New tattoo, who is this? Drake Makes a Tattoo Change, Replacing LeBron James Ink with a Tribute to SGA
Drake has replaced his LeBron James tattoo with new ink of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, marking a definitive conclusion to his friendship with James.
Following what he might view as a betrayal, Drake conceals his LeBron tattoo featuring the NBA superstar’s high school jersey. The new ink, showcasing OKC Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, seems to indicate a clear change in Drake’s relationship with LeBron James.
For years, the bond between Drake and LeBron James appeared to be quite strong. The rapper and the NBA legend frequently appeared together courtside, reveling in their victories. The duo shared a remarkable bond, with Drake even famously tattooing James in his high school jersey on his left arm. However, their dynamic appeared to change last year amid Drake’s highly publicized feud with Kendrick Lamar.
The atmosphere grew charged as LeBron was seen openly rapping and sharing lyrics from Kendrick Lamar’s acclaimed diss track, “Not Like Us.” James was seen having a great time at Kendrick Lamar’s “The Pop Out: Ken & Friends” concert on Juneteenth 2024, where “Not Like Us” was highlighted as a featured anthem. Drake was certainly aware of the evident public backing for his opponent.
Drake appeared to start targeting James with his lyrics following the events. In January 2025, a track emerged titled “Fighting Irish Freestyle,” referencing the nickname of LeBron’s high school alma mater. He seemed to take a jab at James and Sacramento Kings forward DeMar DeRozan, who featured in Lamar’s “Not Like Us” music video, for attending Lamar’s concert.
In February, a month later, Drake intensified speculation by famously altering the lyrics to his popular song “Nonstop” during a concert in Perth, Australia. Rather than the initial “How I go from six to 23 like I’m LeBron?” he incisively rapped, “How I go from six to 23 but not LeBron, man.”
Drake recently tackled the fallout with frenemies in his track “What Did I Miss?” In the latest single, he delivers lines such as, “I saw bro in the Pop Out with them but been d**k riding gang since ‘Headlines.’”
Drake Conceals His LeBron Tattoo: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Shines
Drake has further clarified his position regarding his relationship with LeBron through a significant choice: he has covered his LeBron tattoo with new ink showcasing Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. During his headlining performance at the three-day Twenty Years of Wireless festival in London, England, fans noticed a notable alteration to his left arm. The original tattoo of LeBron James’ jersey has been updated to feature Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s Oklahoma City Thunder jersey.
The selection of Gilgeous-Alexander as the substitute holds great importance. He is a native of Toronto, much like Drake. He is also coming off an impressive 2024-25 NBA season, where he guided the Oklahoma City Thunder to their inaugural NBA championship, overcoming the Indiana Pacers in a thrilling seven-game series. Gilgeous-Alexander was named the 2024-25 NBA MVP and NBA Finals MVP, achieving an impressive average of 32.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 6.4 assists during the regular season, leading the league in scoring. His rapid ascent and Canadian heritage position him as an ideal new inspiration for Drake’s tattoos. Earlier this year, SGA made an appearance in Drake’s “NOKIA” music video.
LeBron appears to be unfazed, having a great time at a Bad Bunny concert in Puerto Rico shortly after Drake’s recent diss. Drake’s decision clearly indicates that the once close friendship has now deteriorated.
