Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra and star player LeBron James are reportedly more intertwined than ever entering their fourth season together, a source close to situation reported on Thursday.

According to the source, the four-time NBA MVP has now recognized that he's playing under the tutelage of one of elite head coaches in the league.

"They're more intertwined than they've ever been," says a league source closely connected to James and Spoelstra. "LeBron knows he plays for one of the elite coaches in the game, and that maybe wasn't the case when he got there."

James, who won back-to-back championship as a member of the Heat, didn't have a good relationship with Spoelstra in his first season in Miami.

However, Spoelstra persevered and continued to bring coaching innovations - including the application of football's spread offense - which paved the way for the position-less brand of basketball in Miami.

With James dominating at any position, the Heat went on to win their third championship in franchise history after surviving the San Antonio Spurs in seven tough games last year.