It didn’t take long for Ronald Nored to become a head basketball coach. Before graduating from Butler University in 2012 — and just a week after playing in his final game for the Bulldogs — the college senior already had his first job lined up.

Head coach of the Brownsburg High School Bulldogs.

But there has always been a pull for more.

Now, 14 years later, after putting in the work and coaching at every level — high school, college, G League, and NBA — Nored is returning to the place that is his second home:

Butler University.

On March 16, outgoing coach Thad Matta informed the team of his decision to retire from coaching, a stunning development. He plans to remain at the university as Special Assistant to the President and Athletic Director.

Nine days later, Nored was officially announced as the program’s next men’s basketball coach. It comes in the same month he celebrated his 36th birthday — and now, he has much more to celebrate.

He also has a long to-do list: player evaluation, recruiting, building a staff, and re-engaging the fan base.

But first, he’ll be formally introduced as head coach on Friday at a noon press conference held at Hinkle Fieldhouse. It is open to the public.

“The term ‘dream job’ doesn’t do justice to how I feel about the opportunity to lead the Butler program,” said Nored. “Butler is an incredibly special place. As a player, I poured blood, sweat and tears into this program. No one appreciates both the responsibility and the potential that comes with this position more than me.”

This opportunity opened four years after Butler moved on from another alum, LaVall Jordan. Nored, a Pacers assistant coach at the time under Rick Carlisle, was determined to get it. He made it known. Players and fellow coaches spoke up for him. He had a vision for what it would be like.

“As talented a young coach as I’ve ever been around,” Carlisle told Fieldhouse Files then. “With his knowledge of the game, ability to connect with people and head coaching experience, I certainly understand why they would have strong interest.”

Four years ago, longtime athletic director Barry Collier hired Matta.

This time was different.

It marked the first major hire by Collier’s successor, Grant Leiendecker.

“In a rapidly evolving college basketball landscape, our priority was identifying the absolute best leader to spearhead the future of Butler Basketball. Ronald Nored is that leader,” Leiendecker said.

“Ron is a relentless worker with an elite basketball IQ and a proven track record of developing talent at the highest level of basketball. He is the ultimate competitor, and he will cultivate that same quality within his team and staff. He is a gifted relationship builder who commands respect through his character and his craft.

“While he understands the soul of this university, we didn’t hire him for his history here — we hired him for his vision of what we can become and how we will get there.”

Leiendecker is in his second year as AD and knows Nored well from their three seasons as teammates, highlighted by back-to-back Final Four appearances in 2010 and 2011.

He can also lean on Gordon Hayward, the former Butler star who retired in 2024 after 14 NBA seasons and was named Executive Basketball Advisor last October.

Nored is close with Hayward. They were roommates at Butler, then together again for the 2020-21 NBA season in Charlotte. Nored was an assistant on James Borrego’s staff and they landed Hayward in free agency.

“Ron was a big part of getting Gordon there and making him feel comfortable in Charlotte and in our program,” Borrego said previously.

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Nored was never the best athlete or scorer. But he was often the smartest player on the floor. Under coach Brad Stevens, he absorbed everything he could, earning minutes through defense, effort, and doing the dirty work.

That perspective shaped his coaching.

In connecting with younger guys in the NBA, he’s often discussed his own experience. Not everyone is going to be the superstar; not everyone is going to get 15 shots up per game. But if you want to earn consistent playing time, you’re going to have to work hard every day and earn it.

“I wasn’t very good, but I could play hard,” he told players. “So sharing a story about diving on the floor is an important thing.

During his senior season (2011–12), he served as co-captain and was named Butler’s Most Outstanding Male Athlete.

One year later, Stevens — then the new head coach of the Boston Celtics — brought Nored into coaching pros, first with the organization’s G League affiliate, then promoting him to a player development role one year later.

He got off to a great start, far better than most, and his rapid rise continued.

After a stint at Northern Kentucky, Nored became head coach of the Brooklyn Nets’ G League team from 2016–18. He later joined three NBA staffs as an assistant: Charlotte (2018–21), Indiana (2021–23), and Atlanta (2023–26).

Now, in March 2026, he has landed what he calls a dream job.

Back in Indiana. Coaching his alma mater.

He carries “The Butler Way,” but also lessons from some of basketball’s sharpest minds — starting with Stevens, now president of the Celtics, the 2024 NBA champions.

“Brad is a great coach,” Nored said. “He encouraged all the guys to be the best they can be in whatever they wanted to do. We watched a great coach and so, in turn, you want to coach.”

For the past three seasons, Nored got a different perspective working for Quin Snyder with the Atlanta Hawks. Before Nored’s job at Butler became official, Snyder was excited to have him inform players during a morning film session in Detroit. They celebrated the moment together.

Nored and Leiendecker then returned to Indianapolis before heading back to Atlanta, where Nored gathered his family — his wife Danielle and their four children: Avery, Kai, Jude and Campbell.

Butler means everything to Nored. He tries to get back as often as he could — and almost always when his NBA team was in town to play the Pacers.

“Everybody here was so good to me,” Nored said.

It was a surprise when Nored left the Pacers in 2023, but sometimes you have to get out of your comfort zone and go elsewhere before returning home.

“I’m really grateful for Coach Snyder for having me here and he’s given me a lot of great opportunities on our staff,” Nored told Fieldhouse Files at NBA Summer League in 2024. “I’m trying to do my best to serve our whole organization and do the things that we want. For our new guys to learn how to play within our system and our old guys to just continue to build the habits.”

He praised Snyder not just for his basketball mind, but his empathy.

“Quin, number one, is a great guy and an easy guy to work for,” Nored said. “The thing I like about him most is just how empathetic he is, how caring he is; how much he cares for the people around him and it’s great to learn from.”

Nored still has many friends at the Pacers, including Tyrese Haliburton. Nored used to work with the All-Star point guard during individual warmups before games, then watch film together before heading back to the locker room.

“I got nothing but love for Ron Nored and he holds a special, special place in my heart and has helped me develop a lot as a basketball player,” Haliburton said previously. “It’s always good to see him. I love him to death, love his family to death.

“What I enjoy about him is his honesty. He’s willing to tell the truth, how he feels about things and what he sees. I’m the same way. If he sees something, I know he was a point guard before and played at a high level. There’s times where he’ll tell me things that I don’t agree with and we’re able to have those conversations. It’s a great relationship that I’m thankful to have.”

Added point guard T.J. McConnell: “One of the best guys I’ve ever been around. He’s a great coach and an ever better person!! Players will love playing for him!!”

Nored has learned a lot over the last 14 years. About coaching. About himself. And about being true to yourself.

“I’m trying my best to be myself,” he said while with the Hawks. “I think other opportunities I’ve had, I’ve tried to like be another coach or try to do some things differently. We have a great group of players that are a lot of fun to coach and they’re easy to coach. And because of that, I can just be myself and coach the game.”

Nored is a player’s coach — built on relationships, accountability, and work ethic. Because he was a good defender, he’s often pigeonholed as a defensive coach. However, he’s made a conscious effort to become a more well-rounded coach, expanding his focus to offense and situational play.

The Big East is unforgiving. NIL has reshaped recruiting. Resources matter.

Butler averaged about 15 wins per season under Matta, with just one 20-win campaign in the last eight years. The program has not reached the NCAA Tournament since 2018.

“He’s committed to the players, committed to the craft and he loves the guys as one,” said former Ohio State Buckeye E.J. Liddell.

Now, Nored steps into a job defined by both pride and pressure — competing against Hall of Fame coaches like Dan Hurley (UConn) and Rick Pitino (St. John’s), and programs with far greater financial backing.

He understands what’s ahead.

It’s exactly what he’s been working toward.

For a long, long time.

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NBC’s late-night host Jimmy Fallon aired a parody video ahead of the Eastern Conference Finals between the Pacers and Knicks at Madison Square Garden.

It's Knicks vs. Pacers on TNT. The series tips off in New York City. And sitting courtside, you'll see all the stars of NYC. Like Spike Lee, Timothée Chalamet, Ben Stiller, Lenny Kravitz, and Bad Bunny. Then the series shifts to Indiana, and you'll see all the stars of Indianapolis. Like Mike Pence, his brother Greg Pence, Karen Pence, local meteorologist Chuck Lofton. A spare tire from the Indy 500. And the woman giving everyone a little Indiana Fever … county treasurer Barbara Lawrence.

New York is the country’s top media market. Indianapolis ranks 25th.

But Indiana’s courtside experience was no joke. The Pacers have long had a small, but passionate group of celebrity fans — Mike Epps, Drew Powell, Jesse Eisenberg, and Vivica A. Fox among them — along with regular appearances from Colts and Fever players, and Indy 500 drivers.

When it came time to host Games 3 and 4 of the conference finals — their second straight trip — Pacers Sports & Entertainment was ready. They delivered a big-league atmosphere that matched New York’s iconic Celebrity Row.

Among those spotted courtside at Gainbridge Fieldhouse: Epps, John Mellencamp, 50 Cent, Pat McAfee, Triple H, WWE president Nick Khan, Jelly Roll, rapper Rob49, Terry Crews, Reggie Wayne, and NBA superfan Jimmy Goldstein.

Hours after Alex Palou won the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday, he made the six-mile drive over to The Fieldhouse to watch the game — and to be celebrated as he wore the winner’s wreath over his Tyrese Haliburton yellow jersey.

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But the biggest moment?

The return of more than a dozen former Pacers players who flew in to support the team: Jermaine O’Neal, George Hill, Lance Stephenson, Darren Collison, Danny Granger, Roy Hibbert, Stephen Jackson, Rik Smits, Travis Best, Al Harrington, Derrick McKey, Antonio Davis, Dale Davis, Damien Wilkins, and Reggie Miller.

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Knicks loyalists Spike Lee, Chalamet, and Stiller also made the trip.

For context, during last year’s conference finals, Indiana hosted a celebrity slate that included Epps, Mayik Bialik, Flavor Flav, Madelyn Cline, Sasha Calle, Hart Denton, and Titus O’Neil.

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One of the things the Knicks do well with their game presentation is highlighting individuals sitting on “Celebrity Row” during almost every timeout. The Pacers followed suit.

The Pacers also took a page from New York’s playbook by highlighting those in their own version of "Celebrity Row" during timeouts — a detail not lost on the team.

Tyrese Haliburton, who delivered a masterpiece in Game 4, appreciated the effort and reflected on what it meant to have so many Pacers legends in the building.

“The excitement in the city, seeing all the former players coming out (was great),” “G. Hill, who played with me for a little bit. Danny Granger said it was like his first time back in Indy — that's special for me. J.O. (Jermaine O’Neal) in the building. Obviously, Reggie on commentary.

“It’s special, and when you're winning, you can get people out the house to come watch you and support you.

“It's an exciting time to be a Pacer fan and be a Pacer alumni.”

Granger’s return was especially notable. He was the star during some of the darkest years (2005-14), was traded away, and hadn’t come back. He had disconnected so no updates were shared on social media either

So many fans were happy to cheer on DG, O’Neal and the other former players.

