Indiana Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle stands one win away from his 1,000th regular-season coaching victory, a milestone he could reach in games scheduled Friday, Sunday, or early next week.
Carlisle entered the week with 999 career regular-season wins after leading Indiana to a recent victory. He began his NBA head coaching career with the Detroit Pistons in 2001, later guided the Dallas Mavericks and the Pacers, and returned to Indiana, continuing to add to his total.
Carlisle won an NBA championship with the Mavericks in 2011, and his 999 wins span both Eastern and Western Conference teams.
Reaching 1,000 regular-season victories places Carlisle among a small, elite group of NBA head coaches who have reached the four-figure mark. His cumulative win total excludes playoff victories, which the league tracks separately.
The Pacers’ upcoming schedule gives Carlisle several chances to achieve the milestone in the next few games. League statisticians will officially record the 1,000th win at the final buzzer of the game in which he reaches it, updating the NBA’s all-time coaching leaderboard to reflect his new standing.
NBA historians point out that reaching 1,000 regular-season wins reflects sustained success, longevity, and the ability to navigate multiple eras of the league. The Pacers organization and fans will witness Carlisle’s pursuit in real time, with scoreboards and broadcasts tracking his approach to the milestone.
When achieved, Carlisle’s 1,000th victory will mark a defining moment in his coaching résumé and solidify his place among the winningest head coaches in NBA history.
