Tyrese Haliburton gives back to Oshkosh with $3 million donation
Pacers return home: Tyrese Haliburton donates $3M to high school, Isaiah Jackson hosts camp, Boucek and Dunn celebrate Sue Bird.
Tyrese Haliburton may not be well-liked back home in many parts of Wisconsin, but his hometown of Oshkosh remains very special to him.
The Pacers guard has helped knock the Milwaukee Bucks out of the first-round of the NBA players in each of the last two years, and he’s shared that even the Milwaukee Brewers took back their invitation for him to throw out the first pitch.
Still, Haliburton will never forget where he came from.
Two years after signing a supermax contract with the Pacers worth up to $260 million, Haliburton has pledged a $3 million donation to the athletics fund at his high school.
That includes enhancements to the gymnasium — including a new scoreboard, video board, and upgraded weight room.
Already, the boys basketball team is outfitted by PUMA after Haliburton switched from Nike less than one year ago. He’s a signature athlete and last season, debuted the Hali 1s. When Haliburton played at Oshkosh, they wore Jordan Brand.
The announcement was made while Haliburton was back in town both to host a free youth camp, and also celebrate a special Spartan.
On Friday evening, he was part of a big group that helped the school's dedication of the “Frank Schade Fieldhouse.”
The donation isn’t just a simple gesture; the Oshkosh North basketball remains special to him and he follows closely. He gets updates from coach Brad Weber. When he can, like one year ago, he hosted the team to a Pacers shootaround in Milwaukee and then talked basketball with them afterward.
“Tyrese has always been committed to giving more to each environment he is in than taking,” tweeted coach Weber. “Great. Dude.”
Haliburton won a state championship in 2018. There’s a photo of the team on one of the baselines of the gym, along with a banner hung from the rafters to celebrate him being named Wisconsin’s Player of the Year.
And still, as Haliburton frequently likes to joke, the University of Wisconsin did not recruit him.
Now he's on a supermax contract with the Pacers; he's the face of the franchise. He's a two-time All-Star (2023, 2024), and has been voted All-NBA twice (2024, 2025). With great wealth, comes great responsibility. And this is something he’s very passionate about.
Here’s what he told local reporters at the event.
This community, this school means a lot to me. I really cherish this place. I cherish the people within it as well. And I know that I wouldn't be where I am without this place.
And I think the sense of community is something that's been instilled in me my whole life from my family and understanding, not to forget where you come from. I think that's just the most important thing.
Anything I can do to help out this school or this community in general, I tend to jump at the opportunity to do so. It's exciting for me and I think exciting for everybody to be a part of. And I'm really excited to see what our what our school can do with the money given and just other things moving forward.
Two years ago, after a big press conference on the main court of Gainbridge Fieldhouse to celebrate his new contract, I spoke with his father, John, about the deal — including why he still lives in Oshkosh and commutes back and forth to Indy for games.
“The reason why I do this is for people to understand this is where they were born and raised,” he said. “In the house that we have. I want them to be able to come back home, in that house where it all started. If they want to do away with that house, they got to wait ’til I die. When I die, who cares because I’m not gonna know so they can do what they want to. But as of right now, that house is standing.
“And with that house standing, that means they’re standing from little on up. That’s why I really appreciate being in Oshkosh. This is where he’s from, his dad is still there, I represent him 150%, and we keep the dream alive.”
Tyrese, who has already been ruled out for the upcoming 2025-26 season, is now exactly eight weeks removed from surgery on his Achilles. He’s off the scooter and is able to walk. He’s out of the boot (at times) and able to wear regular shoes — PUMA, of courses — but the next step is for him to wear shoes all of the time.
Isaiah Jackson Too
The Pacers center hosted his fifth annual free basketball camp last Saturday at Woodside Bible Church back home in Pontiac, Michigan. It was for kids ages 8-13 — and part of his IJ4THEKIDS FOUNDATION.
Like Haliburton, he’s recovering from a torn right Achilles tendon — only Jackson is nine months ahead of him. Jackson had surgery in early November.
The Pacers were among about a dozen camp sponsors to help make it happen.
Last month, Jackson, 23, signed a three-year deal with the Pacers worth $21 million. And following the departure of Myles Turner in free agency, he will be in line to compete for the starting job.
Boucek, Dunn Return to Seattle
Haliburton and Jackson weren’t the only ones that spent the weekend somewhere that is near and dear to their hearts.
Now, about one month before the start of training camp — yes, already — is a good time for these players to return home, reconnect with their roots, and take care of future generations.
On the women’s side, former Fever head coach (and current consultant) Lin Dunn and Pacers assistant coach Jenny Boucek, returned to Seattle for a very special weekend.
Dunn coached there from 2000-02 and Boucek was a former assistant and head coach of the Storm.
It was Sue Bird day.
On Sunday, they unveiled a statue of Bird outside Climate Pledge Arena, where her No. 10 jersey has already been retired and hung in the rafters.
In a few weeks, Bird will be inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame as well, part of the Class of 2025.
It was clearly a special afternoon in Seattle — and an opportunity to reunite former players and coaches to celebrate one of the greatest women’s basketball players.
Bird, by the way, hosted Caitlin Clark on her podcast “Bird’s Eye View” recently.