Rick Carlisle, TJ McConnell
It has been a long month for the Indiana Pacers. After defeating the Sacramento Kings 116-105 on December 8th, they won their sixth game of the year. It was part of a stretch where they shook off a rather slow start to the year to win their 5th contest out of 10.
A 13-game losing streak followed, one that lasted all the way… until tonight. January 8th, 2026. Not only did Indiana win their seventh game of the year, but it was a historic one for Head Coach Rick Carlisle.
Carlisle, around the NBA for a long time, won his 1,000th game as a head coach. TJ McConnell delivered a late basket and steal to help lift the team to this win and give their coach the monumental number.
He became the 11th coach to make it into the 1,000 wins club, a sure-fire Hall-of-Famer when he is officially done.
TJ McConnell and Pascal Siakam Deliver Historic Win
As soon as Indiana won on December 8th, the countdown to 1,000 Rick Carlisle wins began. 14 games later, they finally have it.
The longtime head man, in his second tenure with the Pacers, took the team to the NBA Finals last year.
They were perhaps one Tyrese Haliburton injury break away from knocking off the Thunder and claiming the title as their own. They went blow for blow with the best team in the league, but lost their star point guard to an Achilles injury in the first quarter of Game 7.
Of course, this has been a very trying season. Injuries have claimed most of Indiana’s top players. Haliburton is being forced to miss the entire campaign. The bottom of the East is where they’re living, and it does not appear anything will change for the better this time.
The good news is, they did get the win tonight. TJ McConnell came through in the clutch, stealing the inbounds pass after the Pascal Siakam basket.
The two veterans have continued to give it it their all. Refusing to stop the high, tenacious level of play in spite of the record the team has put up.
A star player will be taken in the draft to help provide a lift for next season based on these results. 2026-27 is the year that will matter for the Pacers.
Looking back on Rick Carlisle’s Incredible Career
Rick Carlisle has been coaching in the NBA for 37 seasons. Joining the New Jersey Nets as an assistant before the 1989-90 campaign, he spent time with a few different teams before getting his first head shot.
Carlisle was in charge of the Pistons for two years from 2001-03, winning 50 games both times, but failing to deliver in the playoffs and getting fired.
From there, the Pacers beckoned. He spent four years at the helm, taking the team to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2004. After failing to make the 2007 playoffs, he was let go.
Prior to the start of the 2008 campaign, Carlisle was hired by the Mavericks. He helped deliver the first championship in franchise history, defeating the Heatles in 2011. The 1,000-game winner would spend another 10 years in Dallas, but did not advance in the playoffs again.
Carlisle was not brought back for the 2021-22 season.
Ahead of the 2021-22 campaign, Carlisle returned to Indiana, joining the Pacers once more.
Taking the team to their first NBA Finals in over 25 years last season, the vision has become clear. Despite the struggles of this season, his legacy is very much cemented. He helped take the Pacers where their previous few coaches could not. Deep in the playoffs.
Salute to Rick Carlisle. One of the most successful coaches that the NBA has seen.