In the win, the Pacers forced 17 turnovers and recorded 11 steals — four of them by Haliburton. One came near the sideline opposite the Pacers’ bench, right in front of George Hill and his wife, Samantha.

Hill, a former teammate and Indy native, was on his feet for much of the game. He had the perfect view as Haliburton swiped the ball just steps away, then the two slapped hands.

“I see G. Hill as one of my vets,” said Haliburton. “He was here with me for a little bit. And we do have constant conversation to this day. But you see Lance in the building, Stephen Jackson was here the other day. Al Harrington. Roy Hibbert. DG. Reggie. All these guys are guys who I've grown up watching.

“When I got traded to the Pacers or just being a basketball fan, you think of all the guys who come before you. They’ve tried to help put this organization in a better place than they found it. And that's what I'm trying to do as well.

“I do think the alumni being here is really special. I think that's really cool to see throughout our league. You see it there in New York as well with all their guys. So it's really cool because I think it's just basketball fans and just fans of the game. You want to see those guys come back.”

This was a team effort by those within the organization. Each game was a sellout, and about seven million were watching on TNT.

The team behind the team was ready for this big stage.

This elevated presentation was the result of years of behind-the-scenes work by Pacers staff, especially those in player relations.

Many at the organizations have spent decades working for the team. Like Karen Atkeson, the vice president of player relations. She started in promotions, then moved into player relations in 2014. She and her staff — which includes Michael Hornback and Jasmine Smits — did a great job bring all those players back.

The franchise has invested in alumni relations: they have an official “Pacers Alumni” logo, often wish happy birthday to former players on social media, and sometimes send care packages.

A visual centerpiece of this initiative is an alumni wall installed at Ascension St. Vincent Center, the team’s practice facility that opened in 2017. Designed by Atkeson, the alumni wall is at the south end of basketball courts and was installed before the 2023-24 season.

“Just a great idea,” head coach Rick Carlisle said back then, during training camp. “Pretty cool. Pretty creative. Getting it all lined up and balanced and all that kind of stuff. A lot of work, I'm impressed.”

• Each player is listed

• All-Stars are bolded and marked with a star

• Hall of Famers are listed in gold

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Orlando Johnson, a second-round pick in 2012, visited in January and was moved by what he saw.

“I was like, ‘Man, they gave me a primetime location,’ he told Fieldhouse Files. “Like, you walk in and it's Orlando Johnson right there. So I was like, ‘Oh, man, this is sweet.’

“Just to be able to see all the greats up there, all the people that have had the chance to represent for the Hoosiers out there. That was amazing, man. It really is a special moment, something where if my family ever wants to come take a visit, they'll be able to see it, my daughters can be like, ‘Oh, my dad played here.’ Or my brothers can come back and be like, ‘My brother, he was on the Pacers. He was on those teams and stuff like that.’

“It’s a special feeling, man. And I'm super grateful that Karen was able to bring that life because I know a lot of us former Pacers greatly appreciate that.”

Already, the exterior wall to the practice facility (on Delaware St) highlights achievements by both the team and individuals. It’s a simple, thoughtful gesture that helps make the Pacers a first-class organization.

And it keeps former players wanting to return.

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Andrew Nembhard’s teammates are quick to praise him for the work he does at both ends of the floor. Each night, the third-year guard takes on the team’s toughest defensive assignment.

“We’re not surprised by anything Drew does,” Obi Toppin said.

“He just loves competition,” added Tyrese Haliburton.

The Pacers were enamored with Nembhard in 2022 and ultimately selected him 31st overall. They liked that he came from a winning program at Gonzaga. They admired how he didn’t let an injury stop him from competing at the Draft Combine. And they appreciated that, despite weather issues delaying his first pre-draft workout in Indy, he still made it to town just before the draft.

Then he impressed them so much over his first two seasons that they rewarded him with a three-year, $59 million extension this past summer.

But that deal doesn’t kick in until the 2025-26 season — meaning he’s currently on one of the best-value contracts in the NBA, earning just $2 million this year.

In the Pacers’ 117-98 Game 1 win over the Bucks, it was Nembhard who helped set the tone. He scored eight of their first 21 points — all four field goals at the rim, attacking aggressively.

“I thought Drew did a great job getting us started in transition, getting downhill,” Haliburton said. “And then we all kind of just fed off that.”

Nembhard, 25, spent most of Game 1 defending Ryan Rollins and Kevin Porter Jr. According to NBA tracking data, he allowed just three points in those seven minutes.

He’s the team’s best point-of-attack defender — but don’t pigeonhole him. He’s a dynamic, selfless player who rises to the occasion. He did it in his rookie season, hitting multiple game-winners and consistently delivering in big moments. He was named a Rising Star but didn’t receive enough votes to make an All-Rookie Team.

Big moments don’t faze him. They don’t speed him up. He welcomes pressure. We all remember his Game 3 heroics against the Knicks last postseason — draining the game-winner despite not scoring in the first 46 minutes.

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As major college basketball continues to grow and evolve, programs have more resources than ever, leading to larger staffs that increasingly resemble those of NBA teams.

Today’s college basketball staffs often include a player development coach, a director of scouting and recruiting, and a dedicated graphics specialist to assist with recruiting and digital media.

With the rise of NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) and the impending reality of players receiving a share of revenue, one position has become even more critical: general manager.

Indiana University should seriously consider hiring a GM to work alongside new head coach Darian DeVries, who was introduced as the 31st head coach in program history just one week ago.

At West Virginia University last season, DeVries assembled a sizable staff that helped turn the program around, improving from a 9-23 record to 19-13 in just one year. His staff included:

• Associate head coach

• Three assistant coaches

• Director of player development

• Director of player personnel/recruiting

• Video coordinator

It appears IU and DeVries are interested in establishing a GM role, though they are still in the information-gathering phase. DeVries told the IndyStar on Wednesday:

"We are looking into that like everybody in college sports. Everybody is trying to figure out how to best utilize that position. It's becoming more and more common, but what does that job description really look like? What's their role for us? And how do we want to best utilize that position?"

The CEO Model of Coaching

During DeVries’ introductory press conference, IU President Pamela Whitten emphasized three key criteria that guided the school’s search for its next basketball coach:

1. Being a great coach

2. Knowing how to win

3. Demonstrating the ability to be a CEO of a basketball program

Athletic director Scott Dolson — a former IU student manager under Bob Knight (1984-88) — then added on to that, highlighting the qualities he sought in their next head coach.

“We wanted an experienced, successful coach that had a blueprint for winning,” Dolson said. “We wanted to make certain that we had someone that really understands and really equally importantly has embraced modern roster construction. That's huge.

“A proven evaluator and developer of players. We wanted to make certain that we had a modern playing style. We have to have a head coach that understands where things are going.”

See, IU didn’t just hire a coach — they hired someone to run a successful program. And it starts with DeVries. There’s so much on the desk of coaches before they even get to X’s and O’s or watching film.

In the NBA, a president or GM hires the head coach. By hiring DeVries first, however, IU made it clear that this is his team and the GM position would report to him.

The Growing Trend of GMs in College Basketball

In recent months, more college programs have begun hiring general managers.

• Adrian Wojnarowski left his role as the top newsbreaker in the NBA to take on the GM role at his alma mater, St. Bonaventure. A few weeks ago, he posted photos on Instagram scouting players overseas — a task head coaches cannot perform during the season.

• Former Colts quarterback Andrew Luck assumed a similar role for Stanford football.

• The University of North Carolina hired veteran agent Jim Tanner, who previously represented Hall of Famer Tamika Catchings and many others. This move came months after UNC brought in Bill Belichick and allowed him to bring his longtime GM, Michael Lombardi, to oversee the football program.

• Davidson College named alum Steph Curry an assistant GM. While largely ceremonial, it highlights the evolving nature of college sports.

• Remy Cofield, formerly the Boston Celtics’ director of scouting, left the reigning champions to become the GM for John Calipari’s Arkansas program, which reached the Sweet 16 in Calipari’s first year.

• Most recently, former Hawks GM Wes Wilcox left his post as Sacramento Kings assistant GM to become the GM for the University of Utah men’s basketball team.

IU previously experimented with this type of role in 2021 when it hired Thad Matta as associate athletic director of basketball administration under Mike Woodson. Matta’s base salary was $400,000, providing a benchmark for the potential cost of a GM at IU. He departed after one season to become head coach at Butler University.

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Why a GM Matters

The ideal GM should be a versatile individual with strong people skills, solid relationships with agents, expertise in player evaluation, and experience in contract negotiation.

Whitten emphasized the need for a CEO-like approach, recognizing that while head coaches must wear many hats, they cannot do everything alone.

A GM would:

• Scout high school players and those in the transfer portal.

• Recruit internationally — an essential component as about 30% of the NBA is made up of international players, including the last three MVPs: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nikola Jokić, and Joel Embiid. This year’s MVP race is between Jokić and Canadian Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

• Assist in negotiations to sign players, ensuring IU doesn’t overpay or misjudge market value.

• Assist current players with NIL contracts.

• Leverage key relationships in the basketball ecosystem — players, coaches, and agents, etc. — to gather valuable intel.

• Communicate with agents, who are becoming increasingly important in college basketball due to the high volume of player movement. More than 1,000 players entered the transfer portal in the first 48 hours.

“There's a lot of people that are underneath that head coach, from assistant coaches to ops people to managers to the players to support staff; all very critical parts of your success,” DeVries said. “… We all have the same goals, and how do we make everybody's path align with that?”

In an ideal scenario, DeVries envisions IU building its roster primarily through high school recruiting while supplementing with key additions from the transfer portal.

“I think the biggest thing, and where you can get yourself in trouble, is you're not building a collection of players,” DeVries added. “You have to build a team, and a team has to be able to fit together, play together, win together, be able to function together.”

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Potential Candidates for IU’s GM Role

Now that the importance of this position is clear, here are five names IU should consider for the role. Notably, all but one were student managers — just like Dolson.

Additionally, IU could tap into its network of alumni agents, including Dave Spahn (‘14), Jordan Gertler (‘11), Max Lipsett (‘14), and Jared Mucha (‘15). Plus, former NBA scout Jason Buckner (‘03).

Ryan Carr

Currently: Senior Vice President of Player Personnel, Indiana Pacers
Graduated in 1996; former manager

Carr is hardworking and loyal, nearing 25 years with the Pacers. He started in the video room before moving into player evaluation. Now, he oversees more than 10 scouts and runs the draft process.

He loved his time at IU, still follows the program closely, and has strong relationships with agents. He’s responsible for organizing pre-draft workout visits, building the summer league roster, and helping to finalize the Pacers’ roster, including the three two-way spots.

Peter Dinwiddie

Currently: Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations, Philadelphia 76ers
Graduated in 1999

Dinwiddie is a proud Indiana native with deep ties to the state. After attending IU, he earned his law degree and was so determined to work in sports that he took an entry-level ticket sales position with the Pacers just to get his foot in the door. Executive Donnie Walsh, who also holds a law degree, found out and Dinwiddie quickly proved his talent in tasks assigned to him. He was later promoted to the front office.

