NBA team the Pacers extend contract of coach Rick Carlisle following their run in the NBA Finals.
Rick Carlisle, the experienced coach who has made a significant impact on the NBA landscape, has agreed to a multiyear extension with the Indiana Pacers. This decision comes after a successful 2025 season that saw the Pacers reach the NBA Finals for the first time in 25 years.
Carlisle, who previously led Dirk Nowitzki and the Dallas Mavericks to a championship in 2011, returned to the Pacers in 2021 to oversee a difficult rebuild. His efforts paid off as the Pacers climbed from 25 wins in 2022 to an impressive 50 wins in the 2025 season.
The Pacers' journey to the Finals was not an easy one. They defeated the Milwaukee Bucks, the Cleveland Cavaliers, and the New York Knicks in the playoffs, each series presenting its own challenges. The team's postseason was punctuated by the clutch shots of Tyrese Haliburton, who scored a buzzer-beating game-tying bucket against the New York Knicks and a game-winning jumper in Game 1 of the Finals.
Unfortunately, the Pacers' Finals run came to an end in a seven-game series against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Despite this setback, the team's performance energized the franchise and fan base, restoring the Pacers' place on the NBA map.
The Pacers will enter the 2025-26 season without Tyrese Haliburton and Myles Turner, both of whom suffered injuries during the Finals. Haliburton suffered an Achilles tear in Game 7, while Turner signed with the Milwaukee Bucks in free agency.
Carlisle's tenure with the Pacers spans a total of 8 seasons across two tenures. His regular-season record with the team is 338-318 (.515), and his playoff record is 41-34 (.547). With 81 playoff victories, he ties for 10th on the NBA's all-time coaching list.
Before joining the Pacers, Carlisle won a championship as a player in 1986 with the Boston Celtics. His coaching success extends beyond Indiana, as he also led the Dallas Mavericks to a championship in 2011.
The extension keeps Carlisle under contract beyond the end of his initial four-year agreement signed in 2021. The Pacers prioritized continuity with this decision, aiming to build on the momentum of a historic season.
