"There's certain guys that you can talk to in ways that you can't talk to others," James explained, with Chalmers seated to his right. "It's about learning your teammates. It's about learning people.
"And my relationship with 'Rio is different than anybody else's. Ever since I got here, I kind of took him under my wing and looked at him like a little brother of mine and I want him to succeed.
"The best thing about it is he takes constructive criticism." James said it was a gradual process to grow comfortable in the admonishment.
"He didn't understand, not at the start," he said. "But as our relationship continued to grow, he understands it now. He doesn't take it personally. It could be the first possession of the game."
Asked if it was a two-way street, James smiled.
"Yeah, I don't listen to him," he said. "I do tell him he's right sometimes, but that's just for his confidence."
So, no, it is not a two-way street.
"No, not with me and 'Rio. Nope. Nope," he said with a laugh. "I'm his big brother and I can say whatever I want to say to him and he has to take it."