← Mind the Game
Mind the Game
Tyrese and LeBron on Lazy Narratives, Playing the Villain and the Pacers Playoff Run for the Ages
00:41:56
Loading summary
Transcript101 lines
- [00:01]
Host
Coming up on this episode of Mind the Game.
- [00:03]
Tyrese Haliburton
Us winning was forcing the networks to have to talk about basketball. And I know that's hard sometimes for some people to talk about basketball. So they quickly shifted it to how can we make this lame ass conversation be about Is Tyrese Halliburton a Superstar, y'?
- [00:19]
LeBron James
All? 2025 playoff run.
- [00:21]
Tyrese Haliburton
The game tire shot.
- [00:23]
LeBron James
Oh, my God. It bounced all the way to the top of the damn stadium.
- [00:26]
Tyrese Haliburton
But it felt good the whole time. I promise, it felt good the whole time. All I could think about going into game seven the night before was like, tomor tomorrow is the biggest moment in my basketball career. If I've scored 10 points in the first quarter of my career, I don't think I've ever lost. So I had nine in, like, whatever six minutes.
- [00:41]
LeBron James
You mentioned legacy and all that and changing the narrative with winning, it. I think you did that even with y' all losing, too, right? The Celtics, they came into the season, a lot of people were saying, well, you know, might be lottery for the Celtics. Jaylen Brown basically said, to hell with y' all narrative. I'm about to go crazy.
- [00:59]
Tyrese Haliburton
Last year was a lot of let me get the switch. And JT and JB just be two of the best players in the world in ISO and score. They're doing a great job of getting switches and then having that pace within the half court with the blurs with the random action to kind of play out of that empowers everybody else to play the right way.
- [01:14]
LeBron James
I would love to talk about you being the villain.
- [01:17]
Tyrese Haliburton
I say this all the time, like people love you until you become a threat to what they want.
- [01:23]
LeBron James
Oh, for sure.
- [01:24]
Tyrese Haliburton
Things became a little different because of the whole overrated thing. There's certain fans already did rock with me. Now my peers are piling on top of that. And then the fans are like, you know what? Because his peers are doing that, we're in too.
- [01:36]
LeBron James
You know, like, it has to be true. It has to be true. What I want to get to is, man, y' all playoff run, y', all, 20, 25 playoff run. Coming into, you know, playing, you know, I guess I think you guys played Cleveland. You guys played Boston. Who did y' all play in the first round? Milwaukee.
- [02:09]
Tyrese Haliburton
It was Milwaukee, New York or Milwaukee? Cleveland, New York.
- [02:12]
LeBron James
Milwaukee, Cleveland, New York. And then obviously okc. Okay. Yeah. So, you know, you guys dominated that first series with Milwaukee and then coming into round two with Cleveland, having they had the best record in the NBA that year, right? Yeah, they had the best record. They had the momentum. You know, everybody was picking them to go to the finals that year out of the East. Man, take me through that run. That run was magical, bro. Take me through it.
- [02:34]
Tyrese Haliburton
Yeah, man, it was crazy. It was nuts. Probably, you know, the most special time I've ever had playing this game. The Milwaukee series, obviously, it's well documented, the history we have with them and they have with us. So, you know, when we got to match up with them, we were excited and took advantage of that. And actually, having home court, like that was a big deal for us, too. Like, being able to control home court and take care of that and, you know, moving on to a team like Cleveland, who had the number one record in the league the whole year. But we felt comfortable in that series, going into that series, because we never really played them healthy. Like, they weren't healthy, or we weren't healthy really, the whole year. Our last two games of the year, playing them. Last two games of the year. We both sat everybody, or we sat everybody one game, then we both sat everybody the other game. I think I might have got hurt at halftime of one of the games, so didn't come out for the second half, and I don't remember the other game. I don't think I played. So really, we never had our full roster against them, you know, so we never really matched up with them in a real way. So, you know, they obviously were battling some injury stuff, and we. You know, when you're on the road to start a series, you just. Let's steal one. Let's just steal one. And you win that first game and kind of. That. You win that first game in kind of, like, dominant fashion, like, it wasn't really close. And that second game was kind of like, oh, like, all right, you just want to get out of here. And then it was like, hold on. We might come back. To take two on the road to.
- [03:58]
LeBron James
Take two is like.
- [03:59]
Tyrese Haliburton
Now all I'm thinking is, like, we going. We sweeping them.
- [04:03]
LeBron James
Sweeping them. Yeah, we going home, sweep.
- [04:05]
Tyrese Haliburton
And then we lose game three. We get kind of. We got blown out in game three. It was ugly. But then we blew them right back out in game four. And now you're up three one. You kind of got that. I mean, I know I'm not supposed to say you have that confidence around you, but you know what I mean? If you up 3:1, you feel good about it and kind of just run from there, and then, you know, get to match up with New York, who. That's what we wanted. We played them the Year before. And the excuse was that they were. They were hurt, and they were. And so we're like, okay, you're healthy now. We're healthy. Let's hoo. And, you know, I felt like we felt really comfortable in that series. Obviously, the game one, like, the comeback, the game winner, or the game tire shot.
