DALLAS — Rick Carlisle on Thursday informed Mavericks owner Mark Cuban that he is departing as the team’s head coach, further rocking the franchise less than a day after the announced departure of longtime president of basketball operations Donnie Nelson.
Carlisle had been the Mavericks’ coach for a franchise-record 13 seasons, winning more games than any coach in team history and the only championship (2011) in its history.
“Rick is a great friend,” Cuban told The Dallas Morning News. “I can’t understate how much I have learned from him and what he has meant to this franchise.”
This weekend, Carlisle, Nelson and head trainer Casey Smith were scheduled to travel to Slovenia to spend time with star Luka Doncic as he trains with the Slovenian National team in its bid for a berth in the Tokyo Olympics. As of Thursday morning, however, Carlisle’s plans were up in the air.
Now, we know why.
A team source said that Carlisle informed Cuban of his decision early Thursday afternoon.
Carlisle was hired on May 9, 2008 and posted a record of 555-478 (.537) with the Mavericks, leading them to nine playoff berths in 13 seasons — but Dallas hasn’t won a playoff series since defeating Miami for the 2011 NBA title.
Carlisle won a title as a player with Boston in 1986 and is one of only 14 individuals to win an NBA championship as both a player and a head coach. Last season he moved into 15th place on the NBA’s all-time wins list in 2020-21, passing Cotton Fitzsimmons (832) with career win No. 833 vs. Cleveland on May 7, 2021.
