Rick Carlisle resigned as lead trainer of the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday, finishing his 13-year residency one day after the flight of long-lasting president of basketball operations Donnie Nelson, eliminating two of the key figures from the franchise’s 2010-11 title group.
“After a number of in-person conversations with Mark Cuban over the last week, today I informed him that I will not be returning as head coach of the Dallas Mavericks,” Carlisle told ESPN in a written statement. “This was solely my decision. My family and I have had an amazing 13-year experience working with great people in a great city.”
Carlisle, 61, said it’s anything but an “honor to work alongside” several members from the Mavs association, explicitly naming Cuban, Nelson, CEO Cynt Marshall, VP of b-ball tasks Michael Finley, right hand senior supervisor Keith Grant and the co-stars of the 2010-11 title group, Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Kidd.
“Dallas will always be home, but I am excited about the next chapter of my coaching career,” said Carlisle, who has a 836-689 vocation record, having been the head coach for the Detroit Pistons and Indiana Pacers prior to showing up in Dallas in 2008.
Carlisle, who had been the NBA’s third-longest-tenured head coach behind just San Antonio’s Gregg Popovich and Miami’s Erik Spoelstra, had a 555-478 record during his 13 seasons in Dallas, establishing an establishment standard for wins. Carlisle had a 33-38 postseason record with the Mavs, who have not progressed past the first round since their title run 10 years prior.
“I truly love Rick Carlisle,” Cuban told ESPN. “He was not only a good coach but also a friend and a confidant. Our relationship was so much more than basketball. And I know that won’t ever change.”
As indicated by Cuban, the Mavs will enlist another head of ball activities prior to leading a coaching search. Cuban has recruited Mike Forde’s Sportsology, a counseling firm oftentimes utilized by NBA teams hiring general managers, to aid the quest for Nelson’s replacement.
The tension among Carlisle and 22-year-old genius Luka Doncic had progressively become worried inside the Mavs organization, sources said. Doncic displayed up Carlisle on a few events this season, for example, making animated gestures on the court when he couldn’t help contradicting a choice or shouting at Carlisle before aide assistant coaches and teammates.
Nonetheless, Cuban revealed to ESPN minutes after the Mavs’ season finished with a Game 7 misfortune to the LA Clippers on June 6 that Carlisle would return as Dallas’ head coach.
“Let me tell you how I look at coaching,” said Cuban, who has hired only two head coaches in 22 years since buying the Mavs. “You don’t make a change to make a change. Unless you have someone that you know is much, much, much better, the grass is rarely greener on the other side.”
Doncic has a strong relationship with long-term Mavs colleague mentor Jamahl Mosley, an expected candidate to replace Carlisle.
Mosley, who has interviewed for head coach positions with the Cleveland Cavaliers, New York Knicks and New Orleans Pelicans in late offseasons, filled in as the acting lead trainer for the Mavs’ street prevail upon the Knicks on April 2, a game Carlisle missed because of a bogus positive COVID-19 test.
“He’s got the things that are needed for a head coach,” Doncic said that night. “He can be the head coach, for sure.”