Tyrese Haliburton buys student section tickets for Iowa State students in his preseason return
NBA star Tyrese Haliburton purchased 2,500 tickets for Iowa State students to attend his preseason return game at his alma mater. Haliburton expressed his desire to recreate the high-energy college basketball atmosphere for his return to the court.
Why it matters
This gesture highlights the connection between professional athletes and their collegiate roots, as well as the cultural significance of college sports environments.
AMES, Iowa — Iowa State students got in free to Tyrese Haliburton's homecoming game Wednesday night, thanks to the superstar himself.
Sixteen months after tearing his Achilles in the 2025 NBA Finals, Haliburton is making his return to NBA action at Hilton Coliseum, his alma mater, for Indiana's first preseason game against the Minnesota Timberwolves .
In his return, he wanted to cultivate the college basketball fan environment. So, he paid for every single student section ticket himself, a total of 2,500 according to the DAZN broadcast.
"I know that nobody is as passionate about Iowa State as the current students, so I'm excited for them to be there and just experience all that," Haliburton said at practice on Wednesday. "The college basketball environment is much better than the NBA, from a top to bottom perspective, so I'm excited for there to be a college basketball vibe in there."
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