Indiana Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle signed a multi-year contract extension after leading his team to its first NBA Finals in 25 years and a chance to reach 1,000 regular-season wins.
Carlisle, the oldest active coach in the NBA at 65, has led the Pacers' resurgence since returning to the team in 2021.
Under his guidance, Indiana reached the Eastern Conference finals the last two seasons and finally reached the 2024 NBA Finals before losing to the Oklahoma City Thunder in seven games.
Pacers president of basketball operations Kevin Pritchard called Carlisle a key figure behind the team's success. "Since returning in 2021, Coach Carlisle has been instrumental in our success," Pritchard said, as quoted by ESPN.
According to records quoted from the official NBA website, Carlisle previously coached the Pacers from 2003 to 2007 and was an assistant coach to Larry Bird when Indiana last reached the NBA Finals in 2000.
