Drake breaks silence on LeBron James rift, subtly nods to true supporters in Kendrick Lamar beef
The entertainment world has been abuzz with a brewing rivalry involving Drake and Kendrick Lamar. Recently, it has also drawn in NBA star LeBron James. Over the past few months, Drake has been entangled in a feud with Lamar, releasing diss tracks aimed at his fellow rapper. LeBron James, who has not publicly picked a side, has appeared to lean towards Lamar. The rumors of a rift between James and Drake have dominated headlines, but Drake recently addressed the issue with a cryptic social media post.
Drake and LeBron have shared a strong bond since Drake's early days in the music industry. James notably attended Drake's release party in Toronto in 2009, and the two have frequently appeared together publicly. However, the Drake-Lamar feud seems to have shifted James' allegiance. Multiple instances suggest James' indirect support for Lamar. James was seen enjoying Lamar’s track "They Not Like Us" at the "Pop Out and Show" concert and expressed his “love” for the song during a Team USA exhibition game in Abu Dhabi, despite Steph Curry's protest against it.
In response, Drake posted Instagram stories featuring Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in their national team jerseys, conspicuously omitting LeBron. This post followed LeBron leading Team USA to victory over South Sudan in London, which many hailed as a heroic performance. By leaving James out, Drake seemed to acknowledge his true supporters. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's inclusion likely stems from their Canadian connection, while Curry’s defense of Drake’s music during the exhibition game may have solidified his support.
Among Drake’s supporters, Kevin Durant stands out. Despite the tension surrounding "They Not Like Us" topping the Billboard Hot 100 and many NBA stars attending Lamar’s concert, Durant has shown loyalty to Drake. Following the concert, Durant was spotted at Drake’s mansion in Toronto, and the two were seen together at a July 4 party at Michael Rubin’s mansion. These appearances suggest Durant has sided with Drake in the rapper’s ongoing feud with Lamar.