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It appears Drake has officially retired his long-standing tattoo tribute to LeBron James, opting to cover it with new ink honoring OKC Thunder superstar and newly minted NBA champion Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The alleged tattoo reveal, first spotted during Drake’s recent Wireless Festival performance, has fueled intense speculation about the strained relationship between the ‘6 God’ and the NBA icon.
For years, Drake proudly sported a tattoo of LeBron James in his St. Vincent-St. Mary’s “Fighting Irish” high school jersey on his left bicep. It was a tangible symbol of a friendship that spanned over a decade, marked by public shout-outs, shared courtside moments, and even a “Forever” music video appearance by James. Their bond seemed unshakeable, a testament to two titans of their respective crafts.
However, cracks in this seemingly unbreakable bond began to show in 2024. The escalating beef between Drake and Kendrick Lamar reportedly put a significant strain on their relationship. Sources suggest Drake was disheartened by LeBron James’ perceived neutrality, and perhaps even betrayal, after James was spotted at Kendrick Lamar’s “Pop Out” concert. This public appearance, combined with Drake unfollowing LeBron on Instagram in October 2024, signaled a clear shift in alliances. Drake himself has alluded to this fallout, with subtle lyrical jabs in recent tracks like “What Did I Miss?” and leaked freestyles.
Now, the tattoo cover-up serves as the most visible statement yet. The new ink, reportedly a tribute to fellow Canadian and rising NBA phenom Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, features SGA’s jersey. This strategic pivot to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander makes sense; SGA’s meteoric rise, MVP buzz, and recent Finals MVP crown make him ana fitting new muse for Drizzy.
LeBron James at the time has remained notably silent on the matter.
