LOS ANGELES -- The relationship between Cedi Osman and LeBron James got off on the wrong foot. Literally.

"The thing I remember clearly is how quiet that gym got," Cavs head coach Larry Drew recalls about Sept. 27, 2017. "Practice is going. There's all the talk, all the chatter and then that happened and it was just total silence."

There was Osman, a rookie taking part in his first official NBA training camp. He had left Turkey and was in a new country, trying to prove that he belonged, trying to earn the respect of his new teammates that had only known him from grainy YouTube clips and a Head and Shoulders commercial.

Then in his opening scrimmage, he stepped on James' foot, sending the franchise player hobbling off the court with a nasty ankle sprain.

"Man, Cedi saw his life -- and his career -- flash before his eyes," Channing Frye told cleveland.com while laughing. "He was about to be on the first flight back to Istanbul."

In a strange twist, that was James' first glimpse of the qualities he has come to appreciate. That terrifying moment actually sparked what has become a tight bond between James and Osman.

"That was the time when I felt I started earning that respect," Osman said. "That's what he liked to see, that I'm fighting hard, that I'm working hard."

Beyond basketball

On Feb. 7, 2018, following weeks of tension and questions about the season slipping away, James rescued the Cavaliers once again. He punctuated his triple-double with a game-winning fade-away jumper at the buzzer that gave Cleveland renewed hope. While the Minnesota Timberwolves were left in shock, James went sprinting toward his teammates. Well, one in particular. Osman.

The two jumped for joy and chest-bumped. It was the kind of celebration that made it seem like they had known each other for years.

It took time to get to that point.

Most of the early conversations weren't even about basketball. The intention was for James to learn about Osman the person. The two discussed their love of soccer. James would ask Osman about European culture. Osman would inquire about James' younger days growing up as a basketball prodigy while also facing plenty of hardships along the way.

Eventually, road trips led to lunches and dinners. It was small group of four. James, Osman, Jeff Green and Jose Calderon.

Osman and Calderon favor classical music. James and Green love rap.

"Every moment we had together was amazing because every day we were on the road we were talking about something different," Osman said.

As the season progressed, James started singling out Osman in postgame interviews, praising the rookie for his basketball IQ, work ethic, hustle and professional approach.

"For me, every practice with him, dinner, lunch, being together was special. It was my favorite," Osman said. "I will say I was really proud when he was talking about me to the media. What he was saying about me, all that good stuff, that was really special to me."

Exclusive summer workout

It was Game 5 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals. As the clock ticked down, James launched a 3-pointer at the buzzer that dropped through the net and gave the Cavaliers a 3-2 series lead over the feisty Indiana Pacers.

Just like his heroics a few months earlier against the Timberwolves, James rushed toward his teammates to celebrate.

Once again, Osman was there to catch him mid-flight.

That photo was the same one Osman used for his heartfelt Instagram post on July 2, the day after James announced his decision to join the Los Angeles Lakers in free agency.

"Some people bring out the worst in you, others bring out the best," Osman wrote. "And there are remarkably rare ones, who just bring out the most of everything that even you don't know that you have. They build you up. They make you feel alive. They make you feel strong. They make you feel indisputable. From the first moment we met, you've always been that rare one for me, King.

"I don't believe in coincidences. I choose to believe my path crossed with you for a reason. And that reason will be uncovered as I continue to walk through. Please accept my highest gratitude for your support and appreciation for your inspiration. I'm truly blessed to have been surrounded by your charm."

Even though James was headed for LA, Osman believed the two would still stay close. During Las Vegas Summer League, they got together for dinner.

That's when James extended an invitation to Osman, asking his former teammate if he was interested in an exclusive workout with some of the league's best small forwards.

James, Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard and Osman.

"What do you expect me to say? I said, 'Of course, you know, that would be perfect,'" Osman said. "First day we worked out together and then the next day he said we were going to work out with KD and Kawhi. I was like so excited and said, 'Wow, three best small forwards in the world and I'm going to have opportunity to learn from them and work out with them.'

"That's something I will not forget ever. Because always watching them on the TV when I was a kid or playing the games with them and then one time practicing with them so it was an amazing feeling."

