Larry Bird again denied reports that he will leave the Pacers at the end of the season.

Ken Berger of CBSSports.com reported Thursday that Bird has told “several friends in the NBA that he’s decided to leave” and that he wants owner Herb Simon to start planning for him to step away at the end of the season.

“Once again, no decision has been made,” Bird said by phone Thursday evening. “I’ll sit down with my owner at the end of the season and we’ll talk about things.”

The Pacers will stick with George Hill as the starter at point guard even after the return of Darren Collison from injury.

Collison has been out with a sore groin.

Indiana is 7-0 since Hill became the starter on April 9th against the Raptors.

Hill is averaging 15.4 points and has a 6-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio in his seven games as a starter.

"I don't think it's nothing I'm really doing," Hill said. "We have great players that are starting to play well."

Eric Gordon has enjoyed his time with New Orleans, though he has been limited to just five games this season.

Gordon will be a restricted free agent this summer after his agent, Rob Pelinka, and the Hornets were unsuccessful in their attempt to negotiate an extension.

"The first thing I'd say is that we have a very underrated coach," Gordon said by phone on Tuesday. "He's one of the best coaches out there, and we're definitely an underrated team. I know our record [16-42] doesn't speak for itself, but I've been out more than half the season. The Hornets really do have good fans, too. I really can't say too many negatives about it.

"Overall, it's better than what people probably would think if they hadn't lived here. It's been enjoyable."

The Hornets will be able to match any offer Gordon receives on the open market.

"We want him here for the long term; we're looking forward to signing him this summer," Hornets general manager Dell Demps told SI.com. "We think he is a big-time player who can score, and we're thrilled to have him. He's a big part of our plans for the future."

Sources close to the situation said Indiana, Phoenix, Portland and Dallas are among the teams with interest in Gordon.

Donnie Walsh has received permission from the Knicks to speak to other teams about potential jobs.

Walsh left his position as president and general manager of the Knicks last June and had been working as a consultant.

The Blazers are currently searching for a new general manager.

There has also been speculation that Walsh could return to the front office of the Pacers.

Don Nelson, Reggie Miller, Ralph Sampson and Jamaal Wilkes have been voted into the 2012 Class of the Basketball Hall of Fame.

"It's a humbling experience obviously" Miller said on the NBA TV broadcast from New Orleans in conjunction with the Final Four there. "You look at all the men and women that are on this dais and the ones that are out there (in the audience) watching this and the ones that are at home, to be a part of this exclusive club is pretty special."

"I'm the luckiest man in the world," Nelson said at the announcement. "I've been involved in the game of basketball for 60 years, and I've never had a bad day. Even when we've lost games and we've had some tough experiences, they've all been great days. I'm one of those rare guys that throughout his life has been able to do what he's loved to do and I've done it my entire life. Now to be inducted into the Hall of Fame is like the cherry on top of my ice cream."

Maurice Cheeks, Bill Fitch, Bernard King, Dick Motta and Rick Pitino fell short of the 18 votes required from the 24-person panel.