LOS ANGELES _ The Los Angeles Lakers' LeBron James has rubbed elbows with entertainers for years _ Jay-Z saw him play when James was in high school.
Last month James shared a stage with comedian Dave Chappelle.
Last weekend he shared a stage with rapper Drake, who performed in front of a sellout crowd at Staples Center.
Drake was also a guest on the second episode of James' HBO show "The Shop." Drake discussed his fractured relationship with Kanye West and his disdain for rapper Pusha T, as well as the unexpected nature of becoming a father and what it meant to tell his mother.
"What you guys saw is who he is and a lot of things we talk about," James said. "I've been knowing Drake since 2007.
"We've grown closer and closer every year, and I'm proud of who he is today. Not only as an artist, not only as a son. But as a father and he's one of the biggest stars that we have on this planet right now, and it's because of who he is and his hard work and dedication to his craft so, it's pretty cool."
James doesn't take any of these kinds of relationships for granted.
"I'm just blessed and honored that I can be in the same room with some of the greats in their respective fields," James said. "...That's Chappelle and Jay and Drake and I got an opportunity to speak to Barack Obama, be in the Oval Office. I was even actually on stage with him before.
"So I just look at myself sometimes and say I'm just a kid from Akron and I'm able to be around people who will be known forever even long after their years of existence."
