Canadian rapper Drake surprised NBA and music fans alike this week by unveiling a new tattoo that completely covers up his previous tribute to LeBron James. At London’s Wireless Festival, Drake appeared on stage with a fresh ink on his left bicep honoring Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, replacing the tattoo that once celebrated James’ high school.

Both LeBron James and Drake have achieved extraordinary success in their respective fields, with James becoming the NBA’s all-time leading scorer over two decades, and Drake rising to global stardom as a music icon. Once close friends, their relationship now seems strained, highlighted by Drake’s decision to modify his tattoo.

Reasons Behind Drake’s Tattoo Transformation

While LeBron James took some offseason respite, Drake continued his public engagements, performing at the 2025 Wireless Festival in Finsbury Park, London. Fans immediately noticed the significant change on Drake’s left arm, where the former LeBron James tribute now features a design honoring Gilgeous-Alexander, the NBA champion who recently led the Thunder to victory.

This bold act left many fans shocked and discussing the implications on social media platforms. Some expressed disbelief at the change, with one fan commenting,

“Turned a legendary tat to whatever tf that is,”

highlighting the divide between supporters. Others were equally surprised, saying,

“This wasn’t on my bingo card for 2025,”

underlining how unexpected the move was.

Supporters of Drake’s decision pointed toward past tensions. One fan justified the change by stating,

“Bron turned on Drake bro… it is what it is,”

suggesting a deeper rift between Drake and James contributes to this personal statement through ink.

Underlying Conflict Between LeBron James and Drake

The friction between Drake and James appears to be rooted in a larger music-industry rivalry involving Drake and fellow rapper Kendrick Lamar. The two artists engaged in a widely publicized dispute, with Lamar releasing a diss track targeting Drake, stirring tension within the rap community.

LeBron James’s allegiance seemed to side with Lamar when he attended the rapper’s concert on Juneteenth last year, signaling his support publicly. This act reportedly upset Drake, sparking further strain on their once-close relationship.

Multiple fans pointed to this incident as the catalyst for the deteriorated bond. One fan stated,

“Well the real reason is…just Drake being mad LeBron supported Kendrick on stage at his concert in LA,”

while another added,

“They mad cause LeBron went to Kendrick’s pop out show,”

emphasizing how this show of support fueled the feud.

Gilgeous-Alexander’s Rising Stardom Marks Tattoo Tribute

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the newly crowned 2025 NBA MVP and leader of the Oklahoma City Thunder, has earned considerable respect and admiration. His achievement in delivering the franchise’s first championship in 46 years has elevated him to global recognition, making him a fitting subject for such a tattoo.

Despite Gilgeous-Alexander’s deserving status, Drake’s choice to cover up the LeBron James tattoo with Gilgeous-Alexander’s image seems to carry a layered message rather than a mere celebration of the athlete’s success. This act may signify Drake’s shifting loyalties amidst the personal and professional rifts involving James.

Our Reader’s Queries

Q. Does LeBron James sleep 12 hours?

A. Professional athletes use much more energy than the average person, so they often need more than the typical 8 hours of sleep. LeBron James averages about 12 hours of sleep each night. This is impressive because top athletes frequently travel, making it tough to get quality rest.

Q. How much does LeBron James sleep?

A. Lebron uses his strong physical abilities, while Steph has the skill to make shots from nearly any spot on the basketball court. Despite their differences, they share one common priority: sleep. Each athlete gets about 8-9 hours of sleep every night and adds a 2-3 hour nap during the daytime.