Former Pacers scout Kevin Mackey passed away Tuesday, Nov. 11. He was 80 years old.
The Massachusetts native was hired by Larry Bird in 2004 and served as a scout until 2021. He was unfailingly kind, generous with his time, and possessed a deep reservoir of basketball knowledge. He had forgotten more about the game than most would ever know.
He loved the game; it was his life.
"RIP Coach Mackey," tweeted Kevin Pritchard, Pacers president of basketball operations. "You were a one of kind. In every scouting meeting you brought Joy, Knowledge and Intensity. I'll never forget you pounding the table to take Born Ready!"
Mackey is best known for his tenure as Cleveland State men’s basketball coach from 1983–1990.
Scott Agness is the longest-tenured Pacers beat reporter. He enters his 14th season covering the team and he's been around The Fieldhouse since 2003. He runs Fieldhouse Files — covering the Pacers, Boom, and Fever — and hosts "The Fieldhouse Files Podcast."