Are the Pacers Sleepers? Rick Carlisle on Indiana, Coaching Luka Dončić & Playing With Larry Bird

Are the Pacers Sleepers? Rick Carlisle on Indiana, Coaching Luka Dončić & Playing With Larry Bird

July 31, 2026



Are the Pacers Sleepers? Rick Carlisle on Indiana, Coaching Luka Dončić & Playing With Larry Bird

Pacers Head Coach Rick Carlisle joins Draymond to discuss his journey and evolution in coaching as he heads into his 25th year as an NBA Head Coach, dive deep into what it was like coaching stars like Dirk, Luka, Jalen Brunson, Jason Kidd, and Tyrese Hailburton, convincing Steve Kerr to take the Warriors job over the Knicks, playing alongside Larry Bird and Danny Ainge with the Celtics, becoming a scratch golfer and pilot in his free time!

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View Comments (12)

  5. Rick Carlisle is one of the greatest coaches in NBA history. His resume may not be as decorated as some of his peers, but his tactical acumen is criminally underrated. What separates Carlisle is his feel for the pulse of a game. He might be the greatest timeout coach in NBA history, knowing exactly when to halt momentum, settle his team, or introduce a crucial adjustment. During the Mavericks' championship run, those timeouts often felt as important as any possession. I started rating coaches in when they take timeouts…lol…because that's how we actually won despite Dirk's greateness.

    His in-game adjustments are among the best the league has ever seen, and his willingness to evolve deserves equal praise. From slower, defensive teams to modern, high-tempo offenses, Carlisle has consistently adapted his philosophy to his personnel rather than forcing players into a rigid system. That tactical flexibility is the mark of a truly elite coach. Carlisle is the coaching equivalent of Draymond: both are elite real-time problem-solvers whose genius is easier to perceive possession by possession than through conventional statistics.

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