LeBron James and Kevin Gates feuding wasn’t on many people’s bingo card for 2025.
The Lakers’ superstar appeared to clap back at the rapper’s comments about his wife of 11 years, Savannah James, in a recent Instagram video.
It all started when Gates said: “I don’t like the way Savannah looks at LeBron,” adding that he prefers the way “white women” look at the four-time NBA champ.
Although James did not directly address Gates, he did post a photo Monday of Savannah looking at him and smiling.
“‘Kings don’t concern themselves with the opinions of peasants,’” LeBron wrote, adding a Black queen emoji, a heart and an infinity symbol. “Where to next Queen?!?! Let’s get it!”
That same day, Gates posted another video and stood by his comments.
“The truth hurts but it heals and Bron I love you,” Gates said while driving in a car with his girlfriend, Brittany Renner. “… Look, as long as you’re being celebrated I don’t care who like me … Me and Brittany, we approve this message.”
Gates captioned his post, “@kingjames, I’m way less than a peasant, i’m a simple servant of [hashtag] Allah and I love you.”
Gates’ initial comments came during a phone conversation with an unnamed person about NBA couples and why he wouldn’t trade places with James, as seen in a video posted to his Instagram.
“But I wouldn’t want to trade places with him … Because I don’t like the way Savannah look at LeBron,” Gates said in the video. “I like the way them white women look at LeBron. As soon as he walked out there, they just be like, ‘Oh, oh, oh.’”
Gates referred to Savannah as “the warden of the jail,” who’s trying to “police” LeBron.
“His spirit is so loving and giving it hurt me to see that,” Gates said. “I know a lot of people are going to hate what I just said but I’m just gonna be honest … I love LeBron and I hate that for him.”
Savannah has yet to publicly address the situation.
James and Savannah met when they were students at rival high schools in his native Akron, Ohio, and tied the knot in 2013.
They have three children: LeBron “Bronny” James Jr., 20, Bryce Maximus, 17, and Zhuri Nova, 10.
Bryce, a senior shooting guard out of Sierra Canyon, Calif., announced in January that he will take his talents to Arizona.
Bronny, the Lakers’ 55th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, signed a four-year, $7.9 million guaranteed contract with the team.
The Lakers are trailing 1-0 in their first-round playoff series against the Timberwolves.
Game 2 is set for Tuesday night in Los Angeles.
