Indiana Pacers president of Basketball Operations has been chosen as the NBA ... - Indianapolis Star

In typical Larry Bird fashion, the Indiana Pacers president didn't get too excited about his latest accomplishment.

Bird separated himself from his colleagues Wednesday when he was named the NBA's Executive of the Year, making him the first person to win that honor as well as Coach of the Year (1998/Pacers) and Most Valuable Player (three times with the Boston Celtics).

"We had to take it slow and get some players we thought we could build around," Bird said. "It was a long journey, a painful journey. Now we think it's going to pay dividends."

Bird totaled 88 points and received 12 first-place votes from a panel of his fellow team executives.

Bird had the tough task of rebuilding a team that dealt with off-the-court problems and alienated the fans. Bird traded away talented players for others who stayed out of trouble.

The Pacers struggled on the court -- they missed the playoffs for four straight seasons -- but Bird didn't deviate from his plan.

A lack of salary-cap space forced Bird to use a methodical approach, using the draft, allowing high-priced contracts to come off the books and acquiring veteran players such as David West and Leandro Barbosa this season.

"It's not easy," Bird said. "I knew it was going to be tough. It's still tough. We don't drive revenues like the big market teams. We can't go after the $17-18 million players. We have to do it different ways. If we try to patchwork it, it doesn't work that way."

Bird's patience paid off. The Pacers finished with the fifth-best record in the NBA this season (42-24), whipped Orlando 4-1 in the playoffs' first round and are tied 1-1 with Miami in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

"It's obvious why he got Executive of the Year," coach Frank Vogel said. "If you look at how this particular team has been built, it's really remarkable from where we were a few years ago."

Bird's future as president is up in the air. He has repeatedly said he will make a decision after meeting with owner Herb Simon at the end of the season. But Bird didn't sound ready to step away Wednesday.

"It's always a challenge here," Bird said. "Right now we're working on the draft and then we have free agency. It never stops. I enjoy the game more than anything, but (with) our jobs, we keep plugging along."

Call Star reporter Mike Wells at (317) 444-6053.