Pacers Sports & Entertainment Will Host Free Film Screening of Rez Ball

November is Native American Heritage Month, and Pacers Sports & Entertainment is celebrating with a free community screening of the film Rez Ball at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Wednesday, Nov. 13.

Produced by LeBron James, Rez Ball follows the Chuska Warriors, a Native American high school basketball team from New Mexico, as they band together to keep their quest for a state championship alive after losing their star player.

Described as “Friday Night Lights” meets “Hoosiers,” the film is an all-American underdog story about Navajo high school basketball players and coaches told from the inside-out.

“Indigenous people have a deep and integral connection to our country’s history,” said Tracy Ellis-Ward, PS&E Senior Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. “Their ties to basketball trace back to the sport’s origin and sharing this modern-day story with our community is a great way to spotlight Native American Heritage Month. Some of the movie themes address realities that exist not only in Indigenous communities, but society at large.”

Doors for the event open at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 13, and the event begins at 6 p.m. The film will run following brief remarks from Ellis-Ward and the Eiteljorg Museum Curator of Great Lakes Native Cultures Monica Raphael, as well as a special message from Associate Head Coach of the Indiana Mad Ants Justin Wetzel.

Fans can learn more and reserve their free tickets here.

PS&E continues to be intentional about aligning DEI efforts with the company’s mission and vision. In 2022, the organization hired its first Senior Vice President for DEI to support and lead these efforts, and since then the organization unveiled its first supplier diversity program, made inclusive leadership training required for all employees, focused on creating community partnerships that align with its mission, and created learning and education opportunities for employees and fans.