LeBron James’ touching words for favorite player in 2025 NBA Finals: “He’s the head of the snake”

Future NBA Hall of Famer LeBron James had showered Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton with high praise ahead of the 2025 Finals showdown against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Thunder vs. Pacers, SGA vs. Haliburton

The two best teams from each conference are set to face off starting Thursday (May 5) in a best-of-seven series, with the Western Conference’s top seed, OKC, taking on the fourth seed from the East, Indiana. No matter who wins, history will be made - neither franchise has ever captured an NBA title. The spotlight will be firmly fixed on two of the league’s brightest stars: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leading the Thunder and Haliburton running the show for the Pacers.

Both players earned All-Star nods this season, but it was Gilgeous-Alexander who walked away with the league MVP honors. Still, Haliburton has proven himself to be the heart and soul of this Pacers squad, steering Indiana past the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference Finals. His leadership and infectious energy caught the attention of LeBron, who spoke glowingly about Haliburton during a recent episode of “Mind the Game,” the podcast he co-hosts with Steve Nash.

LeBron James’ praise for Tyrese Haliburton

“He’s just a great person, man. A great kid,” LeBron said. “Didn’t matter if he was playing or not - he showed up the same way every single day. You could see him soaking up everything, every little detail, just by being around. Always respectful. Never changed who he was. Whether it was in practice - running fives when the vets were sitting out - or getting called into a game, he was always ready. Always smiling, cracking jokes, bringing good vibes.”

James didn’t stop there.

LeBron: “You’d run through a wall for him”

“You watch the Pacers - during the regular season and now in the playoffs - and it all makes sense,” he continued. “You see why they’re the team they are. It all starts with the head of the snake, and that’s Hali. You can feel his energy, his love for the game. He’s the kind of guy you’d run through a wall for - just because of how he plays.”

LeBron also defended Haliburton’s upbeat demeanor in high-pressure moments.

“Some people say, ‘He’s smiling in a hostile environment, that’s not how you’re supposed to act.’ And I’m like, that’s who he is. Why are we always trying to change people just because they don’t fit some tired narrative or look the way we expect them to? Everyone prepares differently. Hali’s one of the special ones. What the Pacers are doing isn’t some fluke - it’s happening because of him, and that team is built perfectly around him.”

Haliburton learns from the legends

It’s worth noting that Haliburton shared the court with LeBron, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant and other NBA legends as part of Team USA’s gold-medal run at the 2024 Paris Olympics. While Haliburton played limited minutes during the tournament, he soaked up every bit of knowledge he could - about leadership, championship habits and what it takes to win at the highest level. That experience is now paying off, as he leads Indiana into its first NBA Finals appearance in over two decades.

With the Thunder and Pacers both hunting for a historic first title, and Haliburton playing the best basketball of his career, LeBron’s endorsement only adds fuel to what’s already shaping up to be an unforgettable Finals.

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