Somehow, 133 days later, the flames still flicker inside Kobe Bryant.
His first Olympic gold medal created an immeasurable degree of serenity for one of the league's top competitors, but it was only diversionary, the type of thing to be reflected upon throughout a lifetime but not enough to completely break away from what happened last June.
Celtics 131, Lakers 92. Hello, motivation.
Bryant and the Lakers return to action in a season opener tonight against Portland at Staples Center. If they arrive with chips on their shoulders, it's because of four monthsof heavy mental lifting after a Game 6 Finals flop and an embarrassing end to the pursuit of the franchise's 15th NBA title.
The Lakers can already find themselves anointed the 2009 champions on magazine covers, sports websites and Las Vegas tote boards, but Bryant doesn't seem impressed by a paper championship.
He spoke frankly when asked if the potential and depth of the present-day Lakers could be compared to the three championship teams earlier this decade.
"No it's not a fair comparison at all," he said. "Talent-wise, we probably have more talent on this team, but what we had on that team was inner toughness. That's something that we have to prove still.
"Boston obviously was a big challenge, a test for us that we failed. But we're going to be getting better at it. The team that we had in the past, that was just a tough, tough team. That came through experience. That came through trial and error. Hopefully we can get there soon."
The Lakers certainly have the ability to do it.
Bryant is back after winning his first MVP award, Pau Gasol looks efficient and comfortable in his new power forward position, and Andrew Bynum is quickly rounding into basketball form after off-season knee surgery.
The one major bonfire in training camp was doused when Lamar Odom eventually accepted his relegation to a second unit that will be among the league's best.
And yet, the expectations are being beaten out of the team by Coach Phil Jackson, who returns for a fourth season in his second tour with the Lakers.
Days of rest were few and far between this month. Tired legs and weary mind-sets were all but shrugged off, if not ignored, by Jackson.
"I think this is the hardest I've worked guys in preseason in the re-emergence of my tenure here," Jackson said. "I think they understand that there's a serious challenge out to them from me, about going into the season with dedication.