Since 2020, he has been an executive with the Philadelphia 76ers. In addition to being the go-to expert for the Collective Bargaining Agreement and player contracts, he’s involved in player evaluations and scouting draft prospects both domestically and internationally. Well-respected by both agents and basketball executives, he has become a key figure in the organization.

George David

Currently: Senior Vice President of Basketball Administration, Detroit Pistons
Graduated in 1996; former manager

David returned to the Pistons' front office in 2021 after spending 18 seasons with the team previously. He’s worn almost every hat — from video coordinator to director of scouting and assistant general manager — before leaving to work for an agency, which is incredibly valuable experience.

David was part of the 2004 championship team and helped the Pistons return to the finals the following year. From 2002 to 2008, they reached the conference finals in all six seasons. After a coaching change to J.B. Bickerstaff, the Pistons went from 14 wins last season to 41 (and counting) this season.

Brendon Yu

Currently: Director of Scouting, Cleveland Cavaliers
Graduated in 2014; former manager

Like Dinwiddie, Yu is an Indianapolis native. He’s worked for the Cavaliers since graduation, rising through the ranks — from intern to director of G League Operations. From 2021 to 2023, he served as the GM of their G League affiliate, a role that required him to have his hands in every aspect of the operation. Under his leadership, the Charge posted a 30-20 record in 2023, securing a spot in the NBA G League Playoffs for the first time since 2017.

Now, in his scouting role, he has to be aware and have an opinion of players at all levels. Learning from Koby Altman and Mike Gansey has been invaluable. The Cavaliers currently have the most wins in the Eastern Conference and have a chance to record a 70-win season.

Lawrence Frank

Currently: President of Basketball Operations, LA Clippers
Graduated in 1992; former manager

Frank knows what it’s like to be a coach because he spent the majority of his career as one. He coached at both the college level and in the NBA. In 2016, he transitioned into the Clippers front office and was voted Executive of the Year by his peers in 2020. It’s hard to envision him moving on, but much like Brad Stevens for the coaching position, it doesn’t hurt to ask. And he’ll likely have valuable insights or contacts to share.

He’s done it all — from making big trades and hiring coaches to building new facilities, working closely with the medical team on player needs, and working with agents on player contracts. It was the Clippers who drafted Gilgeous-Alexander in 2018, and they made a bold move by acquiring Kawhi Leonard and Paul George.

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BLOOMINGTON — For years, Myles Turner followed the fashion industry but he didn’t take it seriously. “My first couple years in the league, I didn't really care about how I dressed,” he said. “I wore like Nike Tech suits every day.”

However, much like his game on the court, his fashion sense and style has evolved as he’s matured and gotten older.

“I'm a brand,” he continued. “I'm a global brand at that, just a walking billboard, so I like to represent myself in the best way I can.”

For most of his career, he took pride in not having a stylist like many players do. He did hire a personal shopper to help with the process — NBA money affords him that — but he took ownership in what he wore and the statement made.

“I feel like I’m an artist in everything I do, even more so than an athlete,” he told Fieldhouse Files last summer after spending 14 days in Italy and attending the Milan Fashion Week.

“Basketball is a byproduct of my art. I like to create. You see that with the Legos, you see that with the puzzles, the Rubik’s Cubes — that’s all a part of who I am as a person. I’m trying to let that show through my fashion.”

Then after his rookie contract and entering Year 5, he began to trust more and hired a personal stylist. And that’s when he began to take his fashion game to another level.

“I started to wear crazier stuff,” he said. “Because the biggest thing with fashion is you can always make a splash somewhere. No matter how ridiculous something is you wear, someone's going to be talking, someone is going to have eyes on you.

“So I started to wear crazier and crazier stuff. But then I got a little bit of sophistication as I got older.”

Gaining inspiration from his younger sister (My’a), a model, Turner attended fashion week with her and it opened his eyes to so much more. He previously didn’t know the brands or what went on in the industry. But he continues to learn more, take more risks and have fun with it along the way.

“I’m not one of those guys who just likes to wear brands just to wear brands,” he said. “I want to show who I am as a person in all my looks, and I’m very versatile.”

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Like Tyrese Haliburton, Turner wasn’t in college long. Haliburton attended Iowa State University for two years while Turner was at the University of Texas for just one. Then he was drafted 11th overall by the Pacers in 2015 and he’s been there ever since.

Nine seasons. Four head coaches. Three contracts. Dozens of trade rumors. And now he’s the franchise’s all-time leader in blocked shots.

But those two players have tapped into young fashion designers and given them an opportunity of a lifetime.

For the second straight year, fashion consultant (and IU grad) Dan Solomon hosted a “Fashion Within Sports” panel inside the Whittenberger Auditorium at Indiana University’s Memorial Union in February.

Last year, it was Haliburton sharing his fashion journey with students. They’re not there to discuss basketball; instead, they heard about his inspiration, evolution from vintage t-shirts to unique looks, brand deals, what it means to NBA players and more.

This year, Turner, 28, wanted in. And of course students wanted to hear the perspective of another successful NBA player with his own unique style and more than $100 million in career earnings.

For a month, they had the event date on the calendar. And with so many activities and appearances scheduled, Turner remained in town for Indy’s All-Star Weekend. However, the practice time on the following Tuesday got pushed back so he couldn’t make it down to Bloomington.

But that didn’t keep him from making an appearance via video to address the students and share his fashion journey.

Also on the panel:

• Sam Rose, CAA agent (for Obi Toppin, Isaiah Jackson, Jalen Brunson, former IU star OG Anunoby and more)

• Max Siegelman, founder of Siegelman Stable

• Nick Bowersox, president of MNML

For more than 80 minutes, the group sat at the front of the room and detailed their business experience and expertise, what works and how to set yourself up to succeed, and then they answered questions.

Tunnel Walks

As it relates to Turner and the NBA, one of the marquee moments that came up are the tunnel walks — which has become a thing. Before each game, you see teams post many photos of players either leaving the hotel or walking into the arena. Some teams have gone so far as to have a red carpet for the moment.

The Pacers’ digital team, for instance, captures players in a hallway at home games as they make the walk from the practice facility, where they park, to the fieldhouse. It’s sponsored and shared on multiple social media platforms.

“The biggest thing now in the NBA, outside of the actual game, is the tunnel walk and the tunnel fit and what guys are wearing,” said Rose. “The Instagram and Twitter’s of the world with LeagueFits and BallisLife, and all these companies that are covering what the guys are wearing and the photographers are getting them coming out of the hotel — it’s really taken on a life of its own that, quite honestly, like three or four years ago nobody really cared.

“Now it’s like what’s he wearing, where’d he get it from, who got it for him, where’d he shop? All those questions are being asked. So our job on the agency side is … how do we get marketing dollars out of that? It’s identifying the right brands where we can build a partnership with them.”

Siegelman took it one step further. As he launched Siegelman Stable, the visibility from tunnel walks helped his company off the ground. In 2020, with the entire NBA isolated in an Orlando bubble on the Disney campus, he sent apparel to players.

“All I did was change the player name and team name,” he said, “ then sent it to 15 guys and then had like LeBron viewing our Instagram story with like 15 followers on Instagram. That was the best thing that we could have done to start our brand.”

For most students inside the auditorium, this Tuesday night was a chance to hear from those who were once in their seat and have now made it — designers, consultants, brand owners and an NBA player.

Afterward, there was a breakout session for each speaker. And a select group of students were chosen to hear from Solomon, along with Emma Taylor — a junior fashion student who designed an outfit for Haliburton one year ago.

Solomon made opening comments highlighting how a portion of the group would pitch Turner on their designs and one talented student would be tasked with executing — with an emphasis on being able to make everything that he or she designed for Turner and then the exposure to potentially millions on social media.

“Tyrese actually didn't play that game,” Solomon told the group of last year. “So he literally wore it on the bench the entire game, which was even better. But it's an incredible experience.”

And Fieldhouse Files was exclusively invited to sit in on every step of the process.

Taylor shared her experience and, as the first winner, she played a key role in making this happen.

“I applied really last minute,” she said. “I really felt unprepared because I only did one sketch and I was really not confident in my presentation. But still went up there, still owned it and I think that's key for all of you. Just really being confident and really giving a good explanation for why you design what you design.”

And one student took that message to heart.

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Christiana Kategiannis, in the red above, is a junior fashion design student. She was one of seven finalists on a Zoom call held at a later date; she presented fourth.

Solomon welcomed her to the Zoom call, then said “Better kill it for him.”

“Oh yeah, I will,” she replied without hesitation. “Don’t worry.”

Her beginning, middle and end were as good as it gets.

Powerful and confident, making a strong impression on Turner.

“I think my confidence came from the fact that I did like a lot of research about Myles and looked into a lot of what he likes to wear, what people that dress similarly to him like to wear, what colors he likes to wear and what kind of silhouettes that his clothes are,” she said of that moment.

“So I knew going in that it wasn't anything that was out of his comfort zone or anything like that. So I felt really good about my presentation and also, honestly, I've learned that you go into things confidently and people respond well to that.”

Each finalist introduced themselves, explained their philosophy, went over their mood board and each of their design options — with an emphasis that they must be able to produce it for him. Most leaned into a Western theme, him being from Texas or liking Star Wars. He’s shown that he can hit each of those notes, along with wearing a crisp, clean suit that’s a classic. He’s also not afraid to be edgy.

Kategiannis drew inspiration from the usual places: Instagram, photos and online stories. She saw a midwestern style with lots of Earth tones. But what stood out to her was his come up. And she wanted to be part of that; in fact, she told him exactly that.

“I think it's really cool that he's able to wear what he wants to wear, curate his own style and come into his own style,” she explained. “I feel like a lot of people in the spotlight don't often get to because there’s so many people pulling them so many different ways and wanting them to be so many certain ways. So I think it's really cool and authentic that Myles is able to be like, ‘No, this is what I want to do and this is what I want to wear. I'm gonna do it my way.’”

To Turner’s credit, he gave direct and detailed feedback after each presentation, offered something he liked and what he wanted to hear more of.

For example, shoes. He told the first presenter that he needs shoe options because “I can’t ever find shoes.”

Turner was at a loss for words after Kategiannis’ presentation.

“I don’t even know where to start,” he told her on the group Zoom call. “You blew me away with your presentation, to say the least. The one thing I love more than accessories is details.”

Born and raised in Australia, Kategiannis and her family moved to the United States in 2015. When she was a kid, she used to perform fashion shows for her parents and their friends when they had dinner guests. She didn’t always know that she would enter the fashion industry, but she did plan to go into a creative line of work.

“I’ve always been a creative person and very active in everything that I do, and I really want to give everything my all,” she said, as impressive as can be during this interview too. “And a really big thing for me in my future is that I never want to work a job where it feels like I'm working. I want to be excited to go into work and something that I've always loved is fashion — like all aspects of it like. Wearing it, styling it, designing it, going and looking at it with other people.”

Curating and creating for a 7-footer is no easy task. But Kategiannis felt prepared for this because she comes from a tall family, including an uncle who is 6-foot-7.

“I was able to look at it and know everything’s gonna work,” she said. There’s that confidence again. “That was definitely very helpful.”

