Many consider Indiana Pacers' Rick Carlisle to be one of the best head coaches in the NBA, and that is not by accident. Carlisle is not only one of the best offensive minds in the game, but he also stands out because of his willingness to change and adapt as a coach, which is why he is still successful today.
Carlisle just coached the Pacers to their second consecutive conference finals with a chance to advance to the NBA Finals for the first time in 25 years. He has done wonders for this Pacers organization, and only time will tell how much further he can take the team. Regardless, Carlisle is a future Hall of Famer, and he continues to improve as a coach due to changing with the game, and not being stuck in his old ways like many great coaches do.
Rick Carlisle knows how to adapt
Carlisle has been a head coach in the NBA since 2001, and he has been part of a coaching staff for over 10 years longer. He won an NBA title as a head coach with the Dallas Mavericks in 2011, yet what he is doing now for the Pacers has the potential to be even more impressive.
The New York native is still a top head coach in the NBA all these years later, and it is because he knows how to evolve. In a recent interview with David Aldridge, Carlisle spoke about being "open to change," which is key to having a good relationship with players today.
“A lot’s changed in 23 years,” Carlisle said. “The game’s evolved a lot. At times, my teams have been at the forefront of evolution; at times, we’ve had to adjust with the game. But one thing you learn is you must be open to change. One thing that’s changed a lot is players, how they communicate and how they’re brought up."
Many legendary head coaches across all sports have a problem with changing their strategies, mindsets, and general style. This is why many coaches who once dominated their respective sport phase out and become "washed up." Luckily for the Pacers, Carlisle has already proven he is not one of those coaches, and his ability to adapt has made him a valuable asset.
The Pacers are currently just eight wins away from winning their first NBA Championship in franchise history. However, even if they fall short of that dream this year, there are plenty of reasons to have high hopes in Indiana for the long run. They are a young team with a lot of drive, and they have already proven doubters wrong time and time again. What may be most important, however, is that they have a head coach who knows what he is doing and how to keep his teams competitive, and that is something not a lot of teams can say.