Vaughn Ridley/GettyFrank Vogel went 250-181 as head coach of the Pacers.
Bird had said earlier in the week that he was undecided on keeping Vogel after the sixth-year head coach’s contract expired.
Bird told the press that he decided not to renew Vogel’s contract after this season, which for the Pacers ended Sunday in a Game 7 loss to the Raptors in the first round of the playoffs.
But Bird, who has never minced his words, threw a bucket of cold water on Vogel’s head, providing some brutal commentary on the decision.
Bird says “it’s time for a new voice.” Says he had higher expectations than most people for how far the Pacers should go.
— Chris Mannix (@ChrisMannixYS) May 5, 2016
Bird: I think he did fine but it’s all about motivating players and getting them to play at a higher level.
— Candace Buckner (@CandaceDBuckner) May 5, 2016
Larry Bird says he and Frank Vogel spoke for about a half hour on the phone this morning, and that Vogel kept asking him to reconsider.
— Rachel Nichols (@Rachel__Nichols) May 5, 2016
Bird declined to answer a question on if Vogel nearly talked him out of letting him go. That must have been an intense conversation.
— Chris Mannix (@ChrisMannixYS) May 5, 2016
Bird has done well as president of the Pacers, but this is a harsh way to let go of a coach. The workings of such a decision are rarely ever released, yet Bird made it sound as if Vogel were pleading for his job.
Vogel went 250-181 as coach of the Pacers, who made the Eastern Conference Finals in back-to-back years in 2012-2013 and 2013-2014, falling to the Miami Heat both times. Though Bird said the Pacers needed more offense, they were continually one of the league’s best defensive teams, and Vogel didn’t exactly have a stacked roster to work with this season.
Vogel is now on the market, and there will be no shortage of teams calling for his services.
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