Spartan Legacy Reignited: Scott Skiles Donates $18.2 Million to Tom Izzo for Michigan State’s New Basketball Arena
East Lansing, MI — July 2, 2025
In a stunning and deeply emotional gesture that underscores the enduring power of Spartan pride, former NBA star and Michigan State basketball legend Scott Skiles has donated a historic $18.2 million to Tom Izzo and the Michigan State University athletics department toward the construction of a state-of-the-art basketball arena.
The announcement was made during a private ceremony at the Breslin Center, with Tom Izzo, MSU President Dr. Kevin Guskiewicz, and Athletic Director Alan Haller present. Flanked by past and current Spartan players, Skiles delivered a heartfelt message about his deep-rooted love for the green and white.
“No matter where life has taken me — from East Lansing to the NBA, from coaching sidelines to family life — Spartan pride has always lived within me,” Skiles said, voice cracking with emotion. “This gift isn’t just about bricks and steel. It’s about legacy, passion, and the belief that the next generation of Spartans deserves the very best.”
The $18.2 million donation is one of the largest individual contributions in Michigan State athletic history and will serve as the foundational pillar for a new, technologically advanced basketball arena set to replace or augment the aging Breslin Center. Tentatively titled the “Spartan Legacy Arena,” the proposed facility will include expanded training complexes, fan-interactive zones, an MSU basketball museum, and upgraded seating and lighting designed to attract NCAA tournaments and national attention.
Tom Izzo, who has coached the Spartans since 1995 and is the winningest coach in school history, called Skiles’ donation “transformational.”
“Scott Skiles is a Spartan warrior,” Izzo said. “This gift means the world to me, to our program, and to future generations of players who will call Michigan State home. He’s left a legacy on the court—and now, he’s left a legacy that will stand for decades.”
Construction on the new facility is expected to begin in late 2025, with a projected opening by the 2027 season. The arena will also feature a commemorative “Skiles Court” as a tribute to the former All-American’s tenacity, leadership, and fierce loyalty.
For Michigan State fans, it’s more than a new building—it’s a beacon of Spartan brotherhood, built on the shoulders of a legend. #SpartanPride #ScottSkilesLegacy #IzzoEraForever
