Larry Bird has acquired a new NBA job, and the timing couldn't be much more coincidental.
Less than 24 hours removed from the Boston Celtics postseason elimination- the team that Bird took to new heights during his Hall of Fame career- the Indiana Pacer announced they had retained him as a consultant.
While the timing of the hire is amusing, Bird is far from a stranger to Indiana's operations. He's served a vital role for the Pacers in various coaching and exec positions from 1997 to July 2022. His stretch as a Pacers head coach was a decorated one, leading Indiana to playoff appearances in all three seasons as a coach and accumulating a 147-67 overall record.
And now, after briefly stepping away from his post as an advisor, Bird rejoined the franchise in a consulting capacity. Last year, when Bird opted to leave the Pacers, team president Kevin Pritchard made it clear the door would be open for a reunion.
"Yeah, he's not active. But look, Larry is a good friend of mine and he's a good friend of Rick's (Carlisle)," Pritchard told Fieldhouse Files.
"At any time we need help, we know where to look. He's always available."
It hasn't taken long for Bird and the Pacers to receive praise for agreeing to work with one another again. Myles Turner, currently a member of the Pacers, lauded Bird as a talent evaluator and commanding presence.
"Speaking From Experience This Was Probably The Most Nervous I'd Ever Been During A Workout With LB In The Building. Looking Back That Nervous Energy Was A Blessing," Turner tweeted.