Pacers staff visits St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital during Memphis stop
Twelve members of the team’s traveling party spent part of their day on a recent trip to Memphis learning about the hospital’s life-changing work.
The Indiana Pacers opened a three-game road trip in Memphis for their second game of the young season.
While several players and staff members made their annual visit to The Lorraine Motel — the historic site of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination in 1968 and home to the National Civil Rights Museum — others spent part of their off-day engaging in another meaningful experience.
Twelve members of the Pacers’ traveling party visited St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, one of the nation’s leading centers for pediatric catastrophic disease research and treatment.
The group included point guard T.J. McConnell, who recently returned from a hamstring strain, along with members of the team’s athletic training, player relations, equipment, public relations, and broadcast.
During the visit, they toured the facility, learned about St. Jude’s pioneering work in childhood cancer and other life-threatening illnesses, and met with staff who help carry out the hospital’s mission.
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For many NBA teams, including the Pacers, a stop at St. Jude has become a meaningful tradition when the schedule allows.
With no back-to-back on the calendar, the Pacers had the flexibility to make the visit on Friday, Oct. 24. Team staff noted that time spent learning about local history, supporting community institutions, and engaging beyond basketball is a valuable part of life on the road.
The National Basketball Athletic Trainers Association later highlighted the Pacers’ visit on social media, helping draw additional attention to the hospital’s mission and the organization’s ongoing work.