Added Solomon: “To make a pattern for someone who is 7-foot is tough by itself. You do patterns all the time as a design student, but you’re doing it for normal-sized people.”

She also credited her professors for their help in altering patterns because, as she explained, you can’t buy commercial patterns for 7-footers. So she learned more about that and lengthening.

And along the way, she felt the warm support of her peers — which is a huge kudos to the department. In five or 10 years, they could be working together or using each other as resources. Relationships are everything and they clearly understood that.

“Everybody wanted to win,” Kategiannis said. “But since then, everybody has been so supportive of me. Everybody has given all their time to me if I needed help, all my teachers have been so supportive and all my peers have cheered me on and I think that's made such a difference.”

She also leaned on Taylor and her experience last year.

“It was so good to have someone like Emma there, who’s been through this exactly and to be a sound wall bouncing ideas off of her,” she said. “Getting her opinion on things was so helpful. She’s incredible and so driven, and I’m so grateful to be in the position that she was in last year.”

After being chosen, she had three weeks to get it produced and delivered. And she got done exactly what she wanted after putting a lot of effort into sourcing fabrics and finding the colors she wanted, which wasn’t easy in Bloomington, Ind.

“This was very different and something that I had never done before,” she said. “I had never made like a pair of jeans like that before and I had never made a vest before. It was all new to me and I was really excited for the opportunity and to be able to build my skills — not only with the designs and the actual execution of the outfit, but also the professional setting of it and getting the experience in a real-world setting and having deadlines in a real-world setting that isn't just my teachers. So that was that was really cool.”

So she went with bull denim jeans (a cream color), then suede for the vest with a longhorn logo on his left side for his Texas roots. She gave him an option of not wearing a shirt under the vest so that all the attention would be on his special longhorn chain that she’s seen him wear before. That’s the item that she thought would bring it all together as the focal point of the outfit.

And according to Solomon, Kategiannis aced every checkpoint. She was communicative, beat all the deadlines and delivered, as promised.

“With Christi, you can see that she has a future in fashion,” said Solomon. “She can talk, she’s talented and can do a lot on the back end in terms of her skills like tech packs and other incredible things. She knows her stuff.

“She wasn’t negative about one thing throughout the whole process, wasn’t daunted one time and she ate up everything we were saying.”

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Turner appreciated her style, taste and the investment that she made to truly understand him.

“I appreciate how you were able just to curate something for me just based off my own taste,” he said. “And your presentation was awesome. I really enjoyed following along with what you had going on.”

Kategiannis and other fashion design students had the IU fashion show last week to show off their capstone project and then an award ceremony a few days later. She finished Turner’s outfit Thursday night and delivered it on Friday, two days ahead of the game.

“I feel like this week is one of the biggest weeks of my life so far,” she said the night before. “All my hard work that I've been putting in has really been paying off and this week, I'm really seeing it and that's just so cool.”

By Sunday, she was a guest of Turner at the game. He led the Pacers with 31 points and 12 rebounds in 22 minutes as they dominated the Atlanta Hawks to clinch a playoff berth for the first time in four years.

Kategiannis saw the Pacers post Turner’s tunnel walk photo on social media with her name on it — and after the win, she and Solomon visited with Turner and took photos together in the outfit she designed, curated and created just for him.

An opportunity of a lifetime capped off by a week to remember.

And Turner enjoyed the experience just as much, telling the finalists: “Y’all gave me something to believe in. I feel like y’all really took my personal style and incorporated within y’alls craft. And it was fun to see y’alls philosophy behind everything. It wasn’t just cut and dry, everybody had their own story to why they put something together like the way they did. I appreciate y’alls intent behind this.”

Now Solomon & Co. are already looking forward to year three.

“I love this concept,” he said. “I think it’s only getting better and better. We’ll be able to do more and more every year. The main goal is to take somebody and give them an opportunity they never would have had.”

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Tyrese Haliburton no longer needs to punch “Indianapolis Motor Speedway” into his phone’s maps. After 18 months as a member of the Indiana Pacers and thus an Indy resident, he knows exactly where to go.

Once he arrives at the track on Sunday, thoug…

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CHICAGO — Kevin Pritchard was in the first seat of the second row inside the drawing room. Wearing a sharp-looking navy suit, with a snazzy gold and navy tie and pocket square, he had the packet of number combinations in front of him and 68 (of 1,001) belonged to the Indiana Pacers.

The team’s president of basketball operations since 2017 had a pen in hand and he couldn’t believe how the first drawing began.

14, check.

5, check.

8, check.

After 6:00 p.m. CT, it was down to the final ping pong ball and they needed No. 6. Instead, it was a 2.

“We just missed out on the fourth (number),” Pritchard shared afterward. “So my heart was racing, I was super excited. If I’m perfectly honest, I was bummed because you see the first three numbers.”

Meanwhile, Spurs general manager Brian Wright was in the drawing room and he barely moved. No celebration, no fist bump or even a smile. Somehow, he held it together when his franchise jumped from three to one and come June 22, would make the easiest decision in decades selecting 7-foot-6 Frenchman Victor Wembanyama in the draft.

Pritchard believes that pick is going to be transformational. “The first pick in this draft is no joke,” he said without naming the player. “The kid will probably never play a game that’s not sold out.”

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Hello, friends.

Now in the offseason, I have a little bit of free time and so over the weekend, I opened up Netflix and a docu-series immediately caught my attention.

“American Manhunt: The Boston Marathon Bombings.”

It sticks with me for two reasons. First, it was toward the beginning of Twitter and I remember following it closely on my favorite social media platform. That was one of a handful of specific newsy stories I remember following to conclusion on Twitter. The raid to capture Osama bin Laden in 2011 also comes to mind.

I remembered the final pursuit, how one of the bombers was hiding in a boat that was in the backyard of an individual in Watertown, Mass. And then there was this tweet from Boston Police.

“CAPTURED!!! The hunt is over. The search is done. The terror is over. And justice has won. Suspect in custody.”

I was surprised to realize it’s been 10 years, that’s probably why the documentary was produced now and then went live just ahead of Monday’s race. I didn’t remember that it took five days for the second individual to be found. I thought it was more like just a few days.

Second, longtime readers of mine may remember how the Indiana Pacers weren’t just in Boston at the time of the bombings, but a rookie player’s craving for chicken and biscuits prevented four Pacers players from being around the finish line at the time of the two explosions.

Then-head coach Frank Vogel gave the Pacers the day off, and had purchased tickets for players and staff to attend the Boston Red Sox’s afternoon game against the Tampa Bay Rays.

About halfway into the game, many of the players requested to leave. Four players stuck together as they returned to the busy downtown area as the marathon was going on. Paul George, Orlando Johnson, Sam Young and David West went exploring and walked beside the race path around 1:20 p.m. ET — about 90 minutes before the two bombs went off. They stood a few rows back to watch the runners and soak in the electric atmosphere.

George then pointed out a Popeyes fast-food restaurant and Johnson, a rookie guard, spoke up and said he wanted to go. So then did, instead of heading toward the finish line as they had originally planned.

“It was just crazy that a couple of us were there to watch the Boston Marathon,” George said in 2013. “Had we not decided to leave, we would of been caught in that mess. It’s just unfortunate that people do things like that.”

The Pacers’ first-round playoff series against Boston overlapped with the race once again in 2019. I was on that trip and used that time to watch the race first-hand for the first time and to get several staff members to share their memories from that day. No players remained, but 10 staff members were still with the team.

And so they opened up about that experience in a story I wrote for The Athletic.

Like how the team hotel is on the path and the memorial is right outside.

“It’s weird looking down out my window and seeing the memorial,” former assistant coach Dan Burke said.

The coaches stayed for the entire game in 2013. Some players left and then enjoyed their day off. Chris Denari was back at the team hotel. The late David Benner was walking around by himself. Athletic trainer Josh Corbeil, who is from the area, left to visit college friends.

“I was on the train two stops from the finish line when the bomb went off,” Corbeil said. “I had no idea what happened when they evacuated us. All the phones were jammed so I walked back to the hotel.”

Fortunately, the Pacers had a veteran FBI agent of 33 years leading team security for them at the time. Here’s what he told me about that day.

“Police radios are crackling and everything else,” John Gray said. “With the contacts we checked in with, they said we’ve got a bomb that just went off at the finish line. Immediately, we had to kick into our emergency planning, which we had already established with the Pacers that in situations like this. We have to account for everybody because we were getting phone calls from Indianapolis like, ‘Where is everybody? Is everybody all right?’

“Luckily, we had the text system set up just to verify with a simple message response. As a backup system, I specifically made them call me personally so I can check them off.”

And there was one player they had trouble connecting with, Tyler Hansbrough. But he was with his brother, Ben, so in less than a half hour, Gray had confirmed that everyone in the traveling party was accounted for while staying in contact throughout the day with officials back in Indianapolis.

“I remember a policeman with military rifles were looking through every garbage can along the street,” Burke said. “The city was so damn quiet. The whole two days were weird. I don’t know how to explain it because you’ve never experienced that before.”

A Dream Achieved

Monday was a surreal experience for one member of the Pacers staff, someone who is as behind the scenes as you can get. That’s how he prefers it.

In fact, I know he’s going to be shaking his head because I’m writing about him … but it needs to be written. Because not only did Zach Eagle race in the Boston Marathon on Monday, the 10th anniversary of the bombings, but he completed it while averaging six-minute miles.

Incredible.

He finished in about two hours and 44 minutes. That 26.2 miles.

“He’s a champion in every way,” assistant coach Jenny Boucek wrote, sharing my post on Instagram about Eagle. “We are all continually inspired by him.”

Eagle is an Indiana University grad who started with the Pacers in 2016 as an intern, then returned in a full-time role in 2018. His official title is manager of sports medicine operations — but he does so much, whatever the team needs.

Like during the pandemic, he was their Covid leader. It was his job to keep track of player and staff testing, and ensure that they were following all the protocols. A thankless, tedious yet necessary task. He also helps with equipment, player requests and whatever is asked of him.

On Monday, it was his time to shine and he delivered.

More than 26 miles in less than three hours. Remarkable.

The Indiana Pacers finish team introductions and the LED house lights are turned back on, then all attention is directed to the northwest corner of Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

A custom-built IndyCar — yellow, with logos of the team and arena on it — is brought out and the public address announcer takes over. He introduces the special individual behind the wheel and then gives the command to … revvvvvv it up!

This is a new pre-game tradition at Pacers home games this season.

The idea was hatched in the middle of last season. Dean Heaviland is the vice president of game operations. He’s worked for the franchise since 1995 and is so well-respected across the league that he helped direct the show for the 2023 NBA All-Star Game in Salt Lake City.

Heaviland sits at the end of the scorer’s table next to Mike Preston, VP of basketball communication and media relations, and is in charge of directing the game night presentation. Together, Heaviland and Preston brainstormed some ideas.

“We were thinking about what we could do different at the start of games and try to have something that is unique,” Heaviland explained. “Obviously, it’s basketball and racing in Indiana and once we started looking at doing the “Rev It Up” theme for the team, it made perfect sense.”

