LeBron James on Tyrese Haliburton: Where are the lames who said he was overrated?

LeBron James: I never averaged more than 30 points in high school. I think my highest average was 27, maybe 28. I know for sure. But it wasn’t about that. I could have averaged 50 a game if I wanted to—probably in my junior or senior year. But it was never about that. It was about: How can I maximize my teammates? How can I get the most out of them so we can all be successful? We came to win state championships, AAU tournaments, AAU nationals. And I felt that even in the pros—even at a different level—I couldn’t give up the essence of what made me fall in love with the game and how I was taught to play it. -via YouTube / May 13, 2025

LeBron James: Even with the criticism—and it still goes on—like in the 2020 Finals, I had an unbelievable game against the Heat. Late in the game, I drove the ball. Two or three defenders came at me. I found Danny Green wide open for a three. He missed it. And we went to Game 5—or Game 6, I believe. I’d make that play every time. JJ Redick: Every time. LeBron James: And I’ll take it every time. And people say, “Why didn’t you take the shot?” “There he goes again—passing up the shot.” They’ve never been there. They don’t understand. One of my favorite quotes—though I don’t know it verbatim—is from Theodore Roosevelt, about the “man in the arena.” “It is not the critic who counts… The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena…” And the loudest voices are always from those not in the arena. So how can you challenge what I’m doing if you’ve never even stepped foot in there? -via YouTube / May 13, 2025

Steve Nash: Like—if you just look at your high school profile: Biggest Strongest Fastest Most athletic kid out there But you were still taught the game the right way, and you valued playing it the right way. LeBron James: Because if I had just been about scoring—score, score, score—I’d have never been LeBron James. I would have never been who I am. And I also don’t think I would have played this many years, either. -via YouTube / May 13, 2025

Scott Agness: The Pacers — underdogs in all five games — beat the top-seeded Cavs 114-105 to finish the series 4-1 and advance to the Eastern Conference Finals for the second straight season. NY or BOS next. They last did that in 2013, 2014. Tyrese Haliburton led them with 31-6-8. -via Twitter @ScottAgness / May 13, 2025

StatMuse: Hali in Game 5: 31 PTS, 6 REB, 8 AST, 6 3P. The most overrated player is headed to the Conference Finals for the second year in a row. pic.x.com/3T8X9DnxwG -via Twitter @statmuse / May 13, 2025

Criticism gets loud after Game 3—the performance, not talking. So how have you kind of navigated what it means to be a star?” Tyrese Haliburton: “It’s just basketball, bro. I get paid a lot of money to play a child’s game, so I love what I do. I love my job. I don’t even really look at it as a job—I have a lot of fun with what I do. And, you know, I think there’s always commentary behind what I do, positive or negative. I mean, it’s hilarious because a lot of times it’s people who know nothing about me that have so much to say. It’s usually the people who don’t come around or don’t spend any time around me that have the most to say—but that’s all part of it. I’m just a basketball player. I love what I do. I love being here in Indiana. I love playing for this organization. I feel like criticism—sometimes it’s warranted, sometimes it’s not—but it’s all a part of it. -via YouTube / May 12, 2025