Lakers’ LeBron James, JJ Redick Partner for New ‘Mind the Game’ Basketball Podcast

Joseph Zucker@@JosephZuckerFeatured Columnist IVMarch 18, 2024

Mitchell Leff/Getty Images

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James is partnering with former NBA sharpshooter JJ Redick for a new podcast that intends to be “a pure conversation about basketball,” according to The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand.

In a statement to Marchand, James emphasized how he doesn’t want the podcast, titled Mind the Game, to necessarily mirror the typical discourse around the sport.

“I’m really proud of what we’ve done to innovate in sports media,” he said. “… When I do a project, the only thing I think about is whether me and my friends would watch it. That is definitely the case with Mind the Game. Everything doesn’t need to be designed for internet culture and clicks.”

For Redick, this is seemingly an opportunity to advance a cause he takes seriously.

On First Take in February, the 39-year-old made a pointed critique of Milwaukee Bucks head coach Doc Rivers, who he played for with the Los Angeles Clippers, and said Rivers is “always making excuses.”

First Take @FirstTake.@jj_redick on Doc Rivers 😳 pic.twitter.com/JRgLD1rx74

The comments spawned a conversation of its own and Redick lamented a day later how his takedown of Rivers garners significantly more traction than his more nuanced examinations of the tactical side.

It sounds as though Mind the Game will allow Redick to provide that same kind of analysis, albeit with a much bigger audience than the one he typically draws to his personal podcast and social channels.

Marchand said one clip provided to him featured James and Redick “drinking red wine and talking in great detail about how to guard a pick play.”

Maverick Carter, James’ business partner, told Marchand the show “is like two wine masters, sommeliers, talking about wine, not necessarily you or me arguing if I like Burgundy or Bordeaux better.”

The first episode arrives Tuesday and is expected to follow a weekly schedule.