AMES – No. 9 Iowa State’s win over No. 22 Arizona was not the only thing celebrated Saturday night. Former Cyclone players Tyrese Haliburton and Georges Niang were in attendance, which added to the already electric atmosphere.
This game was circled on many calendars since Haliburton, who played at Iowa State from 2018-20 and is now a current NBA star with the Indiana Pacers, had a banner dropped for winning a gold medal at the Paris Olympics with Team USA.
Even with all of the games and getting to know other NBA stars on a personal level, Haliburton’s favorite part of his time on the gold medal team was the very beginning.
“The most surreal moment for me, honestly, was our first team meeting,” Haliburton said. “Couldn’t have dreamt of being a part of something like that.”
Haliburton became the ninth Cyclone to become an Olympic gold medalist and the first in men’s basketball.
When Haliburton started his journey at Iowa State, he had to learn much more than becoming an NBA-level talent.
“When I came here at 18 years old, I didn’t know how to do a lot of things by myself,” Haliburton said. “Didn’t know how to do laundry, didn’t know how to do the dishes. I had to kind of grow up pretty quickly. Thank God I met the love of my life here, and that quickly really helped change things for me.”
As a Cyclone, Haliburton played 57 games and averaged 10.1 points, 4.4 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game. It was after one of those games in his sophomore season that Haliburton will never forget what Niang did for him.
“I have a vivid memory of losing to Iowa my sophomore year and going to the gym to work out after the game and being on FaceTime with [Niang] to vent my frustrations, and he just sat there and listened,” Haliburton said.
Times like those are how their friendship took off. Even though Haliburton and Niang never played together as Cyclones, their bond formed when Haliburton was at Iowa State and strengthened when he was preparing for the NBA.
Niang, who played at Iowa State from 2012-16, reflected on his time as a Cyclone. In his time, he made the NCAA Tournament all four seasons, won two Big 12 Tournament titles, surpassed the 2,000-point threshold and became the all-time program leader in games played and won.
“I had a lot of great years at Iowa State, we got to do a lot of cool things,” Niang said. “I wouldn’t trade any of the experiences for anything.”
When Haliburton was ready to enter the next level of his career, he turned to Niang for advice. Now, Niang is a nine-year NBA veteran, and Haliburton is emerging as one of the top players in the league.
During Haliburton’s stage of getting ready for the NBA, he had to tell himself that he likely would never have his name up in the rafters at Hilton Coliseum. But after winning a gold medal in Paris a few years later, a few phone calls solidified his place in the rafters forever.
“I had a big smile,” Haliburton said when he got the news. “I was only here two years, and I kind of just came to peace with the fact that there’d probably be nothing of me in here.”
When Niang found out, he knew he had to be here to support the man Haliburton called his best friend, but he still poked fun at Haliburton for leaving early.
“I constantly tell him he’s an Iowa State dropout. A multi-millionaire, but Iowa State dropout,” Niang joked.
Still, Niang made sure to give Haliburton his praise.
“I think it’s awesome,” Niang said. “Any time you have someone that can achieve success at the highest level, I mean, when you talk about winning an Olympic gold medal, you’re in a very small fraternity of people.”
It had also been a while since Haliburton had returned to Ames, but there was no better time for the former Cyclone to make his reappearance in front of a packed Hilton Coliseum crowd.
“The last time I was here was senior night, 2020,” Haliburton said. “This place means the world to me.”
Iowa State and the city of Ames meant so much to Haliburton and his girlfriend, Jade, that they decided to name their dog Ames, after the place they met.
“We met here, she was a cheerleader here,” Haliburton said. “We wanted to do something that connected both of us, so it was an obvious decision.”
At halftime of the game, it was time for the ceremony. Haliburton was with his parents and wore his gold medal around his neck when the white banner rolled down and was unveiled for the first time, much to the Hilton crowd’s approval.
Haliburton and Niang sat together courtside for the game, and head coach T.J. Otzelberger highlighted their willingness to return and show support for the school they once attended.
“We’re so appreciative of not only everything they did when they were here, but the things they continue to do, not even as much as the accomplishments on the court, but the pride they have in Iowa State,” Otzelberger said. “It’s one thing when you have great players and they’re back, it’s another thing when you have great human beings who have tremendous pride in this program.”
The duo wants to ensure this is not the only Iowa State sporting event they attend in the 2025 calendar year.
“My plan is to go to Ireland with the football team this fall. Me and Georges are planning to do that together,” Haliburton said. “Plan to come to the Iowa game for the football game this year. Any excuse I can find to come to Ames is important to me.”
It shows once again how close the two are and how much Iowa State means to them.
“I had the opportunity with our schedules to have a chance to come out here and support him, just like when I get something put up here, he’ll be there to support me,” Niang said.
“I can genuinely say that man is my best friend,” Haliburton said. “I know we’re not far off from 31 going in the rafters, and when that day happens, I will be here for sure.”