- [04:41]
LeBron James
Oh, my God, it bounced all the way to the top of the damn stadium.
- [04:44]
Tyrese Haliburton
But it felt good the whole time. I promise. It felt good the whole time. And if it would have been a three, to me, it's like one of the greatest shots NBA history. If it was a three, but it was a two. But, like, that moment to have that happen, you could. Again, we talked about taking that air out of the building. Like, you could just feel it gone. And then it just kind of like riding that wave of all that team momentum to get to the finals. And, you know, I think about game four, the finals, a lot. Didn't finish it, but, like, it was like, all right, how do we move on, get to games? You know, we get to game seven, and it's like, this is the moment. Like, all I could think about going into game seven the night before was like, tomorrow is the biggest moment in my basketball career. Like, there's nothing that matters more. This will define the way that people talk about me for the rest of my career. That's the way I viewed it. And if that's correct or incorrect, I didn't care, because I was like, if I win, and I know I'm not. Legacy talk is a bigger thing, and I don't necessarily care, but, like, yeah, to be a lead point guard, to help lead a team, to win a championship, that puts me in some rare air, you know what I mean? In a space that, you know is pretty special. So all I could think about was, tomorrow's a big moment. Don't put more pressure on myself. I'm just gonna go out there, hoop. And I had it going early, and there was a dude courtside. I was like, he's gonna be the guy I'm going at today. Like, I'm talking to him. Like, all right, we gone now. Like, and. And I don't know. I don't know the stat, but If I've scored 10 points in the first quarter of my career, I don't think I've ever lost. So I had nine in, like, whatever six minutes, you know, so I'm feeling good. I'm like, I've never felt like this to where, you know, it was, like, documented. Like, if he makes the first Shot. He has a good game. If he misses the first one, it's bad. Whatever. Well, I made that motherfucker that game, so I'm like, we gonna go and. And I missed, like, my third three and got it back and hit a quick one. I was like, all right, we're gonna go off this and ultimately get injured. But, I mean, it was just such a special time for us, and it all coincided with so many different things at the same time, bro. Like, the run, the overrated stuff. What the helly? The song coming out, like, it all kind of rose at once, and it kind of all just, you know, took a life its own. So it was really special for us, man.
- [06:47]
LeBron James
Nah, absolutely. That was a big time run there. And like, you mentioned, you know, legacy and all that and changing the narrative of you or whatever the case may be with winning it. I think you did that even with y' all losing, too, right? You know, I think the conversation coming out of that was, man, this guy gave everything, his whole body, everything. No matter how he felt coming into Game 6, no matter how he felt coming into Game 5, what he did for Game 7, putting his body on the line to go through that moment at that time, bro, everything that you would have got with winning it, you got with losing. And I hate the fact that it sounds that way. You know, the only thing that you didn't get is the ring. Like, you know what I'm saying? Like, you didn't get a ring, you don't get the trophy. But everything that you think you would have been able to capture winning it, you actually did as well. Because of you going out there and putting your body on the line and, you know, you putting on for that city, you know, like, you know, I mean, obviously, I'm old enough to know the last time they went to the NBA Finals, you know, was when they played against the show, you know, played against Shaq and Kobe.
- [07:56]
Tyrese Haliburton
Yeah.
- [07:57]
LeBron James
You know, so for you to put on and to see Reggie Miller there rocking with y' all or whatever the case may be, you doing that moment in the garden in the Easter Conference finals or whatever the case may be, I think that was super dope. And you just mentioned, like, the whole overrated. The what the helly? Like, you know, for me, like, you see what I, you know, tweeted out during the games or whatever the case may be, I'm like, where the fuck all the. Where are y' all at now? Where the haters at? I don't hear y'. All. Y' all quiet now. All Of a sudden, why y' all quiet now? And the problem is, you know, and it's not a. You know, I know you don't care, I don't care. But we like to. We use it as fuel. But, like, you know, you have so many watchers of just stat sheets. You have guys that just do like this after the game, and they go to their phone and they look and say, okay, well, Halle, you know, 14 points, you know, 13 assists, you know, six, seven rebounds, you know, they like, okay, cool. The next game, hallelujah. 18 points, 12 assists, 5 rebounds, couple steals, you know, and people read into that shit because everything in the whole narrative of our game is all about, like, just get a bucket. How can he? He ain't a bucket getter. Well, he's not great. He's overrated. He ain't a bucket getter. Like, how about the fact that we. 20 games over. 500, right?
- [09:13]
Tyrese Haliburton
How about that?
- [09:14]
LeBron James
How about what? How. How about we're winning and when I'm on the court, we're in the plus.
- [09:19]
Tyrese Haliburton
Yes.
- [09:19]
LeBron James
How about the fact that my teammates love the fact when I'm on the court, they love what we bring to the table? Like, and I just think it's just ridiculous sometimes. And the fact that some of our counterparts and colleagues even fed into that shit too, was probably was the bums of our league too.
