Much of the focus for LeBron James this summer is on whether he will will return to the NBA for a 24th season, and if so, if that will be with the Los Angeles Lakers or elsewhere.
But James will be busy this offseason regardless as it was announced that he will be returning to Fanatics Fest NYC in July. James will be recording a special live taping of his “Mind The Game” podcast with special guest host Tyrese Haliburton of the Indiana Pacers on July 16, the first day of the festival.
James will also be appearing on July 17, but what he will be doing on that day remains unknown at this time.
The “Mind The Game” podcast has become one of the most popular in all of sports over the past couple of seasons. Originally co-hosted with now-Lakers head coach JJ Redick, James now hosts it alongside former two-time MVP Steve Nash, another of the best basketball minds the NBA has ever seen. And this special edition featuring Haliburton keeps up the theme of some of the highest IQ players joining James for an in-depth breakdown of all things basketball.
Haliburton should have plenty to offer as well considering he was forced to watch this entire season from the sidelines as he recovers from a torn Achilles he suffered in Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals. He and James breaking down everything that went down across the NBA should make for an enjoyable experience for all of those in attendance.
By the time this takes place, James’ intentions for next season should be known as free agency begins on June 30. James always takes some time with his family before making his final decision, but, at the very least, a decision on whether he will continue his historic career is likely to be made, even if his destination isn’t.
Fanatics Fest is the world’s No. 1 sports fan festival bringing together athletes, leagues, collectors, brands, and fans for a multi-day celebration of sports & culture at the Javits Center in New York City from July 16-19.
Marcus Smart hopes to play with LeBron James again
While James is one of the biggest free agents this summer, the Lakers have many others whom they must make a decision on and one of those is Marcus Smart, who has a player option for next season. And while he doesn’t know what will happen this offseason, Smart made it clear that he hopes to continue playing alongside James next year.
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