Aaron Nesmith fights off defender for and-1 (0:15)Aaron Nesmith fights off defender for and-1 (0:15)
Associated PressMultiple AuthorsFeb 24, 2026, 07:32 PM ET
INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said Tuesday that the NBA’s investigators did not speak with team doctors or players before issuing a recent $100,000 fine for violating the league’s player participation policy.
“And we asked them if they wanted to talk to the [players] and they said they didn’t need to, which was shocking to me, and during the interview they also asked if we considered medicating him to play in a game when were 30 games under .500, so I was very surprised.”
“Coach Carlisle’s description of the process that went into the decision to fine the Indiana Pacers is inaccurate,” a statement from the league read. “An independent physician led the medical review. In addition, the Pacers’ general manager and the team’s senior vice president, sports medicine and performance were interviewed as part of the process.
“The Pacers confirmed that it had provided all of the information requested by the league and the team reported that an interview with coach Carlisle or a team physician wasn’t necessary.”
The 66-year-old Carlisle is in his 24th season as a head coach in the league and ranks 11th in victories while compiling a record of 1,008-904. He won an NBA title as a player with the Boston Celtics in 1985-86, as coach of the Dallas Mavericks in 2010-11 and was selected as the league’s 2001-02 Coach of the Year. He recently announced he would be stepping down from his long tenure as president of the National Basketball Coaches Association.
Aaron Nesmith fights off defender for and-1 (0:15)Aaron Nesmith fights off defender for and-1 (0:15)
Carlisle made the comments during his weekly appearance on local radio station 107.5 The Fan.