LeBron James and Kevin Durant are in the midst of “Hell Week 2” together.
For the second consecutive offseason the Oklahoma City Thunder star has joined the Miami Heat Most Valuable Player for a series of collaborative and grueling two-a-day workouts near James’ hometown in Akron, Ohio.
Last year the two dubbed the process “hell week” and credited it with helping them start on a path to facing each other in last June’s Finals.
“We pushed each other every day,” James said about last year’s workouts. “At the time, I envisioned us getting to (the Finals) against each other.”
After their workout Tuesday, the two each took to Twitter to comment.
“Just finished a great workout with @KDTrey5. On court work, ran the hill and finished running the football field. #StriveforGreatness,” read a message on James’ Twitter account.
Durant’s account said: “I got better today! That’s all that matters!! Move em.”
Durant and James bonded during the NBA lockout last summer, playing in charity exhibition games. Durant then asked James to work out together and the two created an intense training camp-style schedule with James’ trainer, Mike Mancias.
They developed a friendly rivalry during the workouts and later organized a flag football game at the University of Akron, with the two recruiting teams to play against each other.
This summer, just a couple weeks after the Heat beat the Thunder in the Finals, James and Durant played on Team USA together for the first time and won a gold medal in London.
WRITTEN BY Brian Windhorst | ESPN.com & FULL STORY HERE