- [09:39]
Tyrese Haliburton
Anyway, it's like the lame ass conversation the whole playoffs because us winning was forcing the networks to have to talk about basketball. And I know that's hard sometimes for some people to talk about basketball, but it's like, when we're winning, you're not talking about what my legacy or what Pascal's legacy. You're not talking about that. So you got to talk about the game because you're talking about us. And so they quickly shifted it to, how can we make this conversation, this lame ass conversation be about, is Tyrese Halliburton a superstar? Is he a superstar? Like that, like, that was just so lazy to me when it was like, if y' all wanted, like, actually talk hoop and what our team is doing, how we're applying more full court pressure, we're proving that you don't have to slow down in the playoffs to succeed. We're doing all these things that you feel the need not to talk about because you want to. You need to run narratives and stuff. Like, and me and Steve talked about it. Actually, I talked to Steve a little bit before the finals, like, trying to find that balance between being that score and being that passer. Is a fight. I fight every day when I. Every game, I fight that battle and trying to figure out the balance between the two, because if I'm pass heavy and I don't shoot enough, it could be hurting our team. But it also is, like, the conversation becomes, oh, Tyrese can't score or whatever. And, like, there's rarely times where I shoot too much, you know? So I'm trying to find the balance between the two, and that's part of, you know, my growth and evolution as a player. But I feel like that was the most fun part about that run, was like, y' all got to talk about hoop and y', all, and you're showing. I don't know if you can necessarily talk hoop, because you got to keep going that route. You know what I want to ask Bron while we're here, because I've talked to some guys about it, and I feel like you're a good person for me to ask this to. Obviously, you played in the finals in 07 against San Antonio and then. And then 11 against Dallas, right? So those are, like, the first two, like, the years after that, like, kind of the. Like, for me, that's the biggest thing, I guess, the mental battle. And I think it's not just me. It's everybody, but everybody goes through this. Who loses in the finals, right? Like, am I gonna get back again? You know? And, like, how do I. Where do I take my mind to get back there? You're a guy who's been back there so many times, it's like, what is the approach to the next year? Or, you know, your preparation? Just getting back there. What is, like, your biggest, like, focus in those.
- [12:05]
LeBron James
Yeah, I mean, you're absolutely right, because you work your ass off and, you know, like, you and your teammates, whatever, you know, your teammates is that year, and, you know, you hope that, you know, the nucleus can stick together. But, like, how do you. How do you keep that same mental drive and that same mental motivation to be able to take on the marathon, you know, because that's what it is. Our season is a big marathon, and then you get to the postseason, it becomes a sprint, but it is still part of the marathon from September to, hopefully, June. You know, so for me, personally, like, I, you know, lost in 07, obviously, to San Antonio, and we kind of had one of those magical runs that y' all kind of had, you know, in 2025, where we beat, you know, a couple teams. We beat Detroit were, you know, we had no business beating Detroit, you know, and making it to the finals, you know, that. That year. But, you know, and then, you know, in 11, losing to Dallas, and it was like, okay, cool. We got to that point. We've. We've met that marker. So, like, what is it that I'm doing personally that isn't allowing us to get over that hump? So I kind of just put more. I don't want to say pressure, but I just put more accountability on. What can I continue to do? Is it, you know, is it, you know, defending it a little bit better here? Is it, you know, maybe, you know, is it listening to my teammates more? Is it asking them, like, yo, what y' all need out of me tonight? You know, to, you know, you need this out of me tonight? You need that out of me tonight? Like, is it. What is it? You know, and guys just all have to be on the same page. And obviously, you know, shit happens throughout the course of the season. You have. And you lose three out of four, you lose. You know, you lose two games in a row when you. You know, you're a really good team, and you have to, like, refocus, but you gotta stay even keel, you know? And I think that, you know, obviously, when you make your return and, you know, you guys come back to, you know, how you. The standard of how you guys want to play, you know, it's about, okay, we got. We got to the mountain, you know, and we saw the top, so what can we do now to get to the mountaintop? You know? And I think it's just about the mindset. It's about the process of it all. And, you know, like you said, the game. Teams are going to continue to get better, and you got to have a little luck as well. You know that. You got to have a little luck as well.
- [14:32]
Tyrese Haliburton
That's the thing is. That's like, the biggest thing is, like, you gotta get lucky, bro.
- [14:37]
LeBron James
You gotta get lucky.
- [14:38]
Tyrese Haliburton
Like, we got, like, yeah, we came back all these times, and they're like, okay, you do that multiple times, it's not lucky. But, man, we just had so many things go right in. All in a lot of these series. Like, I think I can name a moment from every, like, Milwaukee, we're doubling, and Gary Trent, who's having the game, an amazing game, having 30. He catches it and just drops it out of bounds.
- [14:58]
LeBron James
Just drops out of bounds.
- [14:59]
Tyrese Haliburton
How did that happen? And then the Cleveland series, I miss a free throw, and somehow I get the rebound. I don't ever get. I don't get rebounds on free throws. And it just the ball bounces the right way. Like the New York series. The Aaron Neesmith makes five, six, threes like that, and the shot goes off. And like, all that stuff had to. It all had to align correctly for that to happen. That's the biggest thing people don't talk about to win. That's, like the ingredient that you. It's. I feel like it's so hard to replicate, which is why you going to the finals 100 years in a row is so crazy to me, because you got to have a little luck at some. You know what I mean? And multiple points within each run.
