Indiana Pacers Media Availability | December 10, 2025

Indiana Pacers Media Availability | December 10, 2025

recommend midseason to have, you know, a couple days where you can practice around, maybe even some changes next week, too. Do you use this as like similar to one-off practices mid-season? Are you trying to like make this thematic where you can work on different things and having more time together? Um, it’s important practice time. Um, it’s it’s an opportunity to address things that we need to address. I mean, a lot of things are basic things and um you know, making sure that we’re completely committed to our habits, things that we we have standards for um both offensively and defensively. And um it is a bit rare, but you know, every year if you’re not in the in the quarters um then you’re going to have a couple of days. So um we got to use it to the best uh of our ability. Last year at this time was when you guys did really turn things around. Was did you feel like it was a lot of because of what you just said, what you guys were able to do in that practice time in between along with getting healthy? Practice time was helpful and we also were starting to get healthier. So last year, you know, it was uh Andrew, um Aaron, and Shep who were starting to to come back into the into the fold. Um, it wasn’t it wasn’t it wasn’t Aaron quite yet, but it was it was Andrew and and uh and Chep and that was important and the practice time was important, too. I don’t know how much individual accolades mean to you, but does a thousand wins or having that number. Is that anything you’ve ever thought about as a goal or a number that you’re excited about potentially reaching? Don’t really want to talk about it. I remember when you passed red, you talked about like we asked you about that. I mean, you talked about just what you did in the game, I guess. Are there I’m sure you’re not going to think about yourself very much. Are you going to think about either people who help you or people that you join? I guess how are you? Yeah, I just I I I I’m just not comfortable talking about this. Um, you know, it’s just uh I mean I think you can understand. I mean there there have been there have been a lot of people that have been very helpful. I mean even to get to 999 is is ridiculous, you know? But look, Bill Fitch gave me my first job [Music] in two in 2019. He finally went into the Hall of Fame. That was that was more meaningful to me than any any thing that I could ever accomplish because he was so deserving. And it just took it took it took a while. It took too long. You know, Chuck Daly was, you know, a great great friend and and mentor and um you know, trusted person in my life. Family has been you know, my you know, my wife Donna is you know um has meant so much to the the entire journey. Um and Abby too, you know. So, I don’t know. I putting the whole thing in perspective. I don’t know. I mean, I got a lot of years on my contract, so this was never a destination. You know, this, you know, the journey is to come every come in every day, try to get the team better. Um, try to get myself better. Um, you know, I do that by hiring great assistants that I can learn from. And I’ve been very blessed in that area, too. So, I don’t know. Have you always thought about others when you’ve had big life milestones and those who have helped you? Has that always been how you’ve been? I hope so. Yeah, I hope so. I hope so. Because you know I things that whatever whatever accomplishments happen in life what what you learn after many years and many decades is that other people’s dreams that you may have helped them achieve in one way or another um are far more meaningful than things that you accomplish yourself. So, um, anyway, I don’t know if that answers the question, but, um, yeah. Um, just after, um, after the game on Monday night, you know, Griff was just talking about just played ter impressed by responding from being eventually the second half of Friday. Um, just what did you, what did you have to do just to get right to respond uh, you know, basically? Um, just have a quick memory, you know. Um, so many games, so many different schemes, different matchups, you know, so things didn’t work out that night, but I mean, just always got to be ready and, um, just do your job, be ready to go. Just talking about feedback, I guess. What What did you learn from that situation on Friday? How did you apply it? Um, I would say the the constants always have to remain the constants. Um, just effort, energy, rebounding, running, um, all those things come before offense and shots and makes and all those other things um that people tend to worry about. So, just keeping the main thing the main thing and then work working on focusing on the other parts of my game later. I think Sh mentioned last week after he hit a few shots in a game that finally for him playing the same role a bunch cuz you guys were healthier was helpful for him to know where his shots were coming from. You played it seems like a different role every game, every other game. How challenging has that kind of aspect of the season been for you? Um, I mean, obviously tough, but I mean it’s it’s our job. It’s our profession. Um, to be able to move around, be flexible, um, and still make an impact every night we’re out there. So, u, no matter how tough it is, you just always got to give it all and and make it work. Has it changed your game to game prep when your role is different like that in a way that maybe you didn’t do in prior seasons or have you tried to, you know, maybe not get that? Yeah, I I I try to I try to not overthink it, you know, whether you know, whatever the dynamic be, whatever my rule is, game to game. Um, just try to keep keep the same format, keep the same routine, not switch too many things up. Brook’s next win will be his 10,000. You’ve only been in the league for three years. Can you even fath a thousand games total of any I was going to say like most do people play a thousand games rather than coach? But I mean, you congrats to the big guy. That’s that’s awesome. Coach in the NBA. Um, no. I mean, it’s not surprising. I think um you know, I heard something early in my