The arrival of All-Star forward LeBron James to the Los Angeles Lakers on a four-year, $154 million deal that has placed a huge level of excitement around the city.

This has apparently rubbed off on Los Angeles Rams All-Pro running back Todd Gurley as stated during a recent interview with Mike Florio on Pro Football Talk Live that he's more motivated to put forth a stronger effort to put together an even more productive 2018 campaign.

“I know it affected me man. Once I heard about the LeBron signing, it kind of made me want to go out and just work out because I mean the guy has been to the Finals the last seven, eight years. So that's like that's coming to the city. The NBA Finals is coming to the city. That's what LeBron brings and for me to be able to play in the same city as the team of the Dodgers, who went to the World Series last year. Then you got a guy like LeBron whose such a great that motivates you as a player and as a team to not be the only team not to make the playoffs, Super Bowl, or the World Series. It is definitely a motivational thing.”

Gurley is coming off his a highly productive year that saw him earn the NFL Offensive Player of the Year award. He even garnered some consideration for the MVP award after he led the league with 2,093 scrimmage yards and 19 total touchdowns. Gurley also became just the third player in league history to have at least 2,000 scrimmage yards, 10 rushing touchdowns, and more than five touchdowns receptions in a single season, joining Hall of Famers Marshall Faulk and O.J. Simpson.

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He has become a legitimate star in the league as one of the top running backs in the game that Los Angeles is hoping can continue to produce at an elite level next season to help lift the team not only to the playoffs but much further than that. The addition of James to the Lakers has raised the level of personal expectations that Gurley has for himself and the Rams toward much greater heights.

There is clearly no lack of motivation from Gurley to push the Rams to much success in 2018 as one of the leading factors.