Rick Carlisle lauds Pacers' Kevin Pritchard for building championship team

Indiana Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle, who turned 67 in October, said on Draymond Green’s podcast that President of Basketball Operations Kevin Pritchard has been a “very underrated part” of the franchise’s rise to championship contention. Carlisle highlighted a series of trades orchestrated by Pritchard, including the exchange of Caris LeVert for Andrew Nembhard and Ben Sheppard, the acquisition of Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam, and later moves that brought Obi Toppin, Aaron Nesmith, and Ivica Zubac to Indiana. He compared Pritchard’s front‑office acumen to that of Warriors architect Bob Meyers, noting the former’s player relationships and strategic vision.

Carlisle, who remains enthusiastic about coaching and plans to stay with the Pacers for the foreseeable future, also discussed his personal approach to the job, emphasizing his love for the game and his desire to keep the team competitive.