DALLAS -- Indiana Pacers coach Rick Carlisle returned to Dallas on Saturday for the first time since resigning last summer following 13 seasons as Mavericks coach, which included leading the franchise to its only NBA championship to date in 2011.
"It's a little bit of an unusual day, but it's great to be back," Carlisle, 62, said before the game. Because his family still lives in the Dallas area, it was also a chance to visit at home as well as see people in the organization who meant a lot to him.
The Mavericks played a video tribute to Carlisle before the game and he was given a standing ovation.