Thursday’s win for the Pacers was meaningful for several reasons. First, the team snapped a franchise-record 13-game losing streak. It has been a tough year for Indiana after a trip to the NBA Finals in 2025.
Additionally, Pacers’ head coach Rick Carlisle reached a career milestone with that win. He is now the 11th coach in NBA history to win 1,000+ games in their career. Carlisle is the first coach to join that prestigious company since Doc Rivers in 2021. The next closest active head coach is Erik Spoelstra with 807 wins.
Rick Carlisle waited over a month to win his 1,000th career game
Congrats to Rick Carlisle of the @Pacers for becoming the 11th coach in NBA history to secure 1,000 total coaching wins! pic.twitter.com/6UlSp6K9Dl
— NBA (@NBA) January 9, 2026
Rick Carlisle has been an assistant or head coach in the NBA for 35 seasons. After a short playing career, he was hired by the New Jersey Nets in 1989-90 as an assistant coach. Carlisle worked his way through the ranks and was an assistant for 11 seasons. He spent time with the Nets, Trail Blazers, and Pacers. Ahead of the 2001-02 season, Rick Carlisle landed his first head coaching gig with the Pistons. Carlisle lasted two years with Detroit. Following his time with the Pistons, Rick Carlisle was hired by the Pacers. He was formerly an assistant with Indiana.
His first stint with Indiana lasted four seasons, but Carlisle was let go following the 2006-07 season. Carlisle took a year off from coaching before he was hired by the Mavericks in 2008-09. His tenure with Dallas lasted 13 seasons, and Rick Carlisle led the team to their only NBA championship. Rick Carlisle was fired by the Mavs after the 2020-21 season, and he was immediately hired by the Pacers.
Rick Carlisle:
"I'm so happy for our players. The last month has really been so challenging in so many ways. Pascal Siakam is one of the favorite players I've ever been around at any level" pic.twitter.com/cVG14tTDle
— Oh No He Didn't (@ohnohedidnt24) January 9, 2026
Carlisle is in his second stint with the Pacers, bringing his total to nine seasons in Indiana. The team fell just short of winning the NBA Finals last season. In 2025-26, the Pacers have been trying to manage several injuries. That’s led to a 7-31 record this season. Heading into a matchup vs. the Hornets on Thursday, the Pacers had a franchise-record 13-game losing streak. On top of that, head coach Rick Carlisle was sitting on 999 career wins.
It had been over a month since Indiana won their last game. The Pacers pulled off a miraculous comeback in the final minute to steal the game from Charlotte. Thursday was a much-needed win for the Pacers. Rick Carlisle got his 1,000th career victory. He is just the 11th coach in NBA history to reach that milestone. After the game, Rick Carlisle said, “I’m so happy for our players. The last month has been so challenging in so many ways. We have an amazing group of guys who continue to fight through thick and thin.”
