For what it’s worth, I have always respected Larry Bird. He’s generally blunt and to the point, especially if it’s something that irritates him (like yours truly) or calls into question his ability to be the decision-maker for the Indiana Pacers.
I won’t bore you with my opinion regarding his lame excuse for jettisoning former coach Frank Vogel, and I’ll also refrain from reviewing his resume as an evaluator of personnel. Instead, I will stick with current events and the logical and appropriate promotion of Nate McMillan as the new head coach of the Pacers. After all, McMillan was the choice three years ago as the associate head coach (not an assistant) brought in by Bird as an insurance policy in case Vogel (who wasn’t a Bird hire) failed and the wheels came off in the process. Much to Bird’s chagrin, Vogel held his serve and then some, and in the process received a nominal, but well-deserved, extension. When Bird decided to pull the plug on the Vogel era, it seemed like a foregone conclusion that he would simply pass the baton to the man he preferred all along, you know, the “associate head coach.”
That’s not what happened initially, as Bird fired a shot across the bow when stating he was constructing a list of potential candidates and the subsequent interviewing process would begin. Enter the Sacramento Kings and Houston Rockets, both with head coaching vacancies as well as interest in one Nate McMillan. After the Kings flew McMillan out for an interview, Bird realized his guy was in play and immediately offered him the job he was virtually hired for three years ago, just before Houston could put the full-court press on McMillan’s agent. I know what you’re thinking: Bird underestimated the interest in McMillan, right? Hardly. It was just another chapter of the Bird Chronicles, this one falling under the heading, “I’m in charge, and Nate McMillan will wait until I’m ready.”
But the “associate head coach” had other ideas, like providing for his family and his financial future, and sought greener pastures as a head coach elsewhere, frustrating Bird and forcing him to, shall we say, speed up the process. McMillan then was granted the traditional interview and officially offered the job, but only after Bird postured with him for a while, and eventually figured out the best available coach he could afford was right down the hall awaiting the opportunity that was discussed (wink) three years ago.
Why this charade occurred is a question only Bird can answer, but if I had to guess, it’s the same reason he canned Rick Carlisle, who should still be coaching the Pacers. It’s because he’s Larry Bird, and he reports to nobody about anything, including the owner of the franchise who, for some reason, is completely enamored with him.
Perhaps it’s time for him to take a good hard look at life in the NBA as an executive and determine if this is really the job he’s cut out for. When this old scribe correctly predicted his departure from the Pacers months before he officially announced it in 2012, I was wrong about one thing: I said he’d never come back. Maybe it’s the competitive nature of the job, or maybe it’s just nurturing an ego that appears to be bigger than Bankers Life Fieldhouse itself.
One thing is certain: McMillan will be on a short leash, and he’ll get virtually no help in the free agent acquisition department. That aside, if Bird decides he wants to resign for good, the Pacers would be fine with Hall of Famer Donnie Walsh still on board. Chances are, Bird will continue to grace us all with his presence, at least until he’s once again had enough of today’s NBA. After all, he’s Larry Bird, and he can do what he wants with the Pacers, right? Forget about what’s best for the franchise; just keep firing coaches until you make up your mind about transitioning to a warmer climate and a standing tee time at some swank golf club. You’ll still be held in high regard, and your name will hang from the rafters on a banner. Just do me a favor before then and admit it was McMillan all along.
Danny Bridges, who likes the Nate McMillan hire but thinks he should’ve taken one of the other coaching jobs in the NBA, can be reached at (317) 370-8447 or at Bridgeshd@aol.com.
