What Indiana Pacers’ Tyrese Haliburton Eats Before Every NBA Finals Game

What Indiana Pacers’ Tyrese Haliburton Eats Before Every NBA Finals Game originally appeared on Parade.

If you don’t know who Tyrese Haliburton is, just ask your boyfriend or your husband (or a basketball girly like me) who he is and they (or I) will go on and on about him. The Indiana Pacers basketball player’s star is on the rise, and shows no signs of stopping anytime soon.

The 25-year-old NBA athlete spent last summer representing Team USA in the men’s basketball team at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Alongside LeBron James, Steph Curry, Kevin Durant and eight other top class NBA all-stars, Haliburton brought home a gold medal for Team USA. And now, he’s helped the Indiana Pacers make it to the NBA Finals (the team’s last time hosting the finals was in 2000), where they’re squaring off against the Oklahoma City Thunder for the championship title.

With Game 3 of the NBA Finals on tonight and the series tied at 1-1, there’s a lot on the line for the Pacers—and all eyes are on Haliburton, the team’s young star. Most high-pressure athletes seem to have a routine they stick to before a big competition so naturally, we had to wonder what Hali may depend on and the answer was perfectly suited for someone who lives and breathes the great game of basketball.

In an interview with GQ in 2023, Haliburton provided a play-by-play of his game day routine and he told the magazine that for lunch he eats “the same thing every time.” His go-to? “Chicken, rice and a green juice. From there, I’ll be on my way to the arena to get prepared.”

What Makes Tyrese Haliburton’s Game Day Lunch So Special?

Even if your profession doesn’t involve playing a high-profile, physically demanding sport, Haliburton’s go-to combination makes a great office or work-from-home lunch.

Chicken and rice is an iconic pairing. It provides a great balance of protein and carbohydrates to power you through until dinner time. As for green juice, it’s an easy and delicious way to get in your daily dose of vegetables. The importance of balanced meals isn’t lost on the Pacers’ point guard. “It’s just about getting the right foods in my body and eating things that will keep me playing at a high level,” Haliburton tells GQ.

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On his off days, Tyrese Haliburton believes in living a little, so his diet is a little bit different. “Lunch would probably be a sandwich of some sort. I love grilled cheese and tomato soup.” Haliburton has a huge carb-loving heart, which is so relatable. He says he’ll start his off days with a big plate of French toast for breakfast and for dinner, the self-proclaimed “big, big pasta head” enjoys a huge serving of pasta and dinner rolls with a Caesar salad and a smoothie on the side.

In a stroke of balanced genius, Haliburton caps off his off-days with a shake made with protein powder and the pièce (should I say, pace?) de la resistance: ice cream.

What Indiana Pacers’ Tyrese Haliburton Eats Before Every NBA Finals Game first appeared on Parade on Jun 11, 2025

This story was originally reported by Parade on Jun 11, 2025, where it first appeared.

What Indiana Pacers’ Tyrese Haliburton Eats Before Every NBA Finals Game

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