After competing against one-another in last season's NBA Finals and playing alongside each other in this summer's past 2012 London Olympic games, LeBron James and Kevin Durant continue to train with each other in preparation for the upcoming NBA season.

For the second consecutive straight offseason the Oklahoma City Thunder star has joined the Miami Heat Most Valuable Player for a series of collaborative and grueling two-a-day workouts near James' hometown in Akron, Ohio.

Last year the pair dubbed their process "hell week" and credited it with helping them start on a path to facing each other in last June's Finals.

"We pushed each other every day," James said about last year's workouts. "At the time I envisioned us getting to (the Finals) against each other."

The duo bonded last summer during the NBA lockout during exhibition games that were played for charity. Durant then asked James to work out together and the two created an intense training camp-style schedule with James' trainer, Mike Mancias.

Through this they developed a somewhat friendly rivalry during the workouts and late organized a flag football game at the University of Akron with both players recruiting a team to play against each other.

It's good to see arguably the No.1 and No.2 players in the league push each other as much as they do. After a disappointing loss in last year's finals, you can bet that Durant is keeping a closer eye on James as he looks to surpass him this year.