If there is a quintessential NBA coach, it’s Rick Carlisle. The Indiana Pacers’ coach will turn 67 in October, and more than a few wonder when he will step away from the bench. Well, not even he knows for sure.
Experiencing a prime moment at the helm of Indiana, who in 2025 fell to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Finals by 4-3, the veteran strategist expresses enthusiasm for what lies ahead. It’s not hard to understand why, since for the 2026-27 season he will have back his star Tyrese Haliburton, returning to be one of the league’s top threats in the Eastern Conference.
“Nobody wants to stay longer than they are welcome… I still love it. It’s a joy to go to work every day… I’ll keep going with this for as long as I can,” he says while chatting with Draymond Green on his podcast.
Carlisle is a man of many talents. Beyond his passion for coaching, he also spends time piloting airplanes or playing the piano. He loves learning and improving, something that at 67 has not changed and that makes him realize he still has a lot to contribute as the Pacers’ locker-room leader.
Carlisle Elevates Doncic
Having been Luka Dončić’s first NBA coach, Carlisle does not hesitate to emphasize how special the Slovenian is, who arrived in American competition to become a superstar almost immediately.
“From the standpoint of talent, ability, and everything else, he’s the most unique player I’ve ever coached. He’s so good… and he’s also an outstanding competitor. You put the right players around him and I challenge you to find a way to beat him because he’s incredibly smart, knows all the tricks of the book, and knows how to win,” he concludes.
