Carlisle is known for coaching the Mavericks to their sole franchise championship in 2011 behind Dirk Nowitzki. He returned to the Pacers for a second stint in 2021. He's fresh off an Eastern Conference Finals run last year. When he erases his clipboard one final time, expect him to be a first-ballot Hall-of-Famer.

Nostalgia pitched up his tone, with Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander at the forefront of his mind.  “I grew up in an era where the best player on the best team wins MVP every time,” the Pacers guard said following a 132-111 Thunder win.

As expected, the Indiana Pacers lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday night, 132-111. The Pacers have been hot since the All-Star Break, going 13-8 over that stretch, but the Thunder are the best team in the league, dominating in ways not seen since the peak of the Golden State Warriors dynasty.