Tyrese Haliburton and Indiana Pacers teammates and coaches hand out hot meals for Thanksgiving Dinner

The Pacers hosted the event for the 26th time on Thursday

On Thursday, Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton hosted the annual Come To Our House Thanksgiving Dinner inside of Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Haliburton, along with several of his teammates, coaches, and Indiana Fever players plus staff served a holiday dinner to hundreds of attendees experiencing homelessness in central Indiana.

"The biggest thing for me is to give back to where I play here in Indy," Haliburton said during his opening remarks to everyone. There were tables everywhere in the entry pavilion of the arena.

It's the 26th year for the event, and it's the second-straight year that Haliburton has hosted the gathering. He loves giving back to the Indianapolis community, something he promised to do when he committed to the Pacers by signing a contract extension in the summer.

"He's a leader on and off the court," Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle shared of Haliburton.

Many of Haliburton's Pacers teammates — including Ben Sheppard, Obi Toppin, Andrew Nembhard, Aaron Nesmith, Myles Turner, and Bruce Brown, among others — were volunteering. Fever wing Lexie Hull and guard Erica Wheeler were also serving at the event.

Obi Toppin, Aaron Nesmith, and Ben Sheppard arrive at the Pacers annual Come To Our House Thanksgiving Dinner on November 16, 2023. (Mandatory Photo Credit: Tony East)

There were tons of activities for those in attendance to partake in, including face painting, autographs, and more. "I don't want to talk about it, I want to be about it," Haliburton said of being involved in the community. He loves seeing people smile, and he can feel the buzz around the team right now.

The Pacers are 7-4 and off to a strong start. They have already taken down Milwaukee, Cleveland (twice), and Philadelphia this season while holding the best offensive rating in the NBA. They've been elite when it comes to scoring the ball.

Some of that is because of Haliburton's play, but some of it is due to how close the team is on and off the court. The star guard was thrilled that so many of his teammates chose to join him at the event.

Indiana Pacers guard Ben Sheppard serves food alongside the team's mascot, Boomer, at the Pacers annual Come To Our House Thanksgiving Dinner on November 16, 2023. (Mandatory Photo Credit: Tony East)

"It means the world. They don't have to be here... they're choosing to be here to help out in the community with me," he said. He noted that it speaks to the bond the team has.

The Pacers next play on Sunday when they host the Orlando Magic. They'll look to get a winning streak going against another ascending Eastern Conference team.

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