career and it’s the people that adjust to change and whatnot last the longest. And from the first time he’s been a head coach to now, he’s adjusted to the style of play and um how he coaches. And I think that’s a testament to to him. And um for him to be one game away from 900 or a thousand wins, I mean, it means you’re really good at what you do. And um he’s been, you know, someone that I um really have come to enjoy. I didn’t obviously know him previous to him coming to Indiana, but someone that I really respect and enjoy being around on a daily basis. Um, and since he’s gotten here has really elevated my career, and I’m forever grateful for that. He’s not big on celebrating himself or milestones like this for him. One, do you feel like you guys now have to do it as players? And two, why do you think that quality of his, you know, what does that make him a part of how this has been possible? Yeah, I mean I I just don’t think he likes to ever talk about himself or celebrate himself. So, um I mean that comes from humility and um I think us as players um have to make sure that he’s celebrated for that and um we will and he’s not going to escape that. I promise. Um but um like I said, it’s it’s he wants it to be about the team and all the teams he’s coached previous. He wants it to be about the players. Um and that’s just who Rick is. You mentioned the the adaptation. I mean, just what’s impressed you about how he’s just done that with you guys and just the style of play that you guys took on. It’s obviously one different than anybody else was doing, two certainly different than a lot of the teams that he built prior. I mean, just what was it like to to see him kind of see a vision for what you guys could be, how you could operate and see him put that in place? Yeah, I mean, from the day he got here until now, our style of play has changed, especially when he first got here, we weren’t playing the way we do now. And, um, I think he’s a guy that has always empowered his assistant coaches um, and is always trying to learn. and um when you put all that together, it’s just it it it turns into what he’s built here and um it’s an it’s pretty incredible thing. What’s impression about just how he’s handled this challenge just coming off of losing Tai, all the injuries that you guys have had, the constant shifts, you know, everything that you guys have had to shake up over the course of, you know, this year. It’s been tough obviously. What’s impression about how he’s handled all this and how he’s come up, you know, been willing to alter and change and, you know, adjust? I mean, that’s I I think that’s just the the definition of a good coach. Um, someone that obviously the deck was stacked against us with all the injuries and everything, but he never wavered from who who he is, from the way he coaches. Um, and again, is him and his staff have just been incredible in being positive and continuing to coach us the way they always have been and and not veering off course. And just a lot of respect to Rick and his staff obviously. So before he even came to talk to us today, he was spending a lot of time working with Isaiah just on his shot. I mean does he can you still see him that he likes still coaching the basics that he still likes coaching the fundamentals and that he gets something out of for as much as he cares about winning and cares about putting a team together cares about building guys? Sure. I mean I I mean something that really sticks out to me obviously him helping Isaiah on the court. I just feel like he has a good feel and a good pulse on the group. Um, for instance, I don’t know how much he’s going to enjoy me telling this story, but last year in the Milwaukee series, I I I don’t think I was playing really great until the closeout game, and he just comes over to my house and is there to talk about life and um, you know, what he thinks could help me on the floor. And it’s something that has stuck with me since that he didn’t have to do and it was something I really appreciated and it kind of showed in the next game and that’s when we kind of made our run. What I guess tell me a little bit more about that like what what what were the biggest things you took away from that? Like what what did he say or or what did you take from that that I guess got your mind right or or I mean there was a lot of things that were said. Um, but I think it’s just the the feeling that he knew that I was disappointed in myself and just took time out of his day to come over and um just talk about life and stuff that he sees and and just keep it really light. Um, it’s something that, like I said, has really stuck with me and um, and something I really appreciate. Two two years ago, my Milwaukee series is the most recent. Um, not not this past season, the year before that. Yeah. You’re in 11 years in and plus playoff runs. You’re close to like your teams have played a thousand games. Like can you even fathom that he’s that number is number that one person has won in the NBA? No. Um it’s honestly it’s an incredible thing. I think he’s what the 11th. Yep. I mean that’s why there’s only 11 people to do it. Um and you’re either really good at your job or you’ve been doing something for a really long time. Um, and obviously all of us here think that Rick is really good at his job. What is this? Last year you guys really turned your season around at this break. What is having multiple practices potentially in a row and then again next week mid-season? How helpful was that? And can you do you think something similar is possible this year? Yeah, I mean obviously I think the starts of the season were a little different from last year, but um I think practices like these and and um the practice tomorrow is so beneficial. You know, if I’m not mistaken, we kind of went on our run um at this point last year after having two great practices and in a game. And it’s just something where we can fine-tune the stuff that we need to and uh really lock in and and try to go beat a good Philadelphia team.

Rick Carlisle, Jarace Walker and T.J. McConnell spoke with the media after practice on Wednesday.

0:00 – Rick Carlisle
4:11 -Jarace Walker
6:12 – T.J. McConnell