They had already l looked into having a car before the theme was decided on by Todd Taylor’s marketing department. Heaviland worked with the IndyCar Racing Experience and IndyCar manufacturer Dallara, whose factory is in nearby Speedway.

That’s where Heaviland lives and coaches the high school boys soccer team. Dallara is the supplier for chassis and they built one specifically for this 30-second moment before each Pacers home game.

It was only fitting for the honoree on opening night to be Mario Andretti, a motorsports legend and the 1969 Indianapolis 500 champion. They’ve had Nancy Leonard, 6-foot-9 Darnell Hillman (the seat is adjustable), Austin Croshere, several Fever players, local community leaders and more.

“We try to match the theme of the night and it was a learning thing too,” Heaviland said. “First, trying to get people to do it because they had no idea what it was. Any time you try to start a new tradition is tough. But I think it’s going better than I anticipated. I never would’ve guessed that Will Ferrell and 50 Cent would have been in it.”

On Wednesday night, it was 7-footer Greg Oden behind the wheel, appropriate because he was a dominant player at Lawrence North High School, 2006 Indiana Mr. Basketball and the Pacers honored each of the high school championship teams from this season at halftime of the game.

Now, Friday’s game against the Detroit Pistons is fan appreciation night. The team is in the middle of a rebuild and not involved in postseason play for the third consecutive season, so it’s the regular-season home finale.

And so on fan appreciation night, the Pacers (34-46) will share that opportunity with Steve Cage, a loyal season-ticket holder for over 35 years.

“I know what Gainbridge Fieldhouse can feel like,” Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle said this week. “Last year was a down year. We had a lot of empty seats, but we’ve gone a long way and this team has gone a long way toward winning our fan base back. That’s been evident in just about every game.”

Fans enjoyed Tyrese Haliburton’s play this season, three years (and $360 million) of renovations completed to The Fieldhouse, a new sky deck and improved experience.

This Rev It Up moment pregame is catching on — and will be back for Year 2.

“It’s been received well enough that I do think it is something we’re gonna continue,” Heaviland revealed. “And it’s something we can grow. It’s been fun for me, honestly. Just because it’s something different.”

Below is the full list of individuals who took part this season:

1. 10/19: Mario Andretti

2. 10/21: Nick Bostic, local hero who save five children from burning home

3. 10/22: Nancy Leonard

4. 11/4: Drew Storen, former MLB pitcher

5. 11/7: Captain Brian Adams

6. 11/9: Lieutenant Rex Padgett

7. 11/12: Darnell Hillman

8. 11/19: Hagerstown Little League baseball

9. 11/21: Mad Ants head coach Tom Hankins

10. 11/23: Austin Croshere

11. 11/25: Vivica A. Fox

12. 12/9: Colts tight end Jelani Woods

13. 12/10: IndyCar 2022 Rookie of the Year Christian Lundgaard

14. 12/12: Two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Al Unser Jr.

15. 12/14: Don Buse

16. 12/18: Fever guard Lexie Hull

17. 12/27: Lieutenant Riley Compton

18. 12/29: Vern Fleming

19. 12/31: Fever forward Emily Engstler

20. 1/2: Harlem Globetrotter Scooter

21. 1/6: Cubs pitcher Tucker Barnhart

22. 1/8: Former Butler star Matt Howard

23. 1/13: Greg Wilson, Indiana Civil Rights Commission

24. 1/14: Patricia Payne, Director of the Indianapolis Public Schools Racial Equity Office

25. 1/24: NHRA Top Fuel Dragster Antron Brown

26. 1/27: 2001 Indiana Mr. Basketball Chris Thomas

27. 2/1: Sabre Cook, pro racing driver

28. 2/3: Ashley Nora, local artist

29. 2/5: Boomer and mascots

30. 2/10: Fever guard Erica Wheeler

31. 2/13: Fred Jones

32. 2/15: Ball State basketball coach Michael Lewis

33. 2/23: IndyCar driver and 2013 Indianapolis 500 champion Tony Kanaan

34. 3/6: Will Ferrell

35. 3/9: Rapper 50 Cent

36. 3/18: Pacers Gaming’s Range & teammates

37. 3/27: New Fever head coach Christie Sides

38. 3/29: Indy Indians manager Miguel Perez

39. 3/31: Fever forward Queen Egbo

40. 4/5: Greg Oden

41. 4/7: Season-ticket holder Steve Cage

It was déjà vu last week for Gabe York.

Having just completed his second season with the Fort Wayne Mad Ants, the Pacers’ G League affiliate, he was about to turn the page to the offseason when the team waived Trevelin Queen. That created an open roster spot and, as I first reported here, they intended to use it on one of their own.

They used it to reward York by signing him to a two-way contract for the final week of the season, just like they did at this time last season.

“I’m just excited for the opportunity and thankful to the Pacers organization for giving me another chance,” the guard said. “I just look forward to getting out there and being able to play.”

He’s available to play in the final three games. Not only does this provide him with a five-figure salary bonus to end the season, but it also gives him real minutes against NBA competition.

“Loyalty and consistency should be rewarded,” said Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle. “So this is a decision that came down, obviously ownership has to approve it, but management and the coaching staff were completely in agreement that Gabe deserved this opportunity. It’s great for him, it’s great for us.”

York is a 6-foot-3 guard. He’s a sharpshooter, a sniper and he averaged 21.4 points per game this season in the G League and shot 40.1% from range.

York’s love for the game, his motivation and his perseverance were all tested as he tried to make it. He’s worked and worked and made sacrifices that not many are willing to make. Like playing overseas, playing for seven different teams, and playing in NBA summer league as a 28 year old.

For more than a decade, back when he was a high school phenom and a YouTube sensation, his focus has been on playing in the NBA — where there are only 450 roster spots each year. So by signing for the rest of the season, it’s once again realizing his dream, albeit in the short term, and it represents progress toward his end game.

Last April, fresh after signing his first NBA contract, I asked him where his perseverance came from because it’s been critical to his rise.

“My mom, 100%,” he said, without hesitation. “She’s worked as a server for 23 years now. Never quit, never gave up, two sons. My dad left when I was two so she had to provide food for me and him. Worked two-to-three jobs at times, left at 7 a.m. and came home at midnight and never complained. That’s why I keep my head down and keep moving with the punches.”

His mom, Deborah York, cared for Gabe and his brother, who is three years older, by herself. York immediately thinks of her with each new opportunity.

“I was supposed to have her done working a long time ago,” he said. “Hopefully that’s my next step with having an NBA contract for a little bit. Now next season, it’s to stay in the NBA for a full season so I can get my mom to stop working.”

Among the punches York referenced was getting passed over for opportunities. Like early on in his career in Charlotte after being with them for summer league. They ended up going with Mike Tobey over him.

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BLOOMINGTON — Tyrese Haliburton was back on a college campus for one Wednesday night. The Pacers guard had only spent two years at Iowa State University, leaving in 2020 after a breakout sophomore season to become an NBA lottery pick.

He was invited to Indiana University not for his basketball intellect or notoriety, but instead to be on a five-person panel called “Fashion Within Sports,” hosted by fashion consultant Dan Solomon, Haliburton’s go-to guy for fashion and lifestyle (and a 2017 IU grad).

“He has come a long way in fashion and now it’s really one of his passions,” said Jade Jones, Haliburton’s longtime girlfriend. “Outside of basketball, he’s either online shopping or gaming in his free time. Literally before we go to sleep, he’s online shopping.”

On this night, he was speaking to a different audience. Not about basketball or the Indiana Pacers, but rather detailing to students in The Retail Studies Organization his inspiration and expression through clothing.

Haliburton, 23, has been fascinated with fashion for as long as he can remember. “As soon as I got tall enough to wear my dad’s clothes,” he said. “In middle school, I used to sneak down there every morning throw on his outfits. It’s always been important to me to look nice.”

And now, more than ever, there are opportunities that can take off. Just on social media alone. Capturing players entrances into the arena are no longer reserved for the playoffs or big games, it’s a nightly occurrence. Not all enjoy it, but it allows for those who do to show off a look, potentially get attention and brand deals.

Haliburton is becoming an icon in this space, Solomon said, and because of their relationship, he wanted him involved on this night.

So back on Feb. 1, Haliburton made the hour-long drive south from Indianapolis to be part of a diverse panel that also included two others who, like Solomon, went to IU. Any excuse to get back to Bloomington is a good one.

Inside the Whittenberger Auditorium at Indiana University’s Memorial Union, at least a hundred students were engaged and took notes as Solomon hosted a wide-ranging discussion on fashion, brands, styles and influencers.

The others involved:

• Dave Spahn, Haliburton’s agent at CAA

• Ashley Feagan, co-head of client marketing & management at CAA

• Luke Cosby, co-founder of Purple Brand

• John Guidry, CEO/CO-FO of BLK PR

“It was really fun, really cool to share my experiences and be around other like-minded people,” Haliburton said. “And cool to share my knowledge of what’s going on. I think the students got a good inside look on my life and how my fashion as evolved. But also how it is in the NBA with people wanting to style you.”

As a fashion consultant, Solomon does everything for his clients from personal shopping, styling and brand consulting. He works with over 100 athletes and supplies them with whatever they need. Recently, his speciality has been dressing 7-footers — larger athletes who truly cannot shop off the rack.

And Solomon called Haliburton “one of the the most fashionable guys in the league.”

Solomon hosts pop-up shops at big events — branded Solo Suites — like at NBA All-Star Weekend and Summer League, and it serves as a one-stop shop for these athletes to make purchases in a comfortable environment.

In fact, Haliburton was in New York last June and he spoke with the rookie class the morning before the draft. On the previous night, as I reported on here, Haliburton was at one of Solomon’s pop-up suites with Bennedict Mathurin, who told him to reach out to coach Rick Carlisle to make sure he was a Pacer too.

The Pacers were enamored with Mathurin and drafted him sixth overall. And the rest is history.

In Bloomington, Haliburton was introduced as a “future All-Star” by Solomon — and then on the very next day, the NBA officially announced that he had been voted in, for the first time, by head coaches across the NBA.

And so in Salt Lake City, making his All-Star debut, Haliburton had something special planned.

“Nice little pants with the beads on them,” he said. “I thought that was cool. I couldn’t walk too fast because then the beads were flying everywhere. But I thought it was a good look with just a plain white tee up top, didn’t want to take away from the pants. That was the statement. I thought I had a good little fit.”

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His Evolving Taste

Don’t be afraid to be different.

That’s Haliburton’s mindset. He describes his style as “a classic, vintage style look.” And he used to wear shorts often; specifically short shorts. But not much anymore.

Haliburton told the students of a story from his rookie season about how one of his brothers used to have access to his bank account. Well, that brother told mom when Tyrese spent $350 on a pair of Eric Emanuel shorts.

That didn’t go over well because “my mom is the cheapest lady,” Haliburton said.

“My dad loves it. He loves the creativity, he loves me stepping outside the box. My mom hates it, she just wants me to wear sweatsuits all the time. I promised her just no skirt; so as long as I don’t wear a skirt, I’m good with my mom.”

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As a rookie in 2020, he signed on to be a Nike athlete.

