Tyrese Haliburton is about to sit down with his childhood hero. And no, it’s not for a workout or a film session. It’s for a podcast.
The Indiana Pacers guard announced he’ll join LeBron James for a live episode of Mind The Game at Fanatics Fest. Haliburton posted on X that it’s happening tomorrow and tagged James in the post. Simple as that.
But the context makes it a lot more interesting. Haliburton hasn’t played a single NBA game in over a year. He tore his Achilles in Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals. That’s one of the worst injuries a basketball player can have, and he’s been rehabbing ever since. Yet here he is, excited to talk hoops with the guy he grew up idolizing.
Diehard LeBron fan since 2000
Haliburton didn’t hide his fandom when talking about the opportunity. He told Ballislife that like any kid born in 2000, LeBron was his favorite player growing up. His team allegiance shifted right along with James’ career. He was a Cavs fan. Then a Heat fan. Then a Cavs fan again. Then a Lakers fan. He stayed loyal to LeBron through every stop — until he got drafted himself.
That kind of honesty is rare from NBA players who usually play it cool when it comes to idolizing other stars. But Haliburton has always been a little different. He talks like a fan sometimes because he basically is one. He just happens to also be an All-NBA guard who led the Pacers to the Finals before everything went sideways.
Recovery timeline looks good for opening night
The good news for Pacers fans is that Haliburton isn’t just doing media appearances. He’s actually on track to play basketball again. According to NBA insider Chris Haynes, league sources say the Pacers are extremely optimistic that Haliburton will be ready for opening night of the 2026-27 season.
That would be a full calendar year and then some since the injury. Achilles tears typically take 9-12 months for a full return, and Haliburton’s rehab has apparently gone well enough that the team isn’t planning to hold him out. He sat out the entire 2025-26 season. The Pacers were obviously worse without him. They’re hoping to climb back into the East’s top tier next season.
But first he has to get through a podcast with LeBron. And knowing Haliburton, he’ll probably ask him about Game 7 or the 2016 Finals or some other era that shaped his basketball brain. It might be the most relaxed he’s been in 18 months. He deserves that much.
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