LeBron James, Tyrese Haliburton
LeBron James has stayed busy both on and off the court during the 2025–26 season. The Los Angeles Lakers star recently picked up his fourth win in five games with a road victory over the Chicago Bulls, pushing the team to a 28–17 record as January winds down.
Away from game action, James has continued expanding his media footprint. Just before the season began, he launched Season 3 of Mind the Game, this time alongside former Phoenix Suns guard Steve Nash. With Nash overseas covering NBA games, James turned to a familiar face for the latest episode, inviting injured Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton to serve as guest co-host, per Yahoo.
James opened the episode by poking fun at the situation.
“Mind the Game is back,” James said. “Steve Nash is in Europe covering a bunch of NBA games and we can’t get a hold of him. We can’t find him. So, we have a substitute teacher. We decided to bring on Tyrese Haliburton. Man, welcome to the show, bro.”
Haliburton, who has missed the entire 2025–26 season while recovering from a torn Achilles, used the platform to share a story he said he had never told publicly. The moment came during Team USA’s run at last summer’s Olympics, where Haliburton saw limited action despite making the roster.
Haliburton Describes His Olympic Realization
During the conversation, Haliburton walked James through the exact moment he realized he would not be part of the regular rotation.
“We’re in the back doing film and we have the team meeting where we acknowledge that all 12 guys can not play,” Haliburton said. “Steve starts talking everybody can’t play, Bron is talking how he didn’t play in the ’04 Olympics that much, KD is over there saying we’re all 12 All-Stars, everybody is good.”
As the meeting continued, Haliburton said clarity slowly set in.
“I’m sitting there listening and I’m like yeah,” he continued. “As we start film I’m like, but who are they talking about? I’m looking around like, he’s not talking about him, he’s not talking about him. I’m like ahhh, they talking bout me.”
The exchange drew laughs between the two, but it also highlighted the depth of that Olympic roster and the difficult conversations that come with international play.
Haliburton Shares Update on Achilles Recovery
Haliburton also used the podcast to provide an update to LeBron James on his rehabilitation, describing steady progress as he works his way back from the Achilles injury that has sidelined him all season.
“Man, I feel really good. My body feels good,” Haliburton said. “Just started playing 3-on-3 and 4-on-4 full court. That’s been good.”
He added that recent on-court sessions have offered a reality check.
“I’m playing with interns and player development guys and I feel so nice and think I can play in the NBA right now,” Haliburton said. “Then the other day had the low-minute guys come in and play with us. So I’m guarding Bennedict Mathurin, told him to go at me, I’m fine, need to see where I’m at.”
That test quickly showed where work remains.
“He hesi me one time, he was at the rim, I was still at the 3-point line,” Haliburton said. “I was like, I still got some time.”
The candid conversation between LeBron James and Haliburton offered a rare look at both the humility of Olympic competition and the patience required during recovery, all unfolding in a relaxed setting between two players who have shared some of basketball’s biggest stages.