- [15:37]
LeBron James
Yeah, for sure. And you got. You do. You have to have that. You have to have that luck around that. Around those runs. But the one thing that you can't control is just about how you attack every day.
- [15:47]
Tyrese Haliburton
Right.
- [15:47]
LeBron James
You know how you attack every day. And it's not like I need to be in the gym every day going crazy, whatever the case may be, but it's just like, yeah, mental, you know, physical, you know, spiritual. Like, you know, how can you keep yourself, you know, abreast, you know, in the moment? So, you know, I think you. I think you've tasted a bit of the finals, and I know you want to get back there, so, you know, obviously, I'm rooting for you for sure.
- [16:23]
Host
And now over to our producer, Jason, for a message from one of our partners.
- [16:27]
Jason (Producer)
Thanks to DraftKings for sponsoring the show. You know what time it is? Super Bowl 60 week is upon us, the culmination of a truly wild season. And our partners at DraftKings Sportsbook, an official sports betting partner of the NFL, has been in the trenches with us for every big moment, every circus catch, every fumble, every sack. They even managed to make me not hate the tush push as much as I already do. I mean, it's not a football play, but whatever. The live betting option keeps you right in the moment for all of it. And they've got something perfect for all new customers right now. New DraftKings customers who bet $5 get three $300 in bonus bets if your first bet wins. Using code mind minus 500 odds required. And look, take it from me, you don't want to be the guy at the super bowl party who's asking around for chargers and outlets and yada, yada. No, you come to the game fully charged so you can get right into the action. It's just that Easy to use DraftKings Sportsbook every drive, every play, every moment. New customers download the DraftKings sportsbook app now. And using code mine to turn $5 into $300 in bonus bets. If your first bet wins DraftKings, the crown is yours.
- [17:33]
Host
Playing 18 seasons in the NBA, I've lived in and out of hotels for what seems like my entire life. I can't tell you how many times I've gotten in the same generic elevator, walked down the same generic hallway, and set my bags down on the same generic chair. So anytime I travel now, I'm looking for a more unique experience, which is why I check out Airbnb first when I'm planning a trip. I've done everything from cabins for trips in the mountains to beach houses. I want a big kitchen, a spacious living room, and a solid outdoor space. And if there's a hot tub, that's a bonus. When it comes to travel, staying at a home on airbnb is just a better experience because of the home like qualities they provide. And hosting your home on Airbnb can give that feeling of home to others. If you're heading out of town for a big game or sporting event, why not let your home become part of the excitement? By opening your space to fellow fans, you're giving them the comfort of home and earning yourself some extra income while you're away. Your home might be worth more than you think. Find out how much@airbnb.com host.
- [18:45]
LeBron James
The Celtics. You know, we talked about Tatum, but also, I want to talk about guys taking advantage of injuries and also losing personnel. We look at the Celtics, the Celtics lost Tatum to injury. You know, they lost, you know, Al Horford to another team. You know, Jrue Holiday to another team. Cornette to another team. You know, they came into this. Porzingis went to Atlanta.
- [19:06]
Host
Yep.
- [19:06]
LeBron James
They came into the season. A lot of people were saying, well, you know, might be lottery for the Celtics. Might be lottery. Jaylen Brown basically said, the hell with y', all, narrate with y' all narrative. I'm about to go crazy. Um, we got to give some flowers to Jaylen Brown. Let's just talk about, man, his, you know, his rise and what he's done this year.
- [19:25]
Tyrese Haliburton
Yeah, I mean, he's playing unbelievable. I think he's doing a great job of just playing within the flow. Like, I feel like he's not going out of his way to, you know, fuck up what they have going offensively. I think he's. I think there's a stat here that outside of 12ft, he's 48% on contested twos. That is ridiculous. That. Yeah, that doesn't even make sense. Like, it's. He's only behind KD and Shay and makes and Shay has. Yeah, yeah. Like, that is. That's, like, that's hard. That's hard to do because especially where our league is now, you live. You say outside of kd, maybe you're living with the mid range, too. Like, they can't. That's what we always say. They can't beat us with the mid range, too. There are some guys that can beat you with the mid range.
- [20:07]
LeBron James
2. There's some guys that could beat you for sure.
- [20:09]
Tyrese Haliburton
And the way he's playing right now is unbelievable. Like, he's third on the team in time of possession. He's doing a great job of just getting off the ball, moving, and I think he's just playing within the flow. And I feel like everybody else around him has been empowered to play the correct way. Like, I feel like when guys go down or when situations are different, some guys feel like they need to do more or they need to play a different way. Where I feel like the Celtics guys, like, I feel like they really like Gonzalez. I feel like he's going to be a part of what they have going.
- [20:38]
LeBron James
Yeah, the kid. The kid. Walsh coming in. Give him Jordan Walsh.
- [20:40]
Tyrese Haliburton
Exactly Howser. Who's doing still what he's been doing.
