BREAKING NEWS: Former Indiana Pacers Head Coach Isiah Thomas who is currently working as an NBATV and a regular contributor to NBA.com Sends a Stunning message to the current Head Coach Rick Carlisle Concerning…

Former Indiana Pacers Head Coach Isiah Thomas who is currently working as an NBATV and a regular contributor to NBA.com Sends a Stunning message to the current Head Coach Rick Carlisle Concerning…

In a moment that caught NBA fans and analysts by surprise, former Indiana Pacers head coach and NBA legend Isiah Thomas delivered a powerful and emotional message to current Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle, praising him as the “perfect leader for this team” and drawing bold comparisons to some of the greatest coaching dynasties in league history.

Thomas, now a respected analyst for NBA TV and a regular contributor to NBA.com, made his comments during a broadcast segment reflecting on the Pacers’ dramatic playoff run. The team, which has stunned opponents with its depth, grit, and unselfish play, has become one of the most exciting stories of the 2025 NBA postseason.

But what made headlines wasn’t just Thomas’s praise—it was the tone of admiration and clarity in his message.

> “Rick Carlisle is doing what few coaches in today’s NBA can do,” Thomas said. “He’s not just managing egos or running plays. He’s cultivating belief. He’s the reason this team is a real contender. This reminds me of when Phil Jackson took young talent and turned it into a dynasty. Rick might be doing the same thing right here in Indiana.”

A Surprising Turn in a Complicated History

For longtime Pacers fans, the endorsement is particularly striking given the history between Thomas and the franchise. Thomas coached the Pacers from 2000 to 2003, during a transitional period following the team’s Finals run in 2000. Though he brought energy and a player’s mindset to the job, his tenure was marked by growing pains and an eventual dismissal.

Who replaced him? Rick Carlisle.

The two men have rarely spoken publicly about one another, and Thomas had previously voiced frustration over how his coaching stint ended. But now, over two decades later, Thomas is offering something close to redemption—for Carlisle, and maybe even for himself.

> “I used to think I could’ve taken that team to the next level,” Thomas said. “But watching Rick now… I get it. Sometimes the right coach shows up at the right time, with the right players. And that’s what we’re seeing.”

Carlisle’s System, Zeke’s Approval

What exactly has Thomas so impressed? It’s the way Carlisle has reshaped the Pacers into one of the league’s most disciplined and unselfish squads. Led by breakout star Tyrese Haliburton and bolstered by a balanced bench, Indiana plays a brand of basketball that prioritizes team movement, defensive accountability, and mental resilience—hallmarks of Carlisle’s philosophy.

Thomas pointed out that Carlisle’s use of depth and his trust in young players has made Indiana incredibly difficult to guard.

> “When you see a coach letting ten, eleven guys contribute—when you see the ball moving like this—it’s not luck,” Thomas said. “It’s teaching. It’s trust. Rick’s fingerprints are all over this team.”

A Coaching Blueprint for Greatness

During the segment, Thomas also compared Carlisle’s influence on Haliburton to Phil Jackson’s effect on Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan. The idea: a talented player might reach All-Star status on his own, but to become legendary, he needs the right mentor.

> “Phil brought a calm. A vision. He taught winning,” Thomas said. “Rick is doing the same with Tyrese. He’s not trying to control the moment—he’s empowering his guys to own it.”

That’s high praise from someone who’s won two championships, coached All-Stars, and worked alongside legends in the front office and on television.

What This Means for the Pacers

With Indiana pushing deep into the playoffs, the national spotlight is back on a franchise that had been largely overlooked in recent years. Carlisle’s steady leadership and tactical brilliance are earning recognition, and Thomas’s comments may have crystallized what fans are beginning to sense: this is no fluke.

Whether the Pacers win it all this year or not, the respect Carlisle is earning could reshape his legacy. No longer just “the guy who won with Dirk in Dallas,” he’s becoming recognized as a culture builder—someone who can take a good team and make it great.

“Championships are won by players,” Thomas concluded, “but they’re built by coaches. And Rick is building something real in Indiana.”

Final Word

For Rick Carlisle, Thomas’s message may have come as a surprise. But for those watching closely, it’s exactly what this moment represents: a changing of the guard, not just on the floor, but on the sidelines. And when a legend like Isiah Thomas gives you his blessing, the basketball world listens.