Indiana Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle. Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images

Rick Carlisle again proves why he's class personified

By Sai Mohan | Last updated Jun 16, 2025 8:28 AM ET

If there's undue slander against an individual in the NBA community, one can always rely on Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle to set the record straight.

Carlisle went to bat for ESPN announcer Doris Burke, who has faced a lot of criticism for her commentary during the ongoing NBA playoffs. In his pre-Finals news conference, he praised Burke for changing "the game for women in broadcasting," while condemning reports suggesting that she might lose her coveted NBA Finals spot next season.

The veteran coach proceeded to name various women in NBA broadcasting who deserve their spots for the exceptional work they do.

On Sunday, Carlisle again proved why he's a classy individual by defending referee Scott Foster, who was heavily slandered for some of his missed calls in Game 4 of the Pacers-Thunder NBA Finals.

"It's awful what some of the things I've seen about the officiating and Scott Foster in particular," Carlisle said. "I've known Scott Foster for 30 years. He's a great official, and he's done a great job in these playoffs... The ridiculous scrutiny that's thrown out there is terrible, unfair, unjust, and stupid."

Rick Carlisle defended Scott Foster. pic.twitter.com/LGHpH6NAUL
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) June 16, 2025

Most coaches would have likely blamed the officiating for the Pacers' loss in Game 4. The Thunder shot five more free throws than the Pacers (38-33), with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander going to the foul line eight times just in the fourth quarter. Many felt that Foster bailed the Thunder out, especially since the Pacers entered the final period with a 10-point lead.

Foster also faced significant criticism for a missed call with 2:23 remaining in the fourth quarter when SGA seemed to commit an offensive foul by pushing off Pacers forward Aaron Nesmith. In the same play, Gilgeous-Alexander was also accused of traveling. The critical no-calls helped the Thunder take a 104-103 lead after they had trailed for nearly the entire game.

Carlisle's comments showcase the sportsmanship that has defined the Pacers all season. It's no surprise they find themselves two wins away from an elusive NBA title. While others complain, Carlisle opts to stay positive — a mindset his players have adopted. Look no further than the fact that the Pacers rarely complain about no-calls and just hoop.

Sai Mohan

A veteran sportswriter based in Portugal, Sai covers the NBA for Yardbarker and a few local news outlets. He had the honor of covering sporting events across four different continents as a newspaper reporter. Some of his all-time favorite athletes include Mike Tyson, Larry Bird, Luís Figo, Ayrton Senna and Steffi Graf.

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