Isiah Thomas says Larry Bird 'made a mistake firing me' as coach of the Indiana Pacers

Evan Frank, Indianapolis Star

Should Larry Bird have fired Isiah Thomas as head coach of the Indiana Pacers in 2003?

Thomas believes it was a mistake. In an NBA on TNT segment with Reggie Miller, Thomas and Bird, the former Detroit Pistons All-Star opened up about being let go over 20 years ago.

"I get a call from Donnie (Walsh)," Thomas said. "Larry's been hired to come back to the Pacers as president of basketball operations. I walk in the office and there's Larry and Donnie. Larry goes, 'Hey, Isiah, I think you've done a great job here but I've decided to go in a different direction. I'm going to let you know go and I'm going to bring in Rick Carlisle.'"

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Thomas was hired as the coach of the Pacers in June 2000 and replaced Bird, who resigned after coaching Indiana for three seasons. Thomas, who also coached the Pacers for three seasons, went 131-115.

During the interview, Miller, who played for both Bird and Thomas, said the two had an "interesting dialogue" at the time.

Thomas said he thought Bird was making a mistake in 2003.

"I said, 'Larry, you and I, I think if we're together here in Indiana, I think we can do great things with this team. I think you and I would be dynamic here," Thomas said.

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Thomas recalled what Bird told him at the time.

"He's like, 'You might be right and you've done a great job here. You haven't done anything wrong. I just like Rick better,'" Thomas said with a laugh.

Bird responded during the interview by saying he is close with Carlisle and they have worked together for years.

"I thought Rick would be there forever," Bird said. "Things change."

Carlisle played with Bird on the Boston Celtics in the 1980s. Bird went on to fire Carlisle after the 2006-07 season.

"I think you made a mistake firing me because I would have won with that team," Thomas told Bird. "I think we never would have had the Malice at the Palace in Detroit."

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Pacers: Isiah Thomas tells Larry Bird he shouldn't have been fired

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