LeBron James set for Fanatics Fest as NBA awaits his plans
LeBron James, the NBA’s oldest active player and career scoring leader, is scheduled to speak Thursday afternoon at Fanatics Fest in New York City, taping a live episode of his Mind the Game podcast with Tyrese Haliburton while the league still waits to hear where the free agent will play next season. The appearance was planned months ago and does not confirm that he will name a new team on stage.
Key Takeaways
- James will tape Mind the Game live with Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton on the opening day of Fanatics Fest in New York.
- Organizers say single-day general admission tickets for the four-day event are sold out.
- On June 30, James said he will play this coming season and is leaving the Los Angeles Lakers after an eight-season run that included the 2020 title.
- Cleveland and Miami are believed to be on his radar again, along with Philadelphia, Minnesota and Golden State.
- He also has a second known New York speaking engagement Thursday at the Game Plan Summit with Boardroom co-founder Rich Kleiman.
When does LeBron speak at Fanatics Fest?
According to AP reporting carried by 6abc, James is scheduled to speak publicly Thursday afternoon while recording Mind the Game with Haliburton.
Fanatics Fest is a four-day gathering of athletes, celebrities and sports legends. The podcast slot was announced publicly in May, well before free agency turned into a waiting game.
James is 41 and the only player in NBA history with a career spanning 23 seasons. The coming campaign would be his 24th.
Will he announce his free-agency decision there?
It is possible he could reveal where he plans to play, or at least update where he stands in the process. It is not confirmed that he will.
Speculation about his future has run for more than two months, dating to the Lakers’ May playoff exit. After that elimination, James said he did not know what he would be doing next.
The only firm updates since then came on June 30: he will play, and he will not return to Los Angeles. For more than two weeks, the NBA has been waiting to hear what comes next. Coverage of the live podcast has fueled fresh speculation about timing and format, including whether a stage moment could deliver the news—similar to how Kevin Durant’s trade to Houston broke during last year’s event—though skepticism remains that a live taping is the chosen vehicle.
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Which teams are linked to LeBron’s next move?
James began in Cleveland in 2003, won two titles in Miami, returned to the Cavaliers, then spent eight seasons with the Lakers. Cleveland and Miami are believed to be back on his radar, with Philadelphia, Minnesota and Golden State also among the teams mentioned as he weighs options.
His résumé includes 22 All-Star nods, four MVPs, four Finals MVPs and a spot on the NBA’s 75th anniversary team. Last season he averaged 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 7.2 assists.
Beyond the podcast, James is also slated to talk at the invitation-only Game Plan Summit, presented by CNBC and Boardroom, about building an empire beyond basketball and why the next generation of athletes may wield more influence than ever—another reminder that Thursday’s New York schedule is about more than one possible roster reveal.