LeBron James on His Favorite LEAP Players of the Season
Mind the Game
UNINTERRUPTED | Wondery
4.7 • 1.2K Ratings
🗓️ 6 January 2026
⏱️ 39 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Happy New Year from LeBron James, Steve Nash and all of us at Mind the Game! We are so psyched to kick off 2026 with an episode highlighting the players who have made major improvements this year. Guys like Tyrese Maxey and Stephon Castle to Deni Avdija and Jalen Johnson. We highlight just how those players took a leap and what LeBron and Steve look into when evaluating player development. Steve and LeBron also debate the ‘Fouling Up-3’ strategy and how to deploy it. And finally, the guys get to a fan question about defending drop coverage. It’s going to be a great year and thankful for each and every one of year. Cheers to 2026!
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Coming up on this episode of Mind the Game. |
| 0:03.0 | A lot of fans don't love the fouling up three. |
| 0:07.0 | Listen, our league is a three-point shooting league. |
| 0:11.0 | So why not? |
| 0:12.0 | If you have an opportunity to win or close the percentage of you winning the game, possibly, take it away. |
| 0:19.0 | Let's talk about guys who have made a leap this year. |
| 0:21.6 | The first guy I'm gonna talk about, |
| 0:22.6 | because he's been taking a leap after leap after leap over the last few years. |
| 0:25.6 | Tirees Maxi. |
| 0:26.6 | Another guy that's really kind of caught my eye is Stefan Castle. |
| 0:29.6 | I just think this guy is a two-way full-core player, |
| 0:32.6 | explosive downhill driver, playmaker, |
| 0:35.6 | gritty, combative physical defender. |
| 0:38.3 | Someone who I also have been working out with the last two summers is Jalen Johnson and Atlanta. |
| 0:43.3 | Danny Avdia. I mean, this is a quality, quality player. |
| 0:46.3 | He's a big time player. I like, I'll, he's good. He's really good. |
| 0:50.3 | Player development has to be in concert with the style of play your team as and your role |
| 0:57.0 | on that team. |
| 0:58.0 | You just triggered me right there. |
| 1:00.0 | I've done skill training my whole career, of course, obviously, but I've also done things |
| 1:05.0 | that I felt like we're what we were going to run. |
| 1:25.9 | How do you feel about fouling up three fighting games? |
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