LeBron James, a four-time NBA MVP and four-time NBA champion, isn’t used to this.
He’s seen many battles in his time with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, and now the Los Angeles Lakers in his storied career. The superstar forward has played 22 NBA seasons and 1,812 games, playoffs included. He’s one of four players in history with at least 10 trips to the NBA Finals. He’s been embroiled in rivalries with the Detroit Pistons, San Antonio Spurs, Chicago Bulls, Toronto Raptors, and Golden State Warriors.
Who would have thought that an actor turned musician would become his biggest adversary? An individual that was once a close associate, if not one of his best friends, once upon a time.
Drama, Drake Give LeBron James An Unfamiliar Opponent
While wildfires rage through Southern California, the heat has been James for a few days now.
Upon hearing the “Fighting Irish Freestyle” penned by Drake and produced by Conductor Williams, music and sports fans went into a frenzy. Carefully crafted bars aimed at the soon-to-be 21-time All-Star were dissected. Memories of James and his comrades at the “Pop Out Show” headlined by Kendrick Lamar, Drake’s archnemesis, resurfaced.
“The world fell in love with the gimmicks, even my brothers got tickets, seemed like they loved every minute”
— Drake on his new Conductor Williams freestyle, ‘FIGHTING IRISH’ https://t.co/N4FaI0OXoD pic.twitter.com/hrKYu9LrFZ
— Kurrco (@Kurrco) January 3, 2025
It may have been a long time coming, considering the fallout between the two (“All that brother talk as if I really discovered a sibling“).
Happy Born-Day my brother!!! Love 🦉 pic.twitter.com/gdR1tSwkcj
— LeBron James (@KingJames) October 24, 2021
Alpha
Let’s get this out of the way. James has been a fan of Drake’s music for over a decade. So much so that Drake has the lead verse on “Forever,” the opening song for James’ 2008 documentary, “More Than A Game,”
“@mac1508: @KingJames favorite rapper besides Jay-Z”(@Drake)
— LeBron James (@KingJames) January 11, 2014
After appearing at Drake’s release party for his So Far Gone mixtape in 2009, their relationship grew into a friendship. Note that the release party was held at 6 Degrees, a Toronto-based nightclub (“6 degrees my memories retrieved in our humble beginnings“).
In fact, in a 2011 interview with Marc J. Spears, James said that Drake was more like family:
“What we have is real family,” James said. “It’s not just because we are successful at what we do. We really care about one another on a day-to-day basis. Anytime you get a friend that can come and support you in what you do, I really respect that.
This close-knit bond had grown, uninterrupted, until last year. The camaraderie even extended to James’ progeny.
When Drake walked out with Bronny James on IAAB tour after Bronny’s health scare pic.twitter.com/T4BV0u2fTF
— diana s. (@DianaSalam13) January 11, 2025
With that in mind, Drake likely expected James to pick sides. Just not his enemy’s side.
Omega
Last summer, the rap battle between Drake and Lamar reached its boiling point. In the process, acrimonious accusations were levied. As a longtime fan of rap music and an amateur A&R of sorts, James’ mixed reactions to the initial tracks were expected. Though more Team OVO than neutral, he seemed to genuinely appreciate the artistry.
🦉🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
— LeBron James (@KingJames) April 13, 2024
Nothing like 2 heavyweights doing What They Do Best! For the love off of the sport
— LeBron James (@KingJames) April 13, 2024
The problem was that the popularity of Lamar’s incendiary diss track, “Not Like Us,” was heightened by the mere presence of James at his “Pop Out Show.” Even worse was James gleefully rapping and dancing along to the most inflammatory bars. To the average fan, it looked like what Lamar was saying about Drake was right, making the song even more scathing.
Of course, James might have really decided that he couldn’t side with Drake. Maybe he was concerned about “tarnishing his public image.” Perhaps he truly believed his former friend had a predilection for 17-year-old girls, as Lamar suggested. Yet, while it doesn’t take away from the severity of accusations, those rumors had existed prior to last summer.
A quick Google search is all it takes to reveal that.
Inconsistent Messaging
If those tracks were the first that James heard those accusations though, how strong was their bond if that’s all it took for him to metaphorically dance on Drake’s grave? Would he have reacted similarly if the track was aimed at Jay-Z, for instance? Surely the 40-year-old couldn’t have thought that his actions were innocuous.
Many have said Lamar’s words weren’t meant to be taken literally, especially in light of “Not Like Us” leading to Drake suing Universal Music Group for defamation. Though they likely were, let’s assume they weren’t. That meant James was willing to risk a 15-year friendship to kumbaya with people that strongly dislike someone he considered to be family.
There are those who consider “Not Like Us” to be about hip-hop culture represents, espousing philosophies that highlight self-preservation at best and racism at worst. Yet, that doesn’t hold much water either. James may be a proud Black man but he has white friends, white business partners, and a self-proclaimed attraction to white women. He’s a big fan of Eminem, a white rapper.
And just like that, HE’S BACK bruh! @Eminem Houdini is too good! 🫡🔥🔥🔥
— LeBron James (@KingJames) May 31, 2024
James is a terrific representation of the American Dream. He represents Black American men well and genuinely cares about the community. However, if “Not Like Us” was supposed to be a pro-Black rallying call, then James’ authentic self doesn’t completely align with that message.
Savannah’s Storm
Though Drake’s “Fighting Irish Freestlye” was devoid of allegations, there were many who interpreted it as a threat to release private information about James. We’re not talking about medical or financial records here. Instead, it’s been suggested that James has had an extramarital affair.
For someone whose lifestyle as a family man is at the core of his image, this is no laughing matter.
Not for him. Not for his three children. Nor for his wife and the mother of his children, Savannah Brinson.
Similar to Drake though, these accusations aren’t new. In fact, their prior existence is why fans could recall them so easily. The suggestion that he had an affair with YesJulz, a social media influencer whose real name is Julieanna Goddard, began a decade ago. For her part, she has consistently denied those rumors. Nonetheless, a lie can make it around the world before the truth ties it’s shoes.
The problem for James is that he’s now in the middle of a mud-slinging match. A battle between two forces that has given rise to impassioned takes from fans and associates who want the other “empire crumble.” Innocent bystanders, like James’ family, are just considered casualties of war.
