Indiana Pacers fans already knew that Rick Carlisle was one of the best offensive-minded head coaches in the NBA today, and the league's annual GM survey just confirmed that.
Last year, Carlisle received 47% of the votes from GMs about which head coach in the league runs the best offense. He was the leading vote-getter, and this is no different this year as he received 53% of the votes.
For context, Kenny Atkinson of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Chris Finch of the Minnesota Timberwolves both tied for the second-highest percentage of the votes at 10%.
For the 2024-25 season, the Pacers scored 117.4 points per game, which was the seventh-most in the NBA. Additionally, their 48.8 FG% and 29.2 assists per game were third-best, and their 36.8 3FG% was tied for ninth-best with the Boston Celtics. Indiana's 116.5 offensive rating on the season was also the ninth-best in the league, though its 119.4 offensive rating after the new year was the fifth-best, according to StatMuse.
Carlisle's constant recognition as the best offensive head coach in the league is a testament to his reputation, adaptability, and style. He is a fantastic coach who has played an instrumental role in Indiana's recent success, and the team should be ecstatic that he is going to stick around for the foreseeable future.
Rick Carlisle's system with the Pacers has changed the game
Carlisle is the perfect head coach for the Pacers because he has implemented a perfect system that the entire roster has bought into.
The Pacers utilize a run-and-gun offense. While this is not unheard of, it is not a style of play that every team in the league runs because of how difficult it is to execute on a nightly basis. Fortunately for Indiana, Carlisle knows exactly how to make this system work.
In Carlisle's system, the Pacers rely heavily on pushing the tempo, making quick reads and decisions, a lot of ball movement, and improvisation. This style is incredibly difficult to pull off, and that is why the Pacers' offensive unit is among the best in the league.
Carlisle also knows how to get the most out of his players constantly. Players like Tyrese Haliburton, Aaron Nesmith, and Obi Toppin, who each played a big part in the Pacers' latest NBA Finals run, were all castaways from their previous teams. However, because Carlisle knew how to play to their strengths, they are all a major part of Indiana's success and have had their best seasons as members of the Pacers.
It is no secret that the New York native is the best at what he does, but he may still have something to prove this season.
Following Haliburton's season-ending Achilles injury and Myles Turner's free agency exit to the Milwaukee Bucks, many are expecting the Pacers to take a back seat. However, they have shown no indication that they are willing to tank this season, and they will be looking to make some noise and potentially go on a playoff run instead.
This upcoming season is shaping up to be a legacy-defining one for Carlisle, who will look to have his team exceed expectations once again.
The Pacers fanbase and the rest of the NBA know exactly how great a coach he is, but depending on what happens this season, he may be able to take that next step as one of the greatest coaches the game has ever seen.