamores. A statue has been discussed for several years, but officials now expect to dedicate it in the fall of 2013 at the school’s Hulman Center arena, the Tribune-Star of Terre Haute reported Tuesday. Boston Globe

Indiana Pacers, Larry Bird 

Sculptor Bill Wolfe said he wants to make sure Bird’s statue is taller than those of Magic Johnson, whose Michigan State team beat Bird’s Indiana State team in the 1979 NCAA championship game. ‘‘I don’t have anything against Magic,’’ Wolfe said. ‘‘Larry is just better,’’ Wolfe then said in unison with Jack Fox, director of development for the Indiana State University Foundation. Boston Globe

Indiana Pacers, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird 

Colangelo told me it was about understanding and connecting with a vast array of personality types, getting the trust of NBA superstars who could sacrifice ego for the good of the team. First, Colangelo wanted to hear first-hand what it was like to be a player on the Olympic basketball team. It's a unique experience, and he didn't want to assume he had all the answers. Picking the "right" coach depended on his understanding how the players felt and what motivated them. Harvard Business Review

Michael Jordan, Coaching, Jerry Colangelo, Jerry West, USA Basketball, Lenny Wilkens, Mike Krzyzewski, Larry Bird, Chuck Daly 

In what can only be described as a virtual "Who's Who" of NBA superstar talent, in 2005 Colangelo called a special meeting of former Olympian basketball players. Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Jerry West, and Hall of Fame Coaches Dean Smith, Lenny Wilkens, and Chuck Daly, among others, gave their input. It was a superstar group therapy session. They laid bare all concerns—one of most hailed players of our time, for instance, voiced concerns about looking stupid on a global stage. At that moment, choosing the right coach became a very personal endeavor. Harvard Business Review

Michael Jordan, Coaching, Jerry Colangelo, Jerry West, USA Basketball, Lenny Wilkens, Mike Krzyzewski, Larry Bird, Chuck Daly 

Steve Bulpett: Years ago, sked gets to Pacers. Carlisle complains. Harter complains. Bird says, "41 home, 41 away. Yup. Looks good to me." Twitter

Indiana Pacers, Larry Bird 

Like Webber, Cousins took great pride when his Select Team was able to defeat Team USA. Webber did so in 1992 against the Dream Team, featuring Michael Jordan, Larry Bird and Magic Johnson. Webber's Select Team victory over the Dream Team was recently the subject of a documentary on NBA-TV. "Kobe's lying, they couldn't even beat the 2008 (Olympic) team," Webber said, when asked if Kobe Bryant's comments were true - that the 2012 Team USA could actually beat the Dream Team. news10.net

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, USA Basketball, Chris Webber, Larry Bird 

Larry Bird on whether current Olympic team could beat Dream Team: "They probably could. I haven't played in 20 years and we're all old now." Twitter

USA Basketball, Larry Bird 

Larry Bird in ESPN interview spoke glowingly about LeBron James. “He actually carried them all the way through the playoffs,’’ Bird told ESPN. “If you go back to the beginning of the playoffs, has anyone ever had a better run? It’d seem like you’d have a bad game once in awhile. He never did have a bad game. He was so focused, and just seeing his confidence build and build and build. He should go down in history as one of the top, top players and maybe he can get close to Michael (Jordan).’’ Sulia

Miami Heat, LeBron James, Larry Bird 

“He actually carried [the Heat] all the way through the playoffs,” Bird told ESPN’s Jackie MacMullan. “If you go back to the beginning of the playoffs, has anyone ever had a better run? It seems like you have a bad game once in a while — he never did have a bad one. He was so focused you could just see his confidence building and building and building. “He should go down in history as one of the top, top players, and maybe he can get close to Michael [Jordan].” Larry Brown Sports

Miami Heat, LeBron James, Larry Bird 

Bird, 55, stepped aside just weeks after the Pacers completed their most successful season since 2006 and little more than a month after he was voted the 2011-12 Executive of the Year. "I've been working for nine years," Bird explained in an ESPN.com video interview. "Now it's time to take some time off, rest up and get in shape, get my shoulder worked on, and we'll see what happens." CBSSports.com

Indiana Pacers, Larry Bird 

Bird, a native of French Lick, guided his home-state Pacers from 2003-2012. He previously coached the team for three seasons after completing a 13-year Hall of Fame career with the Boston Celtics that began during the 1979-80 season. After spending more than three decades in professional basketball, Bird said that he still wasn't ready to call this a full retirement. "You never know," he said of a possible return to management. "It's got to be the right job, the right people, what their commitment really is. I've got some interest in some jobs out there but whether I do it again, who knows?" Regardless of his future plans, it was clearly time for a break. "It seemed like for the last 30-something years, I go out or I get up and somebody is wanting something," Bird said. "You just get tired. It wears you down. I just want to lay low." CBSSports.com

Indiana Pacers, Larry Bird 

Mike Wells: The Pacers didn't get Kaman at the deadline because Larry Bird wasn't giving up a 1st rd pick to New Orleans for a 2-month rental on Kaman. Twitter

Indiana Pacers, New Orleans Hornets, Chris Kaman, Larry Bird 

Metta World Peace: Did your heat that lakers are changing their jerseys green next year in honor of Larry bird..? Twitter

Los Angeles Lakers, Larry Bird, Metta World Peace 

Larry Bird isn’t done with the Indiana Pacers yet. Bird, who announced Wednesday that he’s leaving as team president, will be in charge of the team’s pick in tonight’s draft. The Pacers have only one pick — No. 26 — unless they make a trade. “I’m doing the draft; I love the draft,” Bird said. “The draft, I put a lot of time in it. My staff has put a lot of time in it. There’s a lot of activity, a lot of action. I want to do it.” Indianapolis Star

Indiana Pacers, Draft, Trade, Larry Bird 

Larry Bird isn’t done with the Indiana Pacers yet. Bird, who announced Wednesday that he’s leaving as team president, will be in charge of the team’s pick in tonight’s draft. Indianapolis Star

Indiana Pacers, Draft, Larry Bird 

“I’m doing the draft; I love the draft,” Bird said. “The draft, I put a lot of time in it. My staff has put a lot of time in it. There’s a lot of activity, a lot of action. I want to do it.” Indianapolis Star

Indiana Pacers, Draft, Larry Bird 

Larry Bird, citing health issues, officially stepped down as head of basketball operations for the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday and was replaced by former team president Donnie Walsh. In a further shakeup of the team's front office, Kevin Pritchard was named general manager of the club, replacing David Morway who resigned on Tuesday. "I'm going to take some time off and evaluate what I will do in the future," Bird, 55, told an Indianapolis news conference. "This has nothing to do with any conflict or anything else, it's just time. I considered leaving last year, so this shouldn't be a surprise. I'm proud of what we've accomplished, I like the position this team is in, and with Kevin and Donnie, the basketball side won't miss a beat." kgmi.com

Indiana Pacers, Larry Bird 

Kevin Pritchard: Huge thanks to Larry Bird for believing long in me. He is the most interesting man in the world (country version). Twitter

Indiana Pacers, Kevin Pritchard, Larry Bird