Rick Carlisle and the Dallas Mavericks parted ways early in the tenure of Luka Doncic as the two didn’t always get along. But Carlisle has reportedly evolved with that experience and has been easier to get along with since joining the Indiana Pacers for his second stint.
“I also firmly believe that Rick’s experience late in his tenure in Dallas have benefited the Indiana Pacers,” said Tim MacMahon on Wednesday’s Hoop Collective Podcast. “Because, I’m not around the Pacers on a regular basis, but everything that I hear is that Rick has mellowed. “Like, he’s still Rick. He’s still going to be intense, but the relationship stuff he’s done a much better job of that in Indiana. And, look, the basketball stuff… Rick is a brilliant basketball mind, always has been and always will be.”
With the Pacers, Carlisle has a more easygoing star guard in Tyrese Haliburton. The Pacers reached both the Conference Finals and the final of the In-Season Tournament last season.