- [20:46]
LeBron James
I seen a stat the other day. I don't know the exact stat, but I think Hauser, like, had like 30 and he shot all threes.
- [20:53]
Tyrese Haliburton
10 for 21. Yeah, 10 for 21. All threes, six or seven at halftime. And I think they were joking with him because the second half he wasn't. He didn't shoot it great, but he's 10 for 21 from 3.
- [21:06]
LeBron James
Yeah. That's crazy.
- [21:08]
Tyrese Haliburton
Like, he. I like that they're still allowing him. We need you to be you, and we need everybody to be who they are, and we'll figure it out. They're doing a great job, I think, of their bigs. Like, obviously they're playing guys like Keita and Garza, who are much different than Al Horford, Cornette Porzingis, but they're doing a great job of just flowing into stuff. Like we always said when we played them, their bigs were always kind of on that slot line, hanging out for flares.
- [21:32]
LeBron James
Yeah, exactly.
- [21:32]
Tyrese Haliburton
And to set it for JT And D. White and Drew and JB And I think that they're doing a great job of still playing that way, but I feel like they've kind of. I don't want to say. Bit from us. I don't Want to say that's the right word, but like they're doing a great job of last year was a lot of let me get the switch and JT and JB just be two of the best players in the world in ISO and score. They're doing a great job of getting switches and then having that pace within the half court with the blurs, with the random action to kind of play out of that empowers everybody else to play the right way.
- [22:03]
LeBron James
No, no, absolutely, you know, Absolutely. You give a lot of credit to Missoula, obviously, just like, you know, just giving instilling confidence in those guys, you know, obviously, you know, they got a couple guys that's already self confident. You know, you got jb, you know, like you mentioned Peyton Pritchard. He comes in like, I'm confident already. You know, Anthony Simons when he comes in off the bench, confident already, Derrick White confident. But like, he's just instilling confidence in the rest of those guys. And, you know, it's a few teams that's like, you know, having to adapt this year. You know, obviously we just got done playing the Nuggets last night and you know, they're a team that's adapting without Jokic. You know, we want to speak about them. We want to talk about the Suns. You know, the Suns is a totally different team from last year when it was book, kd, Bradley Beal, you know, and now it's, you know, more just book and you know, Dillon Brooks is having a stellar year and those guys kind of just like adapting. Also Miami, you know, Miami has completely revamped their whole way of playing less. Less to none. Pick and rolls, less to none. ISOs getting more into like, I would say kind of like how you guys are playing. You know, just pace, getting the ball moving, you know, if you ain't got catch and shot, catch and get off of it, catch and drive, get off of it, get to the second, third side, you know, and you got Norman Powell playing exceptional basketball. Obviously, Bam does what he does. You know, let's kind of like talk about those three teams.
- [23:22]
Tyrese Haliburton
Yeah, I think that's like a really interesting point you're making. And I, I want to say that, but I don't want to sound like arrogant, but I feel like when teams watch us in our run last year, right, A lot of teams, I felt like in front offices and coaches watch our group and the way they're watching is like the way they're playing. We want to play that way. And they look at a guy like Me who's not like this, like super scoring, go get you a. Like they look and say, we have a player on our team who's just as good as Hellburn or Siakam and if we got the right pieces around, we can play this up style way and you know, up pace, like fast tempo way. So I watch a team like Phoenix, who I love. I love watching Phoenix play. And I see, you know, their coach, Coach O came from Cleveland, who we be. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. I think he saw the way we play and has tried to move that. And that was something me and, and Jenny Buchek, our defensive, our defensive coach talked about a lot was you watch these pressers from these other teams, especially in media day. I remember I was watching Book, they played like in China and he said like, oh yeah, we're going to try to play it more uptempo and we're going to pick up full court. You see what Indiana's doing. I think the game is going that way. And I feel like our league, as you know, is such a copycat league.
- [24:34]
LeBron James
You mentioned it's a copycat league.
- [24:35]
Tyrese Haliburton
You mentioned it earlier when you talked about Phoenix playing without the two bigs. Now everybody's going that way. I feel like we didn't win. Like, usually you steal from the, you know, the team that wins. But you see all the success that we had, teams are kind of taking that and turn it into their own thing.
- [24:51]
LeBron James
No, absolutely. And you don't have to sound arrogant because that is what it. Our league has always been a copycat league. Always, no matter who. Like there were teams like in the 90s, they tried. Listen, one thing, you have to have Reese and you know, you have to have the personnel. There were teams because of the Bulls were winning so much, you know, that people tried to run a triangle like. And you don't have Michael Jordan. Yeah, okay, so it's not going to work. You know, there were teams in the 80s that wanted to play like Showtime, Lakers. You don't have Magic Johnson, you know, so like there, you know, and then, you know, even in the early 2000s, people wanted to play, you know, seven seconds or less. They wanted to play like the Phoenix Suns. You don't have Steve Nash, but you got to have the personnel to do it. And I think like you said, you don't have to sound arrogant. I think it's absolutely true. Everyone talked about the way you guys played the game of basketball. It looked fun. It looked like something that you wanted to implement. One, you got to have the personnel but also, it's hard to scout for unpredictable, you know, and like I said.
