LeBron James and Tyrese Haliburton are leaning into the idea of being the NBA's villains, and they're not mad about it.
In part two of their conversation on LeBron's Mind the Game podcast, the two stars opened up about how fan perception shifts once you become a real threat, and how embracing that energy can actually fuel success.
LeBron kicked things off by pointing to how passionate fanbases, like those of the New York Knicks, rally around their heroes and quickly turn on opposing stars. According to Haliburton, the shift happens the moment you go from being likable to being a problem.
"People love you until you become a threat to what they want," said Haliburton. "I used to go back and play in Milwaukee and get cheered loud… then the minute our team became a threat in the playoffs, now it's 'Tyrese is the worst person in the world.'"
He shared similar experiences playing in Madison Square Garden, noting how quickly the energy changed once postseason stakes were involved.
"Once you do something big, have a great game, then we get to the playoffs, they [throwing] dirt," Haliburton said.
Rather than taking it personally, Haliburton said he's learned to use it as motivation, comparing it to professional wrestling, where "heel" characters thrive off boos.
"I'm a big wrestling fan," he said. "I love that bad guy role that people want to cheer for and hate at the same time. Like The Rock, when everybody was booing him but loved it."
LeBron immediately related, pointing to his own time embracing the villain narrative, especially during his Miami Heat years, and how entertainment influences sports psychology.
"I grew up watching wrestling too," LeBron said, referencing Hulk Hogan's famous transformation into a villain with the NWO back in 1996 and comparing the mindset to iconic movie characters. "We're entertainers as well [...] As much as Batman is my favorite superhero, I love the Joker."
LeBron shouted out the prolific performances by Heath Ledger, Jack Nicholson and Tom Hardy as various Batman villains while adding, "We can tap into that role if y'all make us."
LeBron also added that there's no better feeling than silencing a hostile crowd on the road. Haliburton agreed, saying some of his favorite playoff moments came on the road.
"Of my four game-winners in the playoffs, the one at home is my least favorite," he said. "Being taken out of a building, there's nothing better than that."
From wrestling villains to comic book bad guys, LeBron and Haliburton made it clear that being the NBA's enemy in someone else's arena is sometimes the best role to play.