LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — It was minutes before tipoff of Game 5 of the Western Conference finals Saturday night between the Los Angeles Lakers and Denver Nuggets. LeBron James was getting his last few warmup shots in.
He was all business. The laughs and smiles that he shares with teammates throughout portions of his warmup routine were long gone. James had reversed course and had the look of someone who was out for blood. All of a sudden, 6-foot-9 superstar noticed a familiar face who was observing from behind the basket, and James walked over.