A revitalized LeBron James seems to have taken the right strides in his 17th NBA season, finding the fountain of youth just in time to pair up with Anthony Davis with the Los Angeles Lakers and make a push for an NBA title.

But is it just coincidence?

Many fans saw a careless, nonchalant James during the 2018-19 season, one no longer caring about playing defense, getting back in transition, or chasing down opponents for his signature chase-down blocks.

According to a couple of NBA scouts, James looks as “locked-in” and “motivated” as he's ever been. One of them explained why.

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“The why? He saw last year that his team wasn't going to have a chance,” the scout told Mo Dakhil of Bleacher Report. “This year, he sees he has a team that has a real chance.”

Those who called James “washed” after last season were merely reacting to what they saw in front of their screens, a player that no longer cared to play defense or make plays to spark a turnaround, rather publicly expressing his desire to play with Davis — a request the Lakers front office ultimately obliged.

After missing the postseason for the first time in 14 years, James had a long time to rest and recover — all while revving up mentally to come out strong right out the gate.

So far that has worked for the Lakers, who sit atop the Western Conference at 9-2, looking like a real threat for the NBA title, as many expected them to be.