LeBron James: Revisiting the 2003 NBA Draft

LeBron James revealed he almost “pulled an Eli Manning” and potentially skipped entering the NBA directly from high school, a scenario that would have seen him potentially play college basketball. The revelation came during an appearance on the Bob Does Sports YouTube show on April 2, 2026, according to Bleacher Report.

James joked that if the Memphis Grizzlies had won the 2003 NBA draft lottery, he might have followed a similar path to Eli Manning, who famously resisted being drafted by the San Diego Chargers in 2004. Manning ultimately forced a trade to the New York Giants.

“I might have pulled an Eli Manning,” James said on the show, as reported by Bleacher Report. “I was like, ‘I ain’t going to Memphis.’”

The Grizzlies, after finishing the 2002-2003 season with a 28-54 record, had the sixth-best lottery odds. However, they moved up four spots to secure the No. 2 overall pick in the 2003 draft. Despite not winning the lottery, they still presented a less-than-appealing destination for James, who ultimately declared for the draft and was selected first overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers.

James’s Draft Night and the Cavaliers’ Selection

On June 26, 2003, LeBron James officially entered the NBA when the Cleveland Cavaliers made him the No. 1 overall draft selection. The moment was captured by ESPN, with then-NBA Commissioner David Stern announcing the pick and welcoming James to the league. James was subsequently interviewed on ESPN as a member of the Cavaliers, as detailed in an ESPN Front Row article from June 21, 2018.

The 2003 NBA draft is widely remembered as the year LeBron James entered the league, marking a significant moment in NBA history. The Cavaliers, along with the Denver Nuggets, had the best chance to win the top pick, both with 22.5 percent odds, due to tying for the worst record in the NBA the previous season. The Toronto Raptors and Miami Heat followed with 15.7 and 12.0 percent odds, respectively.

The Thorpe Trade and Grizzlies’ Pick

Interestingly, the Grizzlies’ draft pick in 2003 was originally owned by the Detroit Pistons due to a 1997 trade involving Otis Thorpe. This meant that even if the Grizzlies had won the lottery, they wouldn’t have been able to retain the top pick, further highlighting James’s hypothetical reluctance to join the franchise.

James’s comments also included a playful suggestion that the Grizzlies should have relocated to Nashville, indicating his lack of enthusiasm for the city of Memphis. This adds another layer to his hypothetical scenario, suggesting his aversion wasn’t solely about the team’s performance but also the location.

Eli Manning’s Precedent

Eli Manning’s situation in the 2004 NFL draft set a precedent for players expressing their preferences regarding which teams they would play for. Manning made it known he didn’t want to play for the San Diego Chargers, leading to a trade with the New York Giants. James’s comment draws a parallel to this situation, suggesting he might have taken a similar stance if the Grizzlies had won the lottery.

The 2003 NBA draft remains a pivotal moment in league history, not only for the arrival of LeBron James but also for the unique circumstances surrounding the draft lottery and the potential paths players could have taken. James’s recent comments offer a humorous glimpse into what might have been, had the lottery results unfolded differently.

The Basketball-Reference.com website provides a comprehensive record of the 2003 NBA draft, detailing the selections made in each round. This historical record serves as a reminder of the talent that entered the league that year and the lasting impact of players like LeBron James.