Rick Carlisle is out as the Dallas Mavericks' head coach after 13 seasons at the helm. His friction with franchise star Luka Doncic has been widely reported as one huge reason behind the coach's departure.
While that aspect obviously played a role, it wasn't the only force that pushed the long-time Mavs coach out. Luka Doncic has also been rumored to have clashed with a “shadow GM”, Bob Voulgaris. But apparently, Carlisle too felt undue pressure from the man, as mentioned by The Athletic's Sam Amick, via Mavs Moneyball's Kevin Stump:
“With Donnie Nelson out, Carlisle lost one of his guys in the front office, leaving him to consider a future where he may have to work hand in hand with “shadow GM” Bob Voulgaris. It sounds like the relationship between Voulgaris and Carlisle had already gotten a little ridiculous by NBA standards. Amick reports that Voulgaris was behind the decision to start Boban Marjanovic in the Playoffs, in what sounds like a ‘you better start Boban or else’ type of situation. Rick Carlisle is not the type of coach who is going to put up with that shit.”
For a title-winning coach to take orders from a man who doesn't even have a clear background in professional basketball is definitely puzzling.
Carlisle has long been reported to be a flexible coach, usually knowing the right buttons to push and how to handle various personalities on the roster. Luka Doncic and Carlisle may not have seen eye to eye, but perhaps that wasn't the final nail in the coffin for Carlisle's ouster as Mavs coach.
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