“He was so determined” – Hakeem Olajuwon recalls mentoring LeBron James throughout their 2011 summer workout

LeBron James endured a long, painful summer in 2011. After a devastating finish with the Miami Heat against the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA Finals and being humbled by millions of people celebrating his downfall, James urgently soul-searched. He reflected on how things went wrong, starting with himself, and wondered how to bounce back from this setback that tainted his legacy.

LBJ felt obligated to elevate his game at that point by calling Hakeem Olajuwon 's guidance. Throughout their training process, the Dream was beyond impressed with the Miami Heat superstar's commitment to being his best version.

"He was so determined," Olajuwon said . "That's number one. He was always saying, 'I'm here.' That pushes me. When somebody wants it so much and is so eager … wow. I was very happy because I knew I could help him."

Iron sharpens iron

Even at retirement, Hakeem has maintained his availability amongst players wanting to improve. The Houston Rockets legend conducted personal workouts for those who wished to learn the art of basketball, specifically in the inside play. The likes of Kobe Bryant , Amar'e Stoudemire, and Dwight Howard were some of the well-known figures he mentored, and the addition of LeBron that offseason has been a compelling experience at his side.

LeBron entered Olajuwon's camp carrying a bold mission: to complete his game. As an all-around wonder, LBJ already knew how to do it all. But he's completely aware that he still has to explore his interior skill set, which can tremendously aid him. Hakeem gladly supplied his needs, instructing James to be more fluid in his movements and be an enforcer down low.

He also presented intriguing low-post moves that the King hadn't even known or demonstrated yet, executing various forms of his 'Dream Shake' and a flurry of soft touches close to the basket. At first, LeBron found it difficult to follow. But he immediately absorbed Hakeem's teachings and performed it all by himself perfectly.

Yet beyond witnessing the development of that paint arsenal, Hakeem also saw a dramatic transformation in LeBron's mentality. LBJ arrived desperate and burdened to redeem himself from his humiliating collapse last season. But upon their three-day clinic, the Miami star became sane and sound, equipped with a revitalized confidence about his newfound growth.

"This is a different generation, but we connected when he came this time," Olajuwon said . "You could see that he felt very comfortable, very relaxed. He had put a lot of pressure on himself to win a championship, but this was very refreshing for him. No judgment."

"I could see when he left the ranch, his excitement was high and he was ready. "I thought, 'He has completed his game. He feels that. He believes that."

A motivated Bron conquered the NBA

After his fulfilling workout with Hakeem, LeBron returned home to South Beach with all the needed tools under his belt. And the rest was just history.

Leading the Heatles behind his back, Bron stormed his way for a grand redemption tour. After bumping into Olajuwon in the lab, he showcased his new basketball tactics and mindset and became even more unstoppable. He erased all of the pressure imposed by the sports world, securing that elusive championship in the 2011-12 campaign, which was followed by a back-to-back reign the following season.

In hindsight, LeBron needed that Finals defeat against Dallas to fully realize his all-time form. Meeting with Hakeem helped him unlock his capabilities to the next level and evolve into the player we know today.

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