• Larry Bird's disillusionment with the Celtics stemmed from the trade of Sherman Douglas, a player he highly valued.
• Bird felt his basketball expertise was disregarded by the Celtics' front office after Dave Gavitt's departure, leading to a clash of visions.
• The Celtics' decline in the mid-1990s, combined with Bird's lack of influence, prompted him to leave the organization and coach the Indiana Pacers.

Larry Bird, a Boston Celtics legend, reveals his growing dissatisfaction with the team's management following his retirement as a player. He initially joined the front office with the intention of restoring the franchise to its former glory. However, the trade of Sherman Douglas, a player Bird admired for his heart and toughness, and the departure of Dave Gavitt, an executive Bird respected, marked a turning point. Bird felt his basketball acumen was disregarded by the new management, leading to his departure and subsequent success as the head coach of the Indiana Pacers.

• What: Larry Bird expresses his disappointment with the Boston Celtics' management and the events that led to his departure from the front office.
• Who: Larry Bird, Sherman Douglas, Dave Gavitt, Paul Gaston, Michael Leon Carr, Boston Celtics organization, Indiana Pacers.
• When: Bird retired in 1992, joined the Celtics' front office, Gavitt's departure, Douglas traded, Bird left in 1997, coached Pacers that year.
• Where: Boston, Indiana.

The article provides a personal account of Larry Bird's experience in the Celtics' front office, highlighting the clash between his basketball-centric vision and the business-oriented approach of the new management. The departure of Dave Gavitt, who Bird respected, and the trade of Sherman Douglas, a player Bird valued, were pivotal moments that led to Bird's disillusionment. His subsequent success as a coach with the Indiana Pacers underscores his basketball acumen and suggests that his insights were indeed valuable.

"I knew my days with the Celtics were over when I told our owner that Sherman Douglas was the most valuable guy on our team, and then he traded him a month later."

"[They] would ask my advice about certain personnel moves, then turn around and do whatever they wanted... I mean, why ask my opinion if you don't really care what I think?"

Larry Bird's departure from the Boston Celtics' front office marked the end of an era for the franchise. His frustration with the team's management, stemming from the trade of Sherman Douglas and a lack of respect for his basketball insights, led him to seek success elsewhere. His subsequent achievements as a coach with the Indiana Pacers validated his vision and underscored the Celtics' loss.