One of us! NBA superstar LeBron James says the golf bug has bitten him

The golf bug can bite anyone, but it seems to have an affinity toward professional athletes. Especially those who are in the twilight of their career.

LeBron James seems to be the golf bug's latest victim, and while he recently announced that he plans to play at least one more season for the NBA's Los Angeles Lakers, it sounds like he found something to occupy his time in his post-basketball life — whenever that arrives.

"The bug is real," James said during Wednesday's episode of Mind the Game, a podcast he co-hosts with fellow NBA legend Steve Nash. "I've heard about the bug for so many years and I was like, 'Well, it's not gonna get me. I don't like golf at all. Who wants to be outside all day walking around?'

"Nah, it's real. I am into it. My algorithm on social media, every other post, every other video is some type of golf video now."

Say it with me: One of us! One of us!

The golf bug has officially bitten @KingJames.

Watch the full episode to hear how he's approaching the offseason in year 23. Out now on our YouTube: https://t.co/OZbNHaTQDfpic.twitter.com/UAazOC4nCJ

— Mind the Game (@mindthegamepod) October 9, 2025

It's always fun when an athlete like LeBron — who transcends sports and has become one of the most famous people in the world — says something to which we laypeople can relate. The conversation started with Nash asking James how he approaches the offseason now that he's north of 40 years old.

"I try to stay off the court as much as possible. I wanted to challenge my mind with something else and I picked up golf. This is the first time I've played an individual sport. There's no trying to make sure a teammate is in the right spot, or I need my teammate to make this play, or he needs me to make the right play in order for us to win," James said.

"It's me vs. each hole, and it is the most complicated mind-f**k ever. It's just you vs. the greens. And I love that. I love that aspect of something that's so uncomfortable and so hard."

Mind you, this is coming from a four-time NBA champion with four league MVPs and 21 all-star selections to his name. But golf has the ability to humble anyone, — even arguably the greatest athlete of a generation.

LeBron has conquered just about everything there is to conquer in the game of basketball, and now he's fully invested in his newest endeavor. He told Nash he's been hitting the links frequently and has plans to add a golf simulator to his house.

He also went deeper on the golf content he's consuming: "Swing mechanics, you know, par 4s, par 5s, the best golf courses in America, the best golf courses in the world. What you shouldn't do, what you should do, you know, 'John Daly's swing, everybody stay from it, he's one of a kind.' I'm getting the whole education."

Most assumed LeBron was going to return to the Lakers for his 23rd season in the NBA, but that notion was suddenly thrust into a state of limbo earlier this week when he posted a cryptic message on social media about a major announcement coming Tuesday.

It turned out to be a tongue-in-cheek advertisement with liquor brand Hennessy in which he confirmed that he will, in fact, play this year (a cringey but funny fake-out that some fans did not enjoy).

Of course, there's much speculation about LeBron's plans post-retirement. Many believe he'll step into some sort of front office role within an NBA franchise. Some even think he'll become an owner one day. Time will tell, but for now, we know one thing for certain: When LeBron turns out the lights on his legendary career, you can expect to see him out on the driving range.

This article originally appeared on Golfweek: LeBron James talks newfound love for golf in podcast with Steve Nash