OKLAHOMA CITY - Something exceptional happened for the Miami Heat on Sunday, something much more significant than the Heat's 108-103 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder.
LeBron James, at least for now, appears to be in sync with Erik Spoelstra.
Midway through the fourth quarter, LeBron and Spoelstra huddled and intensely discussed a game plan as a teammate shot free throws.
Earlier, The King and the coach sat on the bench, exchanged words and good-naturedly laughed together.
All day, LeBron exuded respect toward his coach. His coach, in turn, exuded complete comfort with his star of stars.
This is new.
"Me and Spo are still learning each other," LeBron said after the game. "It's not like me and Spo have been (together a long time). We're still learning each other. I'm going to continue to trust Spo. He's our coach and he's going to continue to trust me."
The key here isn't that LeBron said these words -- it's that he appeared to mean them.
That was evident all afternoon, as the Heat waged a high-focus, high-energy battle against Kevin Durant and his Thunder teammates.
All game, LeBron and Spoelstra talked one-on-one with respect and with a shared purpose. All game, LeBron played as if honoring Spoelstra's much-talked-about process.
The Chosen One dished eight of his 13 assists in the first quarter alone, statistically showcasing the trust Spoelstra has harped on all week. After Durant went off for 14 points in that first quarter, LeBron shut him down with a defensive intensity that could have come out of an Spoelstra infomercial.
This was a game that featured a lot worth scrutinizing: The returns of Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade. A spirited battle against a rising Western Conference power. A close game Miami actually closed out. Another lackluster performance from now starting point guard Mario Chalmers. Wade's temper-tantrum technical that nearly turned the tide in favor of the Thunder.
But the highlight was the exchanges between LeBron and his head coach that have the potential to most impact the rest of this season.
Erik Spoelstra lacks what most of the league's finest and most successful head coaches have: an extension of himself on the court.
Imagine, for just a moment, if that person became LeBron James.
That would have a magnifying effect on Spoelstra's imprint on this team. Think more defense. Better execution. More "trust." A team imbued with a very good and very young head coach's defensive-minded, team-first vision.
It also would positively impact LeBron.
He is a transcendent talent who never has had a coach who commanded his total respect, and for good reason. How does a once-in-a-generation talent fully turn himself over to a high school coach or even to NBA coaches when he knows their careers turn on his will?
Particularly when he hasn't been blessed with at least a year of college under some luminary worthy of his skill? These are advantages Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson had over LeBron James.
Perhaps the answer will turn out to be: by going to Miami and finding out that Pat Riley, a legend worthy not only of The King's respect but also his ear, is standing by Spoelstra. Which means LeBron has to as well.
This is win-win for everyone, if LeBron can stick to it.
This also would be to LeBron's personal advantage.
He has the talent to play every position in this league at a ridiculously high level.
If he plays them all properly (his role) and at the right times (Spoelstra's), he can have several of those rings he craves.
"I play everything from a (point guard) to a (center) on this team, and tonight I was playing the one," LeBron said. "The last few weeks, I was playing the (power forward).
"So I was in control of the team, control of the tempo, getting us some assists, listening to Spo," he said. "Spo had trust in me I could run the team from the (point guard), and I just tried to set guys up and get them in the rhythm of the game."
He did better than try. He excelled.
On a night when the Heat nearly closed in on a season high for turnovers with 20, LeBron did everything Spoelstra would have had the coach been able to be out there himself.
He had 13 assists and 23 points. He ran the point with gusto and grace, culminating in passing off the game-deciding shot to Eddie House, who nailed it. He played hard-core defense on Durant.
It was an incredible performance.
"I'm going to try to put our team in a position to win games when I'm on the court," LeBron said. "Every team has that extra coach on the floor. I'm not saying I'm a coach, but you have that floor general on the floor and hopefully I can be that for this team."
No, he was right the first time. Those great teams do have that extra coach on the floor.
Here's where this gets tricky.
To be an extra coach, you must work for the head coach. That's what "assistant coach" means. Listening to that guy. Executing his vision. Disagreeing, sure, but disagreement based in respect and a willingness to do what he asks even if you don't always agree.
Can LeBron James do this? With Erik Spoelstra?
That, too, is a process. How it will end remains to be seen.
A few days ago, against the Knicks, the Heat did not possess the trust to win that game. They had more than enough trust Sunday against the Thunder.
In both cases, this falls to LeBron -- and Spoelstra -- either working in tandem or not. Past the blame is the fact this is what they must do to be great.
Let's take a break here to address that fact that LeBron, shall we say, engenders strong reactions in two camps of NBA fans.
To the LeBron haters/people from Cleveland: There remains an anti-Spoelstra track record that must be mentioned. The bump. The leaked report aimed at undermining Spo's job security. The dismissive moments clear as day to those following the team every day.
And to the LeBron lovers/Heat fans: These truths don't mean LeBron can't change. He's still learning this head coach, and this head coach is still learning LeBron. What happened Sunday in Oklahoma City is not set in stone. But neither is LeBron's history. The man can change if he chooses to.
Despite what Shakespeare wrote, what's past is not prologue. Not always.
Perhaps Spoelstra and LeBron know this, have worked on it, and what we saw Sunday was the beginning of a bloom in their relationship.
They don't need to be friends, but if LeBron can make Spoelstra a partner, maybe the Heat can do some amazing things.
That's the surest way for The King to share some of his power and ability with his teammates: be Spoelstra's instrument on the floor.
"He has a great IQ for the game, and it's probably the toughest thing a player has had to do in a long time in this league, what we're asking him to do," Spoelstra said. "To jump around different positions and do it in the same game. He's playing less and less at his normal position, but he's doing it seamlessly."
And at his coach's urging.
"So the communication we're having during the games is actually critical so we're on the same page so everyone else can be on the same page," Spoelstra said.
Yes it is. And it worked Sunday.
Under the Spo-LeBron partnership, the Heat headed home with maybe their finest win of the season.
It's not always easy to know if what LeBron says is what he really means. But if the following LeBron comment qualifies as both, then Mr. Stoudemire and his contemporaries should absolutely fear the Heat.
"I'm going to continue to trust Spo. He's our coach and he's going to continue to trust me."
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