Head coach Rick Carlisle and the Dallas Mavericks agreed on a five-year extension Thursday.
The five-year deal is in the $35 million range and will make Carlisle the league's highest-paid coach in the league without a dual executive role, reported ESPN. Carlisle’s contract had been due to expire after next season.
Following the extension announcement, Carlisle released a statement thanking the team and its executives for the opportunity. “There is much work to be done as we move forward," he said.
Arguably the most successful coach in Mavericks history, Carlisle led the Mavericks to their only championship in 2011, when they triumphed over the highly favored Miami Heat, then led by LeBron James, in six games.
Just last week, Carlisle became the all-time franchise leader in coaching victories with 340, according to CBS Sports, against only 222 losses. He also has the second-highest win percentage (60.5 percent) in team history, behind only Avery Johnson (73.5 percent).
Mavs owner Mark Cuban was also quick to express his excitement at the extension, speaking highly of Carlisle’s coaching acumen.
“I'm excited to have him back for the long term,” Cuban said. “He's earned it. He's worth it. We're a better organization on and off the court because of him. Rick is a top-three coach in the league. Just having that kind of ability, you can't really quantify it.”
Under Carlisle’s guidance, the Mavs have missed the playoffs just once since he took over and that was back in 2008-2009. He is the league’s third-longest-tenured coach, behind only San Antonio’s Gregg Popovich and Miami’s Erik Spoelstra.
ESPN sources: Rick Carlisle and the Dallas Mavericks have finalized a five-year, $35 million contract extension
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) November 5, 2015
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