A recent video of LeBron James enthusiastically rapping along to Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” has reignited public speculation about his relationship with longtime friend and collaborator Drake.
The footage, which surfaced online earlier this week, shows the NBA star and his wife Savannah James at a lunch gathering in France. Surrounded by friends, including business partner Maverick Carter, LeBron can be seen nodding along and reciting lyrics to the diss track, which was widely interpreted as a response to Drake during Lamar’s recent feud with the rapper. While others at the table appeared more reserved, James’ engagement with the track stood out.
The moment added fuel to ongoing rumors that James and Drake may no longer be on good terms. The two have previously maintained a close personal and professional relationship, with Drake even sporting a tattoo of James’ jersey number at one point.
The speculation began earlier this year after Drake’s “Fighting Irish Freestyle” leaked online. Though the track was quickly removed, fans noted that its lyrics seemed to reference James in a negative light. “Even my brothers got tickets… Just know this sh*t is personal,” Drake rapped. In a later live performance, he changed lyrics from “How I go from 6 to 23 like I’m LeBron?” to “How I go from 6 to 23, but not LeBron?”
Most recently, fans noticed Drake had covered up his LeBron-inspired tattoo, further deepening suspicions of a falling-out.
Neither James nor Drake has directly addressed the status of their relationship. While some fans interpret the public gestures as symbolic, others argue they may be reading too deeply into subtle changes and performance choices.
For now, no official comment has been made. Until either party speaks out, the nature of their current relationship remains uncertain.