“I’ve always wanted to have my own color of Nike shoes,” he said. “And with them doing stuff with Kobe now, that would be the dream, for sure, because I’m just so basic off the court. You’re gonna catch me in Doc Martens or some Prada loafers.”

That’s also led to some debates at home. I asked Jones if she’s disagreed or ever told him to not wear a specific outfit.

“Lately, he has been wearing the loafer shoes a lot and I’m like, ‘OK, you need to give them a break,’ she said, smiling. “Because he used to be so into sneakers; he used to love wearing sneakers. And now it’s the Prada loafers or the dress shoes with every outfit. So I’m like you should switch it up sometimes. It’s still a good option, a safe option.”

He used to be predictable and wear the same style to games: vintage t-shirts, nice jeans and some sneakers. Then he had a long phone convention with Solomon before this season, noted how he appreciated what Tyler, The Creator was wearing and the fashion sense of Jacob Elordi from the hit HBO show “Euphoria.”

“My fashion has definitely taken a turn this year, big time,” Haliburton said. “I have a problem with dressing like everybody else. So if I see somebody who wears the same t-shirt as me, somebody who wears the same pants as me, I usually get rid of those. I like to be different, I’ve always been that way my whole life.”

Haliburton’s Influence

“The power of social media is real,” Haliburton acknowledged.

And it goes both ways. In this context, he was discussing where he finds his inspiration and how it’s most often on Instagram.

“I think it’s just finding like-minded people, things that I like and just mixing it up every day,” he said. “It’s important to me to mix it up and not caring what my teammates think sometimes. Buddy is always on me about my fashion even though he wears the same thing every game.”

Hield, who is like his big brother, does not approve.

“It’s terrible,” he said. “I tell him all the time you look like cartoon characters out there. I’m trying to find them, match them and put a puzzle together of who he looks like.

“He tries to dress, but there’s no swagger. Just trying stuff, just trying to get attention.”

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Haliburton, who singled out the style of teammates Oshae Brissett and James Johnson, chirped back: “Buddy is middle tier. Buddy is decent but repetitive.”

For the 2022-23 season, Haliburton also had two other goals: shifting toward simplicity and sustainability.

He’ll still splurge occasionally on big-money items, of course, but his favorite part of fashion is not having to spend so much and finding simple items that are more affordable.

“I changed my fashion to a lot more sustainability,” he noted. “That’s the thing that’s annoying about the NBA, you wear something once and if you wear it again, people will say something about it. But it’s expensive. I mean golly. I’m trying to wear more things that I can wear multiple times.”

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Tyrese is a Brand

Feagan discussed the bigger picture of just how important fashion has become to professional athletes. She works with them on their ventures off the court.

“These guys are global superstars,” she said. “They don’t wear helmets and they’re well known around the world. I think for fashion, specifically, they’re not just let in, like first row at a fashion show, unless you truly put that effort in to purchase the clothes and do the work, invest in yourself and be authentic.

“You’re just not going to be accepted into the fashion space. And when we’re in recruiting meetings, we have a fashion group now at CAA. I’d say it’s a huge part of recruiting now. Every single guy is into fashion that’s come through in the past five years.”

Feagan also passed along advice that is critical for anyone working in or pursuing a job in the entertainment field.

“Working in fashion, sports and entertainment is a lifestyle, not a job,” Feagan emphasized. “Athletes don’t know weekends or time zones or holidays. You’re always on call. We want to be available to support them and help them build their careers and be the best that they can be.”

Spahn, meanwhile, specializes in client contracts. Agents work closely with clients to maximize their talents and career earnings.

The IU grad, who as a teenager was a reporter running a high school scouting service, became an agent at 25 and now represents players like Haliburton, Josh Hart and Luke Kennard.

“The thing that Tyrese has done a really good job with, as good as anyone I’ve seen lately … is Tyrese understands that he’s a brand,” Spahn said. “When Tyrese goes into a room, the room is different. When he walks through the pregame tunnels, what he’s wearing people talk about.”

“The Tyrese brand — he’s very aware of the fact that he is now a totally different stratosphere person and celebrity than he was even a couple years ago. I think Ty’s done a really good job of understanding that and taking that to the next level of, OK, let’s be conscious about what is the image that I’m portraying to the world. Whether it’s with my fashion, what I post online, what I say to the media, how I act.

“He’s done an amazing job of realizing that without changing who he is as a person. But also saying, ‘OK, how can I elevate my brand and continue to build on where I want to be?’ He’s only in the third year of his career, he’s still scratching the surface of who he is as a player.”

The Tunnel is a Runway

That’s what Solomon said, also noting how many brand deals are done with athletes to get exposure in mutually beneficial deals.

And Haliburton takes full advantage.

“It takes him all day to think of what he’s gonna wear the night of the game and then it takes him an hour up in the closet going through exactly what he wants,” Jones said. “It actually is like a whole day of thinking and processing what he’s gonna wear to a game.

“Like he said, the media has really influenced the way that he is dressing. He’ll find something that he really likes and then he’ll go and try to recreate it himself in his different way, with his own little twists on it.”

Those entrances before games, which are now always captured by team and NBA photographers, only last about 30 seconds. So it doesn’t always have to be comfortable.

“After the season, when I’m done with my tunnel walks, only comfort from then on,” he joked.

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Haliburton thinks about everything, including not walking in with his game sneakers in hand. That messes up his outfits. So he designated assistant equipment manager Cole Petraits to carry those from his car.

“I think it’s cool that he gets to express himself and he’s known in the fashion world,” Jones continued. “He’s come a long way from his college fashion. At Iowa State, it was literally team wear, basic shorts and throw on whatever shoes he could find.”

Making a Dream Come True

After the panel talked at the front of the auditorium for about 80 minutes, they broke up into small groups. And about a dozen students were fortunate to individually present a potential outfit that Haliburton would wear to a game.

“That was really cool,” he said, “really eye-opening and interesting to see the creativity of people.”

Emma Taylor, a sophomore fashion design major, was one of the first called upon to meet with Haliburton and Solomon.

“I might have looked like I was happy, but I was very nervous on the inside,” she said. “Going up to them, it was an amazing opportunity and I was happy to be there. They were very engaged in what I had to present and were very willing to talk about my ideas.”

Taylor is from Rising Sun, a small town in southeast Indiana, and she created an outfit based off a trend board. She went through Haliburton’s Instagram to see his previous tunnel fits and compiled it all on one page.

“It’s very flowy, relaxed fit,” she said of his style. “A ton of cargo pockets, it’s a very like Y2K look with a modern twist.

“I noticed recently he’s been wearing more muted colors, beige and grays, and that’s something he’s comfortable in. But then I also noticed in the summer time, he wore a lot of purple and he looks really good in purple. And then the beanie, of course, because I wanted to include stuff he was comfortable in and at the same time, I can make it stand out and it would be different from stuff he had worn previously.”

Taylor was alerted about a month ago that her design was chosen, now it was her responsibility to bring it to life. She remembers being on spring break in Chicago with her roommate when she got the call — and she got right to work.

“We went to some fabric stores and looked at a lot of stuff,” she said. “I found a fabric, but it wasn’t the right color so I had to dye it — and I had never dyed fabric before. But thankfully I kept in close contact with my professor. With all of this going on and classes, it was a lot to juggle. I definitely felt like I was in overtime.”

Taylor is excited to be at Gainbridge Fieldhouse for the Pacers game against the New York Knicks on April 5. The highlight, however, will be seeing Haliburton walk in wearing the outfit she designed and produced, playing a small part in the All-Star guard’s game night routine.

“They’ve been amazing throughout this whole process, reaching out and telling me how everything is going to work because I’m very new to this and this is the first project I’ve really taken on with designing something for a client,” she said.

Haliburton's insight and advice is sure to be helpful to aspiring designers who are looking to break into the fashion industry. With his unique style and creativity, he’s a role model for young designers everywhere.

It was a successful event for over a hundred students on this Wednesday night in Bloomington, and an experience Taylor is forever grateful for. And it potentially sets her up for future success.

Because how many people, never mind a college student, can say they designed and outfitted an All-Star and whose work was exposed to thousands on social media?

Emma can.

Note: After the panel and breakout session, Haliburton and Solomon took a photo with Indiana basketball players Tamar Bates, Xavier Johnson and Trey Galloway

About 100 minutes before tip-off Wednesday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle was meeting with reporters when the subject of Milwaukee Bucks point guard Jrue Holiday came up.

Jrue, 32, is the brother of former Pacers Justin and Aaron Holiday; he’s in the middle.

Jrue entered the NBA in 2009 out of UCLA, was the missing piece acquired via trade by the Bucks that led to their 2021 NBA Championship and twice has been named an NBA All-Star.

Those appearances, however, came 10 years apart.

And both times, he came off the bench. Which means he was voted in by head coaches across the league rather than simply winning a popularity contest. It meant more.

So after participating in the All-Star game last month in Salt Lake City, Holiday sat down with his wife, Indy native Lauren Cheney, to write hand-written notes to every head coach in the NBA and thank them for their vote.

“He went on to say that it was something he didn’t take for granted, he didn’t take lightly,” Carlisle said. “I thought it was a great gesture. Never gotten anything like that before. You get a lot of things before the All-Star vote, you get all kinds of things.

“There was one year I got a signed pair of shoes from one player; there was one where it was two bottles of really high-level wine; and there’s some creative stuff, but never an after-the-fact one.

“That was heartwarming to receive that.”

Carlisle wasn’t done yet. He had just touched on Jrue’s character, now he wanted to highlight his game.

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As the double doors swung open on the northwest side of the St. Vincent Center, to enter the Pacers’ practice courts, the scene was very different.

It immediately became clear that this was no ordinary practice. And team practices are rare this late in a season.

Six high school students from The Independence Academy Innovative Autism School were seated at two tables with Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle at one end and Ted Wu, VP of Basketball Operations and Cap Management at the other. It was fitting for those two to be involved because these select students were able to sign one-day contracts with the team.

Each of these autistic students were handpicked for a variety of reasons — like being hard workers and good students.

Marisa Gill, the wife of former Pacer Eddie Gill, who you still see and hear on Pacers broadcasts, serves the director of the school and she helped organize this special interaction and unique opportunity.

“It was special, they went all out and I know all these kids had an all-around amazing experience of a lifetime,” Marisa said afterward over the phone. “We’re so grateful that they let us do it. It meant so much to the kids.”

Place cards with their name beside a Pacers logo was propped up in front of each student and there were even two microphones set up, just like a traditional press conference.

Each student was asked to say a few words, Pacers sideline reporter Jeremiah Johnson asked a few questions — and then two others spoke up. Myles Turner and assistant coach Jenny Boucek each asked a question, which was on brand. Those two have a great feel for the moment and the big picture.

Myles asked one student for his favorite brand of sneaker. “Nike,” he replied, which appealed to most of the Pacers roster.

Turner and Oshae Brissett then presented them all with gift cards to the team store so they could purchase Pacers gear. Even more, the two players went with the students to make their selections.

