Pacers' Tyrese Haliburton Returns to Iowa State for Exhibition Game

Tyrese Haliburton, a two-time NBA All-Star and former standout at Iowa State, is set to return to his collegiate roots as the Indiana Pacers prepare to face the Minnesota Timberwolves in an exhibition game at Hilton Coliseum. This highly anticipated matchup is scheduled for October 7 at 6 p.m., marking the fourth NBA exhibition held at the venue.

Entering his seventh season in the NBA and fifth with the Pacers, Haliburton has quickly established himself among the elite guards in the league. He finished third in the 2021 NBA Rookie of the Year voting and earned All-NBA Third Team honors in both 2024 and 2025. In the 2023-24 season, he led the league with an impressive average of 10.9 assists per game, helping guide Indiana to the NBA Finals in 2025 for only the second time in franchise history.

Haliburton's achievements extend beyond the NBA, as he became the first former Iowa State player to win an Olympic gold medal at the 2024 Paris Games, marking a significant milestone for the university's basketball program.

During his time at Iowa State, Haliburton was a dominant player, leading the Big 12 in assists and steals during the 2019-20 season while averaging 15.2 points per game. Despite suffering a season-ending injury, he was recognized as a finalist for the Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year Award and earned All-Big 12 Second Team honors.

Previous exhibitions at Hilton Coliseum have featured notable Cyclone alumni such as Jeff Grayer, Jeff Hornacek, and Fred Hoiberg. Tickets for the upcoming Pacers-Timberwolves game will be available for purchase starting September 9.