They are more alike than they are different, as much as neither might wish to admit it, and that's never been more evident than this season, when LeBron James has been trying to impose order on his team in Cleveland the way that Pat Riley has in New York, Los Angeles and Miami.

But their relationship has been chilly since James left the Heat in the summer of 2014, with Riley frustrated about the lack of communication from James prior to the two-time champion taking off. The Heat firmly believe they would have had Pau Gasol, among others, to complement James if James had merely committed to remain in Miami early in that process.

I spent a lot of time in Cleveland last season, and James repeatedly declined opportunities -- through spokesmen -- to address his Miami tenure, and to speak of Riley specifically. When Riley would take a veiled shot at James (such as his "smiling faces with hidden agendas" comment in the Heat's 2014-15 end-of-season press conference, James would shake his head when hearing about it, just adding Riley to the list of the critics he's accumulated over the course of his career.

That came after the Christmas 2014 game, when Riley didn't stand and applaud for the montage video honoring James, and when James said he had no idea when he and Riley would speak again.

So this, in a lengthy profile by Sports Illustrated's Lee Jenkins, was a striking quote:

“I think about a lot of s---,” James agrees. “Sometimes too much. But then I try to remember what I learned from the great Pat Riley: What is the main thing? Because the main thing has to be the main thing.”

The great Pat Riley.

That sounds a lot what Shaquille O'Neal has said, after taking some shots at Riley -- his coach on the 2006 champion team -- after getting traded to Phoenix in 2008.

That sounds like the start of a thawing.

The Cavaliers are in Miami to face the Heat on Saturday.

It's still highly doubtful that the greatest player of his generation will share a hug with "the great Pat Riley."

But a knowing nod?

It seems like that is already occurring.