- [25:56]
Tyrese Haliburton
Earlier, like, what do you do? I mean, what do you do in our scout? Because we run. Yeah, I run drag. I get drags, I get, we run Spain. But like, it's in the flow. We're not, we don't call much.
- [26:07]
LeBron James
Right. It's in the flow of things. So I think a lot of teams, you even look at the spurs, and we just got done playing the spurs not too long ago, I think on one of our back to backs and they're kind of playing kind of that same way. Obviously they have a unicorn, alien and Wimby, but they have a lot of guys, you know, Fox Castle, Dylan Harper, you know, Keldon Johnson, you know, all these other surrounding parts. That's like getting the ball up fast. Okay, you ain't got shot, get off of it. Quick pick and roll, drag, blur screens, slip screens. Like they doing all of this stuff and that you, you have to have the personnel to fit it. But it's also a good way to, you know, you have teams that have, you know, scouting. You can't scout that. It's not like, oh, you come down, hey, they running a loop to a drag. Okay, make sure low man gonna be there every time. No, it's just hard to scout that. So I definitely give credit to you, Coach Carlisle, and y' all on this is where the game is headed.
- [27:07]
Tyrese Haliburton
So you think, you think it's like, you think it's that. I think it's. I mean, you can probably speak to it as well, but like, I think the game works that way defensively too, where we try to copycat and steal that. I think it's funny, we talk about the in season tournament game after we played y', all, everybody came out blitzing me and it wasn't working. And I would look at the bench and be like, anthony Davis ain't here and Bron ain't the league. It ain't going.
- [27:31]
LeBron James
I'm telling you, it's not going to work.
- [27:32]
Tyrese Haliburton
It's not the same.
- [27:34]
LeBron James
Listen, and that's what a great coach and a great coaching staff and usually your best players, your best player, or if you have a couple guys, they able to understand what's best for their team. Yes, we all want to play like the Pacers. Yes, we all want to play like the Showtime Lakers. Yes, we all want to play like the Kansas City Chiefs. I'm sorry, but Mahomes is not at the helm, you know, so like, we have to be able to, you Know, and it's unfortunate because there are teams and there are clubs and things that in all different sports that want to try to copycat exactly what they see, because it's working. But you have to identify with what you have, you know, and if you're able to identify what you have, then you can make the most of what you got, so. But it's great, man. You guys play a great style of basketball. Me and Steve talked about it a lot last year and obviously can't wait to get you back on the floor because the game missed, miss you. And seeing the way you play, I would love to talk about. I brought it up earlier. I said New York Knicks fans love their favorite guy. I would love to talk about you being the villain, man. Like, how do you. How do you. You love having that hat on? And where did that come from? Like, for sure. I mean, I see your pops, too. I feel like your pops back in the day was like, that, too. Like, you know, did it come from pops? Did it come from you just, like, watching, you know, watching the NBA or just like, shit, man, this is fun. Like, I love interacting and just getting that vibe out there.
- [29:07]
Tyrese Haliburton
Yeah. You know, it's so funny because I always. I say this all the time. Like, people love you until you become a threat to what they want, you know, for sure. So, like, I tell people this all the time. They understand. Like, when I used to go back and play in Milwaukee, I used to get cheered. Like, loud. Like, I would score and get cheered. And then the minute that our team was a threat to what Milwaukee was trying to build and we played him in the playoffs, now it's, Tyrese's the worst person in the world. We're booing him. You know, like, that's just how things kind of happen really fast, even in the Garden. Not that I got cheered or anything, but I had the moment where I threw the ball off the glass and hit Pascal and was like, oh, it looked cool, right? And it was like, you know how the Garden is. Like, once you do something, you have a great game or, you know, play.
- [29:52]
LeBron James
The right way to kind of, like, respect it.
- [29:53]
Tyrese Haliburton
Yeah, yeah. But since we get to the playoffs, they are dirt, you know? But I think it's so funny because for me, I mean, it's probably similar to you because you were kind of in your, you know, your villain era in Miami as well. Like, that's not us. Like, we're just, like, we play the game. Like, we love the game. It's like, I love what I do. We Smile when we play. I think we're both kind of in that realm. But like, we also look for things to get us going, you know what I mean? And I think all the greats do. They're looking for those outside sources to kind of give us that push. And so for me, being a young guy and playing in my first playoffs two years ago and playing again last year and really having to go through the same teams, right? It was Milwaukee and New York and then went to Boston, lost to Boston. Then we played Milwaukee, New York again with Cleveland, and then obviously okc. But things became a little different because of the whole overrated thing. So now it wasn't just, it wasn't the fans. There's certain fans already didn't rock with me. Now my peers are piling on top of that. And then the fans are like, you know what? Because his peers are doing that, we're in too.
- [30:55]
LeBron James
You know, like, it has to be true. It has to be true. Exactly.
- [30:59]
Tyrese Haliburton
So it kind of just. And for me, I've always just been a guy who's like, I'm my toughest critic. I'm trying to, like, I'm worried about my locker room because when we went to the in season tournament final, when we went to the playoffs, all these things, we were never picked to do those things. Like, I've never been favored to win like a serious game ever. That's like, never happened to me.
