Rick Carlisle, Pacers Reportedly Agree to Contract Extension After NBA Finals Run
After leading the Indiana Pacers on a surprising run to the NBA Finals this past season, head coach Rick Carlisle won't be going anywhere anytime soon.
According to NBA insider Marc Stein, the Pacers and Carlisle reached an agreement on a multiyear contract extension.
Carlisle is in his second stint as Pacers head coach, returning to the franchise in 2021 after previously holding the position from 2003 to 2007. He also was an assistant coach in Indiana from 1997 to 2000.
In 2024-25, the Pacers went 50-32 and finished fourth in the Eastern Conference, marking their first 50-win season since 2013-14. Despite facing a tough slate of postseason matchups, Indiana put together a magical run that included many memorable moments.
After getting past the rival Milwaukee Bucks in the first round, the Pacers downed the first-place Cleveland Cavaliers in the second round before getting past the rival New York Knicks in the conference finals to reach the NBA Finals for the first time since 2000.
The Western Conference champion Oklahoma City Thunder had the best record in the NBA last season, but the Pacers still pushed them to seven games in the NBA Finals. Unfortunately, Indiana lost star point guard Tyrese Haliburton to a torn Achilles early in Game 7 before losing 103-91.
The Pacers are likely to face an uphill battle without Haliburton in 2025-26, but Carlisle has proven capable of getting the best out of his players. Indiana should feel comfortable with him remaining at the helm for years to come.
