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Why Rick Carlisle honored Bill Fitch with a bench at the Hall of Fame

Rick Carlisle was a mere five games into his season with the New Jersey Nets when he fielded a call from head coach Bill Fitch. It was November 1989, and Carlisle, who was 30 years old and nursing a damaged shoulder, knew what was about to transpire. Roy Hinson was eligible to come off the injured list and, Carlisle said, "I was pretty sure when he came back, I'd probably be the one let go."

As he feared, the ever-direct Fitch got right to the point.

"You're waived ..." he told Carlisle, drawing out the words for emphasis.