Tyrese Haliburton Recalls The Time He Realized LeBron James Started Displaying 'Old' Man Behavior

Tyrese Haliburton recently revealed he had a special nickname for some of the NBA's more seasoned basketball players, such as LeBron James and Kevin Durant.

In a new interview with Kevin Hart, the Indiana Pacers standout player, who is currently competing for his first championship title against the Oklahoma City Thunder, admitted to referring to the legendary players as "unc" (a term short for "uncle") because of certain behavior.

Appearing on Hart's "Cold as Balls" program, Haliburton, 25, who played alongside James on Team USA during the 2024 Summer Olympic Games, admitted he saw James do some "old" man "sh-t" during their time together.

"We're sitting in the training room. He'll have his iPad on his chest watching 'The Sopranos,' no headphones, full volume, and nobody's saying anything to him," Haliburton told Hart.

"So I tap him, like, 'You're literally the Beats guy, why don't you got no headphones on?" Haliburton continued, referencing James' investment and brand deal with Beats by Dre.

But that wasn't the only thing that had Haliburton looking at the Los Angeles Lakers star sideways. According to the point guard, when he asked James how many times he'd watched "The Sopranos," James, 40, said it was his "fourth time."

"So why are you laughing so hard?" Haliburton joked before laughing with Hart.

Despite calling James, who's planning to return to the league in 2025 for his 23rd season, "old," Haliburton has a lot of love and respect for the four-time NBA champion.

In 2023, when the Pacers were facing off against the Lakers, Haliburton opened up about how much he looked up to the athlete while growing up.

"Like any kid born in 2000, LeBron was my favorite player growing up," Haliburton said in December of that year, adding, "and it's hard for him not to be for a lot of us."

He continued, "Growing up, I was a Cavs fan, then a Heat fan, then a Cavs fan again, then a Lakers fan before I got drafted. It's just how it went.

"To be able to compete against him in a championship is kind of like a storybook [ending] a little bit, and it's going to be a lot of fun. But that's the great part about being in the NBA: getting to compete against your idols on a nightly basis. I really look forward to that," he stated.

James isn't the only high-profile basketball player with whom Haliburton has a meaningful relationship.

Recently, the two-time NBA all-star discussed his bond with Indiana Fever and WNBA sensation Caitlin Clark, admitting that they talk "24/7." He even revealed that he and Clark have a four-person group chat that includes their romantic partners. "The four of us hang out all the time," he added.

The Iowa State alum also discussed the immense pressure on Clark, a direct result of her impact in revitalizing the WNBA over the last year.

"She goes through a lot, as you know. There's a lot of weight and eyes on her. Obviously, there is on me as well, but hers are amplified times a million," he said.

Clark, 23, recently returned to Gainbridge Fieldhouse after sitting out for two weeks with an injury as the Fever faced off against the New York Liberty.

The 2023 Rookie of the Year had 32 points, including seven three-pointers, eight rebounds, and nine assists.

James, meanwhile, recently celebrated his legendary career in the NBA by teaming up with Mattel, the company behind Barbie, to release a limited-edition "Kenbassador" collectible designed to resemble the 6'9" Olympian perfectly.

"Ken is Barbie's longtime best friend and supporter," said Krista Berger, Senior Vice President of Barbie. "We are excited to bring fans a new presentation of Ken that celebrates LeBron as a role model, his icon status, lasting impact on culture, and dedication to setting a positive example for the next generation to reach their limitless potential."

And James couldn't agree more. He discussed his groundbreaking partnership with Mattel in April 2025 and expressed hope that it would inspire young people and encourage them to stay motivated.

"It's an opportunity to recognize the powerful impact of role models who instill confidence, inspire dreams, and show kids that they, too, can achieve greatness," he said.