Pacers president Larry Bird wants Roy Hibbert to 'get with one of the greats'

Indiana Pacers president Larry Bird has never been one to mince words, telling it like it is as a player and as an executive. It may ruffle feathers at times, but he obviously thinks honesty is the best policy, and it's difficult to argue with the results.

So when Bird said Monday that center Roy Hibbert needs to improve, and needs to seek out help in order to do so, it didn't really come as a surprise.

"Roy's never asked us to go bring someone in," Bird said. "I always say big guys are different. I would encourage Roy to try to get with one of the greats. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is one of the best teachers. Bill Walton is great. They know how to play the position as well as anyone ever has. I would encourage that."

Bird attributed Hibbert's struggles at times during the season to occasional losses of confidence, and the thought here seems to be that leaning on one or two legends could make him more secure in his offensive arsenal.

And Bird's certainly not wrong that it needs work. Despite being able to use his size to provide a defensive force, Hibbert shot just 43.9 percent this season - 34th among 37 qualified centers and center-forwards - and got to the line at only an average rate for an interior player. 

Most troubling, Hibbert shot just 28.3 percent on all jump shots and 51.3 percent on layups, the latter of which should be the easiest shot in basketball next to a dunk. Inside of five feet, Hibbert shot just 49.7 percent, second to last among the 76 players who took at least 300 attempts from that close and significantly worse than any other big man.

His strongest area, the post-up game, saw him rank just 87th in the league in points per possession, per Synergy Sports, and he was 126th as the dive man in the pick-and-roll.

So yes, Hibbert's offensive game could use some work. Will he take Bird's advice? He should, for his own sake, but then again if he "wouldn't oppose a trade," maybe his head is elsewhere right now.