What would you do if you hit 1 million subscribers? Pop champagne, celebrate with a cake, drop a surprise video for your fans, and go on an extended tour; the possibilities are endless. But one Twitch star? He took things to a whole new level. He brought in LeBron James. And for what, you ask? To cut his hair. Yep, a wild way to celebrate hitting 1 million subscribers.

Curious what went down between LeBron James and Kai Cenat? Even crazier, the Lakers’ superstar skipped practice for it.

What happened between LeBron James and Kai Cenat?

Kai Cenat kicked off Mafiathon 3 by breaking Twitch’s paid subscriber record. The month-long event, running through September 2025, was nonstop action. Kai streamed for hours, played video games, acted out skits, and kept fans hooked with surprise celebrity appearances. Every new subscription extended the stream, turning it into a marathon party where viewers could interact and be part of the journey.

The livestream had a star-studded lineup with celebrities like Kim Kardashian, Mariah Carey, Law Roach, Latto, Ice Spice, Keke Palmer, the Jonas Brothers, Selena Gomez, Benny Blanco, Ed Sheeran, and Linkin Park, all joining to help Kai reach 1 million subscribers. Not only this, Kai also used this event as a way to raise funds for new schools in Nigeria.

By the final weekend, the excitement was at its peak. On Saturday, September 28, 2025, Kai officially hit 1 million subscribers, smashing his previous record of 700,000 from Mafiathon 2. Sharing the milestone on X, he wrote, “Starting 2025, I was a little lost and didn’t know how it was gonna go, but fast forward and now I’m here. 1,000,000 SUBS thank you God, GOAL IS OFFICIALLY COMPLETE.”

He even posted a celebratory picture with AMP members and guests, smiling in front of his streaming setup. But hitting the number wasn’t just about bragging rights, Kai had promised a special reward if he reached the milestone: he would cut his long hair live on stream.

Kai Cenat’s rise on Twitch has been nothing short of meteoric. At just 23, with 18 million followers, he’s become one of the internet’s most prominent personalities. As part talk show host, part gamer, and part reality star, Cenat entertains with skits, music debates, fashion takes, and celebrity interviews.

Gen Z adores him not only because he’s hilarious, but because his story proves that being true to yourself can turn an Atlanta home into a multi-million-dollar empire. Oh, and did you know Kai coined the word “rizz”? That same slang Oxford crowned as its 2023 Word of the Year—the ultimate Gen Z vibe check. Even Drake takes notes from him. That’s the kind of rizz Cenat oozes.

Winning a TIME100 Creators award earlier this year only cemented his status. Cenat has redefined what it means to be a streamer, not just gaming in a basement, but creating a cultural space where fans, celebrities, and the biggest names in pop culture collide. 

Why did LeBron James cut Kai Cenat’s hair?

Kai has been growing those iconic locs since he was just 14, making the haircut a huge deal. Earlier this month on The Jennifer Hudson Show, he said, “I think I’m going to look good,” adding, “It’s going to definitely be a new journey.”

And helping him make it happen? None other than LeBron James. The now-viral clip showed LeBron cutting Kai’s dreads, handing them back to him, and rubbing his head, with the X account Fear Bucks posting, “LeBron James has officially cut Kai Cenat’s dreads 😭.”And James was not alone in this. He was joined by his 10-year-old daughter, Zhuri James.

Kai’s friends and crew were excited as LeBron teased the moment, snipping away one loc at a time. Kai even jokingly crowned him “LeBarber,” a nickname bound to stick with memers for a long time. When the final loc finally dropped, the room erupted into cheers as Kai snapped a selfie, clutching his hair in one hand and posing with LeBron in the other.

This wasn’t exactly their first link-up. The two had already crossed paths in June 2025 at Fanatics Fest in New York, where they even went live together, showing off an easy, natural chemistry between the streamer and the NBA icon. But the day also came with a jaw-dropping surprise. LeBron casually pulled out a Lakers-themed Audemars Piguet watch and gifted it to Kai. As if that wasn’t enough, the four-time MVP also laced Kai and his crew with unreleased LeBron XXIII sneakers, turning the moment into instant history.

Did LeBron James Really Miss Lakers Practice to Join the Kai Cenat Stream?

No, LeBron James didn’t skip Lakers practice to hang out on Kai Cenat’s livestream. The truth was far more serious. As dfabbasketball shared on Instagram, even JJ Redick confirmed that James has “a little bit of nerve irritation in the glute.” Coach JJ Redick explained that the team is taking things slow with LeBron, keeping him fresh and healthy as he heads into his record-breaking 23rd NBA season when the Lakers open against Golden State on October 21.

Redick emphasized that the Lakers are “playing the long game” with James. Even though LeBron might still appear in some preseason games, the focus is on preserving his body, after 22 years of wear and tear, for a strong playoff push. Last season, he averaged 24.4 points, 8.2 assists, and 7.8 rebounds, mainly staying healthy over 70 games. The Lakers’ cautious approach echoes his camp’s plan before training started: take it slow now so he’s ready for the stretch run later.

How Did Fans React to LeBron Cutting Kai Cenat’s Hair?

Fans had a field day online, firing off jokes the moment the clips went viral. One quipped, “This the most assists LeBron has had all week,” pointing to the army of people huddled around Kai while James worked the clippers. Another added, “LeBron’s been carrying teams for 20 years, now he’s carrying clippers.”

The jokes kept rolling. “LeBron really turned Kai’s stream into the most expensive barbershop visit of all time,” one fan wrote, while another posted, “LeBron James did what!?” complete with a Joey Tribbiani jaw-drop GIF. And maybe the most fitting punchline of the night? “Barber LeBron is a side quest I didn’t know I needed in my life.”