- [31:21]
LeBron James
Like, I mean, you haven't been picked to like, you was not recruited high. Like, you never been in. You've never been like the guy that everybody was like, man, we gotta make sure we keep him under. Like, you know what I'm saying?
- [31:32]
Tyrese Haliburton
Yeah, that's my life, that's my story. So I enjoy that. I feel like I love that. And I'm a big wrestling fan. Like, I love wrestling. I love kind of that, like that like, heel, bad guy who you want to cheer for, right? Like the Rock and guys like that. And you grow up watching who, like everybody's booing them, but like, they love it. Like, I feel like I'm that way. And I feel like all the greats kind of do that. They look for that, what's that outside source to get me going. And then you just kind of feel off that. And I know you can relate to that too.
- [32:01]
LeBron James
No, no, absolutely. Like it's. I mean, it's funny you said, like I grew up a big wrestling fan too, and obviously I'm a lot more older than you, obviously, but I grew up watching like, you know, Hulk Hogan, like, at one point, Hulk Hogan was like, America's. You know, everyone loved him. You know what it means to be an American. And then one day he went to nwo and people couldn't. They couldn't understand how he tagged up with the enemy. Like, they was like, what is going on?
- [32:31]
Tyrese Haliburton
Right?
- [32:31]
LeBron James
You know, and everybody just booed him. He went from wearing red and yellow to black and white. New world order, all of that. So, like, you know, it is a funny thing to, you know, and 1. We're entertainers as well.
- [32:44]
Tyrese Haliburton
Exactly.
- [32:44]
LeBron James
We're entertainers as well. And we grew up, you know, like you said, watching wrestling, watching entertainment, watching movies, watching, you know, a guy be the hero or beat a villain. You know, I'm a big Batman fan. As much as Batman is my favorite superhero of all time, I also love the Joker's role. You know, I love the Joker. I love Heath Ledger. I love, you know, Jack Nichols. Like, I love those guys playing those roles. You know, I love Tom Hardy as Bang. Like, I love that shit, too. So, like, you know, like you said, our personality is like, listen, we want to go out, have fun, you know, get our guys involved, smile, you know, be happy, because this is. That brings us joy. That's how we've always played it. But we can tap into the Joker role if y' all make us now. Yeah, we could get there too, now and still be able to perform at a high level. So, you know, it can be weird at times, but, you know, I think it's dope that we both kind of see it the same way and able to tap into that, especially on the road. There's nothing better than quieting and silencing the road crowd.
- [33:46]
Tyrese Haliburton
There's nothing better. Like I always tell people of my four game winners in the playoffs, like, the one at home is my least favorite. Because the other ones, like, feeling the energy, like being taken out of a building. There's nothing in the world that's. That's better than that. And what people don't understand is, like, playoff basketball. This ain't nothing to. Like, I'm not. This ain't nothing to laugh about. This is not funny. Like, this is do or die time. I'm trying to win every game. Cause you know how it is. You give up one game in the playoffs, it can cost you a whole series.
- [34:15]
LeBron James
It can cost you a whole series.
- [34:17]
Tyrese Haliburton
I don't think about any game in the playoffs more than I think about game four of the finals. Up two, one. Going up. Up in the fourth quarter, we lose that Game, we ultimately obviously lose the series. But if you win that game, you go up 3, 1. It changes the whole trajectory of the series.
- [34:31]
LeBron James
It changes the whole. Absolutely, Absolutely.
- [34:43]
Host
As someone who's lived and played across the globe, I learned what makes a flight truly exceptional. And let me tell you, Emirates Economy class is the real deal. With over 260 modern aircraft connecting more than 160 destinations worldwide, Emirates has got game. I'm talking generous legroom that even a former NBA player appreciates. Their latest aircraft offers 4K HD touchscreens loaded with thousands of channels of entertainment. Making these long haul flights fly by, plus their generous baggage allowance means no more worrying about packing. Emirates understands that traveling can be as stressful as a playoff game. That's why they've created an experience that feels like home. The moment you spot Emirates staff at the airport and you know you're in good hands, their crew treats every passenger like an mvp. Look, I've flown countless of airlines, but Emirates Economy class, it's like having home court advantage 40,000ft in the air. Go to emirates.com to learn more. There's nothing like going from a relaxing airport lounge to an even more relaxing hotel. Followed by dinner, a concert, and doing it all over again with the newly enhanced American Express Platinum card. Upping your travel game just got a whole lot better. With Amex Platinum, you can enjoy access to over 1550 airport lounges throughout the largest global lounge network as compared to other credit card companies. As of July 2025, lounge access means having a place to take it all in before you need to take off. With an array of premium travel, dining and entertainment benefits, all backed by American Express's award winning service, there's nothing like Platinum terms apply. Learn more@americanexpress.com with Platinum.
