Arguments for LeBron James' place among the greatest basketball players of all time will typically touch on what a great teammate he is.

Even if he's recently developed an occasional yen for patronizing those he plays with - by comparing them to his children, for instance - he's consistently proven his ability to elevate their play, whether with his selflessness and remarkable passing ability, his basketball intelligence, or the simple fact that all the attention he draws opens up tons of opportunities for others.

The criteria for being a great teammate can extend beyond the court, but James, it seems, checks those boxes as well.

His Cleveland Cavaliers weren't given much of a shot at upending the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals, even before All-NBA point guard Kyrie Irving was lost for the series. But here they are, tied 1-1, and heading back to Cleveland having wrested away home-court advantage.

James' play has been a huge reason for that, but so too has his off-court leadership and generosity. Before the Finals began on Thursday, he rented out a lounge and gathered the team at their hotel in San Francisco, according to Chris Hayes of the Northeast Ohio Media Group. And once he had all his teammates assembled, James offered them a speech and a gift.

The speech?

"His was like, we're here for business and to be prepared," Cavs power forward Tristan Thompson said. "All the media attention, all the hoopla stuff is cool and what not, but we're here to take care of business."

"It was for unity. Building camaraderie with the guys," J.R. Smith said. "A lot of times when you go into the hotels, you might see a guy for breakfast or a meeting and that would be it. He brought us out and we talked about regular, everyday stuff instead of just the Finals."

And the gift? Apple Watches.

Not a bad way to boost morale for a team full of guys staring down the biggest moment of their professional lives.

"I've been fortunate enough to work with some great partners and whatever I get, I like to share with my teammates," James said of his open-handedness. "It's just my way of showing them that I care. That's it. It's not the first time and it won't be the last time."

And according to his teammates, that's very true.

"I don't know how he does it, but everyday it's something different," Smith said. "Watches, sneakers, Beats (headphones), hoodies, book-bags. Man, I can't wait to come back next year. I want to see what we're getting next year."

Of course, the greatest gift he could give them would be an NBA title. After a stunning Game 2 victory on the road, that doesn't look nearly as unlikely as it once did.

"Look, LeBron is probably the greatest player in the world who gives out gifts like it's candy," Brendan Haywood said. "We look forward to it every single time."