Pacers' Bird named executive of the year

May 16, 2012 - 9:02 PM New York, NY (Sports Network) - Indiana Pacers president of basketball operations Larry Bird was named the winner of the 2011-12 NBA Executive of the Year award on Wednesday.

Bird becomes the first person to win MVP, Coach and Executive of the Year honors.

The Pacers earned the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference with a 42-24 record this season, the first full campaign under head coach Frank Vogel, who had served on an interim basis last year after replacing Jim O'Brien.

Bird strengthened the roster by signing two-time All-Star David West and trading for Leandro Barbosa.

Bird totaled 88 points and received 12 first-place votes from a panel of his fellow team executives throughout the league. San Antonio's R.C. Buford finished second with 56 points and eight first-place votes.