Indiana Pacers' Rick Carlisle Thought Tom Thibodeau Firing Was AI

Artificial intelligence has become commonplace in our modern society. Many people struggle to differentiate between AI-generated content and the real deal. AI has entered the world of sports, to the point where Indiana Pacers' head coach Rick Carlisle confused a real headline with AI. 

Carlisle recently spoke at a pregame presser ahead of the Pacers' legendary Game 1 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder. When asked about the recent firing of his peer and colleague, now-former New York Knicks' head coach Tom Thibodeau, Carlisle thought the news was fake.

"When I first saw it, I thought it was one of those fake AI things," Carlisle said. “No way. There’s no way possible."

Carlisle had high praise for his former Knicks' counterpart. The two have crossed paths time and time again as coaches, dating back to the 1980s.

"Tom will certainly be fine," Carlisle said. "I don't think he's gonna have any problem finding his next job, it's just going to depend on when he's ready to jump back in again. I have great respect for Thibs. I go back with him a very long way. I was surprised."

Carlisle, a former Knicks player, understands the differences in coaching the Knicks compared to any other franchise. Thibodeau took over a Knicks team that had made the playoffs six times in the 20 years before he held the post, and got them to the postseason in four of his five years. Thibodeau has the fifth-most playoff wins of any Knicks coach, and the fourth-most regular-season wins.

"The Knicks have such a unique situation with so much attention and such a large fanbase and such a worldwide following, it's one of the most difficult jobs to take," Carlisle said. "There were a lot of lean years. Thibs went in there and changed so much... And I know how the players feel about him, too."

Both Carlisle and Thibodeau have been NBA coaches for 35 years. They both began as assistant coaches in 1989. The pair have dueled on the sidelines for decades, but that doesn't stop them from having respect for one another. Carlisle is also the president of the National Basketball Coaches Association, working closely with every coach in the association.