Veteran NBA coach Rick Carlisle is backmost successful nan NBA Finals aft starring nan Pacers to an Eastern Conference title for only nan 2nd clip successful franchise history.
Carlisle is now successful his 23rd play arsenic a caput coach, serving arsenic 1 of nan astir knowledgeable progressive NBA coaches. As a result, nan nationalist has seen Carlisle property from up-and-coming coach to a grizzled seasoned connected nan sidelines.
Most fans recognize Carlisle arsenic nan Jim Carrey lookalike, arsenic Carlisle has resembled nan celebrated character passim his life. While Carlisle is now known for his shaved head, location was a clip 2 decades agone erstwhile his look included a afloat caput of hair.
Here's really Carlisle looked done his years arsenic a caput coach.
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Rick Carlisle past and now
Carlisle has now been a caput coach for astir of nan past 24 years, coaching 3 different teams complete 4 different stints.
The seasoned coach sewage his first caput coaching opportunity pinch nan Pistons from 2001-03, correct earlier Detroit won it each successful 2004. At nan time, Carlisle was a rising prima successful nan industry, but possibly much importantly, he still had his afloat caput of hairsbreadth to complement his coaching.
Rick Carlisle received nan @NBA Coach of nan Year Award successful 2001-2002 aft starring nan @DetroitPistons to a 50-32 grounds & a first-place decorativeness successful nan Central Division. Carlisle received nan grant from his mentor, Chuck Daly, anterior to Game 2 of nan 2002 Eastern Conference Semis pic.twitter.com/yinwbpfXTJ
— NBA History (@NBAHistory) December 3, 2017Following a astonishing firing from nan Pistons, Carlisle was hired by nan Pacers for nan first clip successful 2003, staying successful Indiana done nan 2006-07 season. Carlisle looked beautiful akin to erstwhile he was successful Detroit, arsenic he spent 4 seasons pinch nan Pacers.
25 years later rick carlisle is backmost successful nan finals pinch nan pacers 🙌 pic.twitter.com/MIAolzZnBp
— buckets (@buckets) June 2, 2025MORE: How nan Pacers utilized savvy moves to build NBA Finals roster
The mostly of Carlisle's occurrence came pinch nan Mavericks, arsenic he spent 13 years successful Dallas which included winning nan NBA Finals successful 2011. While Carlisle's hairstyle was nan aforesaid erstwhile he was first hired successful 2008, it changed complete nan adjacent decade, including erstwhile he had a overmuch shorter style erstwhile he won it all.
An underrated facet of nan Mavs legendary 2011 tally is nan outstanding coaching of Rick Carlisle.
He outcoached legends for illustration Phil Jackson and Erik Spoelstra to lead his underdog squad to upset everyone connected their measurement to nan title.
Rick is an each clip awesome & he’s doing it again. pic.twitter.com/q5GnSRochI
Carlisle stepped down arsenic nan Mavericks caput coach aft nan 2020-21 season, but he quickly joined nan Pacers arsenic their caller caput coach that aforesaid offseason. While Carlisle had a fully-shaved caput astatine nan extremity of his Dallas tenure, he brought that style pinch him to Indiana.
Congratulations to erstwhile Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle connected advancing to nan NBA Finals 👏 pic.twitter.com/xaDJodRcwY
— MFFL NATION (@NationMffl) June 1, 2025MORE: How Paul George blockbuster trades led to nan 2025 NBA Finals
Rick Carlisle coaching career
Carlisle has been a caput coach successful each but 1 of nan past 24 NBA seasons. Here is really he has fared arsenic a coach successful his career.
Year | Team | Record | Playoff Result |
2001-02 | Pistons | 50-32 | L, Second Round |
2002-03 | Pistons | 50-32 | L, Eastern Conference Finals |
2003-04 | Pacers | 61-21 | L, Eastern Conference Finals |
2004-05 | Pacers | 44-38 | L, Second Round |
2005-06 | Pacers | 41-41 | L, First Round |
2006-07 | Pacers | 35-47 | Missed Playoffs |
2008-09 | Mavericks | 50-32 | L, Second Round |
2009-10 | Mavericks | 55-27 | L, First Round |
2010-11 | Mavericks | 57-25 | NBA Champions |
2011-12 | Mavericks | 36-30 | L, First Round |
2012-13 | Mavericks | 41-41 | Missed Playoffs |
2013-14 | Mavericks | 49-33 | L, Second Round |
2014-15 | Mavericks | 50-32 | L, First Round |
2015-16 | Mavericks | 42-40 | L, First Round |
2016-17 | Mavericks | 33-49 | Missed Playoffs |
2017-18 | Mavericks | 24-58 | Missed Playoffs |
2018-19 | Mavericks | 33-49 | Missed Playoffs |
2019-20 | Mavericks | 43-32 | L, First Round |
2020-21 | Mavericks | 42-30 | L, First Round |
2021-22 | Pacers | 25-57 | Missed Playoffs |
2022-23 | Pacers | 35-47 | Missed Playoffs |
2023-24 | Pacers | 47-35 | L, Eastern Conference Finals |
2024-25 | Pacers | 50-32 | TBD |
MORE: Ranking apical 8 players successful nan NBA Finals, from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to Tyrese Haliburton