INDIANAPOLIS -- Over 23 years as an NBA head coach, Pacers coach Rick Carlisle has forced himself to become more comfortable delegating duties to his staff, even if it means stepping away for a day. That's why he's assembled a veteran staff that includes former head coaches from the NBA and WNBA who could take over if need be.

In recent seasons, Carlisle has taken advantage of that experience a few times so he could be present for non-basketball related life events, and he'll do that again this season. In October of 2022, he missed a game so he could be at his daughter Abby's Senior Night as a high school cheerleader. This year, he'll miss another game for a college event.

Carlisle said at Pacers Media Day on Monday that he will not be at the Pacers' Oct. 17 preseason game against the Sp

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