But first, the students were presented with a customized Pacers jersey — including their own name and number. That’s in addition to the swag bag they received, lunch, a full tour of the Pacers and Fever locker rooms, and recording a hype video together in front of a green screen.

Before departing for the team store, the students took a group photo with the entire team and then got some shots up on the court on their way out.

This was a memorable day, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for these kids to be at Pacers practice and engage with the players.

More about The Independence Academy: As Indiana’s accredited academic school for 4th–12th grade students on the autism spectrum, Independence Academy has forged its reputation by helping diploma-track students in grades 4–12 establish theirs. Independence Academy is the ultimate manifestation of an innovative autism school. Academic excellence, social, and emotional skill building redefined.

Buddy Hield has a laundry list of items that are part of his daily routine. From his daily tweet giving thanks … to his individual warmup that includes a massage and stretching with massage therapist Jon Christopher, shooting a piece of paper into the arms of someone courtisde before tipoff and touching the ball during any stoppage in play.

It’s a lot.

And it’s all done for a reason, something he learned from Harrison Barnes.

“If you look at a bad night with Buddy, the next day might have five different workouts,” assistant coach Lloyd Piece said with a smile. “He is about as consistent of a player as I’ve seen in terms of his game prep.

“He’s like a baseball player; he has a routine, he has a rhythm and he keeps it.”

Hield, however, was unable to complete his routine on Monday. He was under the weather, at home and away from the team with a non-Covid illness.

And by not playing against the Dallas Mavericks, his streak of 101 consecutive games played since being acquired by the Pacers in Feb. 2022 officially came to an end.

“That’s something that’s very important to him,” head coach Rick Carlisle said prior to their 127-104 loss. “He takes a lot of pride in it.

“He’s a guy that’s gonna kick and scream before he misses a game, but this is something where the doctor intervened and just said, ‘This is what we have to do, this is what you have to do.’ I’m sure he’ll feel better in a couple days and we’ll see where we are there. He’s got to be very disappointed.”

More than his streak with the Pacers, Hield had appeared in 174 consecutive games dating back to his time with the Sacramento Kings.

Even more: Before Monday night, Hield had only been sidelined just once over the last five seasons: a stretch of 446 games played.

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There’s no place like home.

That has to be the feeling throughout the Pacers after having been on the road for most of March. Three big trips and most recently, a stretch with seven of eight games being played elsewhere. And only time for a couple practices as the team facility.

You would like for it to be spread out rather than piled up at the end of the season. That’s especially important when a new team, which lack continuity, is trying to come together.

Now they’re back after playing away from Gainbridge Fieldhouse for 11 of the past 14 games. And with just two weeks left in the NBA’s regular season, the Pacers are at home for five of the final seven games to conclude this season — including all three this week.

“This team’s gotten closer,” head coach Rick Carlisle said earlier this month.

“These guys care about each other, they like each other. They’re constantly working to connect better. Our young guys are more and more figuring out what it means to be accountable, to be professional, to have the responsibility to go into the game and play the right way. Play defense, help teammates get shots, those kinds of things. A lot of good things have been happening.”

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As you’re watching another Pacers game without Tyrese Haliburton, you’re probably thinking what I’m thinking: this is a very, very different team without No. 0 on the court. Not nearly as productive, organized, free-flowing or fun. They look like a shell of themselves when he’s not in uniform.

Because Haliburton has changed everything.

And it’s not just me saying it, but also head coach Rick Carlisle, team president Kevin Pritchard and other players around the league.

“He’s a great young player,” Carlisle said last week. “Very vibrant, very skilled. Great leadership. Getting better all the time. A franchise pillar, obviously.

“He’s changed everything with this organization. He’s changed the entire vibe of it, he’s changed the atmosphere day-to-day in the locker room and the way people view Indiana Pacers basketball. He loves the challenge. He loves the responsibility of the challenge in being the leader on the court.

“Nothing but props to him. And, he’s nowhere reached his ceiling as a player.”

The Pacers (31-38) dropped to 3-13 this season when he doesn’t play. And that’s when they’ve also turned in some of their worst performances, including a 117-97 loss Monday night in Detroit to a team that is tanking and had lost 11 games in a row.

How about that 110-99 loss in San Antonio two weeks ago? That's right, no Haliburton and that turned into an embarrassing performance. Arguably their worst showing of the season.

There shouldn't be this big of drop-off. There can't be. Not against the lottery-bound Spurs, Pistons — or any other team for that matter.

When their All-Star point guard is playing, like before this two-game trip in Detroit, he's beyond special. In those three previous games, he averaged 32.3 points and 15.3 assists per game while shooting 46.6% from beyond the arc, 95.2% at the foul line and led them to two wins.

There are two grand takeaways: The team must figure out how to prevent such steep drop-offs; although he is the tone-setter and is the orchestrator on the floor, other Pacers must pick up the slack when he’s in street clothes.

The other takeaway is encouraging because it’s another reminder of how Haliburton doesn’t just lift the team with his play, but also the play of those around him. That’s the true mark of a star player — does he elevate others?

And Haliburton, 23, absolutely does.

Center Myles Turner may be the best example of that. Yes, he’s the solo 5 this season but he’s playing the best basketball of his career: 18 points and 7.6 rebounds per game, 38.5% from outside and he’s having fun again.

How about “big brother” Buddy Hield? He’s averaging 17.3 points and shooting 42.8% from outside this season in his first full season with the Pacers. He’s the only one to play in all 69 games. And his play, shots taken and shooting percentage aren’t nearly as good without Haliburton, who becomes the primary concern for defenses, gets the team running and always makes the smart pass.

Against the Pistons on Monday, Hield finished with seven points on 1-of-7 shooting. In those 10 games Haliburton missed after injuries in New York, Hield failed to reach double figures in four — and twice he failed to even make a 3-pointer. And he’s been making almost four per game this season.

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Dressed in a black hat, a black long-sleeve mock shirt and with a credential around his neck was none other than Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle.

He joined Rucker and the band on stage to play one song, something he’s done with Rucker at about a half-dozen live shows over the years. He's also performed with Bruce Hornsby many times.

“I’ve gotten to know a lot of great musicians over the years, some of the best in the world, and that’s always been an inspirational thing,” he said.

The Pacers head coach, also a licensed pilot who once owned a plane, started playing when he was 10 years old. It’s a thrill for him, a mix of being a challenge and a release away from basketball.

“Took two lessons and basically bailed on it because learning that way didn’t work for me,” he said. “And then I picked it up again in college when I transferred schools (from the University of Maine to the University of Virginia), took a year and just grinded and figured it out myself — which I wouldn’t recommend as a way to learn. So it’s been since the early ‘80s.”

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It’s been an emotional last several days for the Indiana Pacers. They knew the day was coming, but that doesn’t make it any easier.

David Benner, the director of public relations for the last 28 seasons, passed away at 67 years old on Wednesday morning after a 13-year fight with cancer — which he beat twice before.

The team has been on the road for more than a week, part of a 10-day, four-game road trip with two stops in Texas. And in many ways, that’s a good thing.

In a time where so many of them are grieving the loss of their teammate, someone who had worked in the NBA longer than most of the players had been alive, they could all be together.

For Thursday’s game against the Spurs at the AT&T Center, head coach Rick Carlisle and members of his staff, plus a few others, wore gray hoodies with a photo of Benner on the front. It was the least they could do to remember their friend.

In true Benner fashion, it was a throwback photo.

Longtime team photographer Frank McGrath, who passed away almost two years ago, used to take individual headshots of each player and staff member at media day each fall. McGrath needed to test the lighting and backdrop so, Benner being Benner, put on a jersey to help.

Throughout the years, this photo kept resurfacing in the archives because everyone thought it was hilarious. An official team photo … with Benner in a Pacers jersey … and, wait, is that blonde hair?

So the hoodies with this photo on the front were originally ordered for April 3 of last season when the franchise celebrated Benner’s contributions — 28 seasons in media relations and eight more as a writer covering the team (1983-91) — at a home game.

But they didn’t arrive on time.

Benner’s PR team included Krissy Myers for 23 years and Wes Kaminski since 2013. Myers and Kaminski worked for months planning that special night, like Hall of Famer Reggie Miller and his oldest child, Ryker, surprising Benner at halfcourt during the pre-game ceremony.

Benner was stunned and moved to tears of joy. (Watch for yourself.)

Those hoodies arrived for the home finale, so Myers and Kaminski broke them out for the first time. And since, a box of them have been in Myers’ office at the St. Vincent Center in downtown Indianapolis.

After the Pacers announced on Wednesday that Benner had passed away, Kaminski, who is not on the road trip, sent whatever was left overnight via FedEx to the team hotel in San Antonio ahead of their game on Thursday.

And thankfully, this time they arrived as planned.

“Not just [Thursday] night, but for the past 48 hours, the outpouring of emails, calls, texts, everything that we’ve seen,” Myers said of what’s stood out. She was speaking by phone on Friday from Chicago, the final stop of their four-game road trip.

“We knew he was well-loved. I had no idea it was gonna be like this. It’s been absolutely amazing to hear from so many people.”

You got to love this line from Benner’s obituary. Those around the team, and especially local reporters, will nod their head in agreement.

David had a keen sense of humor that brought delight and laughter to everyone. He was a friend to all (except photographers who strayed from their courtside spaces and ESPN personalities who thought they were above the rules) and developed respectful and lasting relationships with local and national media as well his media relations colleagues in the NBA league office and other franchises.

See Also: The Pacers and NBA community remembers David Benner

About Those Hoodies…

Down in San Antonio, Myers only had about 10 of the custom hoodies. Not nearly enough for everyone who wanted to wear one, so they shared.

A few players wanted to wear them for the walk out of the hotel and into the arena. Those moments are always photographed by the team and then shared on social media.

However, because of the changeover in the roster over the last year or so, only a few knew Benner well. George Hill, Myles Turner and T.J. McConnell.

Tyrese Haliburton and Buddy Hield have been Pacers for barely 13 months, but it’s notable that Haliburton was one of the players to request a hoodie. This is another picture-perfect example — pun intended — of how Haliburton gets it.

He’s the star of the team. He’s the face of the franchise. Fans watch his every move closely and players follow his lead. The fact that he wore this hoodie, not just for the walk-in but also on the bench at the game (since he was sidelined with an injury), speaks volume about his character.

And while this is just Carlisle's second season as Pacers head coach, it's his third stint with the team. So he overlapped with Benner during the 1997-2000 seasons while an assistant on Larry Bird’s staff, and then again from 2003-07 as head coach.

"I have lost a friend," Bird said this week (via the team). "David was great to work with and he will be greatly missed by all of us. My condolences to David's family.”

One of my favorite things to watch in his return to Indiana is Carlisle understanding the moment. He understands when players need picked up or to be let loose. He gives proper credit when it’s due and he recognizes those who impact the franchise daily.

As Benner did.

So when Carlisle learned about the hoodies, he asked Myers if they had enough for the coaches to all wear one on the front of the bench during the game.

Indeed, they did.

“Watching the reaction to all this has been so great,” said Myers, the associate director of media relations who started with the franchise in 1999.

It gets even better, though.

