Hiring which left even Sabonis' dad excited / News - Basketnews.com

Credit: AFP-Scanpix Credit AFP-Scanpix

It came out of nowhere. The Indiana Pacers players thought that Scott Brooks was a front-runner to get a head coaching job. So Rick Carlisle news surprised many.

3-pointers this season

37%12,4Points made:12,4Accuracy:36,5%Place in standings:17Record max:21Record min:7Most made 3FGs:Malcolm BrogdonTeamNBAStatisticsSchedule

Carlisle, 61, returns to Indiana on a four-year deal. He previously coached the Pacers from 2003 to 2007. Also, he assisted Larry Bird in Indiana for three seasons (1997-2000).

"Once I've heard the news, I was very excited. Hall of Fame coach," Domantas Sabonis recalls. "I'm just really excited to get to work with him and know him, his mindset, how we're going to play, and everything. It's a fresh start for us. We just want to go out there and have fun."

Domas was not the only Sabonis very happy with this hiring.

His dad Arvydas Sabonis, the legendary Hall of Famer, played for Carlisle in Portland Trail Blazers in 1994-1997, when Rick served as an assistant to P.J. Carlesimo.

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Carlisle always admired Arvydas Sabonis, calling him potentially a Top-10 player of all time if he didn't get hurt. For Carlisle, Larry Bild, Bill Walton, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar were the best-passing big men of all time. He would have put Arvydas right behind them.

It seems like the two guys had a good time together in Portland.

"Oh yeah, my dad and family love him. They might come to visit me more in Indiana now because there is a familiar face," Sabonis smiles. "Everyone is excited by this opportunity. We just really want to see what's going to happen this year."

It comes as no surprise why Arvydas Sabonis was so excited about this hiring. As Carlisle revealed in his introductory press conference with the Pacers, he saw the actual video of Domantas birth.

Domas, the youngest son of Arvydas, was born during the NBA Playoffs in 1996, and Carlisle stopped by Sabonis' house to congratulate the big Lithuanian guy.

Domantas Sabonis

MIN:35.88PTS:20.2 (58.53%)REB:12.13As:6.78ST:1.23BL:0.53TO:3.48GM:64ProfileNBA2020/2021

"Arvydas had always been very, very reserved. He didn't say a whole lot. But he was so emotionally happy that day that he gave me a big bear hug. He even showed me a video of the birth, which may have been a little too much information at the time. But I've always felt a connection with Domas because of that experience. It's amazing how time flies," Carlisle smiled.

Domantas Sabonis, who averaged 20.3 points, 12 rebounds, and 6.7 assists per game, has the potential to make Carlisle's list of the best passing big men one day.

But despite the close connection, Sabonis' legacy is not the main concern for Carlisle right now.

The Pacers fans wish some good things happen after a difficult season 2020-21, which left Indiana out of the playoffs only for the second time in the last 11 years. Carlisle's job will be to stabilize the Pacers.

Credit – Scanpix

Indiana legend Reggie Miller recently sent a blunt message for the Pacers players after Carlisle's hire. NBA on TNT analyst applauded this move and challenged the current team, per The Athletic‘s Jon Krawczynski.

"I think it is more so time now for the players currently with the Pacers to start looking themselves in the mirror because they ran off Nate McMillan, a final four coach here. First-year head coach Nate Bjorkgren was gone after one year. So the players have no more excuses now. They're getting a Hall of Fame coach to be coming in, a guy who has won a championship. It is time for these players to start looking in the mirror a little bit," Krawczynski quotes Miller.

Domantas Sabonis is not backing down from the responsibility he is about to face with the Pacers.

"It is always good to look yourself in the mirror to see where you can get better - every one of us individually on the team. Next year is a no excuse year," Sabonis said. "We got to come out, and I feel like it is one of our last tries as a group. We have a lot of talent on the team. We just need to go out there and show everybody how we can play."

It seems like Carlisle is the right man for the mission. He ranks 15th in the NBA career wins (836-689). But it is not only on the coach but also the players to bring the wins and the excitement back over the Pacers basketball.

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