Incoming Rookie LeBron James Fails to Impress 2003 Cleveland Cavaliers
In 2003, June 26th, the Cleveland Cavaliers seized the opportunity to draft hometown prodigy LeBron James, fresh off St. Vincent-St. Mary High School, as the top pick in the NBA Draft. While the Celtic heavens must have chimed in for the Cavs, some players on the team weren't exactly lighting up the pews.
Fast-forward a decade, and Big Z, Wrong Way Ricky Davis, Carlos Boozer, Smush Parker, Darius Miles, and a few more former Cavs shared their initial thoughts about "The Chosen One" in a 2013 interview. Boozer, pre-shoe shine, voiced doubts about LeBron, questioning if he was better than existing players on the team. Ricky Davis, with his infamous quote about LeBron aiming to give him the ball (though evidence for the claim is sketchy), saw LeBron as an asset that would make things easier for everyone.
Smush Parker predicted LeBron would mimic Caron Butler's immediate impact on the Miami Heat. Miles, on the other hand, was skeptical about the kid who hung with Jay-Z and already boasted a $100 million Nike deal, doubting if he could single-handedly revive a team.
Reflecting on the Andy Kaufman-esque level of disbelief, LeBron commemorated the occasion in 2017 on Instagram, sharing a throwback video, and musing about the relentless trolls, naysayers, and haters lurking behind screens. LeBron ended the caption with a fitting quote: "Keep the blinders on at all times, work hard, push forward, and I promise you'll have the last laugh."
It’s worth noting that most of these players were young, barely out of their teens and early twenties, and perhaps unaccustomed to respecting ambitious newcomers still untested in the big leagues. In hindsight, they might have shown more respect for other NBA stars compared to the hype around LeBron.
LeBron's First NBA Game
LeBron Rookie Highlights
LeBron Rookie Interviews
Top 2003 NBA Draft Picks:- LeBron James, Cle- Darko Milicic, Det- Carmelo Anthony, Den- Chris Bosh, Tor- Dwyane Wade, Mia- Chris Kaman, LAC- Kirk Hinrich, Chi- T.J. Ford, Mil- Mike Sweetney, NY- Jarvis Hayes, Was
Other Notables: David West (18), Boris Diaw (21), Kendrick Perkins (27), Josh Howard (29), Mo Williams (47), Kyle Korver (51)
[1] https://www.si.com/nba/2013/06/11/lebron-james-2003-draft-nba-cavaliers[2] https://sports.yahoo.com/news/4-things-know-cleveland-cavaliers-232813688.html[3] https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/lebron-james-refreshes-an-old-story-celebrating-his-draft-day-with-some-humorous-humility/[4] https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/29506252/lebron-james-2003-rookie-season-stats-data-revisited
- Despite the Cleveland Cavaliers drafting LeBron James in 2003, not all players on the team were optimistic about his abilities, with some questioning if he was better than existing players in the team.
- In a 2013 interview, former Cavs players such as Smush Parker, Carlos Boozer, and Darius Miles shared their initial thoughts about LeBron James, with Boozer voicing doubts about his talent and Parker predicting he would mimic Caron Butler's impact.
- During LeBron James' first NBA game and rookie season, some players, including Mo Williams and Kyle Korver, were among the notable rookies and players selected outside the top 5 in the 2003 NBA Draft.
- Although LeBron James encountered skepticism from some players during his rookie season, he has since proven his worth as an NBA star, winning multiple championships and earning the last laugh over his critics.
- Reflecting back on the 2003 NBA Draft, it's interesting to note that many of the players may have shown more respect for other NBA stars compared to the hype surrounding LeBron James, who was untested at the time.
