Indiana Pacers players give fans a show at Kyle Guy's Dizzy Runs Pro-Am
NOBLESVILLE — Former NBA Guard Kyle Guy started his NBA-sanctioned Pro-Am "Dizzy Runs" in 2022. It's fairly new, but something he is passionate about in year two.
"There's not a Pro-Am really around Indianapolis that's as prominent as we are," he said this week at Mojo Up Sports Complex in Noblesville, Indiana. Guy had hoped to get some of the best basketball talents from around Indy into one place to train and play together. It's something he enjoys, and it helps the community.
The growing prominence of Dizzy Runs was on full display this past Tuesday. Guy played in a game alongside Indiana Pacers All-Star guard Tyrese Haliburton as well as Pacers forward Obi Toppin. Also involved in the action was Golden State Warriors center Trayce Jackson-Davis, former Pacers and Utah Jazz guard Andre Owens, 12-year NBA veteran Jeff Teauge, and several overseas pros. It was a loaded Pro-Am game.
Dizzy Runs features Division 1 and NBA referees. It's a legitimate event. The crowd was huge and excited, and so was Guy. He was amped to get Haliburton to play in the Pro-Am.
"We got really close his rookie year in Sacramento," Guy said of Haliburton. They were teammates for parts of two seasons with the Sacramento Kings. "That's my bro for life now, and he's gracious enough to come and play... it means a lot that he actually showed up."
Guy invited Haliburton over a recent dinner, and he thinks having Haliburton play in the Pro-Am will give it an exposure bump. Haliburton took it a step further and invited his new teammate, Obi Toppin.
Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton interacts with former NBA guard Kyle Guy at the Dizzy Runs Pro-Am on July 25, 2023. (Mandatory Photo Credit: AllPacers)
"The more, the merrier!" Guy joked.
The game itself was high-scoring, with the final score being 131-127. Haliburton and Guy's team, Kyle Guy Foundation, lost in the end. Jackson-Davis and Teague put on a show for the winners, Shoot 360.
"It was fun, it was fun. A lot of people here, good energy," Haliburton said of the game. It was mostly a low-stakes battle without much defense, but the Elam Ending style forced Haliburton to put some effort in down the stretch, despite the loss.
He finished with 44 points and nine assists and was named the game MVP, and he simultaneously got in some game action to improve his conditioning level. His teammate for the Pro-Am and in the NBA, Toppin, had 33 points.
Haliburton asked Toppin to play in the game. "He hit me and was like 'yo, you think you can come out to this game with me, come work out?' I was like sure," Toppin recalled. He shared that he's played in many similar events back in New York.
The crowd was loud and into the action. Some fans took selfies with Haliburton while the game was going on, and there were tons of highlight plays. Haliburton and Toppin have complementary skill sets, and they were perfect for an event like this.
Toppin threw down a between the legs dunk in the first half and had many other nice buckets. Jackson-Davis had a few powerful dunks as well, and even Haliburton rattled the rim once early.
Many wanted to see Haliburton throw Toppin an alley-oop, and it finally happened in the second half.
They nearly had another connection a few moments later, but Toppin's dunk attempt rimmed out. It was a great event for both the fans and players.
Haliburton flew in after attending Warriors guard Cory Joseph's wedding the weekend prior. He wanted to play, and he wanted to support Guy. "Do everything I can do for my boy KG," Haliburton said.
He's now off to Team USA camp while Toppin will continue to get acclimated to a new franchise in Indianapolis.
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