- [36:29]
LeBron James
You know, for me, I've had this privilege for the last 23 years. And as a kid growing up, where I grew up, I always looked at some of the greatest athletes in the world that had the same privilege and had the same honor. I want to talk about you having your first signature shoe, bro. You know, I'm seeing you wear the hoodie right now with your logo. You know, I remember as a kid growing up, Michael Jordan, Ken Griffey Jr. You know, Bo Jackson with the cross trainer, you know, J kid, all these guys, you know, Deion Sanders, like Barry Sanders have their own sneaker. And I was like, oh my God, that would be so incredible, bro. Like, you know, and I want to what does it mean for you, bro, to like have your first sneaker, bro? Have your first collab. Now you got your apparel. Like that shit has to be super cool and surreal for you, bro.
- [37:21]
Tyrese Haliburton
Yeah, it's amazing, man. You know, during that whole Olympic process and my shoe contract expiring, you know, just like talking with all these different brands and companies and the realization like before I even picked a company that there are companies out there that want to give me my own shoe. Like, I couldn't even fathom it from where I come from and my story and the under recruited kid to get to where I am. I mean, it was just so amazing, bro. Like, looking back at my life, like it's a top five moment for me to have my own shoe. Because just like you, I grew up like where I. My mom stopped feeding my shoe addiction once I got to like high school, so I would rap on the weekends just to make enough money to go on ebay. And how do I get the. What, the LeBron's? How do I get the Concord 11s? How do I get all these different kicks for me to feel good, look fly, whatever. And so for now, there's kids out there who have the ability to go to a store and get my shoe. It means the world to me. So, like, I always stop in my tracks, you know, like when I see somebody at a game or something with my shoe to sign it, it's like, it's so surreal for me. It's unbelievable. And I'm sure you can relate to loving the process of making your own colors, designing your own stories, and doing all these special things. It's like, it means the world to me and it's so cool. And I can't wait to see, you know, where the future of, of of my business goes. And what I'm doing with Puma is so amazing. So. Yeah, man. And I know you can relate your. How many shoes you got now? What number you are?
- [38:48]
LeBron James
I'm on Signature 23, but I got so many off other ones as well, you know. You know, Brian is wearing one. Yeah.
- [38:55]
Tyrese Haliburton
And like, there's got to be so many when you're designing them, bruh. By the time, like, I'm already at. We're working on the, you know, the two. I don't know if I'm allowed to say that.
- [39:03]
LeBron James
I already know.
- [39:03]
Tyrese Haliburton
You are already. Of course.
- [39:05]
LeBron James
Yeah.
- [39:05]
Tyrese Haliburton
People don't understand. Once your shoe comes out, you are already designing the next one.
- [39:09]
LeBron James
Yeah, for sure. Yeah. I just. I literally just left Portland last. What? We just played Portland a few days ago and I met with Nike. We were working. We almost we're trying to finalize the 24. So, you know, I just started at 23. We're getting close to finalizing the 24, and then, you know, start talking about the 25. So it's a long process, man. And, you know, I'm just super proud of you, man. Super hyped for you in this whole thing. Like, your whole journey. Like you said, like we mentioned earlier, you know, you know, your journey is a lot different than mine, you know, but, you know, when it comes to the way we love the game and how we met, as far as how we play the game, how we approach the game, how we love the game, how we study the game, you know, I just love to see, you know, guys like yourself and the younger generation just, like, continue to take the game where it need to be taken to, you know, because the guys up underneath you, the guys that's in high school, the guys that's in college, these guys look up to you. They look up to Ant. They look up to the, you know, the younger generation. So, you know, it means a lot to me, man, and super duper. I'm super humbled and super appreciative of you allowing me to be in your corner, bro.
- [40:14]
Tyrese Haliburton
Yeah, no, I appreciate that, man. You. I appreciate. You know, I would be wrong if I didn't, you know, give you your flowers that you have helped lay the blueprint for where we are going, where our game is going. I think not only in basketball, but just business and the way you've taken care of your guys, like, I think we always talk about that as younger guys. Like, Bron gave us the blueprint, like, for us to, you know, help put our people in better positions, to succeed and, you know, to chase something bigger and take this game to another level. The way you've just carried yourself and, man, and the relationship I have with you is, man, gotta be one of the most special things to me because I grew up, you know, you were my guy. You know, I had the. If I had a picture of my childhood, you'd have. I had the LeBron fathead behind my house, behind my bed with the Cleveland jersey. So it's so surreal for me to be here talking with you and just our relationship. So, man, I appreciate you. Appreciate you having me and really thankful and humbled.
- [41:08]
LeBron James
Yeah, absolutely.
- [41:16]
Jason (Producer)
Well, that was great, Ty. Thanks for doing it.
- [41:18]
Tyrese Haliburton
Yeah, of course, man. I appreciate you guys having me.
- [41:21]
Host
Yeah.
- [41:21]
Jason (Producer)
It only took you 45 minutes to bring up wrestling, so, hey, you know.
- [41:25]
Tyrese Haliburton
Hey, Jason, I'm gonna bring that in every time. Tell WWE to pay me. Tell them, pay me. Let me get in the ring.
- [41:34]
Host
Thanks for watching. Mind the game. New episodes drop every other Tuesday. Remember to, like, subscribe or follow wherever you're watching.