Pacers’ Rick Carlisle agrees to contract extension as he begins 22nd season as NBA head coach

The Indiana Pacers went 25-57 within the 2021-22 season, and there have been rumors that coach Rick Carlisle, who hadn’t expected a rebuild, would transfer from the sidelines to the entrance workplace. On Thursday, the Pacers announced that Carlisle has signed a contract extension to stay the coach, an indication that the rebuild goes in the suitable path. 

Indiana went 35-47 remaining season, however used to be 23-18 and 6th within the Eastern Conference prior to famous person guard Tyrese Haliburton harm his knee towards the New York Knicks in January. With Haliburton at the courtroom, it scored 116.9 issues according to 100 possessions, which is sort of similar to the NBA champion Denver Nuggets’ regular-season offensive potency.

With Haliburton main the way in which, Carlisle’s Pacers get out in transition the way in which his Dallas Mavericks hardly ever did. Last season, their offensive tempo used to be tied for 2nd within the league, per Inpredictable.

Indiana signed guard Bruce Brown and traded for ahead Obi Toppin within the offseason. Between those additions, some inner growth and, preferably, quick contributions from newcomers No. 8 pick out Jarace Walker and No. 26 pick out Ben Sheppard, there are causes to imagine it might make a playoff push. 

Carlisle’s 22nd season as a head coach started on Wednesday with a 143-120 victory towards the Washington Wizards. Haliburton had 20 issues and 11 assists; Brown shot 6 for 8 from 3-point vary. It used to be the 897th win of Carlisle’s profession. Only 13 coaches have reached the 900-win mark.

“It goes without saying that Coach Carlisle is one of the most creative and successful coaches in the history of the league, so there was never a question that he continues to be the right person to lead our team,” Pacers president Kevin Pritchard mentioned in a press free up. “His ties to this organization and community run deep, his guidance and leadership are invaluable to our players and staff and we’re looking forward to working together for years to come as we build something special for our fans.”

This is Carlisle’s 3rd stint in Indiana. He used to be an assistant coach on Larry Bird’s group of workers from 1997 to 2000 prior to leaving to turn out to be the head coach of the Detroit Pistons, and he returned as the head coach from 2003 to 2007, previous his 13 years in Dallas.