The Indiana Pacers are already bracing for their future, and part of that is continuing to have head coach Rick Carlisle on the sidelines.
The Pacers announced that they have agreed on a multi-year contract extension with Carlisle, who has mentored the team since the 2021-22 season.
"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 of basketball operations Kevin Pritchard said in a statement.
The 64-year-old's current tenure marks his second spell with the team, as he previously coached the Pacers for four seasons from 2003-04 to 2006-07.
He was notably the team's head coach during the infamous "Malice at the Palace" brawl between the Pacers and the Detroit Pistons in 2004.
Carlisle coached the Dallas Mavericks from 2008-09 to 2020-21, winning an NBA championship in 2011.
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Rumors of Carlisle not wanting to rebuild
After the Pacers went 25-57 in Carlisle's first season back with the team, there were speculations that he may not have anticipated a rebuilding phase and was potentially interested in transitioning to a role in the front office.
The 2002 NBA Coach of the Year debunked those rumors last year.
"I'm here to coach this team for the long-haul if they'll have me. And I'm not afraid of any aspect of a rebuild one single bit," Carlisle clarified.
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