LeBron James is still putting on a show at age 41-but this time, it’s not just with his game. The Lakers star took to social media Monday to announce the next guest on his Mind the Game podcast, and it’s a big one: Indiana Pacers point guard Tyrese Haliburton.
LeBron’s excitement was loud and clear in his quote tweet of the teaser clip, where he and Haliburton are seen breaking down film. His all-caps reaction?
“WHAT THE HALIBURTON!!” That’s vintage LeBron-equal parts enthusiasm and basketball nerdery.
The Mind the Game podcast has become essential listening for fans who love to get into the weeds of basketball strategy. Originally launched with JJ Redick, the show shifted gears this season when Redick stepped away to take over as head coach of the Lakers.
Enter Hall of Fame point guard Steve Nash, who joined LeBron as the new co-host. But with Nash overseas covering international games, LeBron called in a worthy sub-and Haliburton fits the bill perfectly.
While he’s been sidelined all season with a torn Achilles suffered in last year’s NBA Finals, Haliburton’s basketball brain hasn’t missed a beat. The 25-year-old has always been a cerebral player, and that’s exactly the kind of guest this podcast thrives on. His ability to dissect plays, understand spacing, and read defenses is elite-exactly the kind of insight that fuels the show’s deep-dive format.
Before the injury, Haliburton was putting up strong numbers-18.6 points and 9.2 assists per game-and was the engine behind Indiana’s offense. Without him, the Pacers have struggled, sitting at 11-35 and clearly feeling the absence of their floor general.
Meanwhile, LeBron continues to defy time. His current stat line-22.3 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 6.9 assists on 50.8% shooting-is impressive for any player, let alone someone in his 21st season.
And he’s not just stuffing the stat sheet; he’s helping the Lakers find their rhythm. After a hard-fought 116-110 win over Cooper Flagg and the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday, the Lakers improved to 27-17 and are trending upward.
The Haliburton episode of Mind the Game drops Tuesday at 9 a.m. ET, and if LeBron’s hype is any indication, fans are in for a high-level basketball breakdown.
Expect film study, X’s and O’s, and two of the sharpest minds in the game trading insights. This isn’t just a podcast-it’s a masterclass.