Pacers Star Haliburton Surprises Iowa St. Students with Game Tickets!
Tyrese Haliburton is set to make his preseason return at Iowa State, marking his first game in over 16 months since recovering from a torn Achilles. The Pacers star is personally hosting students, highlighting his deep connection to his alma mater as the team faces the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton is making a highly anticipated return to the court after more than 16 months of recovery from a torn Achilles tendon, an injury he sustained during Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals. His first preseason game of the year is set to take place on Wednesday at Iowa State, a location chosen for its deep personal significance to Haliburton.
To ensure a vibrant atmosphere, Haliburton personally purchased tickets for the student section, allowing Iowa State Cyclones students to attend the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. The university subsequently held a lottery for these tickets. Haliburton expressed his excitement to reporters, stating, "I'm hosting all the students and we'll still have student sections, so I think that'll be fun. I don't know if it'll be all Pacers fans in there." The Indiana Pacers' official Twitter account also shared the news, highlighting the 'GOLD OUT' initiative at Ames.
Haliburton's connection to Iowa State runs deep; he attended the university from 2018 to 2020 before being drafted into the NBA in 2020. During his college years, he met his now-wife, Jade, and later proposed to her on Iowa State's court. He revealed that he had suggested hosting a game there years ago, a proposition that was an "easy sell," especially considering Pacers general manager Chad Buchanan was born in Des Moines. Pacers coach Rick Carlisle confirmed that the game was initially scheduled for 2025 but was postponed due to Haliburton's injury.
Despite his lengthy recovery, Haliburton looks forward to the game, though he was unsure of his exact playing time, hoping to play at least the first half. He emphasized the unique passion of the Iowa State student body, saying, "I know there's nobody as passionate about Iowa State as the current students." This event not only marks his return to basketball but also celebrates his enduring ties to his alma mater and its community.