There's no better way to put to rest a rather unimpressive debut season with your new team than to come out with guns blazing in your second season, and in the process, securing the top spot in a ruthless Western Conference. Such has been the case for LeBron James in his colorful first couple of years with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Throughout his 17 years in the league, this is the shortest span LeBron has been with any side, but ironically, it is at this point in his career that he has become the most connected with the team's ownership. This is via Brian Windhorst of ESPN.

Those close to James describe his relationship with Jeanie and her lead executive, Linda Rambis, as the most connected he has been with ownership in his career. Though he has been with the team for less than two years, unexpected turbulence has brought them together — a diametric shift from situations in James' past.

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This speaks volumes of how LeBron is viewed by the Lakers brass, and conversely, how James himself has made a personal effort to connect with Buss and company — something that he may have never done, at least to this extent, in the past.

The recent untimely death of Lakers legend Kobe Bryant must have played a part in the growth of this relationship. As they say, nothing brings people closer together than tragedy. This, perhaps, is one of the silver linings in Kobe's passing, as it has cultivated a strong bond not only between LeBron and upper management, but within the entire Lakers organization as well.