LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers sent a heartfelt birthday message to hip-hop superstar J.Cole.

Via Twitter, James told J.Cole to keep leading as he serves as an inspiration to many. Many have left due to various circumstances, but James knows that J.Cole's presence helps those who want to achieve their dreams. As a big hip-hop fan himself, James asked J.Cole to keep making music.

J.Cole, for his part, sent out a reply to the Lakers star. He also shared his willingness to see James back on the court as he's been out for over a month due to a groin injury. He's ramped up his practice sessions as of late and might return sooner than expected.

James and J.Cole go way back in 2010 when the Lakers star declared that the rapper is his new favorite hip-hop artist.

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Since then, the two have seemingly formed a close bond and friendship. J.Cole himself gave James a shoutout in one of his songs. Below, J.Cole shared his take on the Michael Jordan vs. LeBron James debate. Who's really the greatest basketball player of all time? For J.Cole, it's impossible to compare the two simply because they played in different eras.