The players and staff learned about Benner’s passing during an 11:30 a.m. meeting in San Antonio, and in another example of Carlisle reading the situation, he brought several staff members to the front of the room to share their memories with the young team.

“A man of great integrity, a man that was fiercely loyal to the franchise,” Carlisle said of Benner. “He was a mentor, a father-figure, a great advisor. Personally, if I really think hard, I don’t know if I can think of anyone else that I’ve ever known that did so much for so many, and asked for such little in return. I think he’ll legacy will be as one of the all-time givers in the history of the Pacers organization.”

Later in the day, after answering questions during his regular pre-game press conference — 90 minutes before each road game — he did his usual interview with Jeremiah Johnson for the local Bally Sports Indiana broadcast. Carlisle was in control and he wanted this one to be different. To be special.

He grabbed the microphone from JJ and included Myers to speak about her close friend and longtime boss.

“It meant everything,” Myers said. “It was an absolute surprise to me. We had finished up media and he was getting ready to do his interview with JJ and said, ‘Oh, Krissy is gonna do this interview with me.’

“I said, ‘Krissy is going to what?’ And he said, ‘Come on, come on up.’

“Being able to speak about David was amazing to tell people what he meant to me, what he meant to our franchise. The opportunity was great.”

This has been a lot for Myers and others to process. As I wrote this week, it’s a giant loss to many — especially inside the franchise. Even in retirement, he regularly attended home games until the cancer returned.

Now, no longer will Myers be able to call or text Benner with a question, to run something by him or to simply check in on him. But the memories created and guidance she received for several decades will stick with her every day.

“Yeah, I’ve thought about it a lot,” she said, pausing to collect her thoughts.

“He was my voice of reason. We all know I can get a little fiery and feisty from time to time. He calmed me down and helped me come to a rational email or a rational text before I fired off what I actually wanted to say most of the time. I’ll miss that.

“More than that, though, I’ll miss his friendship. He was more than a friend. He was everything to us.”

The team will be holding a memorial service for him, at 11 a.m. on Wednesday in the entry pavilion at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. That’s fitting because he spent more than half his life with the Pacers — the franchise he grew up rooting for the most.

And once again, several staff members will likely be wearing those gray hoodies to honor and celebrate their friend and teammate gone too soon.

In his third season as a pro, Jordan Nwora was averaging 15 minutes per game, fewer minutes than he played the season prior. His shooting percentages were up, he was growing to be more comfortable on the floor.

However, he was outside the rotation and thus he was expendable.

And so at the trade deadline, back on Feb. 9, the Milwaukee Bucks traded their 2020 second-round pick to Indy for a package that included George Hill, Serge Ibaka and three second-round picks.

For the Bucks, it allowed for them to add veteran Jae Crowder to their championship-contending roster via trade while offloading players and their salaries.

For the Pacers, they were the beneficiary of additional draft capital while adding an intriguing piece in Nwora at power forward, plus bringing back home Hill. Ibaka was waived.

Whereas Hill had been traded several times before, including by the Pacers in 2016, this was a first-time experience for Nwora. (Ignore the N, it’s pronounced WORE-uh).

“In the moment, definitely a little bit of shock,” he said of the trade. “First time going through it — but super, super excited. I told a bunch of people this, obviously I went to school in Louisville, so really close. Actually, my first NBA game was when I was at Louisville here. We watched Donovan [Mitchell] play. So yeah, it’s a little special coming back here, being able to play here now. So definitely excited.”

This deal, in many ways, feels like the Pacers’ offseason trade of Malcolm Brogdon to Boston for several pieces, plus a draft pick. One piece was veteran center Daniel Theis. And another was Aaron Nesmith, a lottery pick in Nwora’s 2020 class, whose role was minimal because of talented players ahead of him.

The Pacers had tracked Nesmith, they were interested to see what he could do with a permanent spot in the rotation, but the trade was completed to move off of Brogdon’s salary and receive a first-round pick in return.

Now in his third season, on a new team and counted on, he’s starting and playing nearly 25 minutes per game.

“I do think there is a similarity situationally,” head coach Rick Carlisle said after the trade. “Jordan just got limited opportunities because of their veterans and a lot of the guys that were in front of him just didn’t get injured that much.

“He just gets the ball in the basket. The guy is a gifted scorer. This will be a great opportunity for him. … We feel that he can play both the 3 and the 4 positions. He’s bigger and taller than most people think and he’s been in a great system with great coaching in Milwaukee.”

The 2020 draft class was a unique one in that it was the Covid year, so that class didn’t have a draft combine, it didn’t have pre-draft workouts and draft night was not normal. Nwora becomes the fourth player from his draft class to join the Pacers, all via trade, along with lottery picks Tyrese Haliburton, Jalen Smith and Nesmith.

The 24 year old didn’t have a relationship with those new teammates previously, but he’s “excited to learn and grow with them.”

However, Nwora is already comfortable with Hill. He’s known Oshae Brissett for a while because Brissett played at Syracuse and Nwora is from Buffalo. And he played against Andrew Nembhard back in high school.

See Also: So you're traded to the Pacers ... now what?

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SALT LAKE CITY — Less than 15 minutes after Team Giannis had defeated Team LeBron in the 72nd NBA All-Star game, Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton arrived at the mix zone to discuss his All-Star experience with the media.

By the end of it, he acknowledged how he had made a big rookie mistake.

“This is my first All-Star game so I was like I want to be here and enjoy it. But, man, I think out of the 24 All-Stars, the other 23 all said we’re leaving after tonight,” Haliburton said. “So I might be the only one staying tonight, but it’s all right. My fam is here, we’re just about to have a good night.”

By the time reporters arrived on the event level of Vivint Arena, LeBron James was wrapping up at the podium. He was a team captain and played in the first half, then sat out the final two quarters with a right hand contusion. And soon after, he was on the next plane smoking…

“He’s probably on the beach already,” Haliburton joked. "I wouldn’t be surprised.”

See… that’s the veteran, savvy move. In and out of the city on the same day.

Haliburton, meanwhile, is just 22 years old and in his third NBA season. He was voted into the game for the first time by head coaches, which means more than the starters vote because that’s simply a popularity contest.

Haliburton was rewarded for his improved play, helping the Pacers get off to a fast start and averaging 20 points and 10 assists per game this season.

“It’s a great feeling to be part of a select few,” James said earlier this month when discussing Haliburton’s play. “… It’s definitely a respect thing. He’s been playing good basketball this year.”

Before the big game, Haliburton reached the finals of the 3-point contest on Saturday. He matched the record for points scored in a round (31), but lost to fellow All-Star Damian Lillard in the finals.

Then on Sunday night, before the game tipped off at 8:44 p.m. ET, the NBA held a live draft of teams for the first time. It lasted about a half hour, then Post Malone performed before the players returned to the floor for another warmup period.

Haliburton was pleasantly surprised to be the eighth reserve selected (of 14) — and he loved the fact it was by LeBron, a player he watched and admired while growing up Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

“Like I always say, I go into things having low expectations so I thought for sure I was gonna be the last pick today,” he said. “Surprised that I came in the middle, but I was like that’s dope.”

This weekend is a showcase for the league. The game reaches fans in 214 countries and territories in 60 language. For Haliburton and the Pacers it represents a larger reach because they’ve only appeared on national TV once this season.

Haliburton came off the bench for the first time in the second quarter of Team Giannis’ 184-175 win. It didn’t even have the intensity of a pick-up game because no defense was played. Haliburton observed how loose the game was being played, then checked in with 9:47 on the clock, notably replacing ex-Pacer Paul George on Team LeBron.

He wasn’t anxious or nervous. Those feelings left him after he air-balled his first shot during team practice on Saturday morning.

“I’m coming off the bench so I just read the energy of the game,” he said of the lack of defense. “I was just doing what everybody else was doing. They let me get a dunk, tell Buddy [Hield] that. Count that on the list too.”

The reference above to Hield speaks to their brotherly relationship and how it’s always a competition. They keeping track of which player dunks more in games this season.

And unsurprisingly, Haliburton recorded two assists before scoring for the first time. That came with 5:32 left in the half, a dunk coming off a dribble hand-off with Philadelphia center Joel Embiid.

Haliburton finished with 18 points in just 14 minutes. He was 7 of 9 from the field, 4 of 6 from distance — and he contributed three assists and a rebound.

And he was not played by head coach Michael Malone (of the Nuggets) in the first or third quarters. What’s up with that? Haliburton didn’t get an explanation.

“Nah,” he said with a smile. “I was like ‘You can play me as much as you want, as little as you want. I don’t care. I’m just happy to be here.’ … I had a good time. Made use of my minutes and had fun out there.”

This was both the next milestone in his career, a reward for what he’s accomplished, and a push for bigger things. Greatness inspires greatness and he had many conversations with fellow All-Stars throughout the weekend.

Like Bucks guard Jrue Holiday.

“I talk to him all the time,” Holiday said. “For one, he can get to it. Boy, he came out and was knocking down 3s, getting layups and ended with, what, 20 points? I love the way he plays. He kind of has this unorthodox way of playing, but you can tell by his energy, you can tell by how he leads his team, he’s somebody that I would love to play with. Talking to him on this trip has been cool.”

Haliburton’s locker was next to De’Aaron Fox and Kyrie Irving. “Obviously playing with Fox for a year and a half [in Sacramento], then I looked up to Kyrie for a while as somebody I truly believe that I can speak to at any time. I always feel like we have a great conversation when we talk.

“The biggest thing I hope to get out of this experience is getting to know guys better. I think being here at All-Stars, people are going to maybe look at me a little different. I think it’s solidified me a little bit more so that’s really cool.”

Haliburton scored 11 of his 18 points in the final quarter. Jayson Tatum went off, piled up an All-Star record 55 points and then was named game MVP.

It wasn’t a true basketball game since defense wasn’t just optional, it was nonexistent. But this is the one time each year where most of the league’s best players are in the same city and on the same court at the same time.

Haliburton and his three Pacers teammates at All-Star weekend didn’t get a vacation after 60 games; no beach time. Instead, they all returned to Indy afterward.

“We got practice on Tuesday, you know RC [Rick Carlisle] don’t play,” Haliburton said.

However, before he departed Salt Lake City on Monday, Haliburton enjoyed Sunday night with those closest to him — including his parents, girlfriend and a few close friends. They gathered together for a nice dinner, where he then took time to reflect on the last couple of years and all it took for him to earn his place as an All-Star.

“I think that’s what it’s been about all week, taking a step back and reflecting,” he said. “Now get past this, get home and be ready to finish the season out right.”

Of course, this isn’t the end of his story … it’s merely the beginning.

He has greater individual and team goals. And that includes being an All-Star in his city next year when Indianapolis hosts the 2024 All-Star game.

“It’ll be fun,” he said excitedly. “I’m already starting to plan some stuff. I see how hectic it is out here for Donovan [Mitchell] just coming back to Utah. In Indy, I’ll make sure that it’s my home. I’ll make sure everybody’s taken care of.

“Being at home, I don’t have to stay in a hotel or anything. I can stay in my house, just come to practice, come to the game so I’m excited about that. I got to get back here next year.”

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