LeBron James Begins Work Out for Next Season, Motivated By NBA Rivals' Big Offseason Deals

LeBron James planned to take a well-deserved long rest this offseason, but the Miami Heat superstar is already back in the gym preparing for the tough quest to win his team's third straight title in the 2013-14 NBA season.

In an interview with the Sun Sentinel during a charity event in Akron, Ohio, James revealed that he returned to work earlier than originally scheduled after rival teams made big moves this offseason.

"I've been back in the gym for a few weeks now, going at it," James said. "I've seen what so many teams have done to get better. I've seen the moves that we've made, so I've got to do my part."

The four-time Most Valuable Player was referring to deals made by rivals the Brooklyn Nets and the Indiana Pacers, teams that pushed the Heat to its limits in the 2013 NBA Eastern Conference Finals.

The Nets made a major roster overhaul during the offseason, acquiring veterans Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Jason Terry from the Boston Celtics in exchange for Gerald Wallace, Kris Humphries, MarShon Brooks, and two future first-round picks. Terry, Pierce, and Garnett join the Nets' formidable roster headlined by All-Star guards Deron Williams, Joe Johnson and star center Brook Lopez.

The Indiana Pacers retained the solid core that pushed the Heat into a do-or-die Eastern Conference Finals Game 7, while adding veteran forward Luis Scola. Indiana is expected to have a healthy Danny Granger, while the Chicago Bulls, another of the Heat's rivals, will welcome back superstar point guard Derrick Rose next season.

The Heat, on the other hand, will maintain its core players and made a low-risk-high-reward move after signing oft-injured center Greg Oden. James believes that Oden has a lot of promise, but the team will be careful not to pressure the former first-overall pick, who has not played since Dec. 5, 2009.

"We're not going to put any pressure on him. He hasn't played in almost four years. We want him to work his way back into shape. It's going to take him a while to get back into game shape. We don't expect anything out of him except being a professional and showing up for work every day. Whatever we get from his is extra," James said.