Skip to content

Carlisle leaves Mavs after 13 years: 'This was solely my decision'

Jeff Haynes / National Basketball Association / Getty

Head coach Rick Carlisle is leaving the Dallas Mavericks after 13 seasons, marking the latest shakeup of the organization's long-stable power structure.

"After a number of in-person conversations with Mark Cuban over the last week, today I informed him that I will not be returning as head coach of the Dallas Mavericks," Carlisle confirmed in a statement to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. "This was solely my decision.

"My family and I have had an amazing 13-year experience working with great people in a great city. ... Dallas will always be home, but I am excited about the next chapter of my coaching career."

Carlisle had two years remaining on his contract, but there was tension brewing between him and franchise star Luka Doncic, ESPN's Tim MacMahon reports.

Doncic also reportedly has a strained relationship with Haralabos "Bob" Voulgaris, a former sports bettor who joined the front office in 2018.

The 61-year-old Carlisle concludes his time in Dallas with a 555-478 (.537) head-coaching record in the regular season and nine playoff appearances, including the team's lone championship in 2011.

"On top of being a tremendous basketball coach, he was also a friend and confidant," Cuban said in a statement. "Rick helped us bring the O'Brien Trophy to Dallas and those are memories I will always cherish. I want to thank Rick for all he gave this franchise and this city."

The move comes a day after the team fired general manager Donnie Nelson, a key figure in bringing Doncic and the now-retired Dirk Nowitzki to the franchise.

Speaking with reporters from the Slovenian national team's training camp on Thursday, Doncic said Nelson's departure was "kind of tough."

"I really like Donnie," Doncic said. "I know him since I was a kid, and he was the one that drafted me.

"It was tough for me seeing that, but I'm not the one making decisions there."

Daily Newsletter

Get the latest trending sports news daily in your inbox