In a stunning move that has rocked the NBA coaching landscape, Indiana Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle has officially accepted an offer to return to the Dallas Mavericks, signing a deal reportedly worth $30 million over four years.
Sources close to the negotiations confirmed Tuesday night that Carlisle, who previously coached the Mavericks from 2008 to 2021 and led them to an NBA Championship in 2011, is making a dramatic return to Dallas. The move signals a major shake-up in both franchises, with the Mavericks looking to rekindle past success and the Pacers now facing another coaching search.
Carlisle, 65, left the Mavericks in 2021 after a 13-year tenure and joined the Pacers — the team he had also coached from 2003 to 2007 — in what many viewed as a full-circle career move. However, after two underwhelming seasons in Indiana and a clear desire from Dallas to bring back a familiar and proven leader, the opportunity proved too appealing to pass up.
“This is a franchise I know and love,” Carlisle said in a brief statement released by his agency. “I’m excited to get back to work with a talented roster and to help this team contend at the highest level.”
The $30 million contract puts Carlisle among the league’s highest-paid coaches and reflects the Mavericks’ serious intent to build around their young superstar Luka Dončić with veteran leadership and championship experience at the helm.
Carlisle’s return comes at a pivotal moment for Dallas, as the team has faced early playoff exits in recent years despite boasting one of the most dynamic rosters in the league. Mavericks owner Mark Cuban expressed enthusiasm about the reunion, calling Carlisle “the right man for the job — again.”
As the Mavericks prepare for the upcoming season, all eyes will be on how Carlisle reshapes the team’s strategy, develops young talent, and aims to bring another title to Dallas.
