Rick Carlisle’s recruiting tactics made headlines for all the wrong reasons this week. DeMarcus Cousins revealed that the Indiana Pacers coach once sent him bizarre selfies while trying to draw him into the Dallas Mavericks.
The story has since turned viral online. Fans left scratching their head after hearing everything, as Carlisle’s unconventional approach not only failed but also completely backfired. Cousins literally left him on read and never seriously considered joining the Mavericks.
DeMarcus Cousins Reveals Rick Carlisle’s Awkward Recruitment Pitch That Left Him on Read
Cousins was one of the NBA’s top centers during his time with the Kings, and Rick Carlisle was eager to bring the four-time All-Star to Dallas. So, he did a selfie pitch paired with heartfelt messages.
“Rick Carlisle would send me weird selfies and say, ‘I’m thinking about you and I really want to coach you,'” Cousins said on FanDuel TV’s Run It Back. The approach immediately killed any interest Boogie had in the Mavericks.
His podcast partner, Michelle Beadle, and Lou Williams couldn’t digest what they’d just heard. So, Williams literally stopped the conversation dead and made Cousins repeat himself, and the co-host was stunned as soon as the details emerged.
Cousins tried explaining the context but admitted he had no context to give. “I don’t know him that well, but I do know he was very interested in me joining Dallas. As far as the selfies, I don’t know what that shit was. I left him on read,” Cousins said.
Rick Carlisle tried to recruit Boogie Cousins to Dallas with SELFIES?! 🤯
“He’d send me weird selfies and say, ‘I’m thinking about you and I really want to coach you.'”
Boogie didn’t know how to respond & left the HC on read 😅@MichelleDBeadle | @boogiecousins | @TeamLou23 pic.twitter.com/rkb5TCIoyS
— Run It Back (@RunItBackFDTV) January 9, 2026
The recruitment happened during Carlisle’s second stint with the Mavs from 2008 to 2021. The Mavericks were preparing for life after Dirk Nowitzki. Cousins made it clear he respects Carlisle’s coaching legacy. But those selfies were bizarre. The veteran big man ghosted Carlisle completely after receiving them, as they eventually felt disconnected.
NBA Fans Unload on Rick Carlisle’s “Creepy” Recruiting Tactics
However, Cousins did move on from those old breakups, but it didn’t stop social media from reacting over the sudden revelation. Fans had strong opinions about Carlisle’s methods.
One fan wrote, “Fair enough. Then just how creepy he is recruiting players.”
Another fan claimed, “It can only benefit Carlisle to know how creepy he’s being. Imagine if he does this to recruit female assistants too.”
The third one shared, “Sending a non-consenting adult selfies of yourself is extremely weird. You telling Cousins to ‘go fight a fan’ in response is even weirder. Would you feel the same if Carlisle wanted to coach your daughter, and that was a part of his recruitment?”
A fourth fan penned, “I’m 23. I don’t have a son. I’m not saying what Rick did wasn’t weird. But a simple ‘hey don’t send me selfies’ would have stopped it. Get your soft ass out of here.”
The fifth one added, “Everyone knows Carlisle is a weird dude.”
Some people said Carlisle’s approach crossed a line, no matter his intent. Others felt it was an awkward but harmless recruiting attempt. What everyone agreed on was the outcome: it didn’t work. And Cousins never joined Dallas.
He later played for several teams, while the Mavericks were never part of his path. Carlisle is now the Pacers’ coach and recently earned his 1,000th career win. His championship résumé is secure, but this story remains a memorable footnote beyond his coaching record.
