Indiana Pacers Praise Donnie Walsh

"He’s always been so nice," Harrison said. "Even when I got suspended, he was the first person I talked to about it. He always gave me good advice about life and he’s always been on my side. It’s going to be tough to see him leave."

Harrison’s opinion was echoed around the Pacers locker room before Tuesday’s game against the New Orleans Hornets.

Walsh, who started with the Pacers in 1984, is like a father figure to many in the organization. He has an open door policy and is available 24 hours a day. Walsh routinely attends games, practices and shootarounds.

"I don’t like that he’s leaving," Pacers guard Danny Granger said. "I knew I was coming to a great organization the moment I met Donnie and (team president) Larry (Bird) when I got drafted. You know he knows how to run an organization because he’s been here for about as long as I’ve been alive. Wherever he goes, I’m sure he’ll do a good job." [Indianapolis Star]