LeBron James is continuing to expand his presence on social video platforms. The four-time MVP is the co-host of Mind the Game, a podcast that has drawn a large audience since its arrival on YouTube on March 19.
Mind the Game features the basketball-related musings of King James and retired sharpshooter J.J. Redick. In the first episode of their show, the two hardcourt vets discuss the recipe for a success basketball player. That open-ended question leads into a wide-ranging conversation that covers numerous NBA topics, including the current fate of James’ Los Angeles Lakers.
James is arguably the most famous athlete in the world, so it’s not surprising that the first episode of his new podcast drew 1.3 million views in a single day and brought 227,000 subscribers to Mind The Game‘s home channel. Cut-down clips from the episode are also bringing in traffic across YouTube’s long-form and short-form formats.
The launch of a video podcast represents a new creative direction for James. The NBA legend’s previous YouTube shows were high-budget docuseries produced by James’ Uninterrupted brand. With Mind The Game, co-producers Uninterrupted and ThreeFourTwo are hopping on the trend of YouTube video podcasts. James’ Mind The Game co-host knows a thing or two about successful podcasts; Redick’s show The Old Man and the Three has become a trusted source for basketball news, bringing more than one million subscribers to the Duke alum’s official YouTube channel.
By teaming up with Redick, James is showing that his legendary awareness extends far beyond the basketball court. He is paying attention to the formats that are driving product innovations and brand deals on platforms like YouTube, and his reward has been massive viewership (so far).
Don’t expect James to limit his digital media ventures to a single podcast. He has also indicated his interest in video game streaming, whether it be on YouTube, Twitch, or Kick. And a recent deal between James’ Lakers and Logan Paul‘s Prime Hydration has led to rumors that the two Northeast Ohio natives will meet in a wrestling match.