Osman remembers being a nervous wreck taking jumpers alongside those perennial MVP candidates. He can still picture himself clanking outside jumpers off the front of the rim before Durant gave him a pointer to help his form.

In a way, it was like those early days inside Cleveland Clinic Courts, when James welcomed Osman into his post-shootaround group.

"Cedi is an awesome human being and I think the way he plays lends itself to, like most people who are around him want him to be really, really good," Frye said. "I think Bron just took that and saw that Cedi has a fire so Bron is like, well I'm going to continue to stoke it. I think Bron and Cedi, their relationship is more like big brother, little brother. It's a great relationship for Cedi. I think it's good for Bron to have somebody that looks up to him."

Checking in

Osman has James' number but he doesn't want to be a bother. He usually attempts to text James once or twice every two weeks just to catch up and see how the season is going. It's their way of keeping the relationship strong despite being thousands of miles away.

In November, when Osman was forced to miss a pair of games with back spasms, James reached out.

"He was asking how I was feeling and stuff like that," Osman said. "He's my favorite player in the world but having him ask how my back is and caring about me, that's something that's really special."

When James returned to Cleveland on Nov. 21, he embraced his former teammates prior to tipoff. Then Osman got a few chances to guard James during the game, something Osman had been thinking about since James' departure in free agency.

The Lakers got the best of the Cavs, 109-105, as James delivered yet another reminder of what Cleveland no longer has.

After the LA win, James sipped down a banana milkshake from Swenson's and reflected on his 11 years in Cleveland. He also heaped more praise on Osman.

"My relationship has grown even stronger with Cedi even though I've been on another coast," James said. "I've been keeping up with him throughout this season and the best thing I told him tonight, I told him, 'You finally took my advice and started wearing Nikes.'"

So what was it about Osman -- a wide-eyed, over-eager, unpolished rookie when they first met -- that made James take him under his wing?

"By showing up on time, every single day. Putting in the work every single day. And being a professional every single day," James said. "Cedi is one of my favorite guys that I've played with and it was only a year, but he's a sponge and you can see that he has a love of the game."

Lasting message

James is gone. But Osman has tried to use those lessons during a painful season.

He has a much bigger role now, starting in his buddy's old spot. One year after averaging 11.0 minutes and starting just 12 games, Osman is getting 31.8 minutes per night and has made 40 starts.

Back in October, he was asked to not only take the toughest defensive assignment but serve as one of the team's primary playmakers as well. Osman admits it was exhausting at times and a lot of responsibility -- probably too much.

But he learned from James to fight through fatigue. Even on off days, James would be working. That approach helped set the culture.

It's that same work ethic Osman has been trying to mimic in a year where his development is at the center of Cleveland's plan.

This season has been his chance, the one he's dreamed about. It's his opportunity to prove the Cavs right for bringing him over from Turkey and signing him last summer. His shot to show he deserves to be an NBA starter beyond this season.

Through 41 games, Osman is averaging 11.7 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.2 assists. He has scored double figures in 12 of the last 14 games. Despite not yet accomplishing one of his goals -- getting a triple-double -- he's flashed potential. He's also shown plenty of growing pains.

"He's gotta be a savage," Frye said. "I think sometimes he makes the game harder than it needs to be and I think sometimes he has God-given ability to change the game in ways that not a lot of us can and I think he needs to continue to learn how to do that and be effective and efficient.

"Cedi is a huge team guy and I think it's something you have to learn over the course of a year. Cedi has the ability to pass, shoot, drive, all these things and we have to challenge him all the time to do those things every night."

On Sunday night, the Cavs will play the Lakers for the final time this season. James won't be in uniform, set to miss his 11th straight game because of a strained groin.

The Cavs head into that game losers of 12 in a row. They have given up at least 140 points in back-to-back games. They own the league's worst record and have already passed last season's loss total.

It hasn't been easy on anyone and frustration is growing with each loss.

During the gloomy times, James never gave in, he always kept the same approach with his teammates. Beyond everything else Osman has gained through that special connection with James, that's the lesson that has been most valuable this season.

"He was the one that was always staying positive no matter what," Osman said. "Losing or winning, keep going harder and harder."

Just like that first day of training camp when disaster turned into an unlikely bond that goes beyond basketball.