Pacers Coach Rick Carlisle Agrees To Multi-Year Extension

The Indiana Pacers almost shocked the NBA world in 2025 when they made it all the way to the NBA Finals before ultimately falling in seven games to the Oklahoma City Thunder. They got that far by going through some very talented teams, including the New York Knicks in the Conference Finals, and even with the injury to Tyrese Haliburton, optimism is high heading into the 2025/26 campaign.

Not only do they have one of the deeper and more balanced rosters in the NBA, but they've also got one of the best coaches in veteran Rick Carlisle. The 65-year old has already won one NBA Championship in Dallas, and now he's targeting another one in Indiana, with the team officially putting their faith in him.

On Tuesday, the organization made it official, handing the long-time NBA coach a multi-year extension that may keep him in Indiana until the end of his career. 

Already, Carlisle ranks 10th in NBA history with the most wins in playoff history as a coach, and with a team that's still loaded with talent, there's hopes he can climb that list and win his second NBA title.

It's unclear how long the deal is for and how much Carlisle will be paid compared to other coaches, but after taking a talented but lackluster team to consistency in recent years, it's an extension that's well earned. Even without Haliburton and Myles Turner in the lineup next year, Carlisle has inspired confidence in this group, and now, we'll see just how good this team can be under one of the best coaches in the NBA without their biggest star.