Larry Bird resigns as Indiana Pacers president of basketball operations

Indiana Pacers president Larry Bird is stepping down from his position with the team, according to multiple reports Friday.

The 60-year-old basketball legend is expected to continue on as a consultant with the Pacers, The Vertical's Adrian Wojnarowski reported.

General manager Kevin Pritchard will take over the team's basketball operations.

No reason for Bird's departure was given, but sources told ESPN that the plan always had been for Bird to 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.

The Pacers declined comment, noting that Bird has a scheduled news conference on Monday, according to the Indianapolis Star.

Bird was the president of basketball operations for the Pacers from 2003-2012, winning the NBA's Executive of the Year award in 2012, before stepping away for a year, citing health reasons.

Bird took on the role again before the 2013 season.

Bird, the Hall of Famer as player with the Boston Celtics, first joined the Pacers organization in 1997 when he was named head coach.

As coach, the Pacers went to the NBA Finals in his final season in 1999-2000, losing to the Los Angeles Lakers in six games.

The Pacers finished this season with a 42-40 record before being swept in the Eastern Conference first-round playoffs by the Cleveland Cavaliers. Indiana lost all four games by a combined 16 points.

Pritchard served as general manager of the Portland Trail Blazers from 2008-2010. He joined the Pacers in 2011 as director of player personnel and was promoted to general manager in 2012.