Rick Carlisle Continues To Reach Elite NBA Coaching Status
For the second time in his career, Carlisle made an unexpected Finals appearance
When NBA pundits discuss who the all-time greatest coach is, names such as Gregg Popovich and Phil Jackson usually come up. As for active coaches, Steve Kerr and Erik Spoelstra are the popular names.
However, Indiana Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle is now growing worthy of a mention.
Carlisle led the Pacers to the NBA Finals, where they lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 7. It was an impressive journey, considering that the Boston Celtics were the initial favorites to win the Eastern Conference.
But this isn’t the first time he beat the odds stacked against him in his career.
The greatest championship run in NBA history
On May 9, 2008, Carlisle signed a four-year deal to become the head coach of the Dallas Mavericks. But it was during the 2010-11 season that he accomplished a nearly impossible feat.
That season, Carlisle led Dallas to a 57-25 record, their best since the 2004-25 season. In the playoffs, they faced some of the most elite talent in the league.
After taking a 4-2 series win in the first round against the Portland Trail Blazers, they met Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers in the Semifinals. According to betting odds, the Lakers were heavily favored to win the Western Conference.
But it didn’t work out the way many believed it would. After winning the first two games in Los Angeles, the Mavericks earned the sweep, capped off by a 122-86 win in Game 4.
In the Conference Finals, the Mavericks battled the Thunder, which featured upcoming stars Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and James Harden. After splitting both games in Dallas, the Mavericks won the next two in Oklahoma City, followed by a 100-96 win in Game 5.
When the Mavericks got to the Finals, they were met by the championship-favorites Miami Heat. It was the Heat’s first year featuring the Big Three of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh. Despite the pressure against them, Carlisle and the Mavericks took a 4-2 series victory, winning the first championship in franchise history.
Carlisle continued to make history
On Jun. 24, 2021, Carlisle signed with the Pacers, marking his second stint as a head coach in Indiana.
In 2023, Carlisle led the Pacers to the playoffs for the first time since 2020. But this year, his status as a successful head coach peaked.
The Pacers began this year slowly, winning only 10 of their first 25 games of the season. From there, they went on to win 20 games but it was in January when the team took the league by the horns.
On Jan. 2, Indiana began a six-game win streak that was ended by the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Pacers went on to end the month with a 10-2 record, leading to Carlisle winning his fourth Coach of the Year award.
For the next three months, the Pacers lost only 12 games while winning 24. They finished the season with a 50-32 record, their first 50-win season since 2013-14.
Same playoff run, different result
Although the Pacers failed to win the championship, the obstacles they were able to overcome were impressive.
In the first round, they battled the Milwaukee Bucks. Even though Damian Lillard went down with an Achilles injury in Game 4, the Pacers still went against Giannis Antetokounmpo, who averaged 33.0 points and 15.4 rebounds that series.
After defeating the Bucks 4-1, the Pacers played the Cavaliers, the best Eastern Conference team. While Darius Garland dealt with a toe injury, Donovan Mitchell averaged 34.2 points in the series. However, the Pacers were still able to take another 4-1 series win.
When the Pacers played the New York Knicks in the Conference Finals, it was more of a challenge. During that series, Jalen Brunson averaged 30.7 points while Karl-Anthony Towns logged 24.8 points and 12.2 rebounds. Still, the Pacers took a 4-2 series win.
Carlisle might not have a shelf full of personal coaching accolades. But it isn’t every day that the sports world witnesses a Cinderella story. Considering he has done it twice, his respect is warranted.
Cory Nelson is a contributor to The Lead. He attended Northern Virginia Community College. He can be reached at corymckenzienelson@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter @CKenzyNelson, Instagram @ckenzynelson, and Threads @ckenzynelson