Rick Carlisle, who will soon be in his 1000s
NBA coaching is about to experience a rare moment: Rick Carlisle is about to hit 1,000. victory in the regular season. The Indiana coach currently has a record of 999 wins and 878 losses and will join an ultra-closed club where only Gregg Popovich, Don Nelson, Lenny Wilkens, Jerry Sloan, Pat Riley, George Karl, Doc Rivers, Phil Jackson, Larry Brown etc Rick Adelman.
But as always, Rick Carlyle refuses to pull the rug out from under him. After the win against Sacramento, the Pacers coach simply said: “It was a tough game. It’s good to win. We have a little time to train this week, we’ll make the most of it. And more difficult matches will follow.”
His 1,000th win (against the Sixers? Wizards?) will crown the paradoxical year of 2025: an NBA Finals loss in seven rounds against the Thunder, a horrific injury to Tyrese Halliburton, and a season of transition.
President of the NBA Coaches Union
“His teams play with a clear identity and maintain their character through all the ups and downs”, underlines Mark Deno. “Almost every year the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. That shows what he is.”
In the 3-point era, no team has taken more game-winning shots per coach than Rick Carlisle. “His identity has changed with roster and league trends, but his teams are still in character”insists Marc Daigneault on his opponent during the last final.
The next contender for 1000? Erik Spoelstra, just over 800 successes. And apparently, the Heat coach is paying tribute to his 2011 Finals “executioner,” the president of the NBA Coaches Union for two decades: “Without him, there would be no coaching benefits and no pensions. He is an exceptional leader. His number of wins shows his longevity, his basketball IQ. I have the utmost respect for him.” concludes the coach of Miami.
2025-12-10 15:31:00
